Students searching for a summer job or internship can use the career placement center, alumni directory or LDS employment services to find a job that will advance their careers.

"We connect students with employers," said Patricia Whiting, an assistant advisor in the Career Placement Center.

Although landing a high paying summer job doing sales or working construction may be easy, taking the time to find a job that offers real work experience may prove to be more profitable.

Whiting said students should come and visit with a career advisor because their center offers several services that will help students plan and get jobs.

"It's never too late to come in, but it will improve your chances if you come in early," Whiting said.

Advisors at the Career Placement Center can help students establish networking connections and get them on e-Recruiting, an online database for available positions.

The advisors can also help students review their resume, cover letter and portfolio.

Another resource students can use is BYU's alumni network to help them learn about different careers and make contacts.

Summer Price and Devon Glassman, the current BYUSA president and vice president, worked this past year to improve the quality of the online alumni directory and several changes have been made.

"[The alumni directory] will broaden students' possibility for finding future employment," Glassman said. "It's a tool for networking."

Although students should not expect to call alumni and be given a job, they can establish important contacts that will help them understand what skills employers need from new hires.

"It's a great way to feel thing out from someone working in a specific industry or city," Glassman said.

The Student Alumni Association also provides career development and networking opportunities.

Students can register on the Student Alumni Association's Web site for "Take a Cougar to Lunch." Professional alumni from the community will take students out to lunch and give students a chance to ask about their chosen field.

"We have activities and events that will connect our students to our alumni," said Curtis Isaac, the adviser for the Student Alumni Association.

The Professional Etiquette dinner is another opportunity to develop skills that will make students attractive to employers. During the dinner students are served a formal dinner and coached by a professor from the Marriott School in proper dinner etiquette.

"Last year we even had a few job offers at the dinner," Isaac said.

Students that have exhausted BYU career placement services can visit LDS Employment Services, located above Deseret Industries in Provo.

Elder Dean Bennett, a service missionary for LDS Employment Services, said they work to match people with an appropriate position.

"We offer classes and individual coaching," Bennett said. "There are things you should and should not do, and we try to teach [those things] to people."

Copyright Brigham Young University 18 Apr 2008