Florida A&M University is the home of the C.C. Cunningham Career Center. The center gives FAMU students, from freshmen to graduates advice on how to beat the suffering economy.
The center offers graduation track advisement, internships, resume writing clinics, career expos information and how-to-dress seminars. Students who set up an appointment with an adviser can discuss career goals upon graduation.
Technology opportunities are available for students to use in the center, as well as home. There is a “My Plan” career assessment page (click this link). After answering questions honestly and thoroughly about self and hobbies, job compatibilities become available.
On the site there are links for students to create a resume from a template, instructional videos on how-to-dress and prepare for an interview.
The career center has multiple workshops twice a week during the semester. The workshops focus on the transition from student to professional. How-to-interview, resume writing, hours negotiations, and salary are topics of discussion.
The No. 1 tip Dr. Dean offers to students is to “change your email to something more professional, no one wants to hire ‘hot lips’.”
Delores Dean, director of the career center, encourages all students to be versatile and flexible to change. “As far as students in the general marke,t it is remaining the same, (pay upon graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree), this is based on the Salary Survey that I put together periodically.”
Since 2008, studies have shown that students who want to come out on the higher end of the recession should pursue graduate school. With a higher degree, pay is better and it separates students from the others without that specific degree.
Dean encourages students who enter for advisement to pursue graduate schools and employment.”You never want to be in a situation with no options,“ said Dean.
Advisement staff and volunteers recommend that students don’t wait until the last minute. All Rattlers should come in early and participate with the services.
Students who are in need of jobs are being drawn in by the success rate of the center. Dr. Dean said “65 percent to 75 percent of students get placed in a job.”
FAMU economics professor Nathaniel Johnson educates his students on the recession and in the job market. He proposes the question to his students: “Who wouldn’t mind working for less than minimum wage?” Only two males raise their hands as the others giggle. Johnson proceeds to inform his class that in this economy a graduate should be thankful and willing to work any legal and paying job.
Johnson points out those living expenses will remain, student loans exist until paid off and at one point, students will have to leave their parents’s home. At the end of his presentation more than three-fourths of the class raised their hands when the question was posed again.
FAMU is no longer just preparing students for graduation through programs such as S.W.A.G.G. (students who are advised to graduate school). FAMU is preparing students for the competitive work force as well. FAMU has hosted recruitment fairs with the Federal Bureau of investigation, Altria and the CIA to provide students with job and internships opportunities.
For more information on the CIA and job opportunities visit www.cia.gov
To submit a resume or check the status of an application contact G’Mika Moore at gemikrm@ucia.gov
To speak with an adviser at FAMU’s CC Cunningham Career Center call 850-412-5482