From: JBrandt@AAA.UOregon.EDU (Jay Brandt (Jason))
Subject: College advice for John
Organization: University of Oregon, Architecture
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 06:28:37 GMT

<Jason ponders for most of the day over what John Carney has asked about
college life, and thinks back on his recent (and not-so-recent) college
experiences. After a while, he decides how to reply.>

    Um, John? I guess I -am- in a pretty good position to answer your
questions. I spent five years in college as a student, and since then have
worked another eight years or so as a college administrator of the type
that hires students regularly. For seven years of that time I ran a
computer lab that had a staff of about twelve student employees. Plus I
just finished an extensive run through the gauntlet of job searches, so I
can give you survival advice on that mill too.

You said of your friend:
>He wants to get a small job on campus and all he knows is to go to the
>job placement center.  He also knows there's more to it than that.  What 
>else should he do?  He has a resume.. should he take it around to people 
>in his dept?  What kind of people should he look to to hire students?  
>How much can he really expect from the job center?

     Hmmmm. Well, the college's that I have attended (one, state owned) or
worked for (three, one of them state owned and two private) ran most of
their on-campus student employment through -the financial aid office-,
rather than job-placement. 

     The job placement office can often help with off-campus job
references. Local employers call them with job listings for part-time and
full-time work. They tell you who has openings, and you go and interview
just as you would if you were answering a help-wanted ad in the paper. This
is also a great resource for summer jobs and co-op programs, or for
post-graduation placement. This office also usually runs job-fairs and
coordinates visits from employment recruiters.

On the other hand, most *on-campus* work was funded by the student's
financial aid grant. The student is paying back their aid for the year by
working it off. If your friend is eligible for any kind of financial aid at
all, and wants to work on-campus, that is where I would look first. They
can tell a student how much funding they are eligible for, and therefore
how many hours per week they may work to burn that off over a school year.
They will also have lists or a tack board or an on-line bulletin board
system that indicates most of the openings that are available on campus.

<Beep> <Jason looks down at his screen>

     Oh. My wife, Pegasus, says that when filling out financial aid forms,
remember to factor in transportation costs, and not just for the beginning
and end of the school year or term. Cover all the vacations and breaks too!
When calculating living expenses, include a few meals out and your snacks.
Remember laundry expenses too! This isn't cheating, it's being realistic!
Otherwise you can expect to cover no more than room and board. Depending on
your major and grades, there may be scholarships or grants available too.

<He looks back up>

To get the -best- on-campus jobs, check for openings *as soon as possible*.
The good ones go very fast, and if you hesitate you may only be able to get
work washing dishes, raking leaves or shoveling snow. The very best jobs
are actually often assigned at the start of the previous quarter, semester
or school year, going to returning student employees or very good
candidates who know they will be returning. I had usually assigned about
1/3 of my student positions by the end of Spring semester, for jobs that
wouldn't start until Fall. (I would never pre-fill them all, as I needed to
keep a rotating staff of people who would be around for a few years. It
would have been a disaster to have to re-train all 12 in the same
semester). The rest of the openings were all filled within 48 hours of the
student's arrival on campus for the Fall semester. (Computer Lab Monitor
jobs were highly sought after).

     You may get a second chance, because even with some popular jobs, the
student's schedule of classes may conflict with hours they can be scheduled
for. If there is a job you want, and it has already been filled, ask to be
put on a wiating list in case someone quits, or is fired, or has to leave
school. check back often! There are also some new openings at the start of
each semester / quarter, as students graduate mid-year or run out of
financial aid.

     If the financial aid office says you have funds, but can't refer you
to a suitable opening, try checking with department heads and faculty
members. Yes, bring your resume for this. Check any place you see students
working, and ask who is in charge of that area and has hiring authority.
The student union, computer labs, bookstore, food service, the library,
physical plant, rec hall and other centers of activity probably hire
students. Ask your advisor. Not all jobs are listed with financial aid.
There are also chances that a potential campus empolyer may have a new
opening that he hasn't had time to post yet. It happended several times
with me.

     If you have no financial aid funding at all, there are still some
options. If you have spoecific skills that someone really needs, they may
be able to hire you anyway. I did that a time or two when a student who had
served in my department for several semesters lost his aid eligibility (His
parents had sold a house). He was fully trained as a Macintosh Service
Technician. I was able to argue that his training was sufficiently
valuable, as opposed to training a new tech., and was able to hire him.
Some jobs on campus are funded by grants. Check for such jobs especially in
departments actively doing reasearch.


>How much time should be spent in clubs, and what are some 
>good ones to be part of?  

     I think that some level of participation in campus clubs is a valuable
enrichment to the college experience. Which ones are best for you will
depend on your interests and major. There are these areas to look at.

