Dear Expie

“Dear Expie” is an anonymous column responding to student conversation on campus and answering student questions. This week, Expie writes about career paths. If you’ve got a burning question for Expie, email exponentopinion@montana.edu. All submissions remain anonymous.

Dear Expie,

I’ve been feeling really stressed out as I am about to graduate from my college and I feel uncertain about my career path. What can I do to alleviate this concern?

Dear uncertain future,

You’re experiencing anxiety. That's normal when you are jumping from one life stage to another. MSU’s Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success (AYCSS) is a great resource helping students with all sorts of career coaching, resume critiques and mock interviews. As you are about to graduate, I highly recommend you visit the center and take advantage of the expertise it offers.

To schedule an appointment with AYCSS, you can simply visit https://www.montana.edu/aycss/ and select “schedule an appointment.” Then you will be redirected to a page where you can schedule an appointment with available coaches. Make sure to use your NetID and password as your login details.

Dear Expie,

I am a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in aerospace. I’ve got knowledge and skills useful in many engineering industries but I don’t quite have the connections other students do for finding a career in these fields. Is there a good way to make these connections on campus?

Dear Frustrated Engineer, 

You’re in luck, because there’s a great networking event right around the corner. The annual Spring Career Fair will be hosted from Tuesday, Feb. 15, through Friday, Feb. 18 in the SUB Ballrooms. A more detailed agenda of the Spring Career Fair can be found on MSU’s website, including a detailed list of attendees in the following link. This fair is a great opportunity to speak to potential employers face to face and connect with companies who can use your expertise. Employers will even be hosting interviews with students for open positions and internships at their companies on Feb. 17 and 18. Good luck!

Dear Expie,

I’m an enthusiastic freshman majoring in physics.  I am planning on attending the career fair this semester, but I’m struggling to connect with people at the fair. What are some of the best practices for someone preparing for a career fair?

Dear enthusiastic freshman,

It’s so nice to see bobcats like you who are working ahead of your schedules in preparing for your future. When it comes to career fairs, I believe that “presentation” is vital. You should also research the companies which are attending. Be a good conversation starter and show your interest in the company. The most vital thing is to print multiple copies of your resume and keep them well protected. A wrinkled, folded, creased resume sends a bad impression to your prospective employers. The goal of your interaction at a career fair is not to get the job. It’s to get to the next meeting and to move forward in the hiring process. Keep your focus on presenting enough about you. Request a business card or an email address from the recruiter. Then connect with them and send a thank you note. LinkedIn is a great resource to utilize. Every time. Even if you don’t want the job. These are professional interactions you create, no matter what your field of study is. I hope these steps will be helpful for your career fair preparation.

Dear Expie,

I am a freshman with an undeclared major. I would like to get into the financial engineering major and would love to be a financial engineer, but I don’t have any idea on what I can do with this major. Can you please provide me some insight?

Dear Freshman with an undeclared major,

Since you are a freshman I would suggest visiting  What Can I do With this Major? (https://www.montana.edu/aycss/careers/planning/what-can-I-do-with-this-major.html) and explore career options for students on this path.

Do some research on the O*Net (https://www.onetonline.org/),  This will help you figure out the occupational outlook for various fields, and help you learn a bit more about "related fields." This is a free online job database that helps students find job definitions and includes descriptions.

Create a LinkedIn profile and try to connect with the professionals who graduated with your major from MSU or from any other school. Connecting with MSU alumni will help you better understand how your major works.

Thanks y’all! Watch out for each other. This is Expie, signing off.