J.D. JobNet Revamped
Changes in online recruiting tool
add to its value

J.D. JobNet, MSU-DCL’s online recruiting tool for employers and job seekers, has undergone a number of improvements. Accessible through the college’s website, J.D. JobNet is a full-service online employment agency available to students, employers and alumni. Career Services staff members, left to right, Robin Munro, Caryn Mateer, Sally Rice and Michelle Mitchell The recent design changes make the system easier to navigate and more user-friendly, according to Career Services Director Caryn Mateer. Employers can use various queries to choose the resumes they wish to view, and job seekers can search by a number of criteria to identify positions. Both students and alumni report successes using J.D. JobNet. Fifty percent of students responding to a recent survey found summer employment via the system. “J.D. JobNet is easy to use,” says second-year law student Jeffrey Hengeveld. “It provides direct access to the hiring personnel in many well known firms, which ensures that you are speaking with the right people. I found my first law clerk position on J.D. JobNet.” Patricia Livingston, Ingham County (Michigan) employment specialist, uses the service for work-study postings. “It is easy to use, easy to access and more efficient [than other means],” she says. “In three words, quick, reliable and effective.” More than 1,400 employers—some as far away as Korea—have registered with J.D. JobNet. Online job postings have increased by 68 percent over the past two years, and the number of registered users has grown to 800, including 300 alumni. Career Services Changes Ramp Up Recruiting and Advising The Office of Career Services has made a number of staffing changes aimed at enhancing service to employers and students. Michelle Mitchell, new assistant director of career services, came to MSU-DCL in July 2001 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mitchell is putting to use her graduate degree in student counseling and her experience working with pre-law students to enhance the the advising services offered at the law college. "It's been fun to come back to a smaller school," she comments. "I like the collaboration among departments, and I see the staff taking a holistic approach to getting the job done." New recruitment coordinator Sally Rice, who transferred from the faculty offices, manages the candidate and employer online registration process, maintains the employer and student databases, researches and collects data on companies, and compiles placement information. Receptionist Robin Munro, who is new to MSU-DCL, assists students, alumni and employers with numerous requests and provides general support for the office. Munro came to MSU-DCL from a nationally based investment company, where she provided administrative support.