In spite of the national teacher shortage, Oregon students face some stiff competition for the best teaching jobs available–particularly if they want to stay in the state. To even the odds, the University of Oregon College of Education and the UO Career Center have organized a seminar to help this year’s education college graduates wow potential employers. "We want our students to find good jobs, and just earning a degree often isn’t enough to guarantee that will happen," says Lawrence Smith, director of the UO Career Center. Smith says this is the second year the university has offered the seminar to students enrolled in the College of Education. "Career Beginnings: Professional Development Seminar" is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, at the Valley River Inn Conference Center, 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene. School principals and other education professionals from Eugene and Springfield will be there to give the UO students tips on looking for a job and on how to outshine other candidates during an interview. The community volunteers will interview each of the 200 participants and will follow-up with helpful hints on how they can make a better impression on potential employers. SOURCE: Lawrence Smith, director, UO Career Center, (541) 346-6005; e-mail larry@career.uoregon.edu.

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