Frequently Asked Questions For Candidates

• 25 Steps for Successful Interviewing and Job Serach Before, During and After the Convention [PDF: 2.3Mb]
• Candidate Interviewing Procedures [PDF: 2.3Mb]

Where are Placement and Career Services located?
How are the hours of operation decided?
What determines the room temperature in the Placement space?
Why isn't Placement carpeted or more comfortable chairs provided?
Can Placement recycle?
Why doesn't Placement have copiers available for participants?
Why don't all employers respond to my request for an interview?
Why aren't there any phone numbers we can call with questions prior to the convention?
What do I do if I get a job before the Convention?
I'm having problems accessing the system?
I'm registered but I cannot access the system?
Can I contact employers?/Can I set-up Interviews?
Do I have to register for the convention as well?
Can I use the system after the Convention is over?
What is Work History/Summary For?
What do I wear to Placement?
Can I have a refund?
Do I have to register/sign-in when I arrive at the convention?
Can I change things in my account?
Please explain the process of doing a job search?
Should I still bring resumes with me?

Q. Where are Placement and Career Services located?
A. All Placement and Career Services are located at AmericasMart Atlanta Merchandise Mart Building 1.

Q. How are the hours of operation decided?
A. The times are determined to allow convention participants time to attend business meetings and sessions before opening and after closing of the Placement Center. This includes the people who are volunteering to staff the areas.

Q. What determines the room temperature in the Placement space?
A. The HVAC systems for these types of facilities can take hours to adjust. The space is initially cooled in anticipation for the number of people expected in that area and adjusted accordingly; the location of vents is also an uncontrollable factor.

Q. Why isn't Placement carpeted or more comfortable chairs provided?
A. Carpet for a typical interview space could cost $28,000 to $38,000 depending on the city. The rental costs for chairs with padded seats have ranged from $30.00 to $60.00 per chair vs. $4.00 to $7.00 for plastic folding chairs. The cost of "pipe and drapes" to further divide the areas can be as much as $10,000 dollars. Some years we are able to take advantage of carpeted space which already exists in some venues. Current fees would need to be tripled or quadrupled to provide these amenities in venues that do not already provide them. Atlanta will be a carpeted space.

Q. Can Placement recycle?
A. Recycling is at the sole discretion of the hotel/convention center. Placement makes every effort to make recycling available.

Q. Why doesn't Placement have copiers available for participants?
A. The cost of a community copier rental, paper, and maintenance is prohibitive and most hotels offer a business center with copying. In Atlanta the Merchandise Mart does not have a Business Center, however the Hyatt and the Marriott have Business Centers available to you.

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Q. Why don't all employers respond to my request for an interview?
A. We encourage employers to respond to every job inquiry. However, sometimes circumstances prevent employers from responding to all mail, including: overwhelming response to the ad, collecting resumes only, lack of interview staff, etc. You may want to send a second note in case the first one was missed.

Q. Why aren't there any phone numbers we can call with questions prior to the convention?
A. Placement is staffed by your colleagues who volunteer their time for the placement services. Since they are all around the country and are working at their own administrative jobs at colleges and universities it is not practical for Placement to have a phone line. Instead we provide two email addresses set-up that go directly to volunteers - employers@acpa.nche.edu and candidates@acpa.nche.edu. Emails are typically answered within 2 business days.

Q. What do I do if I get a job before the Convention?
A. If you no longer want employers to see your information in the placement system, email candidates@acpa.nche.edu and explain that you have a job and no longer need the service. The ability for employers to see your information will be turned off within 2 business days and no one will be able to view your data. There are no refunds for Placement.

Q. I'm having problems accessing the system?
A. Some Colleges and Universities have firewalls which prohibit you from signing into our system. You may also have problems depending on the Internet Browser that you use. If you use Netscape, try using Internet Explorer. If it still does not work try signing into the system away from campus. If it still does not work email the appropriate placement email (employers@acpa.nche.edu and candidates@acpa.nche.edu) and someone will be able to help you within 2 business days.

Q. I'm registered but I cannot access the system?
A. You will not be able to log in until your payment is received and processed. The system is set-up so that candidates only have access if they are paid. If you did not pay on-line at the time of registration then you will have to mail in your payment. The mail in address is:

2008 Convention Placement Services
The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany NY 12203-14990

You should reference your candidate number when you send in payment.

Q. Can I contact employers?/Can I set-up Interviews?
A. You can email back and forth with Employers - if they want to offer you an interview they will do so and they are the ones that set-up the interviews.

Q. Do I have to register for the convention as well?
A. The Convention Placement system is designed to be an on-site system and all who use the system are required to register for the convention. All those registered on the convention placement system are cross referenced with the convention registration - anyone not registered/paid for both by the regular deadline are locked out of the system.

Q. Can I use the system after the Convention is over?
A. You can use the system for a short time following the convention, however since it is primarily for use at the convention it is shut down every year on May 2nd. You will not be able to access any of the data after that.

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Q. What is Work History/Summary For?
A. Simply put the Work History/Summary section should be highlights of your resume and include a career objective statement.

Q. What do I wear to Placement?
A. There is no actual "dress code" but all candidates should come prepared and dressed as they would if they were going for an interview on campus. For women that should be a suit with dress pants or skirts (appropriate length - knee or longer). Men should wear a suit and tie. We do recommend to women that they choose "sensible" dress shoes with low heals. This is for safety and comfort purposes. Placement areas are not always carpeted and the floors can be slippery to high heels; additionally candidates are walking and standing sometimes for periods of time and higher heels on concrete floors can make for a very uncomfortable day.

Q. Can I have a refund?
A. There are no refunds for placement so if you have already registered then you must register for the convention. It is a requirement of the convention that all Placement participants must be registered for the convention. Your convention namebadge is your access to Placement.

Q. Do I have to register/sign-in when I arrive at the convention?
A. Registration on Friday is "On-site" registration which is for those who did not pre-register prior to the February deadline - it's also at the higher price so registering ahead of time on line is strongly recommended. If you are an employer it is also more beneficial to register early as your position listing is posted for a much longer time period. Regarding candidates and interviews please follow the schedule and also listed on the Placement front page on the convention website.

Q. Can I change things in my account?
A. You can always go back into your account, add, delete, change items at any time as long as you have paid the placement registration fee. Once paid you have full access to your account.

Q. Please explain the process of doing a job search?
A. The process is very self- regulated. You do what you want with the system. You can sign in whenever you like, look at various position listings, copy them, mark them etc. Most sections have a help button which will walk you through the process. You can email employers if they have provided that information and let them know you are interested in a position that you have seen. Make sure you include your candidate number when you do that. Employers who want to pre-set-up interviews will contact you, not vice versa. Or they may wait to get on site and offer you interviews there - if they choose that route you will get notes in your message folder that each candidate gets on site - it will be in the message center and is based on your candidate number.

Q. Should I still bring resumes with me?
A. Candidates have the option of bringing three copies of their resume to be placed in Placement binders located at the Employer resource area. They should be stapled, three hole punched and on each one write an area of interest in the upper right hand corner. We don't accept them ahead of time as we create the binders on-site.

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