I hope that all of you are finding summer to be a less hectic and more relaxed season than the fall and spring semesters. Whether you are taking classes, working at internships, doing research, traveling or volunteering, you probably have more free time and fewer demands than you do during the school year.

This is the time of the year for you to have fun, get caught up on sleep and reconnect with friends and family. It can also be a time for you to check off some items that will get you ready for the fall recruiting season — which will be happening shortly after classes begin in August.

Are you someone who has been diligently applying for internships or jobs without any positive results? If so, let’s step back and see if we can identify and solve the problem.

Last week, the Fulton Schools Career Center hosted our Spring 2019 Career Conference. During the event, a panel of employers and recent Fulton Schools alumni spoke about transition — going from a student to an intern or to a new professional employee. Students heard from the employers about the things that made workers successful – or not. They also learned about the challenges the recent graduates faced when they started their new positions.

The employers emphasized the importance of “soft” of “transferable” skills. You will always have to learn more technical skills when you start a new job or a new company. Technical job-related training and independent learning are typically part of the onboarding process. You are expected to know how to communicate effectively, to work as part of a team, to find information and solve problems. You are also expected to have a good work ethic – be on time, be productive and treat everyone respectfully. As Fulton Schools students, you have so many opportunities to acquire and hone your “people skills”.  http://customize.engineering.asu.edu/

Interns and new employees are expected to show initiative and leadership. They are also told that they should ask for help when it is needed. I asked our panelists to give some guidance as to how someone would know when it is appropriate to ask for help. The response was that the intern or new employee should attempt to solve problems on their own. When they are not able to determine an answer or reach a decision, they should show their research and share their thought processes when asking for help. Providing this background not only shows initiative; but, improves the conversation and learning experience.

Finally, all employers and alumni recommended using the Fulton Schools Career Center. Checkout the resources on our website and use Handshake to schedule an appointment.  http://career.engineering.asu.edu/
We are here to help you.

Joyce Donahue is a Certified Career Counselor in the Fulton Schools of Engineering Career Center.

Did you know you can use Handshake to search job opportunities and internships, upload your résumés for recruiting employers to view, schedule on-campus interviews and see who’s recruiting at engineering career events throughout the year? If you’re not taking advantage of this resource, register for Handshake today.

Cognizant is hiring for two full-time positions! Apply for their Enterprise Applications Services Digital Technology Analyst position or their Quality Engineering and Assurance Analyst position today.

Marsh has openings for the UX Design Intern position and the Full Stack Developer Intern position. Hurry and apply before Friday, May 31, 2018! Visit the Handshake links below for more information and to apply.

Many Fulton Schools students are currently getting ready to begin their summer internships and research positions locally, across the country and even internationally. I would like to use this column to offer a few suggestions for success.

Apply for a chance to work with Fox News Channel in Arizona — submit your application today!

Did you know you can use Handshake to search job opportunities and internships, upload your résumés for recruiting employers to view, schedule on-campus interviews and see who’s recruiting at engineering career events throughout the year? If you’re not taking advantage of this resource, register for Handshake today.

Congratulations to all of our Fulton Schools graduates! Enjoy the celebrations this week. You have worked hard over the last several years. You deserve all of the fanfare, recognition and fun. Best wishes to all as you begin you professional careers.

We hope that you will stay connected and come back to join us in the future — at Career Exploration Nights, recruiting at Career Fairs and helping students through panels and career fair prep sessions.

Kudos to all continuing students! You are one semester closer to your own graduation. Enjoy your break with friends and family. Get caught up on sleep. Have fun.

Take a bit of time to reflect on what you still need to do to get ready for fall recruiting season. Update your résumé and your profile in Handshake now. There will only be a few weeks from the start of classes until the Fulton Schools Career Fair on September 17–19, 2019.

Consider getting a head start by attending the Spring 2019 Career Conference on Monday, May 13, 2019.

All of us in the Fulton Schools Career Center are proud of your accomplishments and delighted to be working with you.

Joyce Donahue is a Certified Career Counselor in the Fulton Schools of Engineering Career Center.