As students begin the job search, they can turn to The Career Center to help them in the process. This year, one of the resources students can take advantage is the online recruiting system I-Link.

Brian Neighbors, senior assistant director of The Career Center, said they are now taking an active role in getting employers to post onto I-Link.

In the past, employers were directed to a college’s specific career office or to students in a particular major. I-Link is campus-wide and available to all University students. Thousands of internships and jobs are posted to the I-Link website, yet only half of students on campus are using it, Neighbors said.

“My position is completely newly created, and the focus is to do employer-development,” said Neighbors, whose main focus is to bring more potential employers to the University. “We’ve been targeting more employers, and we’ve been doing more research.”

Emily Wickstrom, assistant director for marketing and event planning for The Career Center, also emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of I-Link in order to see the skills employers are looking for in an applicant.

“We’re working on bringing in employers who aren’t looking for a specific major, but instead are looking for more of a skillset, like great leadership skills, great communication skills, writing, customer service, those kind of things,” she said. “We’re just trying to give the message that it’s really not about your major, it’s about your skills and experiences. We’re working with employers who also believe that.”

This is a message that Loren Leeberg, Allstate’s university relations manager, said she notices is becoming increasingly important in the workplace.

“I feel certain ‘soft skills’ are extremely transferrable and will assist any student looking for a career today,” Leeberg said. “Some of the top ‘soft’ skills we look for in candidates are effective communication and vision, strong motivation and initiative to learn, as well as adaptability and flexibility.”

With an aging population of baby boomers, Leeberg said she sees change in employment trends.

“Now more than ever, companies are focused on hiring innovators and future leaders,” Leeberg said. “I am excited to see the changes in the job market.”

Another employment trend, according to Leeberg, is that companies are staying connected to students through social media outlets such as LinkedIn.

“Colleges teach it every single day but it is, in fact, true – jobs are obtained through networking,” he said.

However, Wickstrom also said there is no one path a student who is unsure of what to do with their major needs to take.

“The career path isn’t linear,” she said. “There’s certain professions, like being a doctor, where you have to go through certain steps. But most professions aren’t like that.”

Students should apply for multiple internships and learn about their own likes and dislikes when it comes to a certain career, Leeberg advised. She also said that it’s normal for students to be unsure about their future prospects, but an internship could help them explore different types of environments and people.

“My greatest piece of advice for students is to expand your definition of career success,” Leeberg said. “Growth will happen both vertically and laterally, and it is important to always embrace change.”

Alice can be reached at [email protected].