1. Career Opportunities & Employer Relations (COER)
Professional Development Planning
Career Opportunities & Employer Relations (COER)
3rd Floor Norwood Hall
(573) career.mst.edu

2. Where will you be in 4 years?
What do you want to do after graduation?
Do you know how to get there?
Where will you be in 4 years?
Some of you have your future planned – you know exactly what you want to be or do after graduation
Some of you haven’t even decided on a major
Regardless of how you answered the first question, the more important question is, do you know how to get there? Do you know the steps you need to take NOW in order to get the job you want after graduation?
It’s never to early or too late to start!
Whether you are a freshman or a senior, there are steps you can take TODAY that will give you a edge over other candidates seeking the same job.

3. Four Important Things You Need to Know!
Employers recruit early
Employers value specific skills
It is your responsibility to:
Obtain the skills required to DO the job you want
Obtain the skills required to FIND the job you want
Just obtaining a degree will not guarantee you will get a job
There are 4 important things you need to know when it comes to getting a job:
1. Employers recruit a semester or two in advance. This means you should be:
Speaking to companies in the fall if you want a spring co-op or summer internship
Speaking to companies in the spring if you want a fall co-op
Interviewing for post-graduation opportunities at least one semester before you graduate
2. Employers value specific skills in their new hires. Some of those skills include:
A good GPA
An internship, co-op, research, or other work experience
Involvement in campus organizations, leadership or design team experience
A strong work ethic, positive attitude, and the ability to work well with others
Good communication skills, good interviewing skills, and professional behavior
3. It is your responsibility to:
Obtain the skills required to DO the job. These are skills learned in the classroom, on the job, through organizational involvement, or experience with a design team.
Obtain the skills required to FIND the job you want. These are the skills we (in COER) teach through professional development workshops, individual advising sessions, practice interviews, etc.
4. Just obtaining a degree will not guarantee you will get a job
Thousands of college students who graduated last year, and even the year before, are still searching for jobs; and many more have taken positions that don’t even require a degree in their field of study, because they need A job. Some of these students even had great GPA’s in college.
The economy is getting better, companies are hiring, right? So, why haven’t these students been hired? For many, the problem is they lack the skills necessary to FIND a job.
Through this workshop, we will provide a guideline for planning activities that will help you understand what skills you need to obtain, and tell you how, when and where you can best obtain these skills.

4. FRESHMAN YEAR 1. Attend a New MinerJobs Users Orientation!
2. Register for MinerJobs and GoinGlobal
3. Create a resume and have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor
Before you even decide you want a job, the first thing you should do is attend a New MinerJobs Users Orientations. (*Show calendar of events and point out dates.)
MinerJobs is a database where employers post job listings for internships, co-ops, full- or part-time employment
Only current students and alumni who graduated from Missouri S&T are allowed to use MinerJobs
The New Users Orientation will give you instructions on how to properly use MinerJobs to search and apply for jobs and on-campus interviews
After orientation, you should register to use MinerJobs and you should also register for GoinGlobal. GoinGlobal is a job-search database used by over 500 universities and colleges; it is particularly useful for location-specific job searches.
3. Next, you will need to create a resume. To learn how to do this, you can schedule an appointment with a COER advisor, attend one of our resume workshops, or pick up a COER Career Planning Handbook. (*Hold one up for example.) After you have finished writing your resume, schedule an appointment to have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor.

5. FRESHMAN YEAR 4. Explore COER website: career.mst.edu
5. Attend COER workshops
6. Start a Career Development Notebook
7. Explore externship opportunities or
conduct informational interviews
8. Consider volunteer positions or join a design team
The next step you’ll want to take is visiting the COER website. On it you will find information about our services, dates/times/locations for upcoming workshops and employer events, resources for students/parents/alumni/employers/faculty, icons to access MinerJobs, GoinGlobal, Mentor a Miner, and more. As the Career Fair approaches, you’ll also find a listing of employers that will be attending and which majors they are seeking to hire.
Each semester, COER presents professional development workshops to teach students how to prepare for and find jobs. You can obtain a calendar of events which lists all the workshops and the date/time/location for each. You can pick one up (*hold up for audience to see) as you leave, or you can obtain a copy in our office, or find this information located on our website.
You will also want to start a notebook or file in which you can keep career-related information you’ll be collecting over the next few years.
Your freshman year is a great time to explore externship or job shadowing opportunities. These are great opportunities for you to determine if you would like working in a certain field or type of position. Ask the COER office about externships that take place over the Christmas holiday or during Spring Break. Informational interviews are those you conduct with various employers to determine your interest in a specific field or type of position.
Another way to gain useful skills, and improve the experience section of your resume, is to volunteer. You may want to join a design team or campus organization, or help out in a local business or charitable organization.

