Career Services kicked off the job search for Suffolk graduating seniors at the third annual Senior Career Summit on Friday, May 2nd. The Summit featured industry experts who gave students advice on the job search and how to secure a position relevant to their career goals.

Career Services Director Paul Tanklefsky opened the event with advice on the four P's of job searching: be prepared, positive, persistent, and persuasive.

Andrew Graff (MBA ’93), CEO of the advertising agency Allen & Gerritsen, also stressed the importance of the resume, advising students to make their resume stand out and focus on the most important experiences. He also had words of advice about how to “brand you,” recommending that students think of themselves as a CEO of their own company, themselves. Graff stressed the importance of a social media presence, high quality cover letters and asking questions at interviews.

The next speaker, Executive Vice-President of the Boston Chamber of Commerce Jim Klocke, had encouraging words about Boston-area industries: every sector has grown in the past 12 months, with Boston faring better than the national average. Klocke also gave useful advice to students, recommending that they look in many places for jobs and emphasizing the importance of the resume.

The final session, a panel of employers, addressed how candidates can stand out and leave favorable impressions on employers. A Q&A session with students followed. Paul Tanklefsky viewed the Summit as a success, saying, “We wanted each student to leave the event a more knowledgeable and savvier job seeker. Student feedback suggests that the Summit delivered and gave participants a major jump start in their campaign to find relevant employment upon graduation.”

To learn about future events sponsored by Career Services, visit www.facebook.com/sucarerers or stop by the office at 20 Ashburton Place.