It's Tuesday: Do You Know Where Your Candidates Are? (How to work with Career Services)

As the Director of Alumni Placement, my main focus is assisting the Berkeley Graduate who has graduated over a year ago. In order for the partnership to be a successful one, I begin each new 'relationship' with some 'rules of the road'; these 'rules' are applicable to the 'recent' graduate as well and enable both parties to work effectively together.

Call Us

Where are you?  Have you called and/or emailed your counselor recently? If he/she was unavailable - did you leave a coherent message asking for a return call?  Were you walking while talking? (If so, do you realize on voice-mail that we catch every other word?)  Has it been days or weeks or months since you checked in with your counselor? If you don't let us know what is happening with your job search, we can't help you.  Tell us about the interview, the phone screen, the follow-up before it happens...help us to help you.

Use the Tools We Provide

What is the deal with CareerZone?  Have you visited it lately?  Do you know that if you ignore it for 90 days it gets angry with you and often won't let you log in? (Do you realize that your career counselor spends many hours 'marketing' Berkeley College and its graduates in order to produce job opportunities that are then posted on CareerZone?) Be nice to CareerZone - visit it and apply to openings.  *DO YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT PENDING APPROVAL ON CAREERZONE?  LET US KNOW WHEN YOU POST AND NOT WHEN IT'S BEEN THERE FOR TWO WEEKS!

Talk to Us

Keep us in the loop.  Tell your counselor about what is happening with you - where you have applied, how your interviews are going - how you are feeling...sometimes just talking to your career counselor will make you feel more positive about your job search...sometimes expressing your fears, concerns, frustrations is a good way of letting off some steam and giving yourself the opportunity to see things with fresh eyes.  Shake up the search a bit - try new key words in your search...create a resume without an objective...reach out to some old pals on LinkedIn and ask if they know of an interesting opportunity.  Get a new haircut.  Trade a tie with your friend.....switch handbags with your BFF and give your interview outfit a new kick.

Remember we are on your side.

Stay Positive

This is the toughest job you will ever have.  (Finding one, that is.)  We are here to help you - guide you - encourage you.  But this is a partnership with the most important part being You.  You is what counts here - we are only along for the ride.

Contributing Author - Amy Soricelli