Simmons College

 

   You've been convinced by all the testimonials that your career development can only benefit by developing a presence on LinkedIn!  It's clearly time to take the plunge, but you don't have a clue on how to get started!  Luckily, the folks at LinkedIn will walk you through this process in three manageable steps in their New User Starter Guide 

 

 

Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the job search process with so much to prepare? Just finalizing a well-written resume is a major piece of work, and then you spend time writing many customized cover letters, and then, onto preparation for the scary interviews.

There is relief ahead....a simple job preparation tool called the T Bar. Why? It asks you to match the requirements employers seek with the qualifications you bring to the table in a simple template that is useful for networking, writing cover letters and prepping for the interview.

Check out the CEC website Toolkit document with Sample T Bar.doc.

Commencement is just days away and the past few hectic weeks of completing papers, presentations and taking finals is at an end. Now it's Senior Week, another busy time filled with numerous events like the Commencement Ball, Sunset Cruise and the Senior Wine and Cheese. It may be challenging to add another "to do" to your already overflowing list of end-of-year activities, but you'll find this one is worth the effort.  Review this Graduation Checklist and be sure you've done what you need to do to prepare for graduation and beyond! 

 

With Commencement now upon us, most seniors are thinking in earnest about the job market, graduate school, and their next steps into the real world. One option often overlooked is the array of post-graduate, pre-professional programs that can serve as a stepping stone from your college experience to a potential field of interest.

These "bridge" programs are typically aimed at graduating seniors and recent college grads and provide a mix of classroom work and hands-on experience in a specific industry. Many are offered over the summer but some are in-semester as well.  They are lower cost than a full degree program - many provide certificates - and therefore lower risk to the student exploring a field of potential interest. Most are taught by practitioners in the field and include some type of career fair or other career preparation component, both of which provide an important leg up in today's competitive job market.

Here's a look at and links to five such programs in different fields:

Tuck Business Bridge Program
The Tuck Business Bridge Program is provides "fast-track to mastery of business basics" offered by Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business. It is a four-week, total-immersion program for rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates of arts and sciences colleges, regardless of major, thinking of entering the world of business.

With Commencement just around the corner for this year's seniors, thoughts are naturally  turning to the job market. Some members of the Class of 2012 are already well into the job search, while a lucky few have even secured positions. Still others have plans in place for graduate school.

While pondering next steps, here's some data and a photo gallery from Boston.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics on entry-level jobs that will more than help pay the rent and groceries: top paying jobs for recent college grads. Not surprisingly -- and encouragingly --  nurses make the list. But there are several other positions -- financial analyst, web designer, Internet marketer, actuary -- also suitable for and of interest to many Simmons grads.

Check it out here. Then finish up those pesky final exams and projects and get ready for your big day on May 18! If you want some assistance thinking through your next steps post-graduation (and how to get your network moving to find those jobs), contact us in the CEC - that''s what we're here for!                 

Photo: Courtesy Boston.com/iStock