By Westin Campo/reporter
In light of the financial crisis our country is facing, finding employment may seem like a daunting task. However, a visit to TCC career center may help.
“We guide students to resources for employment, and our goal is to provide support services to help students stay in school,” said Sandra Walker, coordinator of career and employment services on NE Campus.
The center is a free resource geared toward helping college students find a job.
Students not familiar with the nuances of résumé writing can obtain one-on-one résumé coaching and guidance to make their
credentials look more attractive to prospective employers.
“We don’t write it for them,” said Vicki McCleery, senior office assistant in the NE center. “Students need the hands-on experience.”
Another resource to check out is the job lab, located in the career center office, where online and print information is available.
“We constantly search and research trends and post them on our Web site,” McCleery said.
According to a recent study by career builder. com, 12 percent of hiring managers have used social networking Web sites to garner information on applicants. The career center offers tips on how to clean up one’s profile to improve employment chances.
Lab computers provide access to local and national job boards. Employers post some of the local job boards specifically to TCC.
“They recognize that you used TCC to find them and that gives students a slight advantage,” McCleery said.
In addition to the online resources, the centers also have a print library. The library includes reference books as well as a list of
scholarships and internships available to students.
For evidence of the effectiveness of this resource, one needs to look only to Walker.
“I graduated from TCJC in 1985, and through the career center, I started working in the instructional media department in 1988,” she said. “I encourage students to take advantage of the services offered to them in order to improve job search skills to help them be successful when looking for employment, as a student and beyond.”
Today, she helps students take advantage of the resources she herself used.
Each TCC campus has its own career center. To take advantage of the service, students must present a TCC photo ID or a
schedule and paid receipt for classes. The services are available to current and former students.
“Alumni should use other college career centers in conjunction with TCC to broaden their job opportunities,” McCleery said.
To determine if an appointment is necessary, students should check with the center on their campus.
Contact Info
NE Campus: NSTU 1625A, 817-515-6692
NW Campus: WCTS 1124A, 817-515-7785
South Campus: SSTU 1102A, 817-515-4551
SE Campus: ESEE 2103A, 817-515-3592
TR Campus: TRTR 1430F, 817-515-1325
