Career Placement Services

Career Placement Services offers a wide variety of comprehensive services for individuals in need of workplace readiness skills and job search assistance. You implement your job search strategies. Mentoring is available will find support and guidance as you map out your employment goals. Skill-building insights are provided as you target the opportunity needed for a successful career.

Career Placement Services resources include:

• PlacePro
  QCC's new online job search tool is now available for all QCC students and alumni. You will have 24/7 access to this secure system with the ability to review available job and co-op postings, create a resume or register your resumes online for review by employers. PlacePro will be the official job listing and co-op site for employers seeking to hire Quinsigamond Community College students.
  
  
• Virtual Job Interview
  The Virtual Job Interview, developed by a College Career Counselor, is a simulation of a conversation between a job candidate and an interviewer. The user is asked a typical job interview question by an interviewer in a video clip and is given a choice of responses. Once a selection is made, another video clip of the interviewer responds accordingly! A wide range of questions and answers is explored until ultimately the user is either hired, put on file, or has his or her application torn up on the spot! This interactive practice interviewing is a must for any job seeker serious about landing the job.
  
  User name: quins2 Password: 040707
  
  
• Career Resource Center
  Career Placement Services maintains a job search reference library with many brand new resources. Topics include resume writing, interview skills, cover letter writing, and job search strategies. The office provides computers for resume and cover letter preparation and Internet access for job search related activities. Current trade magazines, newspapers, and labor market information are also available.
  
  
• Career Fairs
  Throughout the year there are many career fairs, career days and industry-specific recruiting events. See The Open Door, bulletin boards, and our website for further information. Career fairs come in all shapes and sizes, from small community sponsored events to giant regional career expositions held at major convention centers. Career Fairs offer you an easy way to network with local and national companies and a chance to explore career opportunities.
  
  
• On-Campus Recruitment
  QCC's On-Campus Recruitment can put you in touch with employers from business and industry, government agencies, education and the non-profit sector who are seeking entry-level employees. Keep checking our Web site and bulletin boards for updated schedules.
  
  
• Computer Access
  The computer in Career Placement Services is available for all aspects of a job search including resume and cover letter preparation, and convenient links to major job search Web sites, local and national newspapers, and specific company Web sites. Computer access is also available in the Harrington Computer Lab, Room 379A.
  
  
• NACE's Syndicated Content
  This is a monthly article provided by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
  

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Career Fairs and Events

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Cooperative Education (CO-OP) is a program that offers students a transitioning environment between College and career. It promotes the development of critical thinking, independent performance, the integration of theory and practice in the workplace, and student responsibility for learning. Most students can elect a Cooperative Education study option. It can be used as an elective in some academic programs, a requirement in others. A student can earn up to nine (9) credits in Cooperative Education toward their degree.

The CO-OP staff assists with job development, meets with inquiring students individually to assess their skills, abilities, and aspirations and matches employer needs with student interest and ability to create a mutually valuable work/education experience. To earn credits, students work a specified number of hours per week during the semester; develop a Learning Agreement that articulates the academic outcomes upon which their credit evaluation is based; attend an orientation and meet with their CO-OP advisor and the Placement Support Specialist, where they discuss their work activities, college studies, and career interests.

Participation in Cooperative Education

You can participate in QCC's CO-OP when:

• you are enrolled in a QCC program
• you have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
• the employment position is directly related to your academic program
• you have completed at least 24 credits* toward your major.

* Individual departments may require that a certain number of these credits or specific courses in the major be completed at QCC prior to participating in experience-based learning. Students entering a major with related academic learning may qualify prior to completion of 24 credits.

1. Meaningful Experience
   Cooperative Education at QCC will give you the chance to work in your field - in time to make meaningful adjustments to your academic and career plans.

   Because you work full- or part-time in a job directly related to your major, you gain professional experience that makes you more competitive in the job market. In fact, many CO-OP jobs turn into full time jobs after graduation.

2. Academic Credit
   Cooperative Education at QCC is an academic program. You can earn up to 9 academic credits for CO-OP toward your QCC degree. CO-OP students are required to work 5 hours per week per credit in a job related to their academic program. Learning goals and objectives are established which are the basis for credit and your final grade.
   If you are already working in your field, your job may be appropriate for CO-OP.
3. Convenience
   Cooperative Education fits your schedule. At QCC, part or full time CO-OP jobs can begin at any time during the year. You can try out Cooperative Education for just one term or participate for several CO-OP semesters, advancing in skills and seniority.

Cooperative Education (CO-OP) Process

Cooperative Education (CO-OP) Orientation Schedule

Please see the Q for more information.

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Registration is required for all workshops. Please contact our office at 508-854-4439 or stop by Room 272A to register.

