During the break, as we all unwind from a demanding semester, you might hear a little buzz in your ear. It's your parents constantly in your face, breathing down your back, and just generally getting on your nerves. Why can't they just leave you alone? Don't they understand that you want to just relax for once?
One thing you can do to help them leave you alone is to show them that you are being proactive in your quest for an internship/job. A good way to do that is to let them see your resume. If you don't have one completed yet, don't worry. The break is an excellent time to start one. The career center has a great guide for you to look at online: http://careers.wustl.edu/documents/resumecoverlettersamples.pdf
If you do have one completed, you can always improve it. One tip is to use your campus activities to your advantage. Many people simply list all their activities at the bottom or the top of the resumes and say nothing else about them. However, you can pick an activity that you are most involved in and develop it just like a job entry, complete with descriptions. Without degrees or much experience in the work field, employers are very hesitant to hire students to handle large responsibilities in their businesses. Employers value activities on resumes because it's a way for students to gain experiences and skills that can be directly transferable to a job, even if you think they are not. From being treasurer, organizing/publicizing an event, ordering materials, conducting meetings to writing group emails, all are things that impress employers that can't be found in the classroom.
Another thing, you know that crazy voice mail you have? The one with the musical interlude and the slang? You might want to change that because you would not want an employer to call with the intention of offering you a position only to retract it once they heard your voicemail. An added bonus is that your parents would be thrilled to see you increasing your professional development.
All in all, if you want your parents to ease up, let them catch you doing something towards getting a job/internship. Don't just do things after your parents have been complaining day after day. Let them discover you with your nose in the internship book, looking up the Career Center resume/cover letter guide, setting up an informational interview or even sprucing up your resume. Have a nice break!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Calm Before The Storm
I know that the very timing of this post may cause it to fall upon deaf ears, but I hope that it 
may be of use to some of you after finals. I wanted to write about appropriate strategies and actions for the winter holidays. This can be a great time to prepare for the upcoming season of internship recruitment without the pressures of school weighing you down.
I have spent the past few weeks sending out several internship applications (and I am by no means finished!) and I am going to use the holidays to tie up all of the loose ends. I am going to follow up with companies about my application materials and make sure that I did not leave out any necessary documents. More importantly, I will spend time preparing for interviews. Part of that involves company research. Also, the Career Center has a number of valuable resources available to students for interview preparation for everything from behavioral to case interviews. I want to brush up on my skills so that when I return to WU in the spring I can have a productive meeting with one of our highly trained career advisors. After preparing with an advisor, it will be about time to start company interviews. I will post again about the status of those applications when I find out more information. Until then I will:
1) Keep applying.
2) Follow up with companies about existing applications.
3) Research companies and positions.
4) Individually prepare for interviews.
5) Make an appointment with a career advisor.
Good luck to all of you, and have a very happy holiday season!
may be of use to some of you after finals. I wanted to write about appropriate strategies and actions for the winter holidays. This can be a great time to prepare for the upcoming season of internship recruitment without the pressures of school weighing you down.I have spent the past few weeks sending out several internship applications (and I am by no means finished!) and I am going to use the holidays to tie up all of the loose ends. I am going to follow up with companies about my application materials and make sure that I did not leave out any necessary documents. More importantly, I will spend time preparing for interviews. Part of that involves company research. Also, the Career Center has a number of valuable resources available to students for interview preparation for everything from behavioral to case interviews. I want to brush up on my skills so that when I return to WU in the spring I can have a productive meeting with one of our highly trained career advisors. After preparing with an advisor, it will be about time to start company interviews. I will post again about the status of those applications when I find out more information. Until then I will:
1) Keep applying.
2) Follow up with companies about existing applications.
3) Research companies and positions.
4) Individually prepare for interviews.
5) Make an appointment with a career advisor.
Good luck to all of you, and have a very happy holiday season!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
More Networking!
So, a great way to network with Wash U alums is to use the Career Connections site. You can find tons of Wash U grads, ranging from recent grads to those who have graduated a long time ago, in a variety of industries and in a number of positions. Everytime I used the site, I have always found tons of people who are happy to talk about their jobs (since they rarely have people calling them up, they're always excited when a student calls them). While all my conversations with alums have been informational interviews and never lead to any job offers, I do know of several people whose informational interviews eventually lead to job offers. Nevertheless, it's always fun to talk to alumni and ask them about both their current positions, career path, and their undergraduate careers. And who knows, you might just get a job outta it!
