The start of a new semester can be stressful on its own, but adding the pressures of a job search can make a student overwhelmed. At San Diego State, some students are lucky and find jobs right away while others are still trying to lock down an interview. It would seem that most students simply do not know how to go about finding a job.
“It’s hard to find a job that works with my availability,” music education junior Valerie Garcia said.
Since Garcia has all morning classes, her availability is open for closing shifts, which seem to be filled around campus. Unable to find a job on campus, Garcia has resulted to searching on Craig’s list, monster.com and mall websites. She has applied to 20 places, but has only heard back from three.
Garcia can only get by till the end of the semester on the money she has saved up now. Many students hoping to find jobs soon are in similar positions.
Not all students are in such dire circumstances, however.
“ I got my job through a job fair. I walked up to the booth and they referred me to dinning services,” marketing junior Steven Meza said.
Meza adds the hard part wasn’t finding the job, it was finding the employer. Before finding his job, Meza asked fellow students how to find a job and received the same answer every time: “ I don’t know”.
“Students should use the many tools at their fingertips, whether it’s using career services, or talking to faculty in your college to get you a job that is related to your field of study,” Associate Director of Employment and Campus Planning Sandra Williams said.
By logging onto career.sdsu.edu, students answer questions about themselves and jobs will be suggested according to their interests. Listings are updated every time they log in. Williams says joining clubs and organizations is a good way to network and find jobs that way.
“Through community service activities, students will meet folks who are interested in hiring them. When you get involved and you give, you’d be amazed when you meet people and opportunities will come your way,” Williams said.
Students can also get more information on potential jobs at the campus career fair on Thursday, Sept. 26. Attendees must remember to interact with these employers after the day of the fair.
“Students will go up to employers asking for part time positions and they will say no, but follow up, and students will never follow up,” Executive Director of Career Development and Services James Tarbox said.
“If you do follow up, they (employers) will see that you took initiative and you remembered,” Williams said.
Students when attending the career fair should arrive in business casual attire and look at meeting the employers as an interview. There are 90 employers registered for the fair who will be hiring for full time and part time positions as well as internships. Students are also able go to career services and have their resume reviewed by a councilor and get some helpful tips. For those students who have not had luck finding jobs at the Aztec shops, Aztec Recreation Center, dinning services or associated students, Tarbox says to be persistent and keep checking back with them. Students who are still searching for jobs have opportunities in front of them and should take advantage of the available resources.
