OSU Career Services helps students fulfill career goals
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Oklahoma State University students can work toward their New Year’s resolution of finding a job with the help of OSU Career Services.
“Getting a job is a job,” director of OSU Career Services, Pamela Ehlers, said. “It’s hard work.”
But Career Services has several services available to students to help ease the stress of the job search. Services like resume workshops, mock interviews, job development, job listing and job search activities, as well as their most successful programs: career fairs.
“We’re known for our career fairs,” Ehlers said. “Employers love to come here and recruit students.”
The employer attendance at the fall 2010 career fairs totaled 279, while 181 employers attended OU career fairs.
One recruiter who attended a recent event said she enjoyed her experience at an OSU career fair.
“We recently went to another state university’s career fair and OSU’s blows them out of the water. Much more organized and much friendlier. Very satisfied with our day here,” the recruiter said.
Ehlers said the high employer attendance is because of Career Services’ unique approach to customer service.
“We model ourselves more like a sales organization rather than an academic one. We make employers want to come back, which ultimately helps our number one client: the students.”
The Wall Street Journal has also taken notice and listed OSU among the top 45 schools in the nation from which to recruit future employees.
The university is ranked in the second tier of 25 universities at number 30; being the only university in Oklahoma and one of six Big 12 universities listed.
In the 2009-2010 school year, Career Services had 4,488 jobs open for student applications, 63,374 resumes viewed by employers and 4,446 on-campus interviews.
Students have an account on HireOSUgrads.com from the time they enroll, but it is their responsibility to activate and take advantage of their online account starting their freshman year.
In addition to the services available through Career Services, there is also at least one career consultant within each college, as well as a consultant in the Career Services office, to help students begin their job search and help them stay on track.
OSU May 2010 graduate Laura Cook, was a student frequently involved in Career Services’ programs. She said she couldn’t have landed her job without their help.
As the current staff accountant at ONEOK Energy Services, Cook said students should make the most of the Career Service programs during their undergraduate years.
Cook said that help with her resume was the most valuable service she received from Career Services.
“You can have a great GPA and tons of leadership experience, but if you fail to present the information well, employers aren’t going to take the time to read it. I would definitely recommend that everyone take their resume to Career Services multiple times.,” Cook said.
For more information about Career Services and upcoming programs, visit HireOSUgrads.com.
