UAlbany Seniors Graduating into the Best Job Market in Years 

Seniors need to be proactive, not reactive in searching for a job, according to Director of Career and Professional Development Noah Simon.

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 3, 2016) -- According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, businesses are planning to hire at a higher rate than they did in 2015. This is great news for our graduating seniors and those across the country.

“This year’s graduating seniors should be excited by the fact that they are entering a strong hiring market,” said Director of Career and Professional Development (CPD) Noah Simon. “Senior year is the time to be more focused on the process of finding a job.”

But if you are preparing to graduate, is your resume ready for a job search?

“Doing a job search is not as simple as looking at lists and applying for whatever jobs are available,” said Simon. “Students should be conducting a proactive search rather than a reactive search.”

This means they need to think about what type of job they want, where they want to work, and what they have to offer an employer. According to Simon, most individuals need to be taught how to do a proactive job search, how to write an effective resume and cover letter, and how to network and interview.

Which is where his office steps in. “CPD is here to teach students these skills,” said Simon.

Students can get their resume or cover letter critiqued during drop-in hours and they can make an appointment with a counselor to learn the skills need for a proactive job search. During an appointment they will become more familiar with tools such as CareerShift which helps students identify potential employers in any industry throughout the country. Many job opportunities can only be identified through the employers’ website.

“Our services are not just for seniors. We can help all students searching for internships and applying to graduate school, as well. We can also offer our support with choosing majors and careers,” said Associate Director Cathy Parker.

Some Initial Steps

The critical, first step in a job search is creating a resume. The staff at CPD can look over your resume to make sure it is effective for your job search.

Next, engage with Handshake, the University’s job and internship database. This can be found on the career website and if you have an iPhone you can download the Handshake app. Handshake allows students to search jobs being posted for UAlbany students and keeps them up to date on CPD programs and events.

In addition, take advantage of any trainings or support available through the University. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, employers will be available in the Career Office to critique student resumes.

Then on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 12-5 p.m., the Career Development office will host its annual Spring Job and Internship Fair at the SEFCU Arena. More than 100 employers are expected to attend with information about jobs and internships for students of all majors.

In addition, the Career Office is hosting the following workshops to help students prepare for the fair:

How to Write a Resume and How to Prepare for a Career Fair
• Thursday, Feb. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. in LC 20
• Monday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. in LC 21

How to Write a Resume Workshop
• Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. in LC 21

How to Prepare for a Career Fair
• Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11:30 a.m. in LC 14

The University has many resources to support its students in these endeavors. Be sure to follow CPD on Twitter for the latest updates on the Feb 18 fair and other opportunities at #JobandInternshipFair and #AllMajorsWanted.

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