Life After Senior Year

Preparing For A Career Before Graduation

By John Hanson

The end of the college school year is approaching fast. It’s time for seniors to plan for the future after their college career has ended. Where can college students find help to start a job career? All students should visit the Career Services department in 102 Sanford Hall. As a senior student, I called to make an appointment with the Career Services office. The next day I met with Graduate Assistant Elizabeth Letson to discuss job-seeking skills.

At a career service appointment, students can get a BSU Senior Guide for Life after College binder filled with a job seeking handbook, instructions for the BSU Careers online resource and a career service event schedule. The handbook features a variety of instructions on how to type a cover letter, resumes and reference sheets and a list of words employers look for in each document. Graduate Assistant Elizabeth Letson recommended keeping cover letters “short and to the point.” She said employers want a short and accurate description of you and do not want to waste time reading a long cover letter.

Ms. Letson also recommended students have a simple, clean resume because many jobs today are posted online and applications are sent electronically. She said employers primarily look for related employment and experience with people on resumes so they know if a potential employee can work well with others. Reference sheets are not always required, but if they are needed, students should ask people for permission before adding them to the reference sheet.

Career Services provides the BSU Careers job Web site for Bemidji State students to upload their resume and search for jobs and internships. Students need to register with BSU Careers before uploading their resume. Career Services personnel will review and approve the resume before a student can submit their resume to employers. Registered students can update their profile, upload documents and apply for jobs through the BSU Careers Web site.

At the end of the appointment, Ms. Letson suggested I visit with the Advising Success Center to discuss my stressful, busy class schedule. The Advising Success Center assists students with their experience at BSU and advises them for academic success. Advising Success Center Graduate Assistant Hillary Barron inquired about my stress and said I may have taken on too much work for the semester. She suggests to every student use a planner to organize his or her schedule. Also, if a student does have a busy school schedule, she recommends to “take on the important projects first and not worry about the less important things.” 

Career Services Office located in Sanford Hall.

Career Services Binder given to Students.