Most students want to know more about the graduate labor market before entering it. Students need to know what employers are looking for before attempting to find a job. Recruitment is not on the basis of the status of your institution anymore. According to the most read careers magazine at the UK’s top universities, employers no longer have the time or money to recruit people at random and spend years training them. Employers are focused on getting things done. Employers focus on ability, not background, according to an article by Andrew Haldenby, writer for Real World Magazine. Recruiters are looking for graduates with reliability, self-discipline, enthusiasm, honesty, and communication. Technical skills are not a part of that list because they can easily be taught through training. Graduates are recruited for what they can do for the organization.”Employers are looking for people who are professional in every aspect, the way they dress and the way they present themselves,” said Lindsey Guthman, graduate assistant at Career Services. “The job market is really tight right now, so students should be focused on the job search and on being strong candidates.” Graduates are competing against so many candidates, and there are few jobs. “You need to stand out from the rest,” Guthman said.According to assessment and human resources development company SHL, it can cost as much as $15,558 to recruit a single graduate and a third of graduates leave after only 18 months. As a result, some companies are using assessment centers as interviews. An assessment center uses exercises such as personality, motivation, questionnaires and simulation exercises to get a more in-depth picture of the applicant’s abilities.This form of recruitment benefits the graduate because the process is less biased and results are not determined by a single recruiter’s interpretation of the interview. So what should students do to prepare for this kind of recruitment? An article in Real World Magazine said applicants should first consider how their abilities match the requirements of the employer. During the recruitment process, contribute to group exercises, but do not dominate. Practice working in groups beforehand. Students should work on their speaking ability and adapting to different audiences. Most importantly, stay calm and relaxed.Career Services on campus offers a variety of events and workshops to help develop the skills needed for interviews, resume writing, and business etiquette. It is holding a Fall Teacher Job Fair on Oct. 9 at Johnson Coliseum. The fair is open to all students interested in teaching, not just education majors. “So far, 75 school districts have signed up, but we’re hoping for 100,” Guthman said. The fair is from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.Career Services hosts mock interviews all semester. Students can sign up for group or individual interviews by calling and setting up a time. On campus recruiting for December graduates, interns and alumni is held all semester. Local area career fairs, workshops, events and information concerning campus recruitment are posted on the Internet. Visit the Career Services Web site at www.shsu.edu/careerservices for more information.