Have you ever been asked in an interview, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” If you have, you know that can be a difficult question to answer. This is a common interview question, so it’s important to formulate your answer in advance. Here are some great tips for how to handle this question.

If you’re accustomed to sitting back and waiting for a phone call following a job interview, you’re making a big mistake. Job seekers can set themselves apart from other applicants by following up with the employer. Contacting the employer after the interview gives you another opportunity to express your interest in the company and the position and to thank them for the interview. It also keeps your name fresh in their minds as they’re making hiring decisions. Don’t skip this important job-searching step! For more details about the best ways to follow up with an employer, contact Career Services or check out these helpful hints.

Whether you’ll soon interview for a summer job, an internship, or that first “real world” job, your appearance at your interview is a huge deal. Many employers admit to basing their opinions of candidates partially on their attire. Take these steps to ensure you’re making the best impression possible!

Dress the part: If you’re applying for a farming job, you don’t need to wear a suit to your interview. But if you’re interviewing for an accounting position, you definitely shouldn’t show up in jeans. Dress appropriately for the company & position, but as a rule it’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

Be conservative: Don’t wear clothes that are too trendy. Stick with the basics and plain colors. Dress modestly. Don’t wear anything that’s sheer, see-through, sleeveless, low-cut, etc. Women’s skirts should not be shorter than 2” above the knee. Cover tattoos and remove piercings.

Keep it clean: Your clothes should be clean and ironed. Shoes should be clean and scuff-free. Take a shower, brush your teeth, and groom your hair.

If you want more specifics, please contact Career Services. We’re here to help you put your best face forward!

Spring break is a perfect time to really crack down on your job or internship search! Learn how and where to find a job at the Job Searching Workshop on Tuesday, March 5th, 12:15-1:00 pm in Incubation 2 (Cooper). Pizza and pop will be provided for lunch, so please RSVP to career@sterling.edu.

Landing interviews is a crucial part of the job search process. After all, it means you’ve impressed organizations with your resume and they want to meet you in person. But too often, job seekers get stuck in a rut of going to interview after interview and failing to get a job offer. What could be the problem? Find out with this list of 15 things to consider before your next job interview.

Have you participated in volunteer work in your lifetime? If so, do you remember feeling great afterward? There are good reasons for that! Volunteering helps you learn or develop skills, allows you to mentor or teach others, builds self-esteem and self-confidence, makes you feel valued, helps you meet new people, and gives you an opportunity to bless others. There are also health benefits associated with volunteering. Studies have shown that those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.

If that’s not enough to get you excited about volunteering, then think of all the career benefits. Volunteering helps you gain work experience and new skills. It also helps you build your career network and enhances your resume.

There are always ways to get involved in your community. Whether you start small or jump right into bigger commitments or projects, you’ll be helping no matter what. Consider using some of your time to make a difference for others, and you’ll reap the benefits just as much as your community will!

 Check out SC students David Dunsmoor (left) and Emma Brown (right) rocking their hairnets while volunteering at a Numana hunger relief food packaging event in Wichita on February 16^th!  

This is a free event that gives students an opportunity to interact with area professionals to learn and practice career networking skills.

Where: Presentation Lab (3rd floor Cooper)
When: Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 pm.

Professional attire is required, and the event is open to all current SC students. There will also be snacks and prizes!

As Interterm draws to a close and you’re looking ahead to spring semester and summer break, are you considering the things you can do to become more career-ready? If you’re a senior, you already know your semester will be filled with job searching or grad school applications and campus visits. As an underclassman, this is a great time to participate in activities you can add to your resume. Get involved in volunteer work—LOVE Sterling is a great upcoming opportunity. Campus activities also look impressive on your resume. If you spend your summer working, volunteering, job shadowing, or doing an internship, you’ll be much better prepared for life after college than if you spend your summer sleeping and watching movies.

Enjoy the end of Interterm or your winter break! We’re excited to have everyone back on campus next week.

Whether you’re a senior planning to enter the “real world” after graduation or an underclassman hoping to land a summer job or internship, the time to begin looking for these opportunities is now. Many students make the mistake of waiting until April, May, or even June to start the search. This limits available opportunities and will likely lead to extra frustration in an already stressful process.

Most summer internship application deadlines are approaching very quickly, so plan ahead for those opportunities. Summer jobs such as camp counselors are also filled during January and February, but many other summer jobs (retail, fast food, etc.) are filled in May. Identify the type of summer job you’re looking for, and that will give you a better idea of when you need to start submitting applications.

Seniors, I cannot stress enough the importance of beginning your job search right away. A majority of companies fill positions during the spring semester, and the competition is tough with so many soon-to-be college grads looking for jobs at the same time. Landing a job also takes an average of six months, so you might find yourself unemployed for awhile if you wait until May to begin your job search. Here are some great tips to help you get started.