For recent graduates looking for their first full-time positions out of college, ISU’s Career Services serve as a valuable resource by offering resources and guidance.
Isabella Herdliska, a December 2024 communication studies graduate, mentioned her struggles in the job search process.
“The biggest struggle I found is that when it says entry level, it’s still asking for three to five years of experience,” Herdliska said. “With it being entry-level and right out of college, it’s difficult to have that much experience.”
Jessica Martin, a career coordinator for business career services, explained that students should apply for jobs even if they don’t meet all of the application requirements.
“A lot of students I meet with will see that three to five years are preferred or required, and then immediately say, ‘Oh, well, I’m out of that. I can’t apply,’” Martin said. “You might be surprised by the amount of things that you have that can be transferable.”
Martin explained that getting involved on campus helps build your resume.
“I want to see that you’re getting involved,” Martin said. “Join some clubs, something that’s major-related too, and also work on projects in class. You can put all your project experience on your resume.”
According to Martin, one of the top components employers look for is students who have completed internships. Martin encourages students to get internships before they start looking for jobs.
“Whether that’s over the summer, during the semester, maybe you study abroad and do something while you’re abroad, I just want to see that you’re putting an effort to get the skills required for the job while you’re still in school,” Martin said.
In her last semester of college, Herdliska took Professional Career Preparation, an LAS course designed to prepare students for their future careers.
“It teaches you a bunch of different things about resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn,” Herdliska said. “I wish I knew about it when I was in my freshman or sophomore years because then I’d be able to prepare myself, but it was still helpful to learn about all of those different things.”
According to the Business Career Services Annual Report for the 2023-24 school year, 95% of undergraduate students are “engaged” within six months of graduation, including being employed professionally, graduate school, temporary employment and additional education.
“You’re gonna have to do a lot of work, and it is going to feel like no reward,” Martin said. “But that’s just statistically how it works out. So stay in touch with it, keep going and stay persistent.”
CyHire is available to students with their Net-ID for six months after graduation. On the website, students can search through full-time positions, posted by companies specifically looking for ISU alumni.
In addition, career services are available to all alumni, regardless of when they have graduated.
“If you need assistance with the job hunt or working on your resume, you can reach out to us and we’ll schedule an appointment,” Martin said.
Each college has its own career services department. To learn more about career services and find a department, visit the Career Services website.
