SEARCHING FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR JOB? STAY CONNECTED TO THE LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER TO UNCOVER LEADS.
TECH LINK TechLink is the university’s online job board and web-based recruiting system. With this system, you will have the opportunity to search for and apply to full-time and internship opportunities, learn about and RSVP to Career Center-sponsored events as well as off-campus events that may assist you with your career development, and to participate in and electronically select on-campus interviews times.
To access TechLink, navigate to the Career Center’s website and click on the TechLink logo. GET CONNECTED! Follow the hashtag #LaTechJobAlert for posting updates.
CONNECT CAREER CENTER • LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY • FALL 2015
CONNECT FALL 2015
INTRODUCING CONNECT – A MESSAGE FROM
DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AND CAREER SERVICES
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hat’s my vision? Why am I in school? What is my purpose after graduation? These are the questions many students will ask themselves over the course of the time they spend at Louisiana Tech University. The Career Center is here to provide support in selecting and confirming the right major, and we will help as you plan your job search strategies. We facilitate events that provide you with opportunities to connect with employers who are interested in LA Tech students and alumni. Whether or not you are looking for a job, our events are a great place for you to: - Conduct company research - Explore numerous career opportunities - Make personal contacts that can lead to job offers - Gather information from potential employers - Find out what an employer values in its employees - Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively Welcome to the first issue of Connect – your quarterly guide to Career Services at Louisiana Tech University. Discover within each edition information on current trends, Career Center events, and best practices used to recruit recent graduates. Connect provides information and resources that we hope will help guide your preparation for your personal vision for the future. For more information on the resources provided by the Career Center, visit www. latech.edu/career_center. We are here to assist you!
MEET THE STAFF
CAITLIN DARTEZ
CAREER CENTER EVENTS & ALUMNI RELATIONS COORDINATOR
JENNIE FLYNN-MCKEVITT EMPLOYER RELATIONS & RECRUITING COORDINATOR
LAUREN TRESSLER COUNSELOR/COORDINATOR OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Our office is located in 337 KEENY HALL. To speak to someone either stop by or call (318) 257-4336. You may also email CAREERCENTER@LATECH.EDU with your general questions.
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CONNECT FALL 2015
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS
NACE + THE CAREER CENTER = A WINING COMBINATION The Career Center staff is committed to providing the highest level of service to help you obtain your career goals. Our staff is professional, enthusiastic, dedicated, knowledgeable and caring. The Career Center staff adheres to NACE’S Principles of Professional Conduct. ABOUT NACE
MISSION, GOALS, AND VALUES
Established in 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) connects more than 6,300 college career services professionals at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide, more than 2,700 university relations and recruiting professionals, and the business affiliates that serve this community. NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks. NACE provides its members with high-quality resources and research; networking and professional development opportunities; and standards, ethics, advocacy, and guidance on key issues.
NACE’s mission—to lead the community of professionals focused on the employment of the college educated by providing access to relevant knowledge, resources, insight, and relationships—is realized through its strategic goals: 1. NACE will advance the body of knowledge pertaining to the employment of the college educated by developing and delivering timely information, resources, and professional development programs. 2. NACE will provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to create and foster relationships for sharing ideas, benchmarking, and developing professional networks. 3. NACE will be the leading voice and authority related to the career development, recruitment, and hiring of the college educated. 4. As an organization, NACE will continue to evolve as a robust enterprise with the infrastructure and capabilities to fulfill its mission. Article courtesy of NACE
Career Day as seen from the second floor balcony of the TONK.
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CAREER DAY SEMINAR SCHEDULE The Education Center is housed in the Career Center office suite (337 Keeny Hall). If you plan on attending, please RSVP on TechLink, the University’s online job posting site. You can access TechLink on the Career Center website by clicking on the TECHLINK logo.
CAREER DAY PREP - MAKING CAREER DAY WORK WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 23
2,3,4 P.M.
TONK
3:30 P.M.
