By: Katie Allen

Starting a job search early helps a student land his or her ideal position after graduation. Want proof?

As part of a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey earlier this year, 71 percent of graduating college students surveyed either planned to or already had begun looking for a job after graduation. Of those students, 79 percent had already submitted a job application and 51.2 percent had accepted a job offer.

For those graduating next spring, nine months may seem like a long time from now. As a senior that is graduating then, I can’t even believe how fast three years as an undergrad have gone by. Graduation will be here before I know it. And December grads have even less time.
CAFNR Career Services is a great resource to use as a student and alum. The CAFNR Career Fair on Wednesday, September 26 at the MU Student Recreation Center is a great opportunity to meet employers and find a position that fits you. Over 60 employers have registered for the CAFNR Career Fair, and even more are signing up to attend every day. Many recruiters are even interviewing for full-time and internship positions on campus the following day, September 27.

I encourage all CAFNR students to take advantage of the opportunity and visit the CAFNR Career Fair. If you need help getting your resume ready or tips on interviewing, feel free to stop by the CAFNR Career Services Office at 2-64 Ag Building to use the resources available or call 573-882-0088 to make an appointment to have your resume reviewed in the office. Starting early gives you time to find a position that really fits YOU!

Hey, Seniors, things are looking good! Those of you who haven't yet made it to the senior year, the market for internships is also good! NACE's Job Outlook 2008 Fall Preview Survey shows that again this year employers are planning to hire more new college grads--in fact, this early survey shows a hiring increase of 16% over last year.

What does this mean? You need to take advantage of the market by starting early and working steadily on your job search.

Anyone with specific examples of the strong market for graduates from CAFNR? How about advice on how to take advantage of the expected increase in new graduate hiring?