So you've gotten everything situated. You've talked to a counselor, scheduled all of your classes, bought your books, and you're ready to hit the ground running.

But what about a job?

Whether you're a new student looking for a part-time job to help pay college expenses, or a recent graduate looking for a career, the HFCC Job Placement Office offers endless resources to get you started on your search.

The Mirror News met with Job Placement Officer Chad Austin for a Q&A to find out more.

Mirror News: Thanks for sitting down with us. First off, please tell us exactly what the Job Placement Office does for HFCC students.

Chad Austin: The Job Placement Office is designed to give students access to on- and off-campus jobs. We connect students and employers through career fairs, recruiting days, and one-on-one meetings. We also give our students a leg-up when it comes to preparing for the job world. This includes résumé, cover letter, and “dress for success” workshops, as well as one-on-one counseling. They are designed to give students the skills that they need in order to be successful.

MN: Last year there were workshops and seminars that were not only available to HFCC students, but the entire community as well, correct?

CA: Yes. The Job Placement Office partnered with two other HFCC departments, Human Resources and No Worker Left Behind, to create a program called Community Outreach. We hold workshops that are specifically designed for community members to come in and participate. If they're having trouble finding a job in this tough economy, we want them to be able to utilize our resources. In addition to the workshops like the ones we have for HFCC students, we also teach community members about utilizing technology as a source for job searching.

MN: Technology is rapidly changing. In fact, we read an article a few days ago stating that the class of 2014 is already considering e-mailing obsolete. That means you have to stay on the ball, right?

CA: Well, yes and no. Obviously we want to stay up to date on the latest trends, but a résumé will always be a résumé. As much as technology can be an asset to you, it still comes down to putting together a good package for yourself, and getting yourself in front of an employer to secure a position.

MN: What advice would you have for someone who is entering the workforce for the first time?

CA: You hit the nail on the head: it's all about looking forward. As far as someone who's just coming into the workforce, you have to broaden your scope. Think about your volunteer experiences and things you did in high school that stood out. The bottom line is that you have to plan ahead. If you plan to obtain your Associate's Degree two years from now you should ask yourself, “What can I do to make myself more appealing? Do I need to join a student group? Should I plan to volunteer, even if it doesn't make me any money, in the field that I'm looking to go into? Would taking a leadership position in a community organization be right for me?”All these things can serve as experience, even if they don't come with a paycheck.

MN: It seems as if the seminars and workshops have a positive impact on the HFCC student body. The feedback is amazing.

CA: We get a lot of good feedback from the students that attend. What we really want to do for the 2010-2011 school year is garner more notoriety. We want to know that our students are aware of the service we provide. We have a new online system where all of our job postings are available via the web. We've reinvented our HFCC website and plan to upload video content of a tutorial on how to write a resume. We had 20 percent of HFCC's student body use our services last year. This year, we're going for 40 to 50 percent. So we're really trying to raise awareness.

Want to get in touch with the Job Placement Office? Here's a list of contact info:
In person:
Technology Bldg, Rm. T-112
Open: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays

By Phone:
(313) 845 - 9618

Seminars and Workshops for August - September
Aug. 31 - New Student Workshop, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Sept. 1, 2, and 3 - New Student Worker Workshop
Sept. 23 - Résumé Workshop, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 - Cover Letter Writing Workshop, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 29 - Outreach Community Workshop, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.