Today I want to tell you something about the great computer program GauchoLink. I have learned much about this “service”. It’s a service for all UCSB students and also for the staff members. GauchoLink is an online-program where you are able to search jobs, internships and campus interviews. The company which I work for in Germany had a similar program, which called “VerBIS”. Directly translated it means “search machine”. In VerBIS you are able to look for jobs, internships, workshops, and other educational opportunities.  You can also find in-service-education, technical schools and academic programs at colleges and universities. The most significant difference between the German VerBIS and the American GauchoLink is the target group of people. VerBIS is available for all interested people who are searching for a new career or need help for their first job. It was specially designed for people receiving unemployment who are looking for a new job after losing their old position. In comparison GauchoLink is exclusive made for students of UCSB. The reason of this difference is easy to understand: In Germany there aren’t career services directly at a university. There is one department for everyone in a residential area. Regardless of age, past work experience, or education, everybody finds help at the same agency, which is called “Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit”. What I did learn the last days ago is that there is another option for the career questions in America. Most universities have their own office for career guidance and professional education. This enables GauchoLink to cater to the needs of UCSB students.

Why I’m sold on GauchoLink? It’s because of the many different options which the program gives you. Whether you are looking for an internship or a job, you will find it there. You can search for job types such as on-campus, full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal.   Additionally there is the option that you can search jobs in a specific company. Type in which employer you prefer and GauchoLink will do the search for you. Another good option that you can do with the service is that you can specify which area you are looking in and if you prefer national vs. international job or internship. How does the program work? It’s easy; you get a username and a password and at once you are a member of the program. You can use it wherever you want, not only at the career center. So when you prefer to work on career stuff on your own, ask about logging in with the peer advisor at the career resource room and use GauchoLink from your home.

What else can you do with GauchoLink? You can upload your cover letter and resume. If you decide yourself to send an application to one of the listed positions you have to click on the button and your documents will be sent to the company directly. Isn’t it great? As I heard about this option, I could barely believe it. There isn’t an easier way to apply than this. The program in Germany doesn’t operate like this, but for sure I will suggest this detail my company in Germany. I see three benefits for a candidate to use this way for a successful application. The first one is that you save time and energy using this function. Your cover letter and resume are stored in the program so you don’t have to print it out and write the address from the company. Second: You save money through the email-sending. And the third is that the employer sees that you are really interested in finding a job because you are a member of GauchoLink.

Another benefit that GauchoLink offers is that you can learn about upcoming campus interviews and apply for consideration. Career Services offers a convenient location for students and employers to conduct interviews. I think it’s a good opportunity for interested students to contact a potential employer and get practice with business communication. This is another difference I see between Career Services at UCSB and my career agency in Germany. In Germany there is a greater focus on matching employers with employees and that department has grown much during the last few years. There is many staff who works directly with the companies. They go out to the employer and figure out which positions are available and recommend potential employees. This increases the speed with which jobs are filled and job seekers become employed.

Finally I want to say that I am very impressed with GauchoLink and I would appreciate if there were a similar program for university students in Germany. So I, a student who hasn’t had a chance like this, can see many advantages for students looking to find their first professional job to use this program.