Career Center

Career Center Insights for Navigating Your First Job Search

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:04:41 +0000

Career Center Insights for Navigating Your First Job Search admin Fri, 06/20/2025 - 15:04

For students and recent graduates looking for their first job, the search can be overwhelming and stressful. Laura Garcia, director of Undergraduate Career Education at the Career Center, shares advice on how to navigate it.

Be Open-Minded and Expand Your Search

While job seekers may have a specific company or industry in mind, expanding their potential pathways can be beneficial. Garcia recommends exploring opportunities that leverage your skills in a different industry or job function. For example, if a candidate's dream is to work for Amazon but they are unable to secure a position, hope is not lost, Garcia says. Working a similar job in a different industry or securing a role with a competitor can be effective strategies in landing a future offer at their desired company.

Network, Network, Network

Leveraging the vast Georgia Tech alumni network can help you uncover new opportunities and connect with employers in your desired field. The LinkedIn Alumni tool allows users to search for contacts by city, industry, job title, area of study, and more. After identifying potential contacts, reach out with specific ideas on what you are looking for and ask targeted questions like, “How can I make myself more competitive in this field?” or “Do you have any advice on the market or organizations to target in the area?”

Networking is a critical step in the job search. Not every opening is posted online, and candidates are often being considered by the time a role is posted.

Use AI With Limits

Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool when crafting cover letters and resumes, but Garcia warns that overreliance on AI can be detrimental for candidates.

AI-generated language can be “robotic” or “flowery,” she said, and employers can often tell when a submission is not written by the candidate. Garcia says that AI should never write a cover letter or craft a resume; instead, it can generate ideas or bullet points that the individual can refine. AI-powered tools such as Grammarly can also assist in ensuring resumes and cover letters are free of grammatical errors.

Revamp Your Resume and Tailor Cover Letters to Openings

Subtle tweaks to a resume can make a big difference. Garcia explains that candidates should avoid listing responsibilities and focus more on skills, results, and achievements in bullet points. Strong action verbs can enhance a resume and get employers to read further after an initial scan.

She also implores candidates to use language from the job posting in their resumes. "They told you what they wanted in the job description, so that is your cheat sheet." For applicants using job boards, this method can be helpful when applying to companies that use applicant tracking systems to highlight potential new hires.

Cover letters should be individualized for each application. To craft an effective cover letter, Garcia recommends looking at it like a tennis match, with the ball going back and forth between the language of the job posting and the candidate's experience.

"I've identified three main things that this employer wants, so you can say, ‘I noticed in the job description you're looking for X. Through A, B, or C I've exemplified X.’ The more you can infuse language from the job description and refer back to the position or the employer, the better your cover letter," she said.

Don’t Underestimate Past Experience

As students or young alumni, in place of years of work experience, Garcia urges candidates to highlight past leadership experience. Many employers believe “the best predictor of future performance is past performance,” saying that any example of a leadership role within a student organization or recognition at a job during your time in college is something worth highlighting, as it shows employers signs of a motivated and influential potential employee with leadership qualities.

Be Prepared for Interviews

After landing an interview, it's important to research the company and familiarize yourself with the role as much as possible. This allows candidates to relate their skills and experiences to the company's needs.

Behavioral questions are common in interviews, and Garcia recommends answering these using the STAR method.

Situation – Give background information to help your listener better understand the situation.

Task – What were you working on? Was it a class assignment? Internship project?

Action – What specific action did you take? Employers will closely listen to this section of your response because they believe the way you acted in the past best predicts the work they may expect from you in the future.

Result/Reflection – What was the outcome? Try to focus on the positive (completed work on time, received an A on a project, resolved a conflict). Reflect on how you have grown from that situation.

Asking well-informed questions during an interview and sending a thank-you note afterward may make the difference in a competitive search.

Use Available Resources

The Career Center offers several tools that can assist you in each stage of your search.

Career Buzz: A targeted job board that allows employers to connect directly with Georgia Tech students and alumni.

Big Interview: Get guidance on industry-specific interview tips and utilize the AI feedback provided through a simulated mock interview.

Meet with an advisor: Students and alumni (within two years of graduation) can meet with a Career Center staff member to discuss career plans or other aspects of the job search process.

Access additional career tools here.

The Career Center is a unit within the Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Success and Graduate and Postdoctoral Education.

Subtitle

The Georgia Tech Career Center shares tips and strategies to help students and recent graduates land their first job.

Summary sentence

The Georgia Tech Career Center shares tips and strategies to help students and recent graduates land their first job.

Summary

The Georgia Tech Career Center shares tips and strategies to help students and recent graduates land their first job.

Dateline

Fri, 06/20/2025 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications

Keywords

Career Center

Georgia Tech Career Center

News room topics

Campus and Community

Keeping Up With Campus Resources

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:09:41 +0000

Keeping Up With Campus Resources admin Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:09

College campuses offer a wide range of resources for students, faculty, and staff to be successful in their work and their jobs — and Georgia Tech is no different.

With so many options at your fingertips, it might be difficult to keep track of them. Here is a refresher on some of the resources available to the campus community.

LinkedIn Learning

Current students, faculty, and staff members have unlimited access to an online library of high-quality instructional videos through LinkedIn Learning — a platform with more than 13,000 courses focused on business, technology, and creative tools.

More information.

Library Gadgets

Through the Georgia Tech Library’s gadget service, students, faculty, and staff can rent equipment and other resources to fulfill their production needs. Certain items like DSLR cameras, action cameras, and voice recorders require a reservation, while other items like laptops, VR headsets, and adapters are available for instant checkout.

