Flash Forward aids students in job search

Flash Forward is the system found on the Career Services Web site that allows students to search for part-or full-time employment, and internships. Students who did job searches in previous semesters may notice a difference in the site. Instead of separate systems for student jobs and careers, they are combined into one system.

“The goal is to get students connected with Career Services early,” said Ami Hollis, assistant director for Career Employment. “Also, to get them thinking long-term as far as a r‚sum‚.”

“Students who have not looked at our site before had no questions. Students who looked in previous semesters had some questions,” Hollis said. “The lack of calls with questions is a plus in our minds.”

The new site will allow students to think about their future before graduation comes around.

“Some students have come to Career Services in the past during their final semester without a r‚sum‚ or having done an internship,” said Julie Stieber, associate director of the Career Services Center.

Kent State is one of 15 schools in Northeast Ohio that are part of ClevelandIntern.net, a site that recruits for internships. Most of the internships are within Ohio.

A benefit of the system is that student jobs are protected because Flash Forward requires students to go through a registration process. Once the student registers, they can start looking through job postings. In order to apply for a position or sign up for an interview, a student must upload a r‚sum‚.

If a student is not seeking full-time employment, an internship or does not want employers to view their r‚sum‚, Flash Forward has a r‚sum‚ book that can be used which does not allow employers access to the r‚sum‚.

According to the Career Services Center Web site, part-time jobs can make a student more marketable to employers upon graduation. It can provide students with problem solving skills, appreciation for diversity, teamwork skills and improve interpersonal relationships as well as listening skills.

“There is a growing acknowledgment by people about the importance of a student job,” Stieber said.

Now with student jobs integrated into Flash Forward, it can be viewed equally with professional jobs and internships.

Laura Leslie, freshman early childhood education major, was familiar with the old site. She hasn’t registered on the new one yet, but said she likes the idea.

“Last semester I looked through part-time jobs. But I guess it would be interesting to see careers and other possibilities,” Leslie said. “If someone sees something that interests them, they can prepare ahead of time.

Contact career services and alumni affairs reporter Joe McKenzie at [email protected].