By Dominic Arthur, Senior Reporter.
Delta College is home to different resources, but one that tends to get little attention is the Career Services department. Located in D-102, is designed to help students as soon as they walk into Delta up until they graduate and become alumni.
“We do a couple different things,” says Martin Finney, a career advisor within Career Services. “We help students figure out what they should be going to school for. So we have different [career] assessments and things like that to help people kind of figure out what is the right path. While they’re in school, we help them with looking for jobs, making sure resumes and everything are okay. And then when they graduate, also helping them with that process.”
Students both enrolled and graduated can expect Career Services to help them look for jobs and also help them with their resume and cover letters.
Nicole Boks, a student studying Hospitality Business, has worked at Career Services as a student employee for five months. She says Career Services helped her get the job she’s currently in.
“I’ve learned what it really takes to get a job and what employers expect of their employees,” says Boks. “I’ve also learned that there are a lot of jobs in the community that many people aren’t aware of until they come talk to someone in the office.”
Finney believes that it’s important for students to visit Career Services because it will help them figure out what they want to do.
“Even if they know what they want to do, they should be planning out their whole plan. So, starting to figure out, ‘Well, how do I get into the business I want to work at? What do I need to do besides go to school, to help me get that ultimate job that I want to do.’ ”
Career Services doesn’t actually place students into their field, but assists them. They also provide help with class schedules, so that students take the appropriate courses for their degree.
“Let’s say if you came in, one of the things I’d work with you is ‘What is your ultimate goal and how do we get there?’ Maybe that’s doing a co-op, or internship, or student employment,” Finney says. “Maybe it’s picking up certain skills, so when you graduate, you’re ready to get the job that you want.”
A co-op can be done through the Academic Career Experience (ACE) program offered by the Student and Civic Engagement Office at A-003 . The position requires a commitment from students during the fall and winter semester. They will earn an academic credit through ACE related courses from positions with hours that vary from 12 to 40 a week.
An internship allows students the opportunity to gain experience and network in their respective fields, while giving the employer the chance to evaluate them for future potential employment.
Both an internship and a co-op can be paid depending on the location of where the student is earning credits.
Finney wants students to know the importance of gaining work experience while they’re still in school.
Finney believes that many student underestimate the importance of working while at school. “[There’s] kind of the misconception that, ‘I can go through school and [get my degree], then I can get my ultimate job without any experience,’ ” he says. “That’s one thing we like to help out with a lot—how do you gain that experience that’ll help you get the ideal job and not just a job when you get out of college.”
Career Services also provides mock interviews. These allow students to experience what an interview would be like in their chosen field and the career advisor then gives feedback about the participant’s performance.
The department often hosts job fairs on-campus where students can meet with employers from the Great Lakes Bay Region. The next job fair will be a student employment fair on Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main hallway outside of Counseling/Advising and Career Services. Students can be interviewed for positions in different on-campus departments such as facilities, admissions, food services and the fitness center. In order for students to obtain an on-campus position, they must be enrolled in six credit hours per semester.
The second fair is the Great Lakes Job Fair which will be held on March 16 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Pioneer Gym. Students can be interviewed on-site for jobs in local K-12 schools, nonprofits, hospitals, retail outlets, and other businesses. Students looking for employment should come dressed professionally and with a fine-tuned resume for on-site interviews at both job fairs.
For students looking for professional attire, Delta’s Closet, located next to Career Services at D-134, offers a service where students can bring their college ID and browse a 700 piece closet for free. An appointment must be made by contacting Lori Ziolkowski, Assistant Professor of Management, at 989-686-9384 during its Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. business hours.
“Everyone down here is very helpful and nice,” says Boks. “We do our best to make sure you get the information you need and more. If you ever need help finding out what you want to do or what you might be good at then come on down and we’ll help you out.”
All resources provided by Career Services are free of charge and available on walk-in basis. But to get the best service, Finney suggests students call ahead.
For more information about Career Services, contact them at 989-686-9072 or jobplace@delta.edu. And for more information about the Great Lakes Job Fair in March, visit them on Facebook or at www.delta.edu/greatlakesbayjobfair.
