Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

How can graduating seniors best prepare for the job market?

Brandon J. Bute is assistant director of the campus Career Center, which offers up-to-date postings of job openings and internships, as well as broader advice on how students should approach the task of determining what they want out of work and life A.C. (After College). Bute was interviewed by News Bureau Business and Law Editor Mark Reutter.

How does the job market look now in Illinois? What sectors have the highest employment demands?

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that 20,000 new jobs were added to Illinois’ workforce in just the first two months of 2006. This highlights the increase of nearly 60,000 new jobs in the state over the last year. The areas of greatest growth are in professional and business services, such as accounting, and in the leisure and hospitality industries. The first group experienced a growth of 20,400 new jobs and the second group 14,300 new jobs.

Finding a job sounds terribly intimidating, especially if you don’t know what you want to do. What are some practical steps that students can take to find careers that fit their interests and skills?

Yes, the job-search process can be tough if you don’t know what you’re looking for. So the first step is to develop a goal. And that goal should be based on your interests and skills. The Career Center can help through a number of different mediums. I think the most important is a one-on-one meeting with a career counselor. We also provide a number of online resources such as Discover online that can provide assistance to students as they begin their career exploration.

What qualities and experience are employers looking for in a job candidate?

There are a number of skill sets that employers would like to see incoming employees possess. They include leadership, teamwork, communication, technical, and interpersonal skills. These kinds of skills fall into a category known as transferable skills, or skills learned in one environment that can be utilized in other environments. There’s also a growing desire by employers for students to have a greater global awareness and cultural sensitivity as our economy becomes more internationally interconnected and motivated.

Does that mean you need to graduate with a degree in a particular field in order to enter it?

Not at all. There are certainly some career fields, such as architecture or accounting, where specific training or a specific degree is required. But there are many occupations that a student can enter with a variety of degrees. The student simply has to demonstrate that he or she possesses the skills necessary for that particular occupation. Take a speech communication major who coordinates publicity and advertising for a campus organization. He might demonstrate the skills and experiences required for a career in advertising or public relations, even though he doesn’t have a degree in advertising. Combining extracurriculars with academics is a good strategy.

So what is the best way to “get your foot in the door” of a company or occupation that really interests you?

When all is said and done, networking is still the best way for people to get jobs. Use a friend or a family member or a friend of a family member to make contact with a potential employer. From a career perspective, the alumni population is one of the greatest benefits of graduating from a large and diverse university. Alumni provide a built-in relationship with many employers and can open the door to many job possibilities.

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