KEENY HALL 325B
CAREER DAY PREP - RESUME ROUND-ROBIN WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 22
JOB + INTERNSHIP SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR BEGINNERS If you don’t feel confident about tackling your internship or job search, join us! You’ll walk away armed with practical knowledge and resources to assist you in searching for and applying to internships and full-time jobs. MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 28
2 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 9
1 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING During this hour-long session, participants will learn about how to best prepare themselves for internship and job interviews. If you plan to participate in on-campus interviews, plan on attending so that you feel confident and at your best! MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 28
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 7
4 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 13
4 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
MONDAY
OCTOBER 19
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 29
4 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME During this hour-long session, participants will learn tips and tricks for writing an effective resume that will grab a potential employer’s attention and that they can use during their internship and job search. After attending, participants will learn about how they can receive individual feedback about their document from Career Center staff. WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 7
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 13
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
MONDAY
OCTOBER 19
4 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 29
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
LINKEDIN 101 LinkedIn is a great resource for those looking to gain an edge while they network and search for internships or entry-level jobs. While it’s easy to create an account, most new users find themselves stuck as they consider what to do next once they’ve set up their profile. Join the staff of the Career Center to learn how to leverage the power of the 300 million professionals representing 150 industries who are already a part of LinkedIn. FRIDAY
OCTOBER 9
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 13
2 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
MONDAY
OCTOBER 19
11 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 5
10 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 11
1 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
OCTOBER 22
3 P.M.
DAVIDSON HALL
OCTOBER 28
3 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
LONG DISTANCE JOB SEARCH THURSDAY NEGOTIATING JOB OFFERS THURSDAY
FROM BACKPACK TO BRIEF CASE - TRANSITIONING FROM THE CLASSROOM TO WORK WEDNESDAY
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OCTOBER 28
4 P.M.
EDUCATION CENTER
CONNECT FALL 2015
BUILD THE RESUME EMPLOYERS WANT The resume — an essential tool for any job search. Although a lot of time, effort, and thought has gone into trying to crack the secret, there is no “perfect” resume. Your resume’s job is to move you to the next step in the job-search process — the interview. Since each job and organization is different, with different requirements and expectations, the resume that opens the door to an interview in one company might not get you an interview with a different organization. You need to tailor your resume to the job to give the potential employer what it wants. That doesn’t mean the effort that has gone into how to develop the “perfect” resume has been wasted. In fact, it has produced a lot of good information that you can use to help you build an effective resume that you can tailor for each job. DEVELOP YOUR OWN RESUME Ask for help, yes, but don’t turn over the responsibility for developing your resume to someone else. Your resume has to showcase what you have to offer. You have to think through your experiences. A third party can’t know what you did or how you did it as well as you. That said, do use expert help available to you appropriately: The staff in your career center can help you identify your skills and figure out the best way to present them. Your career center may also offer resume critique services, which can help you identify what is and isn’t working on your resume. CONNECT WHAT YOU HAVE TO WHAT THE EMPLOYER NEEDS It’s critical to understand up front that, in your resume, interviews, and all interactions with employers, the responsibility rests with you to make the match between what you have to offer and what the employer needs. With your resume, it’s up to you to convince the employer that you are worth an interview. Through your resume, you want to demonstrate how your academic, extracurricular, and work experiences connect to the job and offer the employer some evidence that you have the potential to be a good fit for the job and organization. You want to provide the employer with evidence that you are worth taking a closer look at through an interview. To achieve this, you must research the organization and position so that you’ll have a clear idea of
what to showcase as you tailor your resume to the specific job. Read the job description carefully: Use it to identify keywords, skills, and requirements. Find the similarities between the job and your experience and qualifications. Examine the organization’s website and literature for information about its priorities, initiatives, and company culture. Attend company-hosted information sessions to get firsthand tips from recruiters, and be sure to ask the recruiter how you can position yourself. In tailoring your resume, highlight the skills specific to the job at hand, and use the keywords and verbiage you’ve gleaned from the job description and your research. Make matches between your knowledge, skills, and experience apparent. SHOWCASE RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE Relevant work experience—often gained through an internship or co-op experience—gives you a big advantage over candidates who lack such experience. In fact, almost all employers taking part in a recent survey said they prefer to hire a candidate with relevant work experience—experience that relates to the job at hand—over other candidates. Highlight your relevant work experience on your resume. Draw connections between what you did as an intern, for example, and what the job requires. SHOWCASE KEY SKILLS In the same survey, employers said they look at a resume for evidence that the job seeker has worked in a team, and has leadership abilities, written communication skills, problem-solving skills, and more. Look at your classroom and relevant work experiences for examples that show you have these key attributes, but also look at your extracurricular and community activities and interests; you may find great examples there as well.
