Don't wait to plan your future
Mariah Yates, posted Jan. 30, 2007
“Don’t wait,” said Stephanie Chipman. “Do a couple of things each week.”
No matter your class status — freshman or senior — Chipman, director of Career Services with the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, offers this simple advice.
According to Chipman, inactivity on the part of college students is often what leads to stress and worry over finding jobs after graduation. To combat the tendency to procrastinate, CAFNR Career Services has been collaborating with similar offices within each of the other colleges and the campus Student Success Center. They have created several events to help students put their dormant goals to action.
CAFNR Career Services debuted an improved online resource in August 2006 and now students can use sample resumes and cover letters. CAFNR Career Services online also offers helpful hints about interview etiquette, Chipman said.
Taking the time to read the information offered on the Career Services Web site and making an appointment with Chipman will equip each student with the proper tools for the upcoming HireMizzouGrads.com campus-wide career fair. The inaugural event will be held March 6 at the Hearnes Center Field House. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., all Mizzou students are invited to network with more than 120 employers from all fields of interest.
“I think all CAFNR students will find career opportunities that match their fields of study,” Chipman said, “whether it is hotel and restaurant management type businesses or life science companies looking to hire biochemists.”
Marcie Kottemann, Student Success Center representative, said the center also will host events prior to March 6 to help fair goers refine their skills.
All students are invited to the “Writing a Winning Resume” workshops held on Feb. 22 and 27 in Memorial Union, Room S304, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The center’s staff will give a presentation on resumes, and employers will be on-hand to critique individuals’ resumes. Students also are invited to attend a workshop focused on making a great first impression at a career fair, held Feb. 28 in Memorial Union, Room S203, from 6 to 7 p.m.
For more information on events and services, visit the Student Success Center Web site. The site offers suggestions for finding the right career and resources for mock interviews and career counseling.
Chipman reminds students to check the CAFNR calendar for new events. An etiquette dinner for biochemistry majors will be hosted by the biochemistry senior seminar class this semester. In April, seniors can participate in round-table discussions with recent CAFNR graduates on topics such as personal finance. These young professionals can offer first-hand knowledge about buying versus renting a home or 401K planning.
Chipman might council a freshman on finding the right career path and provide resources for shadowing experiences and career research tools. She also may tell a senior, “Very few people are 100 percent sure about the type of job they would like to have, but if you are even 50 percent sure — apply.”
For more information, go to the CAFNR Career Services Web site and select Career Services from the sidebar. You also may contact the Career Services office by phone at 573-882-0088 or in person in 2-64 Agriculture Building.
