The immersion of college students into the world of working during or after school is not an easy passage.
The department of Career and Corporate Development brings several companies to campus offering the chance for students to participate in an interview process. With the bonus of participating with different companies inside their major, students can gain not only experience but an internship or a full-time job.
“We invite companies to come on campus to do actual interviews with our students,” said Barbara Harvel, director of Career and Corporate Development. “We do this to give our students the opportunity to find employment and an internship. Companies like it because they can interview up to 12 students in one day. Students must sign up in our office and have a current resume in our file.”
Companies in the fields of accounting, financial, retail, manufacturing, restaurant, car rental, insurance, pharmaceutical and data management already made interviews on campus.
Umid Khasanov interviewed with three different companies. Khasanov enjoyed and took important lessons from the experience.
“It was the first time that I had a real interview with the potential employer for an internship or an opening position in the company,” Khasanov said. “I got to get some experience for future interviews. I know what to expect and how to act during them and being prepared to answer the questions.”
According to Harvel there are some hints and techniques that are important to have success in an interview. The candidate needs to know him/herself and the company very well. Also, practice is fundamental. The Web page of the Career Services department (www.obu.edu/career) provides Perfect Interview, a program that simulates interviews where the students are asked questions and must respond as they would in real interviews.
Harvel also says that the candidates have to take care of their appearance. Punctuality is also essential.
“Dress professionally with suits for guys and the counterpart of that for girls,” Harvel said. “Other important things are: Be on time, ask questions, thank the company for the opportunity, get contact information and write a thank you note.”
According to Khasanov, finishing school with a job guarantee or at least with more experience in the interview process represents a great advantage for the students.
“On-campus interviews are just like practice and opportunity at the same time. It is a good opportunity to get students ready for interviews in the future and may be actually secure a job upon graduation,” Khasanov said. “If you sign a contract before you graduate, you are probably set.”