FORMAT FOR EASY READING In general, what matters most to employers are your experience, skills, and education, so make it easy to find and understand these by offering a clean, well-organized, easy-to-read resume. Don’t make the employer hunt for critical information. Don’t clutter your resume with irrelevant, unrelated detail. Although some job seekers can (and should) develop off-the-chart resumes, remember that “form follows function.” Yes, those applying for a graphic design or similar position, for example, should think about how their resume can pull double-duty—serving as a “show and tell” of their skills and abilities. And some job seekers have created clever, web-based resumes filled with interactive visuals in their quest to secure a web development job. But many jobs don’t lend themselves to that level of creativity. In fact, you can hurt your candidacy by providing a resume that doesn’t match the job. A potential employer will look at your resume for a matter of seconds: Make those seconds count. FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER What does your resume say about you? Ideally, it says you warrant a closer look and an interview. But your resume can also say negative, unintended things about you that may lose you the interview. Your resume can say you don’t pay attention, don’t care about details, and/or aren’t interested in the company or job. Instead of showcasing your skills, your resume might be a showcase of typos, spelling errors, misplaced punctuation, and poor grammar—any of which may lead the employer to put you in the “no” pile. Details count: Spellcheck and proofread your resume, and have someone else proofread it, too. Article Courtesy of NACE
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RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT ATTITUDE
THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING By Kevin Gribb
You and I know it: the job search is a hustle. It’s applying, it’s writing, it’s getting LinkedIn, it’s tweeting, it’s interviews, it’s dressing to impress… it’s all of the above. Even more than that, it’s about people. The people you meet at the places you go. It’s “networking,” which can be a difficult concept to understand.
Networking isn’t linear. Talking with someone who doesn’t necessarily have a position open or even the ability to hire doesn’t feel the same as hitting “apply” online. But, your relationships could be the differentiator in your job-search success. When I talk about networking, one of my favorite phrases to break down is, “I was just in the right place at the right time.” (See also: Planned happenstance.) Some of the best career success stories I’ve heard from students are cut from this cloth: a story about a junior making a chance connection on a train ride home or the senior finding out her cousin could refer her for a job while at the Thanksgiving dinner table. At first blush, this phrase seems like someone just got lucky. Truthfully, luck has only a little bit to do with it. A lot about making it happen is up to you. There is such a thing as being in the right place at the right time. But, the critical truth is that you have to put yourself in a bunch of right places and have the right attitude so that you’ll have the chance of experiencing a “right time.” The right place is not likely going to be your bedroom. It’s also not likely going to be the networking event you attend where you speak with no one. You could be the one to experience being in the right place at the right time. Look for profession-related events on- and offcampus where you can meet with industry professionals (some good “right places”). Take advantage of chance meetings and talk confidently about your goals. Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
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SO, YOU’RE HERE. WHAT NOW?
ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD ACCOMPLISH DURING AND AFTER CAREER DAY DURING CAREER DAY MAKE SURE ... • As soon as you enter the hall, survey the layout and confirm that it matches up with the plan you developed. Then execute your plan. • Attempt to establish rapport with each recruiter. Remember to smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm (but not death-grip) handshake. Use your elevator speech. • Gather information and materials from each organization’s booth. And if they have some goodies (pens, magnets, etc.), feel free to take one, but don’t be greedy. • Answer questions, showcase your knowledge of each company, but also remember to ask questions so you’ll have a better understanding of which organizations are the best fit for you. • Ask about the organization’s recruiting timetable. Solicit information about the next step in the process. • If you are considering relocating to a different state, once you’ve established rapport, ask the recruiter if you can obtain the name of the recruiter for that area. Better, ask recruiter to forward your information to that other recruiter. • Remember not to overstay your welcome. If the recruiter starts looking over your shoulder, it’s time to move on. • Don’t forget to collect business cards from
each recruiter. And if you can’t get a business card, be sure to get all the contact information (including the correct spelling of each person’s name). • Remember that politeness counts. If the recruiter appears thirsty, offer to get a beverage from the refreshment area for him/her. And don’t forget to thank each person you
speak with for taking the time to meet you and talk to you about opportunities with his/her organization. • Network, network, network. Make connections with people -- not just the recruiters but with fellow job-seekers, career professionals, and the like -- the more people in your network, the stronger it becomes.
AFTER CAREER DAY MAKE SURE TO... • Send thank-you notes to each recruiter, thanking them for their time, interest, and help in your job-search. It doesn’t matter how you send the thank-you... just as long as you send one. Read more about thank-you letters, see samples. • Reflect on your system, your execution, and your results. What might you have done more effectively? Make some initial plans for improvement before the next career fair. • Plan to follow up with each recruiter about two weeks after the career fair. Contact them and express your continued interest with the organization, your assurance of your ability to contribute to the organization, and get more information about next steps in the process. • Consider developing some sort of system for keeping track of all the recruiters and potential job leads. See an example of a job lead log. • Remember to find other sources of job leads. Career fairs are a good source, but there are many other ways to generate job leads. Read more about ways of developing job leads. Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
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SOCIAL MEDIA IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
S
ocial media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and relatives, but it also can be a useful tool in your job search. Employers are using social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to both promote their organizations and connect with potential job candidates. While social media can help you research employers (critical to your job-search success), be sure to use it more actively—as a way to connect with potential employers. By following a few basic tips, you can use social media to get in front of hiring managers. GET NOTICED There are a few key points to keep in mind when using social media as a job-search tool. CREATE A PROFILE THAT GIVES A POSITIVE IMPRESSION OF YOU Think of it as your online resume: What do you want it to say about you? Hiring managers can get a stronger sense of who you are, and if you’re a potentially good fit for their company, through your profile. BE AWARE OF THE KEYWORDS YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR PROFILE This is particularly true for sites focused on professional networking, such as LinkedIn. Many employers do keyword searches to find profiles that contain
the skill sets they’re seeking in potential hires. Don’t Include Photos, Comments, or Information You Wouldn’t Want a Potential Employer to See DON’T MIX PERSONAL WITH PROFESSIONAL The social media you use in your job search has to present you as a potential employee—not as a friend. Follow the rules for writing a resume. MAKE SURE YOUR PROFILE IS ERROR-FREE You wouldn’t offer up a resume rife with misspellings, would you? CHOOSE APPROPRIATE CONTACT INFORMATION Your e-mail address or Twitter handle should be professional—a simple variation on your name, perhaps — rather than suggestive or offensive. CONNECT Many organizations have embraced social media as an extension of their hiring practices, and provide information that you can use to research the organization and connect with hiring managers and recruiters. • Check your college/university’s social media groups: Many times, employers join such
groups. • Check social media groups that are focused around your field of interest or career. • Search for the social media pages, profiles, and videos of organizations that interest you. Many organizations post job descriptions, information about salaries, and more. • Ask questions. Even something as broad as “Is anyone hiring in [industry]?” may bring responses, and asking questions about a specific organization—“What’s it like to work at Company X?” can give you insight into the organization and its culture. STAY CONNECTED Keep in touch with recruiters or other decision makers you may interact with in cyberspace. There may not be an available opportunity at their organization right now, but that could change, and you want to be considered when it does. Finally, in addition to maintaining your network, use social media to build your network. Don’t just establish a social media presence—work it. Reach out. Interact. You will get out of social media what you put into it. Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employer.
