Senior Series 2022: From College to Career
In the weeks leading up to Commencement, the UVM Career Center will present Seniors and soon-to-be-graduates with an assortment of focused topics to start your career chapter off right. From job searching, to resume-writing, to negotiating salary, UVM Career Center has the resources and knowledge to help Seniors realize career success, and to help turn that passion into a position.
Getting Started in Your Job Search
We know you’re thinking about it – Graduation. It’s finally right around the corner. After nearly two decades of school, you’re marking a pivotal moment: the completion of this chapter and the beginning of a brand-new one. It’s an exciting time but it can also be stressful.
Not everyone approaches their career journey the same way, and that’s okay! It’s important to remember you’re not embarking on this new journey alone. We’re here to help you along your path. Here’s a handy checklist which we will explain more in future posts. So, let’s start at the beginning – knowing what you want in a job.
Know What Is Possible
The first step in beginning your job search is understanding what career paths are possible based on your major, skills and experience. You might be surprised by the number of options you have.
Refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbook for career ideas that appeal to you. This site also provides salary information and educational requirements.
Use UVMConnect as a research tool. You could start searching by major and noting what jobs other alums have pursued. Remember, most people have labeled themselves as “Willing to help”, so you should have no hesitation sending them a short message with questions. See example messages.
To find more UVM alums, do some more research with the LinkedIn Alumni tool. Like UVMConnect, you can look at their profiles to see their unique career journey. You can also message them with a question, and don’t forget to mention your common Catamount bond!
This video walks you through some examples of using these tools.
Know What Is Important
By now you probably have a good sense of what is important to you for your career. If you are still deciding, try using some of these tools.
- The O*Net Interest Profiler – discover what fields match your strengths/interests.
- Work Values Matcher – push yourself to prioritize what matters to you most in a future career.
- Salary Calculator – get a sense of how much you’ll earn based on job, education and location.
Know Where to Find It
Many job boards are for a general audience. However, if you are looking for a specific field, be sure to use the appropriate board for that job.
An expansive list of general job boards.
100 job boards based on industry.
If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to drop in at Davis Center Room 204 and talk with our peer leaders. We’re available Monday to Thursday 11 am to 2 pm, we’d love to connect with you!
Don’t lose touch with valuable career tools you have access to for life! Your @uvm.edu email won’t last forever so be sure to:
- Add your personal email to Handshake to maintain access to all the opportunities there.
Learn how: https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409142959511-Update-Your-Primary-Email-Address-in-Handshake - Create or Update your UVMConnect account with a personal email to engage with a robust network of alums.
https://uvmconnect.org/feed
Next week: Job Search Strategies