Employer Perceptions on Higher Education and Careers

The Chronicle of Higher Education and American Public Media’s Marketplace

conducted a survey of employers who hire recent college graduates in order to 

understand employer perceptions of the role of colleges and universities in career 

preparation.  Some of the most surprising findings of the report titled “The Role of Higher Education in Career Development: Employer Perceptions” include the following:

• 78% of employers will consider any major. Only 19% of employers look for specific majors and do not consider candidates without them.

• Work experience (particularly internships and other work during school) is more important to employers than GPA and  major.

• An internship is the single most important credential for recent college graduates to have on their resume.

• Most interviewers value extracurricular activities, like professional clubs, athletics and service, more than GPA.

Summer Plan

Although summer is often the time for rest and relaxation and a slower pace than during the academic year, it’s still the perfect time to get some major-related work experience or, at the least, work experience that will give you some transferable skills to include on your resume.  If you are staying in Tampa for the summer and are still looking for a job, I just checked HIRE-UT and, using the one-click search for “Part Time Jobs Posted by my Career Center,” I found 105 part time jobs in addition to the 60 internships that are currently listed.  If you are looking elsewhere or would like to cast a wider net, try these popular search engines for part time jobs:  

• Jobs2Careers- many nanny and child care positions 
• Snagajob-can search by zip code, state, and/or industry
• After College
• Intern Match-search by companies, cities, categories 

Most of these also list entry-level jobs, and the search can be refined by industry and location. The outlook for summer jobs is improved over the past few years, but the most sought-after jobs are still highly competitive, so fine tune your resume, polish up your interview skills, and get that job!

Are you ready for your first job?

Students often share mixed feelings about leaving The University of Tampa following graduation.  Many are excited to get out on their own and take on the world while others are not quite sure what to expect.   A recent article on CBSnews.com refers to an apparent gap revealing itself with recent grads.   Within the article it discusses how many feel that the company will provide a “hands on approach” to training in your first year when in fact, fewer than half report ever getting this.  In order to be sure you are best prepared for both the interview and your first year on the job, check out these resources.       

The Office of Career Services is open all summer so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance or support at 813.253.6236 or hireut@ut.edu.   

A Bitter Sweet Goodbye

I am so incredibly thankful to have worked with the Office of Career Services this year, and what an incredible journey it has been. These blog posts have been pretty entertaining for me and I hope it has helped some of you prep for the real world! If you all have any other questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to message me personally.  I am excited to pass my position on to Josh Jacobs who I know will do an amazing job next year. I will still be writing some posts but as I take on a new position as Student Government President.

In this last blog post, I truly want to thank the entire Office of Career Services for making this office feel like home. Cliché? Yes. True? Unbelievably so. These individuals have been beyond supportive and motivating, and I highly encourage you all to get involved in the office as early as you can. Whether it’s attending an event, workshop, or walk-in hours, be sure to utilize the resources offered.

I traveled around the country recruiting for admissions this past semester, and my favorite part of the presentation I gave was when I was able to ramble on about how much I love the Office of Career Services. This is a summary of what I said:

College is an investment, and it’s expensive. That’s an understatement. It’s extremely expensive. Yes, you go to college to receive a degree and have some incredible experiences, but when it comes down to it- it’s all about where that degree and experience will take you. The Office of Career Services is there to set students up for life after UT. From scheduling workshops and career fairs, to bringing employers in to critique resumes and conduct on-campus interviews, to helping individuals choose a major and obtain experience in their field, the Office of Career Services is there, making sure you get the absolute most out of your time here at UT.

I love this office and hope you all take time out of your schedule to make some of our resources a priority! Good luck with all your future endeavors and stay classy!

Arrested? Your Potential Employer Thinks You’re Guilty!- Guest Post by Attorney Ryan Rooth

Finding a job in a tough economy with a criminal arrest record is difficult and frustrating. It is frustrating because you may interview well or are offered a job, only to have the offer rescinded upon the completion of a background check showing your previous arrest! 

An arrest comes in two different forms:

1.  You are booked into the county jail.
2.  You are issued a Notice to Appear by the police in lieu of visiting the county jail.

Both situations are legally an arrest and the information provided below applies to both situations.  

What do you do if you have an arrest record? This is a trick question because I used the words “arrest record” not “criminal conviction” for a very important reason. An arrest shows up on background checks even if your charges were dropped or dismissed. This is important to know because people often think that because a criminal charge was dropped or they received a “withhold of the adjudication” that they don’t have a criminal record. In legal terms, this is true but in the non-legal world, an arrest means guilty! 

Why does an arrest mean guilty in the workplace? Most employers lack the training and knowledge needed to distinguish between an arrest and a criminal conviction. Employers take the background check results at face value and move on without researching or understanding what the results show or mean. If you entered a diversion program (Misdemeanor Intervention Program ‘MIP’ or Pretrial Intervention Program ‘PTI’) this information applies heavily to you. 

What do you do if a background check shows you were arrested? The criminal justice system allows you to expunge one arrest record in your lifetime.  Expunging is the legal process of erasing your arrest record. There is an additional process known as Sealing (hiding) but we are not covering that issue at this time (although the process is similar).

The expungement process erases your criminal arrest record from the public records. Public records include: Clerk of the Circuit Court, investigating police agency, county jail, probation department and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This process is not perfect by any means, but it helps start the process of repairing your image with an Order to Expunge. The Order to Expunge does not legally extend to private companies, such as mugshots.com or backgroundchecks.com, but many of these companies are more willing to remove an arrest record if you provide a court order showing it was erased. 

As a criminal defense attorney, I have offered the above information to help you succeed.  If you need help expunging your record, contact an attorney to help you. As students, I know you are concerned that you can’t afford to hire an attorney to expunge your record.  Let me assure you that with a little effort and some patience, you can complete an expungement on your own without the use of an attorney. It often takes a bit longer, but it can be done! 

Ryan Rooth is a criminal defense attorney with Rooth Law Group in the Tampa Bay area with offices in St. Petersburg and Tampa. Gain more information about expungements on their website.