Platt - Career Services

by Caprice A. Meanor, M.A.- Career Services Coordinator

We in the Career Services Department want for your job search in the field to be as smoothe and quick as possible. You came to pursue a program or degree in the Media Arts for a reason, right? In order for this to occur and for us to be able to help assist you, it would help us tremendously if you focus on the following:

1) Have an impressive résumé built.

A great résumé has your current contact information, complete with a professional-reading e-mail address and a phone number that has an answering device. You don’t want to miss any calls from potential employers! Also, make sure to include the URL to your online portfolio!

Make sure to include your job “Objective”. This is where you write a brief statement about the type of position(s) you would like to obtain. There are many resources on the Internet as to how to write a sound job objective. You may also stop by the Career Services Department during business hours for more resources and one-on-one guidance with either Caprice or Carol.

Of course, it goes without saying that your résumé should look great and contain professional-looking typography! Show a draft of your current résumé to one of your instructors, Marketa, or to Career Services for feedback and guidance. Career Services also has some literature on how to build your résumé, as does the Internet.

2) Build your online portfolio and/or have electronic samples of your work ready to attach for employers to view!

We in Career Services see this time and time again; those with online or electronic portfolios that can be viewed by potential employers are the ones getting hired sooner. Think about it this way- a potential employer may receive dozens upon dozens of résumés for a position as Graphic Designer, many with similar or the exact skill set and software proficiency. Your résumé happened to also have a link listed to your online portfolio and now, the employer can view your talent right away! If unable to afford or have access to your own website, definitely save electronic versions of your best work to disc and send that to employers along with your résumé. Make sure to also give a copy to Career Services (i.e. demo reel, disc or uploadable file attached to an e-mail) so that we can send that to employers along with your résumé.

3) Keep Career Services informed of your job status at all times!

I know, ”...nag, nag, nag!” :) We work hard to assist in placing you in positions; you work hard to get them. Please inform us if any employers contact you, if you have an interview scheduled or have already interviewed, and definitely once you are hired! You may e-mail, phone or stop by Career Services during business hours to accomplish this. Caprice Meanor: cmeanor@platt.edu and Carol Tufford: ctufford@platt.edu (619) 265-0107.

Thank you so much! Good luck with your job search!