BUILDING A STRONG LINKEDIN PROFILE • Use keywords in your summary statement. Many employers search by keyword, so use keywords—technical terms and skills—from your field. Not sure what your best keywords are? Find profiles of people who hold the job you’d like to get and see which keywords they use. • Write short text. Describe your skills and abilities in short bursts of keyword-rich text. Use bullets to separate information. •List all your experience. LinkedIn, like other social media, helps you connect with former colleagues and networking contacts who may be able to help you find a job opportunity. It also gives an employer searching to fill a job a 8
description of your expertise. • Ask for recommendations. Collect a recommendation or two from someone at each of the organizations where you’ve worked. Don’t forget to get recommendations for internships you’ve completed. • Refresh your news. Update your status about major projects you’ve completed, books you’re reading, and professional successes you’ve had, at least once a week. This lets your professional contacts know what you are doing and serves as a sign of activity for potential employers. Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
George Shackleford
CONNECT FALL 2015
Dressed for Success
WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO A CAREER FAIR, A JOB INTERVIEW, OR TO YOUR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB? Information courtesy of NACE
WOMEN SUIT: Wear a suit or in black, navy, or gray. Skirt length should fall just at or barely above the knee. Pants should be hemmed to skim the top of your shoes. SHIRT: Pair your suit with a white or light colored blouse, a nice sweater, or a shell. HOSIERY AND SHOES: Hosiery should be plain or neutral. Shoes should be a conservative shoe that matched your suit. Try to avoid tall stilettos. ACCESSORIES: Wear a minimal amount of jewelry: small earrings, a watch, a ring.
MEN SUIT: A conservative, two piece suit in black, navy, or dark grey in appropriate. Khakis, if business casual is called for. SHIRT: Pair it with a long-sleeved tailored shirt. Avoid wild patterns TIE: Choose a conservative tie. Look for something with stripes or a small pattern. SHOES: Wear polished dress shoes, dark socks, and a belt to match your shoes. ACCESSORIES: Wear a minimal amount of jewelry: a watch, a ring.
GROOMING: Have a well-groomed hairstyle and wear minimal and natural-looking makeup. Your fingernails should be clean. Wear a light polish or no polish.
GROOMING: Have a well-groomed hairstyle and wear minimal and clean fingernails.
WHAT NOT TO WEAR: Shorts skirts, shorts, see-through or low cut shirts, sandals, clanking or large jewelry.
WHAT NOT TO WEAR: Shorts, t-shirt, a wild tie, abrasive colors.
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CONNECT FALL 2015
TOP TIPS FOR ANSWERING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Employers believe the best predictor of future behavior is recent past behavior. For example, do you know someone who is always late to class? What’s the likelihood that she’ll be late to class tomorrow? That’s the principle of “behavioral-based interviewing,” a common interviewing technique. Interviewers want to get a picture of how you have behaved recently in a situation because it will help them determine how you’ll behave in a similar situation on the job. Answering these questions takes insight into what employers are looking for.
PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW Before going to an interview, look at the job description (if one is not available, use the job posting as a basis) and think about some of your most important milestones: projects, grades, presentations, and work experiences that make you proud. You’ll use these milestones as examples when answering questions. Use your best examples to concisely tell the story to the interviewer. In addition, there are some standard attributes that many companies look for, including: • Strong communicator • Adaptable/flexible • Able to work in teams • Self-directed/motivated • Demonstrates honesty and integrity • Goal-oriented • Strong follow-through
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Think through your activities and experiences, and identify those that you can use to show you have these attributes. DURING THE INTERVIEW The interviewer says: “Tell me about a time when you were a part of a difficult team and what you did to get the team back on track.” Include the following in your answer: • Situation: Explain the situation in detail. Was it a class team? What was the project? What was difficult about the project? • Action: What did YOU do to pull the team together? What specific action did you take? Don’t talk about what “we” did or “they” did. Talk about your role in the situation. • Outcome: Discuss the outcome of the project or team. Did the team succeed? How did you know the team was successful? • Learning: Sometimes you’ll be asked about a situation in which
you weren’t successful. Talk specifically about what you learned, how you modified your behavior, and how you’ve incorporated this lesson into your routine. Keep your answer focused on recent job-related experiences. Whenever possible, use examples from your internship, class work, professional association, or other degree-related experiences. Do not use personal or family examples, or examples from religious organizations. ADDITIONAL ADVICE Make sure your response is clear and concise. Watch the interviewer’s body language. If he/she seem uninterested, wrap up your answer. If you can’t think of an answer, say so. Don’t try to bluff your way through because the interviewer will know it. The best candidates are able to speak to everything on their resume. Use your career services center to practice sample questions and participate in mock interview sessions.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
CONNECT FALL 2015
TALKING TECHLINK
COORDINATOR OF EMPLOYER RELATIONS AND RECRUITMENT SERVICES ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHLINK In my day-to-day work, I help employers and students connect with one another. I learn what employers want and I strive to help you feel confident that you are presenting yourself in a way that ensures that they
will
respond
positively to you. My name is Jennie Flynn-McKevitt and I am the CoorFLYNN - McKEVITT
dinator of Employer Relations & Recruit-
ment Services in the Tech Career Center. In my role, I serve as the main intermediary between you the student who hopes to secure internships and full-time roles and our employer partners who wish to recruit you. One of the simplest and most efficient ways that I can connect you to our industry partners who are looking for talented Tech Bulldogs is through TechLink, the university’s centralized online job posting site. On this site, you will find part-time roles, internship and co-op experiences, and full-time positions. The full-time roles that are posted range from entry-level positions for upcoming and recent graduates to experienced roles for folks who have been in the field for quite some time. TechLink is a tool you can access long after you’ve graduated, so it’s smart to become familiar with how to use it early on in your academic career. To access TechLink, navigate to the Career Center website (from the Tech homepage, hover over STUDENTS and select CAREER CENTER, which is the last item in the list that pops up) and click on the TechLink logo in the center of the page. If you are interested in registering a new account or would like information about how to use the many
functions of the site, follow the instructions in the STUDENTS section of our website (you’ll find a hyperlinked document called the TechLink FAQ). I manage the daily operations of TechLink so I can also help you troubleshoot if you find you’re having issues. Why is TechLink so important? When employers are surveyed, almost threequarters of respondents report preferring to hire students with relevant work experience. When asked about the specific kinds of work experiences they like to see, 60 percent indicate they prefer to hire folks who have internship or co-op experience over candidates that don’t (source: NACE Job Outlook 2015). Thus getting experience before you graduate is a vital part of gaining a competitive edge over others when looking for a full-time job before you leave the comfort of Tech’s campus. Last academic year, there were more than a fifteen-hundred opportunities posted to TechLink. My advice? Use the system and search for a parttime role, an internship, or a co-op experience so that you can add new skills to your repertoire and acquire the kinds of experiences employers look for when hiring entry-level candidates. If you aren’t finding opportunities on TechLink that fit your career goals, come and see us in the Career Center. We will guide you toward resources that will enable you to find the kind of opportunities that suit your specific needs. I also encourage you to connect with us on social media. You will find the Louisiana Tech University Career Center on LinkedIn, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter. Twitter, in particular, will be useful when you are in the midst of an internship or job search - follow the hashtag #LaTechJobAlert to receive notification about the opportunities that “go live” on TechLink on a daily basis. We have already planned an array of programs to connect you with our industry partners during the academic year. These opportunities include information sessions, on-campus interviews (OCIs), and guest speakers in your student organization meetings or classes. I’ll promote info sessions, OCIs, and other events through your faculty, on TechLink, via email, and on our social media outlets. Stay tuned! Let’s work together to show our employers the value that you can bring to their organization.