6. FRESHMAN YEAR
9. Purchase business attire or visit the COER Suit Closet
10. Begin NETWORKING!
Create a contact list
Attend employer info sessions and networking events
If you do not own a suit or other professional clothing, you will need to purchase some from a store or visit the COER Suit Closet. Our Closet is stocked through donations from alumni, faculty, staff, and local business professionals. Any Missouri S&T student may visit the Suit Closet to obtain clothing free of charge that will be appropriate for attending career fairs and interviews.
You will also want to take time this year to begin networking.
Start a list of everyone you or your parents know who might be a resource for you. List their name, address, phone number, and address. Keep this list in your career notebook and continue adding to or updating it as time goes on.
Attend the employer events sponsored by COER. Often times these events will take place over the lunch hour and will include free food, drinks, ice cream, etc. Take a copy of your resume to the event and talk to a recruiter from the company. Ask questions about the company, the type of work they do, and the job opportunities they have available. You might also inquire about the skills needed or the degree required to perform these jobs. Keep this information in your career notebook.
You should also make time to attend at least one of the two career fairs this year. The fall career fair is scheduled for the 4th Tuesday in September and the spring career fair will be on the 3rd Tuesday in February. Make a list of the employers you want to visit and take enough resumes to give one to each of those employers. Remember, professional dress is required.
11. Attend career fairs

7. sophomore YEAR
Update your resume and have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor
Update your MinerJobs profile and re-register for GoinGlobal
Join campus organizations
Consider co-op, internship, externship and study abroad opportunities
At the beginning of your sophomore year, you should update your resume with summertime employment, any new skills you’ve learned, activities you have participated in, or groups you’ve recently joined.
You’ll also need to update your MinerJobs profile. Make sure you target date for graduation is still correct, your GPA is accurate, and you’ve listed the type of employment you’re seeking. If you need any assistance with MinerJobs, stop by the COER office or give us a call. And remember, you’ll have to re-register for GoinGlobal because you’re only given 6 months of access at a time.
Now that you know how things work at Missouri S&T, your sophomore year is a great time to join campus organizations. Check out student organizations that are affiliated with your field of study.
It’s also a great time to take a co-op or study abroad. Summer internships or externships over Spring Break will also provide excellent opportunities to gain knowledge and skills. Be sure to add these activities to your resume once you’ve returned to school.

8. sophomore YEAR Attend COER workshops Schedule a practice interview
7. Take the Strengths
Quest Assessment
8. Start building your
online brand
You’ll also want to get a copy of the COER calendar of events and choose a few workshops to attend. Skills learned in these workshops will help you make a better impression during interviews, at networking events, and when speaking to employers at the career fairs.
Prior to the career fair or an interview, you should schedule a practice interview with a COER Career Advisor. Students often don’t realize the many little mistakes they make in an interview that cost them a job. Don’t rely on the “fly by the seat of your pants” method! Call and set up an appointment today!
Strengths Quest was developed Dr. Donald Clifton and Dr. Chip Anderson. The theory behind Strengths Quest is that a person who develops his/her strengths and applies them to their work, will produce excellence, as opposed to spending excess time trying to improve or manage their weaknesses. The Strengths quiz, administered online by The Gallup Organization, identifies a person’s top 5 Strengths. Once a student takes the quiz, a COER advisor can assist them in learning to apply their strengths to their work and relationships everyday.
Social media is a vital part of nearly every college student’s life today. Although it’s easy to get caught up in posting drunken party pictures and the latest gossip, be aware that employers are looking and paying attention to what you tweet and post. Now is a great time to establish yourself as a professional online. Start building your LinkedIn profile, tell friends and family members on Facebook that you’re searching for a job and ask for their help in identifying leads, tweet about professional topics.

