Once a student has secured a co-op credit work assignment, he/she will register for academic credit earning three or six credits. For three credits, the student must work a minimum of 150 hours and for six credits a minimum of 300 hours. The faculty representative will award the student’s academic credit based on completion of the required hours, the employer’s evaluation and any work reports assigned by the faculty. Some companies use co-op experiences to identify talent at an early stage, then develop and possibly retain the student in a full-time position. Volunteering Employers often find value in students who volunteer. Volunteering can give students a significant edge, especially if they volunteer in a related field. For example, if you plan to be a registered nurse, volunteer at a local hospital or medical facility. Having volunteer experience is important because more and more companies are looking for socially conscious individuals. Volunteering is performing or offering services without pay. Volunteer opportunities are endless and exist in communities, schools, student organizations, companies and local agencies. In order to include a volunteer experience on a resume, the experience should be reoccurring or for an extended period of time. Reasons to Volunteer • To gain experience, acquire new skills, meet people or develop a network of contacts as a way to get a new job or start a career • To give back to the community, help friends or promote an event • To gain experience that can be used on a resume to enhance job opportunities Individuals with Disabilities Seeking Employment If you are a person with disabilities, you may benefit from additional assistance in finding employment. You may have concerns about transportation, accessibility, accommodations and co-worker understanding. Career Services
professionals can assist in identifying opportunities and resources key to a successful job search. Many employers have programs designed to accommodate those with disabilities. In addition, CCAC maintains a Supportive Services office for students with disabilities on each campus. Persons with disabilities needing job search assistance are encouraged to meet with a CCAC support staff member to review their individual needs. Military and Veterans Seeking Employment Military personnel returning to the civilian job market may encounter unique situations. CCAC staff can assist you with identifying transferable skills, related opportunities and resources key to a successful job search. Many employers have special programs aimed at hiring veterans. In addition, each CCAC campus maintains a Military & Veterans Services Center specifically to assist military personnel and veterans needing job search assistance. They are encouraged to meet with a Career Services professional to review their employment needs. Finding Employment with a Criminal Record Finding employment with a criminal record can be challenging, but it is not impossible. The first step is to know the specifics of your criminal history, including what information is available to perspective employers. Performing your own background check is one way to verify your employability. A successful job search for a person with a criminal record would include an understanding of the employers’ perspectives, formulating a disclosure statement when completing the application and answering related questions in an interview. Due to the individualized nature of each person’s experience, it is recommended that those needing assistance meet with a Career Services professional.
CCAC Job Search Manual 13
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