This is Auburn. This is Success.
Auburn University Career Center Newsletter
March: March Madness- Career Center Style
In this issue....
- March Madness- Career Center Style
- Job Search Additional Reading
- Career Center Resource: CareerShift
- Staff Spotlight: Meaghan Weir
- Event Reminders
March Madness- Career Center Style
March Madness is about to begin which means it is also time to start thinking about your brackets. Whether you are a true college basketball fan or just choose teams based on their mascots, this can be a fun time for some friendly (or not so friendly) competition. Why not use the same principles when it comes to the job search and we encourage you to start NOW in planning for your life after graduation. Get some friends together to join in the fun and competition.
Here’s how you can play:
1) Start with a bracket
Whether you use a bracket or simply a list, you will want to have some organization before you even begin your search.
2) Set your selection criteria
Some choose teams for their bracket based off stats, tradition, or even uniforms or mascots, but there is always a criteria used. Do the same for your search- how are you deciding on positions or organizations for which you would like to work? Some will use criteria like job title and location, others will identify companies of interest and location; whatever your criteria, use this to identify positions or organizations you would like to focus you search.
3) Identify the contenders
The real March Madness does this for you, but where would the fun be if that happened in a job search? Now is your time to identify who are your top companies or positions to begin your search. Do some preliminary research and find 32 companies or positions to begin. Write them down.
4) Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds
Each week, you are going to do more in depth research into the contenders for the round. Use resources like Glassdoor.com and LinkedIn and speak to actual people who work for these organizations or in these positions. What is the company culture like? What is their reputation and mission? Do people stick around and get promotions or do they move on to other opportunities? What are the opportunities for professional development? How are the benefits?
Which contender wins out? Don’t worry, if you want to apply to both, you certainly can, but for the game, choose one to continue onto the next round.
5) Make your investment pay off
Unlike the actual March Madness, you do have some control into the outcome of this game. If you are looking at actual positions, begin applying for your top 8. If you are using companies, now you can begin searching for open opportunities that might be of interest to you by using online resources and tapping into the hidden job market through networking (see CareerShift below). Try to find 1-2 per company to start applying. Spend the next 2 weeks to use the research you have gathered to tailor your documents to the company and position. The Career Center is happy to look them over for you during Drop-in hours 9-4 Monday-Friday.
6) Final 4 Playoffs
Once you have applied sit back and enjoy the playoffs. You can follow-up with the employers to ensure they have received all of your materials and may even be able to find out a time line. By the end, you will hopefully hear back from at least one or two for an interview and the real excitements begins.
The Career Center staff may not be able to help you with your brackets this year, but we can certainly help you in planning your job search. Good luck and may the playoffs be in your favor!
Let the Games Begin
CareerShift
CareerShift is a robust tool to identify internship and job postings using a variety of criteria as well as identifying networking contacts within organizations. Use this tool to identify your AU alumni network to begin tapping into the hidden job market.
Meaghan Weir
Meaghan is originally from Prattville, AL., she received her Bachelor of Industrial Design and Master of Higher Education Administration degrees both from Auburn University. She began working at the Career Center as a Graduate Assistant in 2008. Since then, she's had many jobs in our office including Student Employment Coordinator and Career Counselor. She left Auburn in 2016 to work at the Montgomery Zoo as their Marketing and Public Relations Manager but has returned to her role as a Career Counselor with the Career Center. We are so excited to have her back on our team to help students explore career options and pursue their professional goals.
Spring Career Events
Education Interview Day
Mar. 6th, 8AM - 3PM
Beard-Eaves Coliseum
(behind the Rec Center)
If you are an aspiring educator, consider attending Education Interview Day. Explore open positions, network with potential employers, and interview for your dream job all in one day!
Business professional attire is required and be sure to have plenty of copies of your resumes on hand to give to the school representatives.
Schedule
Registration: 8AM-9AM
Network and Schedule Interviews: 9AM-10AM
Interviews: 10AM-3PM
If you do not schedule your interviews before 10AM, you will not be allowed to interview that afternoon
For list of employers
Communication & Media Career Day
Mar. 7th, 8AM - 3PM
Beard-Eaves Coliseum
(behind the Rec Center)
Provides opportunities for students to interact with a variety of companies and organizations offering internships and full-time employment opportunities in fields related to Communication and Media.
Dress professionally and bring copies of your resume to the event.
For a list of employers
Auburn University Career Fair
Mar. 27th, 2PM - 6PM
Student Center Ballroom
Network with employers offering internships and full-time jobs to students of all majors. Employers will be recruiting for jobs in industries including business, sales, public relations, logistics, consulting, engineering, and more. Business professional attire is required and be sure to have several copies of your resume on hand to give to company representatives. View the list of companies below to see how your education and qualifications match with their needs.
Download the career fair app by searching "Auburn Career Fair Plus" to have all of the latest event updates at your fingertips.
For a list of employers
Career Center Resources
Auburn University Career Center
Email: aucc@auburn.edu
Website: career.auburn.edu
Location: 303 Martin Hall
Phone: (334) 844-4744
Facebook: facebook.com/aucareer
Twitter: @AUCareer