Securing Career Opportunities

Actively use resources both on and off campus to help you navigate the process of securing career opportunities that meet your specific goals. Regardless of where you are in your journey, seeking out experiences which grow your technical knowledge and enhance your professional skills is vital. Partner with Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services to develop your personalized search strategy. In addition to traditional services such as resume critiques and mock interviews, our team offers graduate school admissions essay reviews, internship coaching, employer contacts and more.

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Recommendations for Securing Career Opportunities

Learn more about “securing” with recommendations targeted at helping you continue your personal creation of your future success.

 

• Develop an internship or job search plan early in the academic year, taking specific recruitment timelines for your goals into consideration.

  Think about and record the parameters for your search, including typical work tasks, locations and other factors you prefer. Brainstorm a list of potential types of internships or jobs as well as employers related to your goals. Schedule a time to meet with a Career Services staff member to discuss your outlined preferences and learn about strategies and search resources specific to your goals.

• Consider factors impacting your internship search and selection (geographic location, housing availability, wage, etc.) or your full-time search process (cost of living, salary needs and desires, community resources, etc.).

  Record the “wants” and “needs” impacting your internship or job search in two separate columns. Rank them within each of the two categories from most important to least important by providing a point value on a scale of 1-10. These lists and ratings will prove helpful in evaluating the “fit” of different opportunities as you decide to complete application processes and evaluate and compare different offers throughout your search. How does each opportunity score on “wants” and “needs” when evaluated against your self-created career decision rubric? While securing an ideal position meeting all of your needs and preferences may not be highly probable, your rubric will help you find the best match. Then, you can think creatively about options to manage the unmet “wants” and/or “needs” by the opportunities under consideration to determine each opportunity’s viability.

• Research target organizations to determine if they have internship programs or jobs of interest and, if so, the recruitment timeline, processes and appropriate contacts.

  If you have specific employers in mind, visit their websites. Most organizations have a “jobs,” “careers,” “human resources,” or similar page on their site where current positions are posted and/or where application processes are outlined.
  As you visit these sites, note the answers to the following questions:

  • Does the organization have any current position openings or an internship program for which I want to apply? If yes, what are the other details of the process?
  • What is the application deadline and/or the selection timeline?
  • How do I apply? Online? Through email? Through postal mail?
  • Who is the best contact with the organization for questions related to the application process?
  • Will the organization be visiting campus as a part of the recruitment process, and, if so, when and where?
  • Who are additional networking contacts who can help me with additional information about the organization and the opportunity?
• Identify employer, industry, campus and other networking resources for learning about available internship or job opportunities related to your chosen career interests.

  Visit with your academic advisor, professors, Career Services staff and other career mentors about the best methods for finding leads related to your goals. Begin your search using all of the different resources recommended in your search. Then, slowly narrow the resources as you discover which ones are helping you identify leads and which ones are not. Keep your mind open to exploring different means as new strategies and resources are revealed throughout your search.

• Develop targeted resumes and cover letters for each internship application, submit materials in a timely manner, and follow up to ensure receipt of applications.

  Research each opportunity by reading the position description, reviewing the employer’s website, asking questions of your relevant network connections, and using other resources. With this knowledge, develop a unique, targeted marketing tool (your résumé) that appeals to the employer’s needs and highlights your background and potential for success in the role.
  If you experience résumé writer’s block, visit the “how to” resources available on Canvas Career Resources to learn how to get started. Once you have a rough draft developed, bring it by the Ferguson College of Agriculture Hilst Center for Student Success, 101 Ag Hall, to have it reviewed.

• Continue to establish and maintain good relationships with faculty members, advisors, peers, alumni and campus staff.

  Build relationships with your classmates and expand your networks together by sharing contacts. Visit with your professors after class, during their office hours, at campus events, or schedule appointments to discuss their disciplines and career advice. Attend discipline-specific student organization meetings, alumni panel discussions, and other activities. Keep in touch with your connections, making them aware of your search status and what you are seeking. Send them thank-you notes as they provide you with information and leads, and be willing to help them with their needs as well.

• Identify members of your professional network who would be willing to serve as good references in your application process.

  Consider professors, advisors, current and former supervisors, as well as current and past clients or coworkers as references. Before you list their contact information on your reference page, be sure to ask them if they are willing to serve as a good reference for you during your search. Also provide your references with a copy of your resume to assist them in recalling your qualifications for the opportunities you are seeking. Always send your references a thank you note and keep them updated on your application status as your search progresses.

