Students to Seek Jobs at Networking Events
Commencement may be four months away, but savvy students are launching job searches now.
To help alleviate employment worries, the HSPH Career Services Office will host Career Networking Events on Thursday, February 24 and Tuesday, February 29 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Building.
Students also may post resumes anytime to www.hsph.harvard.edu/resume, a website launched in November.
"The networking events are a good way for people to introduce themselves to each other and get resumes to companies," said Peter Crudele, director of career services.
Representatives of more than 20 businesses and organizations are expected to attend. Many will have specific job descriptions in hand, but others will come simply to meet students.
"All of the people coming from these organizations will be here to meet HSPH students," said Jeannette Gerzon, assistant director of career services. "It's a great opportunity for students to meet them face-to-face and talk about the possibilities of working with them."
Crudele advises students to educate themselves about the companies in advance and to evaluate their own skills to help ensure a good match. Dress casually but professionally, he said.
"It's always a good idea to bring copies of your resume or curriculum vitae so that you can leave them with the recruiter if you want to do so," said Gerzon.
"Even though these are not formal interviews," said Crudele, "people are making decisions based on who and what they see."
A little salesmanship never hurts. Interpersonal skills carry weight with recruiters, and students would do well for themselves if they thought of their skills as marketing products.
"At HSPH, people don't tend to think of themselves as marketers, but as humanitarians," he said. "When they look for jobs, students have to put on their salesman hats."
As any good salesperson knows, closing the deal is paramount. Depending on the exchanges between potential employers and employees, students should ask for business cards, write follow-up letters, make phone calls, or set appointments to meet again.
Crudele warns against complacency in a thriving job market. Don't let the four percent unemployment rate fool you, he advised.
"The assumption is that jobs are waiting to be picked up like gold in the street," he said, "but, keeping in mind the downsizing of 10 years ago, employers are looking for people who can do more with less. The people who can show that they can do multiple tasks are the ones in whom companies may be interested."
To prepare themselves for the networking events or to seek advice in
general, students are encouraged to visit the Career Services Office in
Kresge G-29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Appointments may
be made at 432-1034. Crudele and Gerzon advise on a range of topics, including
interview skills, salary negotiations, and resumes. They also hope to
organize more days when specific companies interview students on campus;
they sponsored a similar day last October when Bristol-Myers Squibb met
more than 30 students. Crudele and Gerzon will e-mail students when the
events are scheduled.
