New software to help students

Career/NET puts resumes on CD-ROM for employees

A new software program that will assist students with employment networking and create a database with job information is now available to college seniors.

The nationwide program, called Career/NET, organizes a student's resume information onto a pre-programmed diskette. After a profile is completed, it is copied to a CD-ROM disk and sent to employers for use in hiring. The program was first introduced in September.

"We guarantee it will get to ten thousand employers, including the Fortune 500," said Jim Hemphill, vice president of I/NET, Inc., which is responsible for Career/NET.

The diskette gathers information in 15 different categories. Basic resume data such as job skills, experience and awards are listed. Students can also record their major, minor, GPA, language and computer skills and their geographic preference.

Career/NET also has a special feature that allows the student to write up to one page about their school experience and their career goals.

Hemphill said the feature gives students the opportunity to explain to employers if they changed majors and allows students to communicate to employers what type of job the student is looking for.

Career/NET also lets employers ask for qualifications that are needed for the position they are trying to fill.

"They can reach right into a whole pile of student resumes and pull out the person who has the specific criteria they're looking for," Hemphill said.

Career/NET starts anew every year. It begins in late September and runs through late August of the following year. Resumes are sent to employers three times. Students who sign on before November get their resumes sent out each time.

Hemphill said that employers are very particular and want fresh talent in the database. Students are permitted to update their information twice so that employers have current information.

Hemphill said Career/NET receives about 3,000 calls a week from students who are interested in the program.

Career/NET costs a hundred dollars. Students receive a kit that includes a diskette for Windows-based personal computers and a user's guide. Subscribing employers pay $495 for the use of Career/NET. Hemphill said that is about what it costs an employer to run a two column wide ad for two weeks in a newspaper.

"The reason we charge both students and employers is because both students and employers benefit," Hemphill said.

For more information about Career/NET, call 1-800-682-8539.