Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Center lti Staff Reports The job outlook for the class of 1995 is 1 brightest in several years, but new gradua must be diligent and realistic, say experts USC's Career Center. "A lot more recruiters are coming to ca pus this year. And many students have ready gotten two or three job offers," said L ry Salters, director of the Career Center. "I mncf nf tiipcp nffers are nnw enmin? fr smaller companies, particularly companies the service industry. There seems to be an timism in the air that we haven't seen many years." The best national projections indicate t the hiring of new college graduates could up 4.2 percent this year. This reaffirms 1 year's slight improvement of 1.1 percent a: a four-year decline, according to the natio College Placement Council. Recruiting and hiring at the Career C ter reflect the national trend, Salters s* Areas where jobs for new graduates ' I ^ iU uiV- - -\ - M." . -y St nks studem "hs ; in imar P^'" * om ^flHK%J|/ 5in ? nal HU^ en are Psychology senior Catl man Jason Sox, left, loc ational tacmties; ana chemical- and electronicrelated industries, according to research at the Collegiate Employment Research Institute in East Lansing, Mich. Kj|| vice-sector employers are J *} V looking at a 6.6 percent J increase in hiring. These ^ offerings for new graduI ates. Manufacturers angJBT| in new college graduate H' \ At the other end .p. k. | of the scale, jobs for new f!j' i V 1 llljl I graduates in government and not-for-profit agenI cies are expected to nwm The Gamecock Spring Graduation 1 ts with wo] ' ' ?! . ?! ~f' 1 * ??-?J..,_ > JAMIE CLARK The Gamecock iy William, above, and engineering freshto at job options at the Career Center. been hired also have what Mosley calls a good "employment package," a mix of above-average grades, excellent skills, campus involvement and career-related job experience through cooperative education, internships or part-time work. Graduates who haven't started looking for jobs will face a tougher time, Mosley said. "Tt tnWoc si* tn nine months to execute a good job search," she said. "You don't graduate on Saturday and go to work Monday as a manager. You have to pay your dues. One of the problems is that a lot of students think they will graduate and immediately find a fun, glamorous, high-paying job. Most of us have to advance through the ranks." Employers look for certain qualities when interviewing prospective employees, Salters said. These include outstanding communication and people skills and the ability to be a team player. Students who have demonstrated such qualities in student organizations or though work experience definitely should highlight them in their resume. Employers also expect college graduates to be computer literate. "Clerical staff are not doing everyone's typ ing anymore, so skills in word processing, spreadsheets, Windows applications and database management are extremely helpful to employers hiring new graduates," Salters said. Salters and Mosley said it's never too early for college students to begin thinking about what jobs they can find when they graduate. Students are encouraged to seek help from the Career Center as early as their freshman year. j Take 01 |rK word* d Directions u rk options How to dress for success When interviewing for jobs, students should be conscious of what they wear: One of the biggest factors in getting a job is making it through the job interview. And nothing says more about a prospective employee than the clothes he or she wears. Kitty Strickland, a professor in the University of South Carolina department of retailing, offers some fashion tips for college graduates when interviewing. She says college students should research the companies that have granted them interviews and find out what is considered appropriate dress. "While many work places in the '90s accept fashion styles with an emphasis on casual dress, students interviewing should still dress appropriately and professionally for interviews," Strickland said. "In certain work environments, wearing the latest, trendy fashions could make a person seem frivolous and unprofessional. Banks and law firms still expect to see students come for interviews in nice, dark suits. But if you are job hunting in the fashion industry, dressing in the very latest styles and trends is a must." Strickland offers the following tips for young women: Don't wear too much jewelry or jewelry that is too big. Don't wear extra earrings or rings on every finger. Nose rings and other facial rings are a definite "no-no." Don't wear too much makeup. An individual's makeup should not be the first thing a prospective employer notices. Don't wear garish fingernail polish. A 1 1 ' 'i * iil_ J Avoid ciotnes tnat migni De consiaereu too feminine, such as ruffled blouses. Pastels and other soft colors are out. Short women should not wear a heel higher than 2 and-a-half inches. Avoid patterned hose. Appropriately-colored hosiery that matches an ensemble is acceptable. Stay away from micro-mini skirts or skirts that are too long. For young men, Strickland offers the following tips: Stay away from loafers. Instead, opt for a nice lace-up or slip-on shoe. Although wearing an earring on the job might be acceptable, men should refrain from wearing one during the job interview. Don't wear strong cologne or aftershave. ? Don't listen to the ur rumors about AIDS, get the facts! ?1 1-800-342-AIDS