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Now you’re ready to fly. With your career plans in
place, you can concentrate on building your resume,
writing cover letters, tackling job search techniques,
polishing your interviewing skills, and networking.
Rely on the Career Center for resources such as online
job postings, cooperative education, employment
specialists, and an annual tri-county Job Fair.
To
learn more!
Help is just a phone call, e-mail, or click away.
There are three office locations to serve you: La Plata
Campus, Leonardtown Campus, Prince Frederick Campus
(Include location information.)
Cooperative Education is an academic course that gives
students the opportunity to practice theoretical
knowledge in a real life work environment. This course
is a requirement for students enrolled in Information
Services Technology or Early Childhood Development.
Although not required in other programs of study, it
is a popular elective course for students who want to
get a start on relevant work experience for their
resume. The course typically runs on a pass/fail
basis. To earn 3 credits, you are required to work a
total of 225 hours. This averages to about 15 hours
per week during the fall or spring semester. If you
are currently employed in your field of study, your
job may qualify as a co-op experience. If you are not
currently employed, but interested in participating in
the co-op program, Career Services staff at LEON, PRIN,
or La Plata can assist you with updating your resume,
networking, and interview preparation. Students who
are interested are asked to contact Career Services at
least 8 weeks prior to the semester they wish to begin
the course.
Learn more about Cooperative Education.
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Whether you are starting out, starting up or starting
over, Career Services can support your job search
plans. We receive job opening announcements weekly
from local, regional and national sources. Each spring
we sponsor a Tri-County Job Fair for students, alumni,
and community members.
Our career specialists can assist you with resume and
cover letter writing, interviewing tips, follow-up and
networking techniques. We can also help you organize
your job search and provide some time-saving tips for
success.
Looking for Federal job opportunities? Career Services
has application software and hard copy versions of the
SF-171 and OF-612 Federal applications, along with
resource books designed to help you tackle government
job searches. Ask about our KSA workbook and sample
booklets. Access Federal jobs online at
www.usajobs.opm.gov.
Other sites we recommend for job search include
America’s Job Bank www.ajb.org
Southern Maryland Online www.somd.com
Washington Post
www.washingtonjobs.com
The Monster Board
www.monster.com
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Writing a resume can be an overwhelming task. Let
Career Services help! Students, alumni and community
members can make an appointment for one-on-one resume
assistance with a career specialist or attend one of
our resume writing workshops at any of our campus
locations. After completing your resume, post it
online using JobsOnline, CSM’s employment site listing
local and regional job opportunities.
During an hour-long appointment, a career specialist
will learn about who you are, where you are trying to
go, and what you’ve been doing so far to get there.
Your job skills and experience will be discussed and
explored. After this initial information gathering
process, you will get down to work with the career
specialist to design the best resume for your
situation. CSM believes each resume should be
professional but also unique to each individual.
Throughout each semester, at each campus, CSM offers
resume writing workshops following the K.I.S.S. method
of advertising your unique skills and abilities to get
the interview. This is presented in presentation
format with plenty of time for questions. Look on this
website or for campus notices for upcoming workshops.
Whether you are choosing help through an appointment
or workshop, you should prepare by gathering the
following data:
• Work experience listing employer data, starting and
ending dates, and duties and responsibilities
• Special skills and knowledge you used or gained on a
job
• Education, listing degrees, coursework and GPA
• Key skills and transferable skills
• Major accomplishments
• Other life experiences that can transfer to work
Can’t take the time to come into the career center?
Here are valuable resume links to assist you from your
home computer:
www.careerperfect.com/careerperfect/resumeFAQs.htm
www.jobweb.com/resources/library
www.susanireland.com/index.html
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.htm
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Throughout the semester, local and regional employers
come to one of CSM’s campus locations to recruit
students for full or part-time employment. It is a
great time for students to meet and discuss their
skills and abilities with prospective employers.
Students should always try to link any employment
possibility with their program of study to obtain
valuable career related experience. In some situations
you can earn college credit for your work experience
(see cooperative education). Look for announcements of
on-site employment recruiters on our website and in
the career center.
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Whether you are a student looking for your first job,
or a working adult looking for a career change, the
Tri-County Job Fair can open doors for you. Each
Spring, CSM hosts the Tri County Job Fair for
students, alumni and the community. Participating
employers primarily come from Charles, St. Mary’s and
Calvert Counties. More than 60 participating employers
have offered entry-level and professional positions in
health care, information technology, engineering,
management, human services, marketing, government, and
retail. Workshops on resume preparation and job search
tips are offered, along with personal assistance on
how to complete application forms. The job fair offers
free admission and free parking for job seekers. Job
seekers are encouraged to dress appropriately as some
employers conduct interviews and bring multiple copies
of resumes. Participants have evaluated past job fairs
as “excellent”, “well organized”, “…a wealth of
information and leads” and “wonderful opportunities”.
For more information, contact career services.
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