By Molly Packer
Reporter
In the midst of preparing for final exams, maintaining good grades and counting down the days to graduation, searching for a job still lies on the horizon for many seniors. Over the next several weeks, Career Services is offering several opportunities to students seeking assistance in their job search.
Career Services is hosting a Lunch and Learn event from noon until 1 p.m. today in the lobby and study common areas in Sid Richardson Building. Stephanie Scesney, a Target representative, and Sean McCormick of the insurance company New York Life will be available to answer questions related to job searches. Cookies and drinks will also be provided at the event.
The Lunch and Learn event is a new series of informational lunches for students, Carolyn Muska, associate director of Career Services, said. Along with the lunch being offered today, another Lunch and Learn event will take place in April targeted toward liberal arts majors.
Seniors will also have time today from 1 to 6 p.m. to stop by the Stone Room of the Ferrell Center for the Bear Fair.
“Seniors can order caps and gowns and check the spellings on their diplomas. Career Services will also have a booth there,” Muska said. While ordering caps and gowns, seniors will have the opportunity to get their resume reviewed by the faculty of Career Services and ask any questions they may have about their job search.
The Nonprofit/Government Job Fair will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Barfield Drawing Room of the Student Union Building.
“Dress appropriately and bring your resume,” Muska said. “You can also find more information at www.hireabear.com.”
Muska said the Third Annual Etiquette Dinner sponsored by Delta Epsilon Iota and Career Services on March 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
“It’s everything from how to enter a chair and sit down at a table to using your napkin that you can use in professional interview settings,” Muska said.
The remainder of the spring semester will see various companies doing on campus interviews at the interview suites in Clifton Robinson Tower and the basement of the Sid Richardson Building.
“Most of the companies interviewing are ones that have a recruiting budget — companies that take a bunch of college grads and train them for the company,” Donna Sparks, assistant director of Career Services, said. “IT and engineering are specialties in high demand.”
To help students prepare for interviews, Career Services offers resources such as an online interview stream that uses a webcam to allow students to critique themselves as they practice interviewing in front of a computer. Mock interviews and 30-minute career counseling appointments are free services offered through Baylor as well.
“A lot of people who recently graduated or are about to graduate say they wish they would’ve known about the resources offered by Career Services sooner,” Sparks said. “I just encourage them to stop by and utilize those services that are already paid for by the university.”
Additional Career Services events are happening in late April. On April 19, Baylor will be collaborating with McClennan Community College, Texas State Technical College and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce for the fourth annual Work in Waco Job Expo.
Kevin Nall, associate director for Career Services, is helping set up this event for students.
“We’ve got a lot of younger talent available in the colleges in Waco and they don’t stay in Waco,” Nall said. “We want to showcase local employers and show that there are nice opportunities here in Waco, too.”
In the past, the event has garnered the attention of 40-50 employers and about 300 students from Baylor, McClennan Community College and Texas State Technical College.
Nall is also heading up a new event called “Senior Scramble” on April 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is targeted toward spring graduates who have not started on their job search.
“For students who want to wrap up the semester, graduate and get out of here, we wanted a fun and informal opportunity to come get information about interviewing, resumes, job searches and networking,” Nall said. “We’re trying to provide a different venue for that and we hope seniors will participate at a high level.”
Along with the opportunity for help from Career Services, students will receive a free dinner of scrambled eggs and pancakes.