9. sophomore YEAR Continue Networking!
Research companies you are interested in
Attend BOTH career fairs
Develop relationships with faculty and employers
Begin putting your reference page together
11. Maintain your GPA!
As the year progresses, you’ll have multiple opportunities to connect with employers at employer information seminars and networking events.
Research companies you may be interested in working for
Look at their website for information about the type of work they do, the products they make, their financial status, etc.
Find recent articles about the company and glean information for talking points with a recruiter
Prepare questions to ask employers about the information you discovered from your research
Be sure a attend BOTH career fairs. It’s easy to develop a good relationship with a recruiter who attends every career fair. Watch for opportunities to remind them of past conversations you’ve had with them
10. By now you should be developing relationships with faculty in your field of study. Watch for opportunities to make a good impression. Ask questions to show interest. Seek out opportunities to give your assistance. Check into possible research opportunities with graduate students in your department.
Begin asking those professors, past employers/supervisors, mentors, or professionals who know your work ethic and your abilities, if they can provide a good reference for you. If they agree, list their contact information on your reference page. You can pick up a COER Career Planning Handbook today to learn how to create a reference page.

10. Junior YEAR Continue with campus involvement and become a leader
Update your resume and have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor
Update your MinerJobs profile and re-register for GoinGlobal
If you have been involved in an organization, now is a great time to run for office or become a group leader on a design team.
You will also want to update your resume with any new experiences, activities, or skills you’ve gained, and have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor.
Again, you’ll need to check your MinerJobs profile. Make sure all of the information is correct and submitted to COER, so you can begin searching for internship or co-op positions.

11. Junior YEAR Secure a co-op or intern position Attend COER workshops
Schedule a practice
interview with a COER Career Advisor
7. Attend BOTH career fairs
By the time you’ve reached your junior year, you will be taking courses directly related to your major. This is a great time to get some hands on experience by obtaining a co-op or internship. You will not only want to search MinerJobs and GoinGlobal, but you’ll want to take advantage of opportunities to talk with employers who have come to campus for information sessions and networking events. Additionally, you should be talking to the people on your networking list (which was started in your freshman year).
Remember to pick up a copy of the COER Calendar of Events or check our website to obtain dates, times and locations of professional development workshops. Many of our workshops will help you prepare for meeting employers at the career fair and networking events.
Scheduling a practice interview with a COER Career Advisor, prior to interviewing with employers, will prove to be a very strategic move. Students who go through the practice interview say it was one of the best preparations they could have gone through before their real interviews.
By the time you are a junior, you should be getting comfortable with career fairs. Continue networking with the recruiters from the companies you most want to work for. This is a great year to be selected for co-op or internship positions, so put your best suit on and look sharp!

12. Junior YEAR Write a cover letter (Maybe!)
Investigate Graduate School opportunities
Maintain your GPA
Retake classes with poor performance
Maintain your online brand
Most jobs you find on MinerJobs don’t require submitting a cover letter; however, when applying through GoinGlobal or on an employer’s website, a cover letter may be necessary. Check the COER Career Planning Handbook for information and examples on letter writing. If you need more assistance, or would like your letter reviewed prior to submission, call to schedule an advising appointment with a COER Career Advisor.
Many of you may be considering continuing your education beyond the undergraduate degree. Your junior year is the time you should be investigating schools and programs.
You’ll also want to beef up your online profile this year. Continue letting your friends and family know of your professional plans. Instead of party pictures with your buddies, post pictures showing your work while on internship or co-op, or in your interview suit going to the career fair.

13. Senior YEAR
Adapt your resume to each job and have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor
Update your MinerJobs profile and re-register for GoinGlobal
Purchase a business suit
Woo-hoo! Your senior year! You’re in the home stretch – your classes may be difficult, but you’re doing the work and trying to keep up your GPA. That’s great! You’re on the right track. But don’t forget, it’s time to look for that job you’ve been dreaming about for years! So, get out your resume and update it with any new experiences, skills or activities, and schedule an appointment to have it reviewed by a COER Career Advisor.
Don’t forget to update your MinerJobs profile and re-register for GoinGlobal. These databases will provide great opportunities for job hunting.
That suit you bought several years ago has probably been worn to several career fairs and interviews – or maybe you’ve grown a little. It may be time to purchase a new outfit that is more professional than you’ve been wearing – be sure to do this before requests for interviews start coming in.