     Purely recreational, religious, or social clubs : Wargaming, SF fan
clubs, archery, SCA, Sports teams, diving, MENSA, gay/lesbian support,
chess, square-dancing, etc.. Also in this category is regular participation
in the local church or religion of your choice, if you are so disposed.
Whatever interests you. These provide social interaction and entertainment.
Your church can provide for your spiritual needs. Great for blowing off
steam, finding your center, and getting your mind off the textbooks. I
would advise at least one club like this, that has nothing to do with your
major, but is something you like to do or has people you would like to
associate with. Do it for yourself, to clear the cobwebs from the brain.
These feed the soul and refresh your spirit.

     Job/major related clubs : History, thespians (drama club), Society of
Manufacturing Engineers, computer user's group, campus radio station, honor
societies (if your grades are good enough), etc.. These give some social
interaction, learning oppourtunities, and a chance to get to know a field
better. Employers often look well on students who join major-oriented or
pre-professional clubs. After all, you are showing an active interest in
your field. These feed your career aspirations.

     Student Government : Becoming a student senate member, campus club
representative or student government officer is another option. You get to
be acticve in the decision making process for campus life. It is good
leadership training. Employers also often look favorably on student
government participants. These are great activities if you are going into
management or politics.

     Fraternities / sororities (including Greek organizations) : Some frats
are purely social, some are highly academicly oriented, some are sports
oriented. There are some in which membership is a virtual prerequisite for
a career in law or medicine, or other professional fields. Some are
off-campus groups, such as the Masons, the Elks, or the Knights of
Columbus. They can fit into any of the above categories. If one is oriented
to your area of interest, or has members who you would like to associate
with, by all means join one. I have to admit I have little experience with
campus Greek frats. Several of my friends belonged to these clubs. I was
active in all three other categories, and that was all I had time for. I
was a member of the Masons, but didn't participate much while in school.

     With *ANY* club participation, seek a balance between clubs and
academics. College is a weird and wonderful time. You have all the free
time you could want. You are in charge. You also never have enough time for
studies or homework. If you followed most instructor's rule of thumb, you
would study for two hours outside of class for each hour spent in that
class. Add that up for a typical full course load, plus the classes
themselves. There aren't enough hours in each day for study, let alone
'nicetries' like sleep, eating or campus clubs. The answer is to balance
the actual study needs of your classes. Where you can, schedule tough
claasses with heavy-duty study time needs together with a selection of
easier electives or core classes. Ask your advisor for help on this. That
will leave time for the rest. Always remember however, that your grades are
more important than any clubs. Set a minimum below which you are not
willing to let your GPA fall, and a higher minimum for your GPA in your
major. Many colleges have a manditory minimum GPA policy, which is usually
rather lax by my way of thinking. If you slip below either mark, taper back
on or pull out of the clubs. Remember, you are there to learn and to get
your degree.


>What should be done to prepare for getting a job after college?  
>Everyone seems to start so early.  How does someone start talking 
>to companys?  My friend is going to a co-op fair early next month, 
>he'll have a good chance to talk to people there.  What should he say?
>Should he get names of recuriters and write to them after the fair 
>is over?  How does he get his foot in the door, so to speak?"

     You can't start too soon when it comes to seeing job recruiters. You
want to interview them as much as you want them to interview you. In
addition to job fairs, there are usually many visits scheduled by
recruiters from specific companies. Often these will consist of a formal
presentation by the recruiter, a question and answer session, and an
invitation to get together afterwards for a pizza feed or similar activity
on the recruiters expense account. As I said earlier, your job-placement
office should have a schedule for job fairs and recruiter visits. Listen to
what they say, then *ask questions*! How does the recruiter like working
for that firm? What are typical entry level openings for college grads?
What are the prospects for advancement? If you aren't graduating right
away, what can you do while still in college to improve your odds of being
recruited by this company? Use these visits to get to know your field and
the companies that hire in it. It can be a source of direction for your
college career and can give a prospective employer a good impression of
you. Always bring a copy of your current resume, one which indicates the
degree you anticipate receiving and when you should be getting it.

     If a companies recruitment program or job fair booth looks enticing,
get contact information for the recruiter and give them yours. Could a
visit to the company be arranged, in which you could talk to employees in
the jobs you would be applying for? Then write for futher information on
the company.

     If you are interested in a firm that isn't recruiting on your campus,
you can write to their personnel office. Request company information and
ask if they will be sending a recruiter to your school sometime soon. They
may send one just because you asked. Call the company's sales office and
request literatutre on their products or services.

     A few last suggestions. Get a current copy of "What color is your
parachute?" It is revised yearly. It is available in the career guidance
section of most bookstores. It was invaluable to me in organizing my last
job search, and includes info for those still in school. It also has many
references to other good books on the topic. Also look for a series of
books with titles like "How to get a job in the Seattle / Portland market".
They are published for many major cities, and include inside contact
references and addresses for employers in a wide range of fields.

     Hope that is useful to you. <Jason>

<With that, Jason folds up his powerbook, and goes to the kitchen to call
his wife. That hot tub in the back that everyone's enjoying looks awfully
inviting, and he is going to ask Pegasus to come down and join him for a
soak. (In her human form. No room for her other form unless that tub is a
lot larger than it looks!)>

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