Preparing for summer employment

By Tamika Robinson
Feature Editor

When looking for a job this summer, students should be aware that the process includes more than filling out applications, but also creating a resume and cover letter and preparing for an interview.

To prepare for this, students should begin by constructing a resume and cover letter to give to employers.

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According to the Director of Career Services and Internships, Jackie Baker, getting a resume is a priority and should be ready to hand to employers when making contact. She also said to structure a resume for the type of job, and even ask parents, other family members and friends about summer job opportunities. Along with a resume, Baker said that it is also important for students to include a cover letter that highlights the skills and abilities employers are looking for.

Associate Professor of English, Dr. David Sokolowski, added that students should make sure to reference the job advertisement in their cover letters. “Job hunters are seeking someone who’s specifically interested in what they are asking a person to do,” Sokolowski said. “They aren’t interested in you per se. They are interested in how well you can perform the job.” Sokolowski, who teaches a professional communication course this semester, also said that the cover letter is more about telling the employer the following: “you are looking for this, and I can provide it.”

Once the resume and cover letter have been submitted, students should follow-up with a phone call or email to inquire about the status of their application. Baker recommends waiting at least a week and a half before following up. “It’s good to be proactive, “ Baker said. “And by doing that you may get your resume and application moved to the top of the pile.” To this, Sokolowski also added that students shouldn’t rely solely on their cover letter and resume to get the job; they should also attempt to make contact with people who work in that particular place.

In preparation for an interview, students should remember to be enthusiastic about the position, dress appropriately and make sure responses are not too short or too long. “A resume can get you the interview, but the interview can get you the job,” Baker said. “It’s really important to polish you interviewing skills before you go into the interview.”

If students need help preparing for an interview, preparation software is available in Career Services. Also, a book recommended by Sokolowski, What Color is My Parachute by Dick Bolles, is available in the library.

Baker also said that students should not wait until they leave campus in May to apply for jobs, but to make the contacts early.