Students need more than a lively personality and good looks to get a job. In addition to looking nice and looking alive, there are steps students can take before, during and after an interview to increase their chances of landing that coveted position. Before the interview Becky Bennett, career specialist with the Career Services Center, said one of the biggest interview mistakes that students make is not doing their homework.

After years of part-time jobs, passed classes and internships, it may come as a surprise to some that experience and a college degree aren’t the only things potential employers are looking for. Because employers already expect college graduates to be an expert in their field, they are looking next at the personal qualities of the potential job candidate, said Carol White, associate director of the Career Services Center.

Most children are able to state what they want to be when they “grow up.” But college students have more uncertainty. There are plenty of students who don’t know what they want to do after college. Judy Owens, director of Career Services, said the Career Services Center provides a helpful solution for these people.

One of the biggest factors facing students’ plans after graduation is the state of the job market. Becky Bennett, a career specialist with the Career Services Center, said that in recent years new hires have been down, but the job market is looking better.

Since some college freshmen are primarily focused on trying to graduate in less than a decade, tomorrow’s Career Expo might not register more than a blip on their radar. Monticello freshman Trisha Gothrup is not planning on attending the Career Expo. “I have a major and I’m not interested in finding out about different majors,” Gothrup said.

After wanting a job and before landing it, job seekers must take the important step of looking for an occupation. It is important to know where to look to find the perfect job. There are several resources to use for getting that job after graduation. Becky Bennett, career specialist for the Career Services Center, said there is work to do before getting the right job.

In a perfect world, I’d spend the rest of my life working for the maintenance crew at Barren River Lake State Resort Park. I would sit in a lawn chair under the big tree, which stood next to the garage office we called the “barn.” On occasion I would mow something or pick up a can from a ditch, then I would reward myself with a two-hour lunch break and a trip to the beach-house to ogle bikini-clad girlies.

For many students, finding a job after graduation can seem like a daunting task. But there is more to the search than simply determining a suitable career field. Equally important is finding the right place to work. For those unsure about how to find the best location for a job, the Career Services Center may be able to offer some help.