By: Makayla Cook
Want to get involved on the William Peace University campus? Debating on whether you should apply to be an Orientation Leader? Well, you’ve come to the right place to find all of the answers that you need. Tips on ways to get active on campus, what resources are available, and what positions are available are coming your way.
Dust off your Resume (or make one): Almost all positions on the Peace campus require candidates to supply a resume. It should include things such as your name, what your major is, previous experience, and accomplishments. Writing a resume for the first time can make an individual uncertain or even nervous.
With the help of peers and the Career Design Center, it’s almost impossible not to have a presentable resume. Start off with your name, make it a different font or make the font bigger than the rest so that it stands out; it should be the first thing a potential employer sees. Then, supply your contact information, including your email address and contact number, and the area that you’re from. The rest is pretty much up to you.
Be sure to definitely include previous work experience and any accomplishments that will make you stand out from other candidates. If you get stuck and want to be sure that you are heading in the right direction, head over to the Career Design Center or find a peer tutor that is specifically certified in that area for help.
Paint a Picture with your Cover Letter: Not all positions require a cover letter but it’s good practice just to come prepared with one. A cover letter should highlight your strengths and give potential employers an idea of who you are as a professional. At the top of the letter, it should include the name of the business that you’re writing to, your name, the date, and your contact information.
To start off writing the body of the letter, be sure to include “Dear….” You should address the person that will be looking over your resume and/or cover letter or the specific department that you are applying to. Your cover letter should be an extension of your resume, not a summary of it. Find one story that really exemplifies your professionalism or a skill such as problem-solving.
Discuss why you would be a suitable fit for the position and weave that into the story that you’re telling. This piece should not be longer than a page, no employer wants to read three pages for each of their large candidate pools so keep it short and to the point. End the letter expressing your gratitude for them taking the time to read through your letter and your signature.
Dress to Impress: Though not all businesses are suit and tie attire, it’s good to practice good hygiene, sleek grooming, and to dress modestly. Do your research on the company. If their employees do wear suits and ties to work every day, it’s probably a good idea to do the same for your interview with them. However, if the employees dress more casually with slacks and nice shirts, you can also dress in more business casual attire.
It’s a good rule of thumb that you don’t want to draw attention to yourself with what you’re wearing. So, keep the hot pink pumps in your closet, and don’t pull out the wackiest tie that you own. Make sure that the colors that you wear complement each other nicely, navy blue and black are always safe. If you wear jewelry or makeup, keep it simple and natural. Once you get to the interview, sit up straight in your chair and speak loudly, clearly, and confidently.
A nice touch is to bring a padfolio and pen. Though this is not required or even expected typically, employers like it when you come prepared. You can even get your resume printed on special resume grade paper. Even though your interviewers probably already have a copy in front of them, they’ll definitely be grateful and maybe even impressed.
Positions open: As of Monday, the applications for Orientation Leader (OL), Student Coordinator, Peer Mentor (PM), and Resident Assistant (RA) have been available for everyone to apply. The requirements of these positions include the following: good standing conduct, a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, and to live in campus affiliated housing. All of these requirements must be met and maintained throughout the duration that the candidate holds the position.
Due to COVID-19 all of the interview processes will be conducted around the same time and will most likely be held virtually. Students are encouraged to apply to all of the positions that they are interested in so that they may have options. The only restrictions are that a student may not be a Peer Mentor and a Resident Assistant at the same time. All of the positions listed are paid which is a great way for individuals to make extra money.
Getting involved on campus is a great addition to your resume for experience and to meet people on campus. Each of these are rewarding in their own way but they all allow for an opportunity to get in touch with the community and build relationships. For any questions regarding these positions the following faculty members should be contacted: OL/Student coordinator position- Office of Student Involvement studentinvolvement@peace.edu, PM position- Dawn Dillon ddillon@peace.edu, and RA position- Cody Greene crgreene@peace.edu.
