7. Subscribe to CSO Publications. No matter what the size of your college or university, most CSOs have an online or printed newsletter or job line. Get on the mailing list even if you are not currently seeking an internship or professional job. You want to start collecting information about companies and careers that intrigue you so that you can engage in a thoughtful, reasoned approach to your future career.

8. Volunteer. Ask the CSO staff if they need campus hosts to welcome employers to evening “Information Sessions”, or help with employers on career days. Many smaller colleges are incredibly understaffed and will appreciate your offer to help with posting jobs or internships to their online system or bulletin boards. They may even enlist your support as a Peer Advisor or ask you to speak to student groups. All fodder for your resume and a way of garnering special attention from the CSO staff. At UT-Austin, I worked closely with the Liberal Arts Council. Many of the LAC students who volunteered, eventually secured interview or internship offers from the employers they were assigned to at “Information Sessions” or at our Career Expo.

9. Career Days. Many colleges offer a Career Day, where professionals from various sectors come to speak about their respective fields. It's a quick way to learn about the ins and outs of various fields with a minimum outlay of time or effort on your part.

10. Career Fair Participation. Almost every college will offer a live or virtual Career Fair or Career Expo at least once a year. Booths are set up for employers to present their career or internship opportunities. Most seniors know of the importance of attending, but it is rare to have a freshman or sophomore attend. Employers are impressed with undergraduates that start “shopping” early on. I once had a recruiter say to me that she was going to seriously consider one of our students. She said, “He came to my booth as a freshman and said he would definitely remember my company as a senior. Well, he came to my booth today as a senior, and I remembered him! I don't have many young undergrads visit me, and someone with that kind of drive is exactly what I am looking for!”

11. Research, Research, Research. Meet with your CSO Director or Recruiting Coordinator before your scheduled campus interviews to find out what they may know about a specific employer. What is their interviewing style (case studies, behavior-based, stress)? Can they refer you to a recent graduate that either interviewed with them or secured a position with them? Do they keep interview evaluations completed by students on file? Feedback on interviews with specific employers may be found on many web sites, including http://www.CollegeRecruiter.com , http://www.Vault.com , and http://www.Rileyguide.com , to name a few.

12. Alumni. Ask if there are alumni you might be put in touch with that are working in a field or company of interest to you. Informational interviewing is an excellent way to gain valuable data about the field you are considering and to gain insight into the hiring process for a specific company. On another note, many alums are more than happy to help you out by letting you know about openings in their organizations or in providing introductions. Remember to thank them!

13. Salary Surveys. Find out what recent graduates are being paid. There are lots of web sites with salary data, but they include the salaries of mid-level and seasoned professionals, so the figures may not be accurate reflections of what to expect as a recent grad. Your CSO probably publishes an annual “Placement Report” which includes salaries reported by last year's graduates. Also ask to read the “Salary Survey” results compiled quarterly by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The “Salary Survey” will list salary ranges and the median for students in specific majors working in specific industries. It is the most comprehensive and valid source for salary information available!

14. Moving. If you are considering moving out of the area and have yet to find a job, ask your CSO if they have reciprocal agreements with other colleges. Most colleges and universities will agree to work with the graduate of another college if, in turn, one of their grads might use the other's CSO. The Director is the person that is usually needed to sign the “Reciprocal Agreement”. At the very

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