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SALT LAKE CITY — Even though graduation is several months away, some career advisers says students need to start searching for jobs now. Officials with the University of Utah Career Services Center say too many students are waiting until the last minute.
When addressing college graduates, comedian Bill Cosby coined the phrase, "Congratulations. Now, what?" It's the "Now, what?" that students seem to be unprepared for.
"Thirty percent of students at graduation, right as they're getting ready to complete their degree report that they've either accepted a position or have been accepted into graduate school," said University of Utah Career Services Associate Director Dana Sowby.
Sowby says she sees a lot of students who come into their center a week after they graduate, believing getting their degree was the first step. She says having an educational foundation is important, but students need to start looking for potential career paths and internships in their early college years.
"What we would like to see is more of them being proactive during their years building up to being a senior instead of waiting until the last year to explore their opportunities," Sowby said.
A lot of students believe their job has to be tied to their degree, but, Sowby says that's not the case. Some employers will hire people no matter their field of study.
"They look more for the diversity of thought that comes from different majors," Sowby said.
She also says students need to learn to sell themselves to prospective bosses. Rather than assume that's the easy part.
"They have to be able to talk about their strengths and interact with these employers in a really positive way," Sowby said.
