“The spring semester is well underway, and for seniors that only means one thing: it’s time to graduate. You’ve waited long enough, and now it’s finally happening, but the problem is once you’re out, you don’t know where to go. You could go back home. Mom and dad would surely be willing to convert their new home office back into a room for you.”
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The spring semester is well underway, and for seniors that only means one thing: it’s time to graduate.

You’ve waited long enough, and now it’s finally happening, but the problem is once you’re out, you don’t know where to go.

You could go back home. Mom and dad would surely be willing to convert their new home office back into a room for you.

But eventually you’re going to need a job and that can be quite a scary thought.

Excuse the Alice Cooper pun, but school’s not just out for summer anymore.

You might take comfort in knowing that you’re not going to be the only one scared out of your wits.

Luckily, the university has great resources for grads.

The Center for Career Management offers many such options to students who are getting ready to transition into the working world, and for any student who hasn’t the slightest clue you’ve really got nothing to lose.

The CCM has a list of upcoming events throughout the semester on their Web site www.uakron.edu/ccm.

These events range from topics such as resume and cover letter building to proper lunch etiquette.

In addition, the Web site itself offers a senior checklist in order to improve your chances of success.

You can also register with a Ziprofessional to become eligible for job postings, on-campus recruiting schedules and resume referrals.

The CCM Web site also contains something called a Career Resource Library, which contains links to more than 350 periodicals and directories full of career information to help assist you in defining your goals.

Another helpful resource which many students may not be aware of is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which can be found at www.bls.gov/oco/.

This helpful guide offers information on hundreds of different jobs for the 2010-11 work year, including job summaries, working conditions, education and training needed, job prospects and, of course, salary.

When it’s all said and done, graduating can be a scary, intimidating thought.

It helps to know, however, that there is a lot of information out there to help get you prepared and it’s even better when you know many of these services are offered right here on campus.

Sure, mom and dad might not mind doing your laundry, but you’ll make them proud if you’re asking them to iron a suit for a job interview.

To all of the prospective graduates this year, good luck.

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