• Attend career development workshops, presentations and events.

  Visit the OSU Career Services website or OSU Hire System to find a schedule of campus-wide career events.
  Find out about workshops, presentations and events coordinated by Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services by visiting the Career Services Homepage and following the Ferguson College of Agriculture social media channels.

• Keep your OSU Hire System account active, and your profile and résumé updated.

  Visit OSU Hire System and go to the “Student & Alumni” section. Select the “Hire System Login” tab on the left-hand navigation menu. Log in to your account. Once inside the Hire System, use the options under “My Profile” in the top navigation to update your profile and upload a current resume.

• Create or update your LinkedIn account, including a professional photograph.

  Set up a LinkedIn account. Varying levels of subscriptions are available, including a free subscription option. LinkedIn also has an app for both Apple and Android products. The site has helpful information about account set up and use under the “Help” menu. Career Services staff also can provide guidance in maximizing your LinkedIn usage.

• Purchase appropriate interview attire or check your interview clothes for repair or dry-cleaning needs.

  Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services recommends having both business professional and business casual options ready for the interview process. Business professional will typically be appropriate, but in some instances, employers may provide candidates with the opportunity to interview in business casual. Safe definitions of each style are available on Canvas Career Resources. Lots of options are available for putting your interview attire together on a budget including sales, discount stores, resale shops, and partnering with peers for mix-and-match options.

• Complete a mock interview and/or participate in Mock Interview Day.

  OSU Career Services offers 24-hour online virtual mock interviews through Interview Stream. OSU Career Services also hosts a Mock Interview Day each semester where employers volunteer to facilitate practice interviews with students, and students may also schedule mock interviews with Career Services staff. Information about how to use Interview Stream, how to participate in Mock Interview Day or how to schedule a mock interview with a staff member is available online at hireosugrads.com/StudentsAlumni/Interview-Practice.aspx

• Attend career fairs and employer information sessions.

  Visit the OSU Career Services website or OSU Hire System to find a schedule of campus-wide career events, including career fairs and employer information sessions.
  Stay informed of employer-student connection events coordinated by the Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services by visiting the events page and following the Ferguson College of Agriculture social media channels.

• Report employment status to Career Services prior to graduation.

  Each semester, information about students’ post-graduation plans and/or internship plans is collected for use in completing critical reports for program recognition and accreditation by various educational and professional organizations. All interns and graduates are asked to complete a survey and provide the most accurate responses possible. The data you submit is confidential, and identifiable, individual information is not shared with entities external to Oklahoma State University.

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Recommendations for Securing Graduate/Professional School Opportunities

 

• Research graduate programs of interest to determine application timelines, admissions requirements, testing requirements and other needs.

  Visit the website of each institution and program to gather basic information about admissions steps, requirements, testing, timelines and key contacts for the process and your discipline. Write down questions about information you are unable to locate. Call and/or email the key contacts to fill in the holes within your information. Use the information and your experience in gathering it to narrow your programs under consideration to a manageable number for campus visits.

• Read peer-reviewed journal articles in your discipline and related to your desired area of graduate study to help identify potential institutions and programs.

  Use the resources of OSU’s Edmon Low Library, such as the online databases, to identify peer-reviewed journal articles related to your disciplinary interests. Note the article authors and their home institutions. Visit the institution websites to learn more about their academic programs, faculty, and current research projects to determine if you want to consider graduate study there.

• Continue to establish and maintain good relationships with faculty advisors and mentors in your discipline. Seek their advice about potential graduate programs.

  Schedule one-on-one appointments with your faculty mentors and advisor to discuss your desired career direction and their perspectives of programs to consider. Prepare a list of questions in advance to make the most of your mentoring meeting.

• Develop your vitae and your statement of purpose for graduate/professional school and have it reviewed by a Career Services staff member, as well as by a faculty mentor and/or pre-professional advisor.

  If you do not know where to begin in developing a curriculum vitae or personal statement, visit the “how to” resources available on Canvas Career Resources, and/or schedule a time to visit with a Career Services staff member in the Ferguson College of Agriculture Hilst Center for Student Success, 101 Ag Hall, or in OSU Career Services, 360 Student Union. If you have your drafts developed, the same resources may assist you in improving them. Additionally, speak with your advisor and other faculty mentors about providing feedback on your document content. They have expertise in your specific academic discipline and may provide valuable insight about correct citation methods for publications and presentations, disciplinary terminology and other important factors for academic consideration. 

