Students who are looking for jobs on and around campus can use the Career Center and its program BGSU Worknet to assist in their search.

BGSU WorkNet is a Web-based system powered by www.experience.com, which connects students and alumni, listing employers, co-ops, internships and jobs related to their majors.

The system includes a calendar, documents, profile, employer modules, interview schedules, jobs and internship modules, position types, and search and results pages.

WorkNet, which is free for students and alumni, is set up to provide on-campus student employment opportunities, off-campus part-time/seasonal employment and internship programs, and permanent (post-graduate) careers.

WorkNet requires several steps, the first of which is creating an account. After the account is created, the user will have access to the sections listed above.

WorkNet is used by the Career Center and is designed to help students search for jobs that will match their degree.

Michelle Simmons, senior associate director at the Career Center, described the system as a Web-based job posting and resume-referral database.

According to Simmons, employers use WorkNet as a resource to find qualified candidates to fill positions.

“It’s a virtual meeting place for students seeking employers and employers seeking students,” Simmons said.

Applications are also sent electronically to employers who match the job search of students.

Simmons believes there are several advantages for students who use WorkNet. This includes freshmen using the system to build a profile. The profile will include the name, address, major and interests.

The profile can then be updated by students.

These profiles are accessible two weeks in advance of the Career Center’s job expo, the first of which is Oct. 9, for employers who have registered for the expo.

Prior to the expo, the Career Center scans the list of companies who search for employees through WorkNet in an attempt to avoid scams like pyramid schemes.

The Career Center looks at the address and company Web site to research all of the attending companies prior to the expo to ensure the companies using the system are legitimate.

Simmons warned students about deals that seem too good to be true.

“Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to do the research and be careful,” Simmons said.

But students who have used the program say there have been some setbacks.

Students like Josh Sengstock, a junior majoring in math education, felt the program was too time consuming and confusing when setting up a profile.

“I was probably on there for half an hour, and a lot of the stuff was really redundant,” Sengstock said.

A similar experience was shared by Melissa Wagner, a junior majoring in political science, who used WorkNet hoping to find a job as a secretary at an office on campus, but has so far only heard from the employer she already works for.

“The only people who contacted me was University Dining Services, and I currently work for them,” Wagner said.