All posts by Katie Yeaton-Hromada, Coordinator for Career Services and Internship Programs

Opinion, Uncategorized

Eight tips from Career Services for NECC graduates

 
Flier that says Congrats Class of 2023! Scan the QR code to learn more about Career Services. Questions? Email Career Services, careerservicse@necc.mass.edu
Photo courtesy of Career Services

Congratulations soon-to-be NECC graduates! You have accomplished a great deal in your NECC journey – taking courses during the pandemic and navigating through a cyberattack this semester. It can be both exciting and intimidating to take consider life after graduation but we are here to help with any questions related to career. Whether you plan to join the workforce, transfer for your bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both, we hope you find this information helpful.

Here are our top eight tips for you to consider as you prepare for the next steps in your career.

  1. Connect with Career Services. We work with all NECC students and graduates! Our most popular meeting topics include: career exploration, resume and cover letter feedback, job and internship search tips, and interview preparation.

And yes…Career Services will be open this summer and available for both in-person and Zoom-based virtual appointments! 😊

  1. Create or update your resume. You’ve graduated! Let your resume reflect your achievement, and express your strengths, skills, and accomplishments. Keeping your resume up to date is a proactive approach and ensures you will be ready if an opportunity arises.
  2. Create a cover letter. A cover letter is commonly included with your resume in an application. Develop a one-page cover letter to be used as a template for future applications. Creating this cover letter now will save you time in tailoring your materials for each application
  3. Activate and complete your Handshake profile. Handshake is our school’s job and internship board. It is also home to many employer-hosted events that can help you explore career options and learn more about companies. Complete your profile, and start browsing opportunities. Statistics show 80% of students who fill out the career interest section of their profile get messaged. A complete profile increases the likelihood an employer will directly message you.
  4. Network! Regardless of your next steps, networking is important in all industries and all occupations, and the sooner you get started, the better off you will be. Networking is a broad term for meeting and connecting with people in occupations and companies you’re interested in pursuing. This includes people you’ve attended classes with and met during your time at NECC- connect now so you don’t lose touch! Not sure where to start? Read the next two tips.
  5. Create a LinkedIn Account. LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform and is a helpful networking resource. You can connect with friends and family already on the platform to get started. Follow companies you admire or are considering to work for in the future. As an alumnus of the college, you also have access to a great network of Knights. Follow Northern Essex Community College on LinkedIn and connect with other graduates.
  6. Attend career and job fairs. NECC hosts career events and MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center hosts events throughout the year. You can also check out the events hosted by your local chamber of commerce. Check out these websites to get started:
    1. NECC Career Services: https://www.necc.mass.edu/succeed/career-services/college-career-workshops/
    2. MassHire Merrimack Valley: https://masshiremvcc.com/events/
  1. Patience and persistence. Easy to say, hard to do. When you are applying to jobs or internships, it can be a long process. Your patience will be tested and you may apply to many places. Remember to connect with your resources – like Career Services, your professors, LinkedIn, etc. – and keep moving forward.
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Searching for a job can take longer than expected. Did you know the average time from application to accepting a full-time job in 2022 is three to six months? Preparing for your search, applying and interviewing, researching companies, and successfully landing a position requires patience and diligence.

Here are Career Services’ top 5 tips for job searching:

1. Login to Handshake.
• Handshake is NECC’s job board and much more! Attend free employer-hosted events, search for internships and jobs, and check out NECC’s Career Center Resource area for templates.
• To get on to Handshake, login to your MyNECC Portal and scroll to the bottom of the homepage. Click the Handshake login on the left-hand side.
2. Prepare!
• Creating a resume and cover letter is a great first step in your job search. It’s best to proofread your application materials, making sure they are free of spelling and punctuation mistakes. Then ask yourself, are your application materials telling your story? Do they contain relevant information that shows you are the best candidate for the job? Are they clear, concise, and easy to read?
• Pro tip: Reach out to three qualified people to give you feedback. Career Services can be one of them! It’s good to have a small group of people provide suggested edits before you apply.
3. Keep Track of Your Applications.
• Save the job description as a Word file or PDF. You may find the job posting has been taken offline when you go to interview, and you will be thankful to Tracking your applications in a journal or separate Excel document is a great idea.
• Another helpful tool is to create a spreadsheet to track your applications. List the company name, the job title, and the date you applied in a document. You may find yourself creating multiple accounts and applying to different companies. This spreadsheet is a good place to keep your account info, reminders, and notes about the role and company.
4. Networking and Events.
• Sometimes the best job for you is one not listed on a website. Attending events – virtual or in-person – and meeting people in the roles or company you want to work for is an excellent way to discover these unlisted opportunities. Take initiative today! Create a LinkedIn account and start connecting with friends, family, NECC alumni, and more.
5. Beware of scams.
• If the job listing seems too good to be true, it likely is. Here are five common signs of a scam:
1. A job post that claims you will make a thousand dollars a week by working from home is a common example.
2. Jobs with poor grammar and multiple misspellings.
3. The email address isn’t right. The company name is misspelled or the email ends with Gmail or Yahoo.
4. There’s an upfront cost. You’re asked for pay for your own laptop and equipment with a promise of being reimbursed.
5. You’re asked to send a resume and there’s no specific job posting. Someone could be looking to get your contact information, such as your home address, phone number, or email.

Want to connect with Career Services?

It’s never too early to connect! Our services are FREE for students and recent alumni. We help you build career development knowledge, skills, and tools that will help you now and throughout your career.
Zoom and in-person appointments are available. Schedule through Navigate or email careerservices@necc.mass.edu with questions.