More information.

Iris Photo Booth

The Iris Photo Booth is a resource for Georgia Tech students, faculty, staff, and alumni to get their professional headshots. The booth located at the Career Center inside the Bill Moore Student Success Center is available Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the booth on the third floor of the John Lewis Student Center is available seven days a week when the building is open. No appointment is required.

More information.

Campus Printing and Copying Services

Printing and Copying Services offers a delivery printing service that is non-immediate, with deliveries to John Lewis Student Center three times a day. All students are allocated 1,200 pages per semester, which can be accessed at printing.gatech.edu. For questions or custom orders, please email pcs@oit.gatech.edu. (Note: This service is only accessible from a campus network, like eduroam, or campus VPN.)

Printing and Copying Services also provides business cards, letterheads, envelopes, and memo pads printed in one or two colors, conforming to Institute brand standards.

Printing and Copying Services can produce all your printind needs, from business cards and brochures to yard signs and banners.

More information.

Campus Closet

Whether it’s for a presentation, interview, or an event, the Georgia Tech Campus Closet provides students with professional attire. Rental reservations can be made online before picking clothes up in the Career Center inside the Bill Moore Student Success Center.

More information.

Wellness Coaching

Students can schedule up to six coaching sessions per semester, with counselors offering individualized strategies to identify and achieve health and wellness goals. During sessions, coaches will provide support and guidance to keep students on track to achieve their goals.

More information.

Nutrition Counseling

Students can meet with a Georgia Tech dietitian to receive individual counseling in person or virtually. During your first visit, you’ll complete an analysis of your current eating plan and an action plan addressing individual goals. Dietitians can assist students in addressing disordered eating habits, managing a medical diagnosis, and providing guidance on staying nourished while following specific food restrictions or allergies.

More information.

Summary sentence

College campuses offer a wide range of resources for students, faculty, and staff to be successful in their work and their jobs — and Georgia Tech is no different.

Summary

College campuses offer a wide range of resources for students, faculty, and staff to be successful in their work and their jobs — and Georgia Tech is no different.

Dateline

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Kristen Bailey

Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

campus resources

Career Center

Georgia Tech Library

Division of Student Engagement and Well-Being

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

681274

Source updated

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:09

5 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Career Fair

admin — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:26:41 +0000

5 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Career Fair admin Thu, 01/18/2024 - 12:26

With the Spring All Majors Career Fair taking place Jan. 22–23, students should be making preparations for the event and to talk with prospective employers.

The first step to attending the event is to register through CareerBuzz, though walk-up attendance will also be permitted.

A few tips for students to be prepared:

Attend the fair. This may seem obvious, but not every student does. The event offers networking opportunities for students of all majors. If you get there and talk to an employer who is looking for engineering students and you're a liberal arts or sciences major, ask if they have colleagues you could contact about opportunities in other areas of their business.
Practice. Most students know to practice for an interview, but not a fair. Preparing a 20- to 30-second “elevator pitch” that briefly captures who you are, what you offer, and what you’re looking for can help you feel confident when you talk with recruiters. Practice delivering a smooth elevator pitch, giving a firm handshake, and making good eye contact.
Plan your strategy. To make the most of your time at the fair, review the company list to know who will be there and identify priority employers to target. Look online at the list of employers attending the fair to see which companies you want to talk with and look up background information on those employers.
Get — and stay — organized. Have a plan for how to keep everything organized as you get materials during the fair. You may walk out with a lot of business cards and handouts, and it can be overwhelming. Take only the information you need, and make notes on the back of business cards or on your phone to remember key discussion points for when you follow up after the fair.
Follow up. If recruiters instruct you to apply on CareerBuzz after the fair, be sure to do so promptly. Also, many recruiters use LinkedIn as a resource for filling positions, and students should be visible and active there. Students should connect on LinkedIn with anyone they talked with in person at the fair. Even if the request isn’t accepted, students will have gotten their names in front of the recruiter one more time. The request should be paired with a follow-up email as well.

Attending the fair is about more than just employment. Coming out with a solid lead is a great goal, but it’s also about networking and the professional experience of participating in the fair. Learn more about how to prepare for the fair.

The Spring All Majors Career Fair takes place Jan. 22–23 in the Exhibition Hall, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Students should wear professional business attire and bring their BuzzCard and several copies of their resume. Students can register to attend the fair through CareerBuzz for priority access. Walk-up attendance is also welcome.

Summary sentence

With the Spring All Majors Career Fair taking place Jan. 22–23, students should be making preparations for the event and to talk with prospective employers.

Summary

With the Spring All Majors Career Fair taking place Jan. 22–23, students should be making preparations for the event and to talk with prospective employers.

Dateline

Thu, 01/18/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Kristen Bailey
Institute Communications

Keywords

career fair

Career Center

News room topics

Campus and Community

Career Center

Career Center Insights for Navigating Your First Job Search

Be Open-Minded and Expand Your Search

Network, Network, Network

Use AI With Limits

Revamp Your Resume and Tailor Cover Letters to Openings

Don’t Underestimate Past Experience

Be Prepared for Interviews

Use Available Resources

Related links

Keywords

News room topics

Categories

Keeping Up With Campus Resources

LinkedIn Learning

Library Gadgets

Iris Photo Booth

Campus Printing and Copying Services

Campus Closet

Wellness Coaching

Nutrition Counseling

Keywords

News room topics

5 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Career Fair

Related links

Keywords

News room topics

Categories