14. Senior YEAR Attend a COER Etiquette Dinner
Research average starting salaries for your major
Attend BOTH career fairs and continue networking
If you have not yet attended a COER etiquette dinner, now is the time! This is a 5-course meal during which we teach all aspects of dining etiquette. Often times, plant trips and interviews will include a meal with company representatives. Knowing all the rules of dining etiquette will help you to focus on your interview instead of your meal or your manners.
Before you start interviewing, it’s a good idea to know what an average starting salary is for a person with the degree you’ll be obtaining. This comes in handy when negotiating job offers. You can find the most recent statistics for average starting salaries for Missouri S&T students on the COER website or by picking up a COER At-a-Glance from our office.
Your senior year will be your most important for attending the career fair and networking events. The skills you’ve learned from COER workshops on networking, power introductions, interviewing skills and conquering the career fair will be particularly useful this year.

15. Senior YEAR TAKE graduate school entrance exams
EVALUATE job offers; seek assistance from COER Career Advisors, if needed
REPORT your post-graduation plans to COER
JOIN your local alumni chapter
GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT……what do these acronyms mean? A test you will most likely need to take prior to being accepted into a graduate school program. Check with the school you are interested in attending to see which test is required for the degree you are seeking. You will need to register and take the test prior to the school’s application deadline. Make sure and study for the test!
Wow! You’ve got 3 job offers! And they all look great! So which one do you choose? Believe it or not, this happens frequently – Missouri S&T students will often receive several offers, all from great companies, which makes decision making difficult. Call the COER to schedule an advising appointment and we’ll help you compare the offers (apples to apples) so you can make the most informed decision possible.
When it’s time to graduate, you’ll be asked to complete a survey about your post graduation plans. If you’ve been offered a job, you’re planning to attend grad school you’re going into the military, or just continuing in a job you’ve already been working in, let us know your plans. Data we collect from you is used to determine average starting salaries, it helps your department to attract and retain students and faculty, and it….
And lastly, stay on your department’s list serves. Why? I don’t know. But I’m sure one of these great ladies will assist me with this bullet point! : )

16. Missouri S&T Employers
What Employers Want
NACE Job Outlook
Missouri S&T Employers
Teamwork
Leadership
Communication Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Strong Work Ethic
Analytical Skills
Initiative
Technical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Organizational Ability
Ethical Behavior
Problem Solving Skills
Teamwork
Initiative
Communication/Analytical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Technical Knowledge
Adaptability
Detail Oriented
IT Skills
When an employer conducts an interview, he or she is looking for the person who (they believe) will best fit the position they are trying to fill. Recruiters will look for certain character traits and strengths in the candidates they interview, believing these will be present in the “right” person for the job.
NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, is an organization that connects college career services professionals with HR/staffing professionals who are focused on university relations and recruiting. NACE is the leading source for information on the employment of college-educated people.
Each year, NACE asks recruiters to list the top ten skills, strengths, or character traits they are looking for in new hires. On the left side of this slide, you can see the results from NACE’s 2012 survey.
On the right side, are the results from a similar survey we gave to over 800 employers who recruit Missouri S&T students through our office.
(Discuss some of the traits. Communication will be next slide.)

17. Career PDP Planning Why a PDP after college? -Tangible Tool
-Future Reference
-Visual Outline
-Helps Identify
-Current and Future Needs
-Specific To-do Items
-Resources Needed
-Creates a Structured Plan and Timeline

18. Career PDP Planning

19. Career PDP Planning

20. Career PDP Planning

21. career.mst.edu ~ career@mst.edu ~ (573) 341 - 4343
Questions?
That concludes our presentation for today. Does anyone have a question about any of the services provided by Career Opportunities & Employer Relations?
career.mst.edu ~ ~ (573)
Career Opportunities & Employer Relations