Want a job? Be prepared to hunt.

Ellen Anderson, a placement counselor for the Career Planning and Placement Center, said it takes about five to six months to find the “right job. So, we recommend that students begin looking in January.”

“People who sit around waiting for the phone to ring might be there another six years,” Anderson said.

How quickly students get jobs also depends on their campus contacts, Anderson said. About 500 companies visit NIU annually to conduct interviews with students.

About 1,200 students are registered in the career placement program, Anderson said. Students are able to visit campus recruiters, take part in job fairs, go through mock interviews and receive job counseling.

Before an interview begins, students should research the companies where they seek jobs, Anderson said. “The more information you have, the better the interview will go,” she said. “Ask some questions about the company.”

An interviewee needs to be impressive, Anderson said. “Sell yourself. Be professional. Speak clearly. Make a lot of eye contact,” Anderson said. “Students should have well-thought-out answers and know their strengths and skills.”

Career planning offers mock interviews to give students practice at interviews. “It’s like learning how to swim,” Anderson said. “It’s a scary thing, but you just have to jump in.”

The mock interviews are the “toughest” students will go through, Anderson said. The five counselors and graduate students involved offer constructive feedback about which answers were strong or weak.

But, Anderson still recommends interviewing while on campus. “The recruiters are here and it’s a shame (that so few take advantage of them),” she said.

Company representatives visit through the year, Anderson said. There also is a job fair scheduled for April, but Anderson suggests students “get started now. Preparation makes a much stronger candidate than someone who goes in cold and stumbles.”