TECH LINK
CAREER DAY’S PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
Academic Partnerships AFPG dba Fire Pro Aggreko Air Hygiene Intl. Inc. Albermale Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Amerisafe Ampirical APS Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department ASH Industries Audubon Engineering Axiall Corp Boise Cascade Bowman Bridgestone Buckle, Inc. Bunge North America C.H. Robinson Calumet Cameron CDI Corporation CenterPoint Energy CenturyLink CGI Cheniere Energy, Inc. CITGO Civil Design Group, LLC. Clearwater Paper Cleco ConAgra Foods, Inc. Core of Engineers-Vicksburg Crawford Financial Group Crest Industries CSC Dashiell Corporation Dassault Falcon Jet Delta State University Deltic Timber Corporation Dillard’s Dow Chemical Company Eastman Chemical Company EDG Inc. EL Dorado Chemical Company Enable Midstream Partners Engineered Air Balance Co. Inc Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ericsson Express Jet Airlines Exxon Mobil Corporation Fastenal Company Federal Correctional Complex (Pollock, LA) Fenway Xperience Fibrebond Corporation Ford Bacon & Davis LLC Forte & Tablada, Inc. Frito-Lay Inc. General Cable Corp General Electric Georgia-Pacific Grambling State University Alternative Teacher Certification Project Graphic Packaging International Graphic Packaging International (West Monroe) Gremillion & Pou Integrated Marketing Hatch Mott MacDonald Helmerich & Payne, Inc. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
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CONNECT FALL 2015 CAREER DAY’S PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
APPLYING FOR ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEW THROUGH TECHLINK CREATE AN ACCOUNT • Navigate to the Career Center website (www. latech.edu/career_center) and click on the TechLink logo. • Once on the TechLink registration page, click on the register button on the right-hand side of the page. • Complete the Student/Alumni Registration form, filling in all required fields. Once you have completed the form, click on the submit button at the bottom of the page. • A page will pop up that says, “Your registration has been received. An email will shortly be sent to your email to verify validity of your email address.” • Log in to your email account and click on the link provided in the message entitled, TechLink Email Verification. Clicking on the link will trigger an additional email to be sent to your inbox and you will see a window with this message: “Your email has been confirmed. Thank you for your interest. Your registration has been received and someone will contact you shortly regarding your TechLink account.” • At this point, your account information will be sitting in a “bucket” until someone in the Career Center approves your account. You will have the ability to login to your account once you receive an email entitled Welcome to TechLink, which contains information about your username and how to create your password. • Follow the link in the Welcome to TechLink email to create and confirm your new password. COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE • Navigate to the Career Center webpage (www. latech.edu/career_center) and click on the TechLink logo. • Fill out the username and password fields with your account information and select the GO button. • Once logged in, completely fill out all parts of your profile so that you have the ability to access other sections of the site. UPLOAD YOUR RESUME AND UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT • Click on the Documents tab at the top of your account’s homepage. Documents is the third tab from
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TECH LINK the lefthand side in the toolbar. • In the Documents page, click on the ADD NEW button. • Fill out the “Student Document Label,” selecting a name that will help you to identify the version of the document you are uploading. Below the label, select the most accurate document type. • Upload your document much like you would attach a document in an email: click on “Browse” and locate the file you would like to upload to TechLink on your computer. • To participate in on-campus interviews, you are typically required to submit both a resume and a copy of your unofficial transcript. To access your unofficial transcript, navigate to your BOSS account and either copy and paste the text of your unofficial transcript to a Word document or take screenshots, which you then copy and paste onto a Word document. SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES • From your TechLink homepage, conduct a KEYWORD search and type in a keyword that will allow you to locate the opportunity that has been posted by the organization you are seeking. Be sure that the SHOW ME drop-down menu on the right-hand side of the page displays “All Jobs & Interviews.” Click on the SEARCH button. *Tip: All on-campus interviews (OCIs) have been tagged with the keywords ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEW. Use that search term to locate all OCIs. • Click on the position and verify that the opportunity aligns with your career goals. Also determine if you meet all of the criteria to be able to apply. • Select the APPLY button if you want to submit your resume for consideration. Follow the instructions that pop up with the “apply” box and select SUBMIT once you are ready to send off your documents. For oncampus interviews, you will likely have to submit both a resume and a copy of your unofficial transcript.
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