• Prepare for and take admissions exams required by your graduate programs of interest.

  Research specific programs of interest early to determine which exams will be required in your application process. Visit the standardized exam websites to determine administration dates and testing locations. Register well in advance to take your exams, as limited testing seats are available on each date. Use any preparation information and materials provided through the exam websites as well as additional preparatory resources to study for the exams. Get sufficient rest the night before the exam, eat a good breakfast and provide yourself with ample time to arrive early at your test location.

• Visit your graduate/professional schools of interest.

  Determine potential program visit dates and think about what you want to know when you visit your programs of interest. Contact the program coordinator at each graduate/professional school to schedule a date that will provide you with the best opportunity to get your questions answered for that program. Be sure to request time to visit with a current student about his or her perspective of the graduate/professional student experience, and ask the program coordinator for referrals to other campus or community resources for questions not directly related to the academic program under consideration. Be aware some institutions will even provide you with partial or full travel reimbursement for your visits to graduate programs.

• Attend career development workshops, presentations and events. 

  Visit the OSU Career Services website or OSU Hire System to find a schedule of campus-wide career events.
  Find out about workshops, presentations and events coordinated by Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services by visiting the Career Services Homepage and following the Ferguson College of Agriculture social media channels.

• Attend career fairs and employer information sessions.

  Visit the OSU Career Services website or OSU Hire System to find a schedule of campus-wide career events, including career fairs and employer information sessions.
  Stay informed of employer-student connection events coordinated by the Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services by visiting the events page and following the Ferguson College of Agriculture social media channels.

• Keep your OSU Hire System account active, and your profile & résumé updated.

  Visit OSU Hire System and go to the “Student & Alumni” section. Select the “Hire System Login” tab on the left-hand navigation menu. Select the “Hire System Login” tab on the left-hand navigation menu. Log in to your account. Once inside the Hire System, use the options under “My Profile” in the top navigation to update your profile and upload a current resume.

• Create or update your LinkedIn account, including a professional photograph.

  Set up a LinkedIn account. Varying levels of subscriptions are available, including a free subscription option. LinkedIn also has an app for both Apple and Android products. The site has helpful information about account set up and use under the “Help” menu. Career Services staff also can provide guidance in maximizing your LinkedIn usage.

• Purchase appropriate interview attire or check your interview clothes for repair or dry-cleaning needs.

  Ferguson College of Agriculture Career Services recommends having both business professional and business casual options ready for the interview process at all times when you’re in the search process. Business professional will typically be appropriate, but in some instances, candidates may be instructed to arrive for an interview or related activity in business casual. Safe definitions of each style are available on Canvas Career Resources. Lots of options are available for putting your interview attire together on a budget, including sales, discount stores, resale shops, and partnering with peers for mix-and-match options.

• Complete a mock interview and/or participate in Mock Interview Day. 

  OSU Career Services offers 24-hour online virtual mock interviews through Interview Stream. OSU Career Services also hosts a Mock Interview Day each semester where employers volunteer to facilitate practice interviews with students, and students may also schedule mock interviews with Career Services staff. Information about how to use Interview Stream, how to participate in Mock Interview Day or how to schedule a mock interview with a staff member is available online at hireosugrads.com/StudentsAlumni/Interview-Practice.aspx.

• Identify members of your professional network who would be willing to serve as good references in your application process. 

  Consider professors, advisors, current and former supervisors, as well as current and past clients or coworkers as references. Before you list their contact information on your reference page, be sure to ask them if they are willing to serve as a good reference for you during your search. Also provide your references with a copy of your résumé or vitae to assist them in recalling your experiences in relation to the programs you are considering. Always send your references a thank you note and keep them updated on your application and selection status.

• Build your career-related work experience through volunteer opportunities, part-time jobs, research experiences and/or internships.

  Meet with a Career Services staff member and your faculty advisor to identify potential experiences to support your career path and develop a plan for how to pursue those opportunities. Your academic advisor also can assist you in determining if earning academic credit for an internship experience is necessary or recommended and how to pursue academic credit for the experience.

• Report continuing education status to Career Services prior to graduation.

  A link to the Ferguson College of Agriculture Graduation Survey is sent to students each semester through their OSU email address, and students are asked to complete the brief forms online. Be looking for the link in your inbox.