Job search worries? Try these career resources

With fall graduation right around the corner, many students are preparing to enter the workforce. For those still looking for that first post-graduation opportunity, it’s not too late to use these Auburn career resources. 

University-wide resources 

Livi Welch recently graduated from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), having majored in English literature and creative writing. She now works as an assistant buyer for Books-A-Million. 

For Welch, having a digital portfolio to showcase how her studies in the humanities developed the skills needed for a business career gave her a leg up in the process.  

“The Miller Writing Center (MWC) was super helpful in refining my resume and developing an ePortfolio,” she said. “My boss actually told me that she found my ePortfolio helpful when she was researching me before my interview.” 

The MWC is a free resource for all students on campus and can assist with resumes, cover letters, ePortfolios, personal statements and more. 

Additionally, Career Discovery and Success has numerous resources available to students. 

The Campus Career Closet and headshot machine are completely free to use and help students present themselves professionally, and there are numerous events for students of all majors to connect with potential employers. 

College-specific resources 

Students in every college on campus can utilize specialized career resources, with some colleges also offering in-house career services. For many, this personalized assistance is helpful, especially when it comes to networking.

For Bennett Harris, a recent marketing graduate and current human resources analyst for Wells Fargo, the resources offered by the Office of Professional and Career Development (OPCD) in the Harbert College of Business were integral to finding both his internship and his first full-time job. 

“Harbert invests in their students deeply and truly wants them to succeed,” he said. “OPCD’s career coaching services and program champion system were a tremendous aid throughout my search. Harbert has such a robust development pipeline for students, and I’d encourage anyone to take advantage of it.” 

Erin Olive, a senior majoring in computer engineering with a minor in business, used numerous resources offered by both Harbert and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering to find her internship with Georgia-Pacific. She will be returning to the company following graduation to work as a data analyst. 

Olive utilized Engineering’s resume building sessions and Lunch and Learn events, as well as the Business career fair. 

“The Lunch and Learns provided me with the opportunity to network with professionals in my field,” she said. “By the time I attended the career fair, I had already made connections, and I was able to leverage that into an offer.” 

Sydney Babb, a recent CLA graduate with a degree in journalism, now works as a multimedia journalist at First Alert 6 in Omaha, Nebraska, thanks in part to networking opportunities in the School of Communication and Journalism. 

“CLA has plenty of networking and career resources, including Journalism Day, an annual event where the program invites journalists who are either Auburn alumni, working in local news around Auburn or looking to hire students,” Babb said. “My junior year, I worked up the courage to talk to a hiring specialist and a news director, and just introducing myself to those two people helped me to get here now.” 

Each college has different offerings through the Auburn Career Services Network based on student needs and industry demands.  

Alumni advice 

For students currently searching for a job, alumni agreed that putting yourself out there and meeting people in your field is essential. 

“The career fairs are so helpful; I actually went to the Business career fair, met the talent manager for my current company and then interviewed with her and my boss,” Welch said. “I was nervous and didn’t want to go at first, but going got me my first job. Don’t be afraid to go for a job that doesn’t necessarily align with your major.” 

Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to work that Auburn network. 

“I would encourage all students to utilize the alumni networks that exist,” Harris said. “You never know when that cold email could turn into a full-time career. It is a true testament of Auburn being Auburn — everyone wants you to succeed; you just have to give it a shot.”