SRU office helps job search
SLIPPERY ROCK — Despite a tough job market, career help is readily available for Slippery Rock University students and alumni at the Office of Career Education and Development.
John Rindy, director, said the office tries to reach students early in their college careers. That is because by the time a student becomes a senior, Rindy said it often can be too late.
“Really, career development is a four-year process,” Rindy said.
Much of what the office does includes workshops for resumes, cover letters, internships and interviews, as well as doing in-class presentations. Rindy said these events are important for the office.
“If we can use one hour to get the message out to 30 people ... we think we're doing a good thing,” Rindy said.
The office also holds about 1,000 meetings with individual students per year and works on getting internships for students who live relatively far from the campus. Students who live close to the campus usually get local internships through their academic department. However, departments usually do not offer internships for students who live further away.
SRU has three job fairs per year, a business oriented one in the fall, one for education students in the fall and the summer job and internship fair in the spring.
The office hosts Backpacks to Briefcases networking events in the fall and spring. Rindy said the office usually gets 30 to 40 alumni to interact with students at these events, where students learn about proper handshaking, business card etiquette and similar skills.
SRU also is a part of the College Central Network, where companies post job listings and students can post their resumes. Rindy said some companies using the service do on-campus interviews with students. He said the number of job postings has increased 15 percent from last year.
“We're starting to see, already, companies booking for the fall,” Rindy said.
Alumni also get help through the office's alumni webinars, which discuss how to begin a job search, how to turn volunteer experience into work experience and social media use.
Although there is an abundance of help offered, students often are intimidated coming to the office for the first time, especially if they have not prepared much, he said.
“But that's OK,” Rindy said. “When you come here, you're going to learn something.”
He said there has been a 22 percent increase in students coming into the office since the past year.
A survey by the office showed that 90 percent of students who used the office recommended it to at least one other student, which Rindy said is exciting news to hear.
“We're a friendly, fun, professional office,” he said.
For information, visit the office's website at www.sru.edu/academics/enrollment/career_services/Pages/index.aspx.
