By W.C. Lawson |
For some seniors graduating in May, the reality of graduation hadn’t really hit until the recent buzz that graduation applications are due Oct. 1.
“I had no idea that applications were due so soon,” senior Ross Caravati said.
Graduation applications aren’t the only thing that should be on seniors’ to-do list. A visit to Career Services is the first step for many seniors in forming post-graduation plans.
According to Career Services counselor Mary Beth Snell, even though graduation applications are due early in the year, it is never too early to visit Career Services, in the lower level of Orrico Hall, to start preparing resumes and strategies for post-graduation.
“It doesn’t matter where students are with their post-graduation materials, they can always come in to receive help and/or advice for networking and resume building,” Snell said.
Career Services not only offers individual appointments with its counselors, but also weekly workshops to teach students how to prepare for the working world.
“The average job search takes six to nine months,” said Snell. “So students want to be devoting time to job searching right now.”
Caravati is currently a college marketing representative for Sony Music Entertainment. Although he doesn’t have a definite plan for post-graduation, he hopes to continue working in the music industry, whether through Sony or a record label.
“I’m excited (for graduation),” Caravati said. “But the fact that you have to submit your graduation application so soon really puts reality in perspective.”
Senior Environmental Ethics and Policy major Ethan Barnes hopes to stay in Portland after graduation because of the cities awareness for the environment and its drive to promote environmental science.
“Even though I am nervous,” Barnes said. “I am excited to show what I can do and what I have learned over the past four years.”
Some seniors are already ahead of the game.
Not only is senior Larissa Wood graduating in December, but she has already accepted an executive retail position at Target. With networking help from the marketing department in the Pamplin School of Business, Wood found it to be a smooth transition from receiving an internship at Target last semester to receiving a job offer in July.
“I felt like the business program really helped me prepare for networking and job hunting,” Wood said. “From speed networking to class curriculum, I feel very comfortable in my preparation for post-graduation.”
Senior David Perry has also succeeded in the business program. Even though Perry plans on finishing his undergraduate degree in December to work on his master’s degree at UP, he has high hopes for his own running clothing brand, Black Ribbon.
This past summer Perry got an internship through the business program in Portsmouth, N.H.. to work as a fashion design intern for Coolcore Running Company.
“The E-Scholars program was huge for me, said Perry. “They helped me take Black Ribbon to Brazil, Denver, and New York last year to network and learn more about the design industry.”
Although graduation is eight months away, preparing for the real world has already begun for many seniors.
“Seniors should start applying for job positions three months away from graduation,” Snell said. “But right now they should be working towards networking and preparing their resume materials.”
