While others fret, some seniors have already found work
After college students graduate, they often begin the process of finding a job in their field, but for some students on Waynesburg’s campus, their future careers await as soon as they grasp their diploma.
Senior nursing majors Katie and Emily Latimer, twin sisters, were hired by Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. Both Latimers had previous experience working in the hospital, which helped them to land their post-graduation jobs.
”I had clinicals there the last two years,” said Katie. “I really liked the facility, I liked it was a teaching hospital, so I thought it would be good for my first job.”
The high standards of Waynesburg University nursing program really set the standard and helped both Latimers land a job. Emily credits a lot of that to the faculty and staff of the nursing program.
”Definitely the faculty and staff are the number one thing that helped prepare us,” said Emily. “They are great at what they do, they are all relating what we do in class to the clinical experience.”
Senior business major Rachel Lang on the other hand went looking for a job the old fashion way: googling “companies in Pittsburgh.” She had a goal of applying to a different job every week during her off day from classes on Thursdays.
Lang eventually was able to land an interview with a PNC bank in downtown Pittsburgh where she will be working in the accounting and finance department. Landing an interview with PNC surprised Lang.
”If you would have asked me when I went for my interview if I would end with my job I would have said no. Even after my interview I was still up in the air,” said Lang. “Now when I look back to the crazy two weeks of applications and interviews I realized I was just myself and let my resume show them who I am.”
For both Katie and Emily, they both had to go through three interviews before they were hired: an human resources interview, a peer interview and a unit interview.
Marie Coffman, director of Career Services and Placement, said the most important thing for seniors to have is a professional resume.
”Absolutely a professional resume, free of errors especially spelling errors, a lot of employers are saying now they want one page,” said Coffman. “But, I went to a professional development last week, and some of them said they’re okay with two pages, but it should be two pages of relevant information.”
Coffman went on to say that employers are looking for students with relevant experiences, internships, in class experiences and hands-on experience.
Another challenge for students once they have found a job is finding a residence near their job. While some students may find a job close to home, the Latimers, who are from Ohio, will be searching for a place in Morgantown in their near future.
”I actually have started looking, I haven’t physically gone down there, but I have been doing a lot online searching,” said Katie.