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That same level of personalized experience can be had with the Career Development Center (CDC) as well. Getting that first “professional” opportunity is often the most challenging job that people get in their entire career. Fortunately, I attended rÄsumÄ and interview workshops that the CDC sponsored and I stayed abreast of on-campus corporate interview opportunities.

My first “professional” job came as a result of a job posting that the Burlington Northern (BN) Railroad listed with the CDC. I responded and to my surprise and good fortune there were three former Pipers working in the Human Resources department, the area of interest to me. One of the three was a former teammate that I played hockey with at Hamline. To this day I question whether it was my sterling interview ability or my ability to put the puck in the net for the BN team that has resulted in the fortunate career I have enjoyed.

So, the first main point is to engage the CDC in a meaningful way as opposed to a surface or cursory manner. Get to know them and make it your business that they know you. The second important point that the above “story” illustrates is the omnipotence of “networks” or “connections.” The great misconception is that a college kid cannot have a network. That is hogwash. We all have networksčwe just do not know of or leverage them.

That first job may not seem like the investment in a Hamline education was worth it. I took a pay cut as a beer delivery guy to be an HR clerk doing lots of heady work like filing. It is important to take a longer view, hard as that is as you emerge from college, often steeped in debt having to pay off the student loans. For me it was when I moved to my second real job that it started to become clearer that I could have a real career that was satisfying and would enable me to pay off the student loans and actually have a decent quality of life.

In terms of important to-do’s with the job search process, having a concise resume that paints a picture of achievement, ability to master various things, involvement, and hopefully work ethic, is important. People hone in on patterns of behaviorčor at least should. A well-constructed resume can “paint a picture.” The “package” matters. So, yes little things make a big difference-conservative, professional attire, a firm handshake, polished shoes, eye contact, good listening skills and conversational ability.

-James Kwapick