Senior resolutions

One word usually comes to mind when you think of New Year's resolutions: gimmicky.

For the very few, making a resolution actually results in successfully cutting a habit or doing something that couldn't be accomplished the prior year. But for the vast majority, making it to the weight room more regularly or attempting to spend longer hours in the library simply never extends beyond January of each year.

Then, of course, there are those of us who don't even bother trying to conjure up some sort of life-changing decree.

But, for this year's class of graduating seniors, there is something that can be found under the definition or "resolution" -- and that's life beyond Santa Clara.

Figuring out where to live, but more importantly, what you'll be doing for work, are two important aspects of being a senior that can't be pursued too early. Between the on-campus career fairs held this quarter and next, in addition to the incredible assistance that the career center has to offer, now is as best a time ever to polish up the rsum and start contacting employers.

Sadly, the holiday season is over. As great of a three-week distraction as it was from school, there's a great deal to be accomplished between now and the end of the school year -- especially for seniors.

The hard part is, complaining about it does little good for those of your old friends who have graduated over the past three years. They were the ones who really felt the grunt of the economy's downturn. In 2005, employers are beginning to do more hire and less fire because of the economic upswing.

Hopping on a treadmill every day, passing up a Coke for a diet drink or resisting the urge for your favorite nicotine products are all admirable goals, but for the class of 2005, there are bigger fish to fry.

Get your rsum critiqued, design a cover letter and start lining up any references you might have. Believe it or not, the next six months might just be the most important ones yet.