During the senior year, most students begin a job search. For many, this can be very trying. Students should anticipate the following:

When faced with such employment situations, realize that entry-level positions are short-term if you work hard and show potential. It is likely that within 3 to 12 months, you will be scheduled to meet with your supervisor for an evaluation. If you have done a good job, say so and make sure your supervisor recognizes your accomplishments. Further, once you are in a company/agency, you will begin to hear about other opportunities and positions as they open. You will learn who the "right" people are if promotions are desired. As you work your way up the ladder, pay and benefits will increase, as will the challenges and intrinsic value of the work you are assigned.

The standard source is to look through the classified sections of area newspapers. However, this may not be enough to find the position best suited to your goals. The Sunday paper typically has the largest number of listings. Classified ads, from a variety of papers, can be viewed on the World Wide Web. For a sample of what you might find using the Web, check out these:

Visiting Career Services may be the best means for an FSC student to begin a job search. The Career Services office has information on using the World Wide Web for conducting job searches. Students may use a CD Rom "Career Search" program to examine the types of employers in their areas of interest. Specifically for students interested in working in the helping professions, the Human Services Yellow Pages (of Massachusetts & Rhode Island) and other resource books on human service jobs are available for use on a walk-in basis. Lastly, Career Services personnel are working to develop FASTNET, which will allow FSC students to talk with alumni now in the work force about their positions and experiences.

www.framingham.edu/careerservices.

It might also be worthwhile to attend the campus job fairs. Though many of the listings often seem business oriented, it is not unusual for companies to have openings in personnel and research offices. Universities also sometimes send representatives in search of research or lab assistants. Two job fairs held at FSC on a yearly basis are:

Finally, some students have had luck tapping into Web-based personnel listings of area colleges and universities. For psychology majors, positions within offices related to student services, tutoring, research or lab assistants, and recruitment would be most appropriate. In addition, some colleges and universities now have homepages that include career and job-related information for psychology majors. 

That really depends. Some companies make decisions based on paper work (resume, letters). Others conduct phone interviews. Probably the majority want face-to-face interviews. They are interested in seeing if you really have the skills outlined in your application materials. Personal interviews also allow employers to get a sense of your "fit" with the existing staff. Therefore, it is important that you present yourself well. This means:

Yes. At Career Services, the staff will work with students as they prepare for job interviews. They are able to conduct mock interviews and provide feedback on your appearance and responses. If scheduled ahead, these mock interviews can be videotaped. Videotaping allows the student to conduct a self-critique or to see specifically where the staff person sees strengths or weaknesses. These staff members are particularly familiar with the types of interview questions students entering varying fields of employment may encounter.

Additionally, when a job offer is made, consider both the salary and value of the benefits package. Medical and retirement plans are valuable assets. However, don’t overlook the value (or cost) of the commuting distance, parking, attire requirements, family leave policies, on-site child care, and promotion possibilities.