As we are at the start of the spring semester, numerous students are looking forward to crossing the finish line of their undergraduate career and receiving their diploma at graduation. However, before students can obtain their diploma, there is still a lot of preparation to be done before commencement.
In addition to completing the final classes needed to graduate, soon to be graduates have other tasks to complete in order to be prepared for life after leaving Winthrop in May. These tasks may include searching for job openings, applying for jobs, completing graduate school applications, as well as updating or creating a resume.
Fortunately, there are several resources at Winthrop University that are available to aid students in preparing for post-graduation. The Center of Career Development and Internships provides numerous services for students such as resume and cover letter review, practice interviews and career fairs.
On February 23, there will be a Career showcase held virtually that will provide opportunities for students to network with various businesses. Students can register for this event by visiting The Center of Career Development and Internships website.
Tiffany Alexander, the Associate Director of Employer Engagement and Internships at Winthrop University, suggests soon to be graduates should be “perfecting their LinkedIn page, begin developing a professional resume and cover letter, and network with people in your field.”
It can be difficult to find time prior to graduation to work on and begin preparing for employment, but it is important to begin these tasks soon rather than waiting a few weeks before receiving a diploma. “Searching for employment is a process” Alexander said, “everyone’s experience is different, it could be easy, or it could be challenging.”
Finding mentors and networking with professors and other faculty may also be beneficial in one’s preparation in finding employment or gaining more information about a specific field.
Dr. Chen, the Internship Coordinator for the English department, suggests beginning searching for and applying to jobs now. “Different jobs or industries may have different timelines when it comes to hiring new graduates, but some jobs are probably open already,” Dr. Chen explained.
Additionally, in reference to applying to jobs, Dr. Chen says to “develop a timeline for yourself and use a spreadsheet to keep track of the jobs you are applying for: what materials they request, deadlines, and mark your process as you begin applying.”
Senior Middle Level Education major Courtney Smith shares that in preparation for graduation she is “currently in Internship II, working on edTPA, and finishing up her last classes needed to graduate.”
As graduation is nearing, Smith says “I feel well prepared for graduation and finding a job afterwards. I feel that I have worked very hard for where I am getting to very soon, and I’ll reap a lot from that hard work beyond a degree and a job, and I am very thankful for that.”
Although this process may seem intimidating or discouraging to some, Dr. Chen shares, “Don’t feel like just because you lack professional experiences, you can’t apply for a lot of jobs. We all have to start somewhere.”
Photo by Emma Crouch
