About this time last spring semester, the Skyline Career Services Center was hatching a new plan to get students “career ready” for the job hiring process. The recently launched Job Priority Pool, housed in the career center, prepares students to bring their best selves forward and shine at Bay Area companies that are eager to hire.

“Smaller and larger companies are actively looking for people to join their ranks,” Lavinia Zanassi, Career Services Center Faculty Coordinator, said. The Job Priority Pool adds, “a more professional, competitive edge,” and it “assists students to present their best selves.”

Although students may want to advance at work, responsibilities and make more money, they were not fully prepared, “to move forward in their experiential exposure,”said Zanassi. There was a gap between students who were ready to work and companies willing to hire them.

The Job Priority Pool helps students with the essentials of the job hunting task. Students have the opportunity to present themselves to potential employers and make a connection.

“The Job Priority Pool would be beneficial to students because it gives them a starting point,” said Brandon Chacon, first-year Psychology student. “It’s an opportunity for students to balance school and work and gives them the opportunity for time management.”

It’s essentially a matchmaking arrangement with the goal of educating students and teaching them to be competitive when job hunting.

These fundamentals include feedback on cover letters and resumes, plus interview preparation with participation in mock interviews and possibly a panel interview.

The benefits for students include professional development, while companies “get students who understand the dynamics of a job and present in a professional manner,” said Zanassi.

“At the end of day, the Job Priority Pool would definitely help get me prepared for any type of job,” said Anderson Nascimento, first-year Psychology student.

Those in the program will receive first access to fresh and exciting employment and internship opportunities, but space is limited.

Companies such as UPS, Safeway, Jamba Juice and the cities of Millbrae and Burlingame, “want to expand this semester,” Zanassi said. Skyline college wants to be well represented, she acknowledged.

The process is ongoing to get students set for the Job Priority Pool. Students can become active members of the Job Priority Pool within two weeks. Get Work Wednesdays sponsored by the career center from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the cafeteria. Students will have the chance to talk with employers directly who are actively seeking their next current employees. Make A Difference Mondays is an event starting in September. Employers seek out students who have made a contribution in the community as it speaks to their character. To get started, Zanassi suggests that students call the career center and speak with Jose Milan. Milan, a Career Resource Aide in the career center, will start the process of enhancing students’ eligibility on the path to a new or fresh career. Students will be registered once they are part of the pool. Be on the look out for information around campus on workshops on the prerequisites of job tasks: cover letters, resumes and mock interviewing. Skyline’s one-on-one support from a career coach will give students an advantage to make their next professional connection.