1. I need a resume. How do I get
started?
You can find information about resumes by clicking here. After you have created a
document, visit the Career Center in room 209 Koldus from 8:30-11 or 1:30-4 to
have your resume reviewed.
2. How do I learn more about a certain company or connect with
Aggies in my chosen field?
It is always a good idea to schedule Informational
Interviews with Former Students or professionals in your field of
interest to seek information, advice, leads, and referrals. You can start
this process by logging on to the Former Student Online Directory while at the
Career Center.
3. How do I prepare for a Career Fair?
The Career
Center staff obtained feedback from employers about the best ways students can
connect with them at career fairs. To read this information, click here.
4. How do I prepare for an interview?
The best way
to prepare for an upcoming interview is to research the company, do practice interview questions, and
participate in mock interviews through the Career Center.
5. What do you wear to an interview?
Professional
business attire is expected at an employment interview. Additional information
is available by clicking here,
by visiting a member of our staff, or from resources in the Career Center
library. Watch for our big event called Dress for Success held each fall and
spring semester.
6. Is it better for a Corps member to wear his/her uniform or a suit
to an interview?
This is an individual decision. Many of our
recruiters are Aggies who fully understand and appreciate the Corps. Many,
however, are not. We have seen Corps members interview in and out of uniform and
be successful.
7. Does the Career Center charge a user fee?
Most
services are free, including advising, workshops, seminars, access to library resources and computer stations, and resume
and letter writing critiques. AggieLaunch
Basic, our $25.00 per semester option, is our online system that gives
students access to online assessment tools, national databases, and limited job
and internship listings. However, students choosing to participate in on-campus
recruiting, view unlimited Aggie job listings, use online assessment tools, and
access national databases will be charged a $50.00 per semester user fee.
Our fee-based services are referred to as AggieLaunch Premium.
8. When is the best time for a student to register with the Career
Center?
The best time to register is 2-3 semesters prior to the
time you would like to begin work. For example, May graduates should
register early in the fall semester or the previous spring. Students should
register within the first 2 weeks of classes to avoid missing early deadlines
for campus recruiting activity. Those students seeking internship opportunities
will also want to allow for 2 semesters of active participation with the Career
Center.
9. Can I access the Career Center information on my home computer?
Yes, any student can access information at our homepage address.
Students who are registered with the Career Center have access to services
listed in question #7 above.
10. Suppose I don't get an interview through the on-line process. How
can I make contact with the recruiters when they are on campus?
Meeting recruiters on campus is not difficult. Many companies
schedule presentations the night before their scheduled interviews. Any
student is welcome to attend the presentation and visit with
the company representatives. Students should take copies of their resumes
with them. Sometimes, employers will schedule interviews with students at
that time for the upcoming day(s) they are on campus. Employers may
also participate in career fairs or conduct class presentations during the
semester.
11. What happens if I miss an interview or need to cancel an
interview?
Our online system, AggieLaunch, allows registrants to change
interview times and/or cancel interviews online up to 48 hours before the
scheduled interview. Once interview schedules are closed for processing, online
transactions are not possible. If this is the case, contact the Career Center by
phone at 979-845-5139 during regular office hours and we can assist you. Be sure
to read the Career Center's No
Show and Late Cancellation Policy outlined on our website.
12. I missed a preselect deadline in AggieLaunch. What
can I do now?
You can find the recruiting company's contact
information at the end of the job description in AggieLaunch. Contact the
company's recruiter directly using the information listed. If the
recruiter, after being contacted by you, invites you to interview, contact the
Career Center's front counter team to make sure that you are on the company's
preselect list.
13. I spoke with a company's recruiter at the career fair and
was told that I can interview with them when they are back on campus. I am
not registered with the Career Center but would still like to interview with the
company.
We require that you register with the Career Center
prior to your interview.
14. How do I use the Career Center to look for an internship?
Internship opportunities are listed in AggieLaunch Basic. In addition, the Career Center
has staff members dedicated to assist with your internship search.
Students may also register for AggieLaunch
Premium to participate in campus recruiting for internships, view on-line
internship vacancies, and access national databases. Additional internship
information may be found in our career resources library.
15. Does the student have full access to information about him/her
retained in the Career Center?
Yes.
16. Should I attach a picture of myself to my resume?
No, pictures with resumes are often considered inappropriate. From a legal
standpoint, pictures may be used to discriminate against an applicant.
17. Am I required to provide GPR/GPA information to
employers?
Yes, GPR is required when a student registers in
AggieLaunch Premium. Students must include their GPRs on their resumes. A
student can choose to include either his/her cumulative or major GPR.
18. If employers ask for "minority" candidates, does the Career
Center provide this information?
No, the Career Center does not
provide referrals based on ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, or gender.
19. Does the Career Center continue the recruiting process
through the summer?
Yes, however, fewer employers participate in
campus recruiting during the summer.
20. Do most employers use the Career Center or should we also
interview outside the Career Center?
Approximately 1,400 employers
interviewed through the Career Center during the 2004-2005 school year. Campus
recruiting should be one aspect of a student's job search process.
21. Does the Career Center help students seek employment out of the
state, or do firms located in the state of Texas offer most of the
jobs?
Recruiters come from all over the country to interview at
Texas A&M University, with several being from the southwestern region. We do
assist students in locating potential employers in other regions, both
nationally and internationally.
22. I graduated last semester; may I still interview
on-campus?
Former students are usually allowed to utilize the
campus recruiting process one semester after graduation. Contact our office for
more information.
23. How do I find salary information?
You can find
more information about salaries by clicking
here.
24. I have heard that some companies come to campus to interview, but
are not hiring. They come only to save a reserved slot with the Career Center.
Is this true?
Occasionally this will happen, especially during a
slower economy. The Career Center encourages employers to participate in
various activities on campus, to maintain or increase their visibility, during
such times. However, companies are typically discouraged from interviewing
if they do not plan to hire.
25. Does the Career Center only invite employers for engineering and
business majors to Texas A&M?
We actively seek potential
employers for all academic majors. The Career Center provides far broader
job-search strategies than campus recruiting. If a major is not heavily
recruited, a direct-application search can be undertaken. Please take advantage
of the many seminars, workshops, and
library resources aimed at helping you to explore
the various alternatives. Additionally, the Career Center has Career Coordinators serving specific
populations across campus.
26. Where are interviews held?
The Career Center uses
two primary locations for on-campus interviews. They include 31 interview
rooms in 209 Koldus
and 30 suites at Kyle
Field. Interview locations are posted on each interview schedule.
Parking for interviews is available in the University Center
Parking Garage or in the West Campus
Garage.
27. Once I register with the Career Center, how long should I wait to
log-on to the website?
Allow 24-36 hours for us
to process your registration. Then, log-on to AggieLaunch to verify that your
registration is complete. If we detect errors, you will see a blinking error
message. Correct the problem(s) and resubmit your registration request. If no
problems exist, you can begin viewing interview schedules. Be sure to call us if
you are experiencing difficulty. Our staff is ready to help you complete the
registration process so you can begin viewing interview schedules.
28. Does the Career Center provide "third party recruiting
agencies/search firms" access to student information?
No, the
Career Center does not provide student information to any third party agency. We
provide job vacancy listing services to those organizations that can be found in
AggieLaunch.