OU Career Services has expanded its online capabilities to offer online registration and WetFeet, an informational program about finding the right job.

Bette Scott, director of OU Career Services, said the office added resources offered to students to help them with their job search needs.

Scott said OU Career Services helps students understand the process of searching for and finding jobs, and by doing so, improves the skills needed to be a better candidate for employers.

"There is a lot of help here," Scott said. "Getting a job is a game and we are the coaches."

Scott said one new service offered this year allows students to register for OU Career Services online.

"Students used to come into the office to register," Scott said. "Now it is a lot easier."

Scott said students can go online to ou.edu/career to register, and the registration fee will be sent directly to their bursar account. The registration fee is $50 for the first year and $25 for each additional year. Scott said the only students who still need to come into the office at OMU suite 323 to register are those who do not want to charge the registration fee to their bursar account.

"It is great that they are allowing students to register online now," said Shikha Kohli, zoology senior. "Technology is becoming increasingly important, and it makes it so much easier that you do not have to leave your computer to take advantage of all the services that they offer. I am definitely going to register."

Scott said another new feature offered this year is WetFeet, an online resource which provides students information about finding the right career.

Kohli said she thought this would be very useful for many students who do not know what they want to do after graduation.

"By researching careers, students will see what job matches up the best with their individual wants," Kohli said.

Scott said OU Career Services will also continue to offer workshops on areas such as resume writing, interviewing and conducting job searches.

Jerad Thompson, business junior, said he registered last year with OU Career Services, and plans on registering again this year to utilize the different services.

"I think Career Services can be an important instrument for students," Thompson said. "I was able to get help even though I registered kind of late."

Thompson said by registering in the spring, it was too late to find an internship because the internships he was interested in were already taken.

Thompson said most internships are made available during the fall, so he recommends that students register now. He said students are able to get more out of OU Career Services by registering first semester because registration runs from Aug. 1 of one year to July 31 of the following year.

"The one thing that I was able to do last year was submit my resume for critique," Thompson said.

Thompson said the resume critique service helped him with the general format of his resume, and he plans to submit his resume again this year to perfect it.

"I also think by registering so early this year, I will be able to find a business and legal internship like I am looking for, and I will be able to utilize more of the services offered," Thompson said.

Scott said students can learn about many services offered by OU Career Services by looking at the Web site.

"If you go on the Web site, you can find information like what employers are looking for," Scott said. "You can also see a list of all the companies who have registered with us."

Scott said about 2,200 employers have access to resumes submitted by registered students, and there have been about 2,000 jobs posted since last year.

Scott said OU Career Services brings many employers to OU each year for job fairs. She said job fairs give students a chance to meet with many different employers on campus. A list of dates for job fairs and the employers scheduled to come is available online, Scott said.

"The job fairs allow students to meet with employers who are interested in hiring college graduates," Scott said. "Many of these employers have scheduled days to interview students on campus."

Students can register for OU Career Services online anytime. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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