With the unemployment rate running at 5.8% and many experienced Boston-area workers unemployed for more than nine months, this year’s job hunt is no spring fling. However, UMB students have a valuable ally in University Career Services.

This year’s Spring Career Fair featured 42 potential employers and offered a diverse range of organizations, such as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, City Year, United States Peace Corps, and the United States Army. Employers had a variety of positions available from temporary to full-time for degreed and non-degreed students.

Of the employers interviewed, all were quite complimentary of the UMB student applicants, citing their professional dress, preparedness, and the availability and quality of the students’ résumés.

Myriam Negrón, Manager of Employment and Employee & Community Relations, and Betsy Schiavone, Human Resource Representative, both from the Museum of Fine Arts, had the following advice for students currently seeking jobs. “Take the time [during the entire application process] to show how important the job is to you, to show you care.” They also offered the following list of pointers to aid UMB students in their career search.

When filling out applications, pay attention to detail, and be sure to fill them out completely.

On both applications and résumés, list all your experience, even if you do not think it is applicable to the job for which you are applying. List start dates and end dates with month and year for each of your previously held positions.

Accompany all résumés with a cover letter. Tailor the cover letter to the job, and list only relevant experience.

For interviews, dress professionally, wear a business suit (with a tie for men), and don’t ever chew gum.

Keep on trying and constantly seek to improve your résumé, cover letters, and interviewing skills.

Seek temporary employment as a way to network into full-time and more desirable positions.

If you cannot find a paying job, volunteer. Adding experience to your résumé is crucial.

For graduating U.S. citizens, the Peace Corps may be the ideal way to volunteer to gain the experience you need. For your 27-month commitment, the Peace Corps gives you a chance to serve in one of 77 different countries, offers 3 months of extensive cultural, language and technical training, a living stipend, student loan deferral, medical insurance, vacation, housing, and a readjustment allowance of $6,075 upon completion of service.

The nursing profession is still bucking the market trend. According to Kathleen Lydon, Human Resources Generalist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, “there is a shortage of nurses.” Spaulding has even started a “Create-a-Nurse Program.”

This program offers Spaulding’s employees, working as little as 20 hours per week, up to $3,500 per fiscal year in tuition assistance. The employee must be accepted to an accredited nursing program or enrolled in a prerequisite course for an accredited nursing program. All Spaulding requires is that the employee completes the 90-day Initial Assessment Period, remains in good standing, and agrees to a two-year commitment at Spaulding following graduation.

The “Create-a-Nurse Program” applies not only to Spaulding employees pursuing a BS in Nursing (BSN), but also to employees pursing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) certifications. According to Kathleen, a LPN can be obtained in 1 year and a RN obtained in 2 years. A part-time job at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital Network could be a great move for UMB Nursing majors facing the upcoming fee hikes.

If you are still attending UMB and have earned a minimum 30-45 credits (at least 12-15 of which were earned at UMB), the best way to earn experience may be through an internship or co-op. For complete information on internships, co-ops or other university career services, got to www.careers.umb.edu.

For a detailed listing of employers who attended the Spring Career Fair 2003, with websites and contact information, go to www.careers.umb.edu and look under Special Events/Spring Career Fair 2003 Contacts. You can also contact University Career Services at 617-287-5519 or by e-mail at [email protected].