Jump Start Your Job Search

Led by an experienced career placement representative, this one-hour orientation will provide you with valuable information to help you find a job or co-op. Topics will include: how to uncover current professional, general, and co-op jobs through a variety of job search techniques; logging in and navigating the PlacePro job search system exclusive to QCC students and alumni; first steps towards creating a winning resume and cover letter; personalized "next steps" for working with our office to achieve your goals

This workshop is offered throughout the semester. Please come in or call to register at a time that is convenient for you.

Cover Letter Writing

This half hour exercise-oriented workshop will get you started writing cover letters that attract employers.
 

Resume Writing

In this one hour workshop you will learn key concepts necessary for today’s resume, important skills to emphasize, and what not to include on your resume.
 

Interviewing Skills and Dress to Impress

In this workshop you will learn self organization, preparation, interview conduct and follow-up.
 

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Office Hours

Monday

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday

8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Wednesday

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Thursday

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

other evening hours by appointment

Office Location

Room 272A
(508) 854-4439
Fax (508) 854-4426

Office Staff

Deborah Levin, Director, Experience-Based Education/Placement
(508) 854-4421
debl@qcc.mass.edu

Sue Levine, Career Placement Representative
(508) 854-7414
slevine@qcc.mass.edu

Sharon Wilbur, Support Staff
(508) 854-4439
swilbur@qcc.mass.edu

Brenda Kuchnicki, Support Staff
(508) 854-4380
bkuchnicki@qcc.mass.edu

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• what your resume should look like?
• what you should wear to an interview?
• when you should look for work?
• what Cooperative Education is?

If this sounds like you, QCC's Career Placement Services is here to help!

Career Placement Representatives are glad to assist you in answering some of these questions. All you have to do is e-mail them your question, and they will help you get started in the right direction. If your major is in the technical field (i.e. engineering, CIS), send your questions to slevine@qcc.mass.edu.

Remember, your resume is the first impression an employer receives of who you are and why you would be a good candidate for the job. It is a vital step in determining whether or not an employer should interview you.

So... ask away! And welcome to your future!

Job Search and Career Links

• NACELink The Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. has launched a comprehensive online internship database. This site is targeted for students in Central Massachusetts. Check here for some exciting opportunities.
• PlacePro is CPS's online resource to job and Co-op opportunities available to all QCC students and alumni
• Monster.com Search over 800,000 jobs, build and post your resume and access thousands of pages of career info and advice.
• Vault.com Fortune Magazine recently called Vault "The best place on the Web to prepare for a job search"
• Craigs List Craigslist is an online local community classifieds - a place to find a job, housing, goods & services, etc.
• Diversity Jobs Worcester At Diversity Jobs Worcester provides your resume to Human Resource offices of the companies that participate in this unique program
• Massachusetts Biotechnology Council An online database of jobs and internship from Massachusetts Biotechnology companies.
• HCareers.com Specializes in job search and employment in hotels, restaurants, casinos, resorts, cruise ships, retail, and more. Free for job seekers.
• BrainBuzz.com "The Mother of all Tech Sites" includes this Job Seekers section, where you may search for IT jobs, submit your resume, receive jobs by email, and more
• Monster Technology A special section at Monster.com, where you may search for computer jobs, post your resume, register for customized options, and link to career resources.
• About.com - Careers and Jobs Offers practical advice, pertinent links and solutions for job search, co-op, internship and career information.
• MonsterTRAK In partnership with Career Placement Services, MonsterTRAK provides full-time, part-time, and temporary opportunities
• Jobweb A complete job search Web site from the National Association of Colleges and Employer
• Yahoo! Hotjobs Search jobs from across the web
• CollegeGrad.com An entry level job search site that has a multitude of specific resources to help college students looking for assistance
• Worcester Telegram & Gazette Online"Help Wanted" classifieds
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Human Resources Department Employment opportunities with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Workforce Central Workforce Central brings you the best of our community's employment and training resources in Central Massachusetts.
• Job Find This web site allows users to view available jobs, post their resume online and read corporate profiles of many major corporations.
• Salary.com Online salary information resource for job seekers.
• Better Business Bureau of Central Massachusetts "When in Doubt, Check it Out:" The Better Business Bureau can provide Business Reliability Reports on companies and organizations.
• www.Entrypoint.org Outstanding Internship Opportunities for Students with Disabilities in Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, and some fields of Business. Applications available on their website.
• Career Resources for Students with Disabilities Lots of great career and job search links from the Office of Career Development and Placement at Muhlenberg College (our thanks to OCDP at Muhlenberg College for allowing us to link to their site).
• COWC Internship Database The Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. has launched a comprehensive online internship database. This site is targeted for students in Central Massachusetts. Check here for some exciting opportunities.

   

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