The morning of the big interview is a jittery time in one’s life. Stress bubbles up in one’s stomach thinking about the questions that will be asked. When getting dressed one spends a lot of time picking out an outfit that says “yes I’m in college but I’m also a professional”.

The outfit is not the only indicator that relays the message that you are professional. Showing that you have experience is the best way to get the position you are applying for.

Some students may see college as a doorway to a job and career.

College is the next logical step to take, with  consideration of some other options such as the military or working out of high-school.  Taking the extra step to get that Associates, Bachelors or Masters Degree may have been a step in the right direction, but the questions is, how can a student begin and continue to market that degree for a future beyond college.

The answer can be found in a multitude of techniques that are geared to landing a person that dream job.

There are things that must be done before a student begins to even consider a career path.

“To help students prepare for work and careers post-Wilkes, we first have to make sure that they attain the  knowledge and skills to deal with searching for positions in an extremely competitive environment.” Carol Bosack, director of career services said.

Bosack encourages that students use Career Services during their sophomore and juniors years in order to formulate reasonable career goals.

“Students have to learn that attaining a career means much more than putting their resumes on Monster and thinking that they are going to get multiple job offers, that rarely happens.” Bosack warns.

She also stresses the importance of students getting involved with the community and people within their respective majors. Connections that are made in college are important, especially professional ones.

“Use them, thank them, and pay them back in some way, some day,” Bosack said.

One good step in building experience in college are internships.

Wilkes offers an infinite number of internships anywhere one wants to work. There are internships available locally, where students would have the chance to complete their internship credits while attending school in the fall and spring. There are also internships offered globally where the only extra cost is attributed to where the student would live or stay.

“This past year, 43 companies attended the Internship Fair in October. Those employers were here for one reason, to meet, interview and accept only Wilkes students,” Wilkes Director of Internships, Sharon Castano said.

Castano encourages students to begin to build their resumes as early as possible, even if they are blank.

“Most employers are seeking students that have had an internship or even say three when they graduate,” Castano said. “The days are gone when the degree alone makes you marketable. They place great emphasis on your abilities to apply what you have learned outside of the classroom and still be able to manage school, a high GPA and extracurricular activities.”

Career Services is hosting the Social and Public Service Career Fair on Feb. 24, where 25 public and services agencies talked to students about what agencies are out there, how students themselves should dress, how they should introduce themselves, how to edit their resumes and so on.

If college was a logical step, it only proves to be a bigger step into an ever changing professional world. A world that is geared for those who connect, impress and succeed.