2008 Woodie Awards
Networking is the key
Andrea Furlong
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students soon to graduate who are looking for jobs have a better chance of finding them through their cell phone contacts list than in a newspaper, according to Career Counselor/Professor of Student Development Morris Pounds.
"The Sunday Gazette represents one to two percent of openings in a given week," said Pounds. The other 98 percent are found on company Web sites and through networking, he said.
"The best way for students to find jobs is by networking. That's how 60 to 85 percent of people find jobs," he said.
Pounds advised that to network efficiently a student must compile a list of people he or she knows in his or her respective career field. Afterward, the student should call everyone on his or her list to ask about available job opportunities. Students interested in working in a particular city might want to network through a general list of people they know in that area, Pounds recommended.
In addition to networking through friends and acquaintances, Pounds said the Internet is another key resource. Instead of logging on to general Web sites like monster.com, he suggested searching specific state and federal job sites, such as corridorcareers.com or iowaworkforce.com. Kirkwood also has its own job site at kirkwood.edu/jobs.
Pounds said jobs are always available but that many students limit themselves by searching close to home.
"There are lots of jobs out there but most students who graduate here have a tendency [to stay] and saturate the market. If the student is willing to go where the job is at, he has a better chance," said Pounds.
A student who searches outside of the town he or she resides in will not only find more opportunities but higher-paying jobs.
"A student can open up a lot of doors by moving 50 miles away. There will be more opportunities that pay more because there's more demand and less of a workforce," said Pounds.
Students who remain undecided about their future careers are encouraged to contact Pounds.
"People always come to us and they don't really know what they want to do," said Pounds.
Pounds offers a variety of career assessment tests including the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator test, which matches students with jobs that suit their personalities. He also teaches classes on job-seeking skills and free workshops where he instructs students how to write a resume, prepare for a job interview, and how to write cover letters and thank you letters.
"The Sunday Gazette represents one to two percent of openings in a given week," said Pounds. The other 98 percent are found on company Web sites and through networking, he said.
"The best way for students to find jobs is by networking. That's how 60 to 85 percent of people find jobs," he said.
Pounds advised that to network efficiently a student must compile a list of people he or she knows in his or her respective career field. Afterward, the student should call everyone on his or her list to ask about available job opportunities. Students interested in working in a particular city might want to network through a general list of people they know in that area, Pounds recommended.
In addition to networking through friends and acquaintances, Pounds said the Internet is another key resource. Instead of logging on to general Web sites like monster.com, he suggested searching specific state and federal job sites, such as corridorcareers.com or iowaworkforce.com. Kirkwood also has its own job site at kirkwood.edu/jobs.
Pounds said jobs are always available but that many students limit themselves by searching close to home.
"There are lots of jobs out there but most students who graduate here have a tendency [to stay] and saturate the market. If the student is willing to go where the job is at, he has a better chance," said Pounds.
A student who searches outside of the town he or she resides in will not only find more opportunities but higher-paying jobs.
"A student can open up a lot of doors by moving 50 miles away. There will be more opportunities that pay more because there's more demand and less of a workforce," said Pounds.
Students who remain undecided about their future careers are encouraged to contact Pounds.
"People always come to us and they don't really know what they want to do," said Pounds.
Pounds offers a variety of career assessment tests including the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator test, which matches students with jobs that suit their personalities. He also teaches classes on job-seeking skills and free workshops where he instructs students how to write a resume, prepare for a job interview, and how to write cover letters and thank you letters.