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10 Tips for Finding Your Dream Job after Graduation

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It’s no secret that job searching can be stressful. You have a resume to perfect, job postings to go through- not to mention phone screenings and interviews. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, be prepared and intentional when job searching.You have the education, now it’s time to get out there and get the job!

We’ve created the10 tips below to keep you focused on attaining your dream job.

1.) Start with yourself. Figure out the types of departments and care units you are most excited about. During your clinicals, which units were you most excited about? What position would make you really motivated to get to work and give it your all? Do you want to be on the floor, or would a management or research position suit you better?

2.) Find a mentor in the community that has your dream job and hold a quarterly coffee meeting with them. Chances are whatever challenges you’re encountering—they’ve been through it. Be open to advice and learn from their experiences.

3.) Join LinkedIn and keep your profile current, connecting with peers and groups associated with positions you are interested in. Employers now also look to social media when researching potential candidates. Think critically about what you post and what is being said (or shown!) about you on sites like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You’d be amazed at what you could find through a Google search.

4.) Gain experience through a volunteer position. This is a great way to build connections and get some extra experience in the field. It might also be a way to differentiate you from other candidates applying for the same job, who don’t have this experience.

5.) Conduct informational interviews with people who hold positions you are interested in. What steps did they have to take to get where they are today? Was it an advanced degree or getting a professional licensure? Ask specific, detailed questions.

6.) Attend professional organization meetings and conventions in nursing specialties. These are great places to network with professionals in health care as well as stay current on industry news.

7.) Stay up to date on the latest technology and treatment trends in your specialty. There are many nursing websites and publications- subscribe to their newsletter or download their app to your smartphone.

8.) Read the latest health care news to gain deeper knowledge about the industry as a whole. Be mindful of how new advances in technology or rules and regulations will influence you on the job. Many employers expect their employees to be up to speed on industry news.

9.) Schedule practice interviews as you begin applying for jobs to get more confidence for the real thing. WCU’s Career Services team is dedicated to your success. They can give you sample questions employers might ask in the interview, go through your resume with ideas or suggestions and help you formulate a strategy for applying to jobs.

10.) Keep an open mind. Sometimes a dream job is not one you’d expect. Explore all your options.

For more tips on finding a job after graduation, make an appointment with our Career Services team. They’re here to help you build your resume and portfolio, give you tips for interviewing, introduce you to career opportunities and more.

WCU Students Volunteer at WeConnect & Educate Community on Available Health Resources

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On Saturday, March 2, 2013, over 1,500 Inland Empire residents gathered at Rubidoux High School in Riverside to become educated on access to affordable, quality health resources in their area. WeConnect, an organization run by the California Endowment, was sponsoring a Health Care Enrollment and Resources Fair. The organization helps families learn and connect to important programs that are available to them that may help them lead healthier, more financially secure lives.

Approximately 75 students from West Coast University’s Ontario campus volunteered at the Fair, honing valuable nursing skills and fulfilling their public health hours, a requirement in WCU’s nursing program. The students rotated through stations, including dental screenings, influenza immunizations, blood pressure screenings, vision screenings, diabetes screenings, and evaluations of body mass index (BMI).  At each station, students gave poster presentations detailing preventative care. To accommodate all attendees, some of the poster presentations were given in Spanish.

WCU students also staffed a health education station where participants could ask questions and be given health promotion and injury prevention information in both English and Spanish. The final station at WeConnect was data collection, in which students collected participants’ information for follow-up care, and provided them with additional information regarding low-cost or no-cost health resources available in the Inland Empire.

Clinic in the Park: OT Leads the Way with Community Health and Wellness

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You might be familiar with the Farmers Market at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine every Sunday. Or perhaps, you’ve ridden its signature orange Great Park Balloon, perused the Great Park Gallery featuring local artists, or simply taken your dog for a walk.

Now there’s a new reason to visit. It’s a health and wellness initiative that’s making health care a community effort. This past Sunday, December 9, 2012, the Occupational Therapy department at West Coast University participated in Clinic in the Park, a free event sponsored by OneOC, an organization dedicated to family health and wellness. Clinic in the Park offers everything from car seat fittings to health chats with doctors, to immunizations, to a literacy promotion booth; with the goal of establishing innovative models of health promotion and disease prevention in non-traditional public venues.

The OT department participated by providing developmental screenings to children. They also educated parents on normal child development, gave suggestions on home activities for children and directed parents to community resources for additional help.

“Giving back is what our profession is all about,” says Diane Gale, MBA, OTR/L, Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for WCU’s Occupational Therapy program. She hopes that future OT students will be inspired to work as a team with the families of their clients, improving their overall quality of life, with a focus on health and wellness for all family members.

The goal of the Occupational Therapy department is that Clinic in the Park will eventually provide students with fieldwork opportunities as well as experience in inter-professional communication. That is, working with other health care professionals to achieve the overall health of a patient.

The next Clinic in the Park will be held January 13, 2013 with the theme Stay Fit and Stay Well in the New Year. For more information on the event, click here.

Clinic in the Park