By Robert T. Williams, Jr. – Director of Career Services, Default Prevention Counselor – Rust College
The most important thing that I did with Anthony, as well as with any student I meet, is have a conversation to see where he is in life.
Anthony L. Smith, Jr.
Rust College, Holly Springs, MS
Major: Biology
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Employer/Location: Chuck Hutton Chevrolet, Memphis, TN
Job Title: Manager-in-Training/Customer Liaison
Career Services has helped me to prepare for the job marketing. I learned a lot from my mentor, Mr. Williams; he has shaped and molded my interview skills and connected me to the right people for graduate school. This year learning from Mr. Williams, I learned simple but effective tools to use during an interview. The first key tool is to bring a leather portfolio; second bring your resume and business cards; and third know the company purpose and information. In this process, I also learned how to greet the interviewer with a smile, not to be so nervous, dress appropriately and state why you are a good candidate for the job. Working with Career Services helped me get my first job, working at the Spring Garden Apartment complex as an Assistant Manager. I want thank Rust College’s Career Services for sharpening my interviewing skills, job marketability and helping to get into graduate school.
Director of Career Services, Default Prevention Counselor
Rust College, Holly Springs, MS
The most important thing that I did with Anthony, as well as with any student I meet, is have a conversation to see where he is in life. I always want to find out what a student’s goal is so that I know exactly what course to take and how aggressive I need to be. With Anthony, he was interested in going to graduate school to obtain his masters degree, but also wanted to go into sales, so we focused first on finding the right graduate program for him. Once he found the best suitor and applied, we moved on to finding him a part time job while in school as well as a job when he graduates that he can work while still matriculating in education. Anthony and I met daily to craft his resume and fine tune his interviewing skills. Once he perfected those endeavors, we worked on his interview attire, non-verbal gestures and confidence. Mr. Smith was one of only two candidates I was comfortable enough with to propose to the hiring manager at his current position. After securing the job as an Assistant Manager at the Spring Garden Apartment complex in Holly Springs, MS, Anthony has used the skills and strategies learned to interview for sales opportunities with three other companies, all of which offering him a full-time position after graduation. He is now in the process of negotiating to see which one is the right fit for him.
