Pitt's Career Services Ramp Up Efforts to Help Students Land Jobs

PITTSBURGH-As academic credentials for University of Pittsburgh students improve, so does Pitt's approach to helping its graduates land good first professional jobs. The University's Office of Career Services will introduce its new Employer Services Group during "Career Services Partners Connect" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 11 in Pitt's William Pitt Union Lower Lounge, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland.

Comprising five dedicated professionals, the Employer Services Group will take a consultative approach to assisting employers in meeting their recruiting needs. During the event, the group, dedicated to helping employers match Pitt graduates to their jobs, will share its vision for delivering more efficient and effective service to employers.

"Through the integration of academic advising and career services, we have been very successful in encouraging students to think about their career goals and in providing the systems and resources to support them from the moment they enter the University," said Kathy Humphrey, Pitt vice provost and dean of students. "Now we are strengthening the employer side of the equation in order to maximize our connections, build additional employer relationships, and, ultimately, further increase our effectiveness in placing students."

"We plan to meet and exceed the expectations of employers," said Marvin Roth, director of Pitt's Career Services office. "We've made a commitment to elevate our program to reflect the University's successes of the last 10 years."

A key factor in the group's ability to effectively address companies' needs is Career Services close network with the various schools and academic departments at Pitt. Career consultants and staff liaisons maintain communication links with faculty and administrators at each school.

The Jan. 11 "Career Services Partners Connect" event will include a program to educate both employers and the University about Career Services new recruiting approach, designed so that Pitt's representatives are fully knowledgeable about an employer's business, assuring the right candidates for the company are recruited.

The group's aim is to be proactive and responsive, down to the last detail. Services include staff introductions and a needs analysis at the business or organization, résumé databases of students and graduates, internship and job opening postings on Pitt's interactive career Web site, and on-campus interviewing (OCI) experiences. For additional needs or special requests, the Employer Services Group will post the OCI job, provide a résumé referral, identify a student group or faculty member in a particular field of study, or arrange a lunch with faculty.

In addition, Career Services also has such systems and programs in place as on-campus recruiting in newly refurbished interview rooms, which are available throughout the year; an online database for posting positions, thus facilitating student access to on-campus interviews; job fairs, a total of four throughout the year, with two being held each term; "Careers with …," enhanced information sessions between students and employers; and employer-presented workshops to explore job search topics or provide mock interviews.

For more information, visit www.careers.pitt.edu.

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