As many seniors begin their final semester at NMU and look ahead to graduation in the spring, students should prepare early for their post-NMU careers.
NMU’s career services provide resources and services for students with career placements and preparation. These services range from different workshops to hosting job fairs on campus.
Jim Gadzinski, director of the Academic and Career Advising Center said students shouldn’t wait until the end of their final semester to begin preparing for their future.
“If you wait until the last minute before graduation, you’re late,” Gadzinski said. “We’re always trying to help students prepare for the next level, no matter what stage they’re at.”
According to Gadzinski, the most popular workshop the career services conduct are the resume workshops.
Students learn in resume workshops how to properly assemble their resumes through writing techniques and correct structure, along with avoiding common errors that people encounter when filling out their resumes.
The career services will be holding resume workshops in Room 2303 of Hedgcock 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, 5 p.m. and Thursday, March 27 and 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 9.
Gadzinski said after building your resume, researching job locations and figuring out where you will send your resume is the next step.
“Before you begin sending out resumes, you have to stop and decide if you want to stay in the U.P., in Michigan or even the Midwest,” Gadzinski said. “Don’t send a resume to Florida if you’re going to decline a job or interview there. Don’t send one out in the community if you don’t plan on staying in the area.”
Once you have your resume completed and an ideal location in mind, you can upload your information and build a profile to a web system on the career services’ website called Cat Career Tracks. The system is designed to help students search and apply for jobs at any time, as well as have their resume available to potential employers along with keeping up to date with job fairs, workshops and other events held by Career Services.
Alex Nye, senior English writing major said he has found the career services to be beneficial towards his future career.
“Everything’s been extremely helpful,” Nye said. “From the counselors’ support, to the workshops, to job searching on Catcareer Tracks, I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on how to move forward with my career. You can tell that everyone who is involved has the best intent for the student’s success.”
NMU will be hosting a Summer Job Fair 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 in the Great Lakes Room in the University Center. The fair will consist of local and regional businesses looking for part-time employees over the summer, such as Bay Cliff Health Camp, Family Video movie club, Lakes Radio Inc., Mackinac State Historic Parks and more.
NMU will also be hosting the Upper Great Lakes Collegiate Job Fair 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 from in the Great Lakes Room in the University Center. The organizations at the fair will range from health care services, criminal justice employers, accounting insurance agencies, the State of Michigan DNR and many more.
Gadzinski said the biggest mistake students make when attending job fairs is underestimating the formality of the events.
“We see students who show up in ripped-jeans and T-shirts, who take information fliers and go on their way,” Gadzinski said. “If you’re going to attend the job fair, you should prepare yourself in a suit and tie, along with researching the groups that will be at the fair that you might be interested in and be ready to tell them why you are perfect for their job.”
Students can find more information on upcoming job fairs and all events hosted by the career services by visiting www.nmu.edu/careerservices, or by calling the office at (906) 227-2800.
Nye said students should be preparing for their future, even if they aren’t graduating this upcoming spring.
“Everyone should be looking ahead and utilizing your resources,” Nye said. “Use the help on campus while you still can while you’re a student. The time is now to start planning ahead.”