So, a great way to network with Wash U alums is to use the Career Connections site. You can find tons of Wash U grads, ranging from recent grads to those who have graduated a long time ago, in a variety of industries and in a number of positions. Everytime I used the site, I have always found tons of people who are happy to talk about their jobs (since they rarely have people calling them up, they're always excited when a student calls them). While all my conversations with alums have been informational interviews and never lead to any job offers, I do know of several people whose informational interviews eventually lead to job offers. Nevertheless, it's always fun to talk to alumni and ask them about both their current positions, career path, and their undergraduate careers. And who knows, you might just get a job outta it!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Professional Associations
Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but networking is extremely essential in landing any type of work opportunity : ) You'll be amazed at how many things in life are about who you know and 
not so much about what you know. While it is very important to know what you're doing and delivering good results, don't forget that you also need other people to know what great things you've accomplished so they can be an advocate for you when it comes to internships, jobs, promotions, etc. Ideally, you can have a mutual exchange type of relationship with those in your network where they help you in certain situations and you return the favor by helping them in other situations. You know, kind of like "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" (or something like that).
I know many people dread the notion of networking and prefer to avoid it at all costs. I completely understand those feelings because I've been there before. The good news is that there are avenues that make networking more accessible and convenient for you. One such avenue is professional associations. Organizations like the National Association of Broadcasters or National Association of Female Executives join together people in similar career fields and basically you have an instant network at your fingertips. You know the people in the organization are interested in at least some of the same things as you, so there is a conversation starter right there! And, a lot of the professional associations have student memberships that are specifically designed to get students acquainted with the profession and begin networking with the members.
You can start off finding one of these organizations by doing a simple internet search of the profession you're interested in. Spend some time browsing different organizations' web sites and see which ones interest you enough to actually attend an event and possibly join. I'm confident that if you join a professional association as a student you will not regret it!
**P.S. - another great place to start looking for a professional association may be the pre-professional groups on campus such as Pre-Law, Pre-Med, etc.
not so much about what you know. While it is very important to know what you're doing and delivering good results, don't forget that you also need other people to know what great things you've accomplished so they can be an advocate for you when it comes to internships, jobs, promotions, etc. Ideally, you can have a mutual exchange type of relationship with those in your network where they help you in certain situations and you return the favor by helping them in other situations. You know, kind of like "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" (or something like that).I know many people dread the notion of networking and prefer to avoid it at all costs. I completely understand those feelings because I've been there before. The good news is that there are avenues that make networking more accessible and convenient for you. One such avenue is professional associations. Organizations like the National Association of Broadcasters or National Association of Female Executives join together people in similar career fields and basically you have an instant network at your fingertips. You know the people in the organization are interested in at least some of the same things as you, so there is a conversation starter right there! And, a lot of the professional associations have student memberships that are specifically designed to get students acquainted with the profession and begin networking with the members.
You can start off finding one of these organizations by doing a simple internet search of the profession you're interested in. Spend some time browsing different organizations' web sites and see which ones interest you enough to actually attend an event and possibly join. I'm confident that if you join a professional association as a student you will not regret it!
**P.S. - another great place to start looking for a professional association may be the pre-professional groups on campus such as Pre-Law, Pre-Med, etc.
Last week of classes!
A view from beneath the arch at Brookings, 1943. In honor of it snowing today. Good luck with the end of classes and finals!Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Networking with friends?
I think networking ends up sounding a lot harder than it is, like the other CPs have said before me, it can really be pretty easy. Also, the great part about networking is you may already be doing it without realizing it! The other weekend I was hanging out with friends and we were 
talking about one friend’s recent job offer. Someone asked me what I was planning on doing next year and I mentioned that I was interested in working at an art museum or a non-profit. One friend said that he had an aunt that worked at a non-profit in Chicago and she would be more than happy to answer any questions I might have about what it’s like to work in her field. He is going to contact her first and then give me her email so that I could set up an informational interview with her (this is usually a good idea so you can avoid looking like a big creep). Anyway, even I was really surprised how easy it was to find someone in a field I am interested in who could answer some questions. Ask around, you’d be surprised who knows who and how willing people are to offer the phone numbers and emails of connections!
talking about one friend’s recent job offer. Someone asked me what I was planning on doing next year and I mentioned that I was interested in working at an art museum or a non-profit. One friend said that he had an aunt that worked at a non-profit in Chicago and she would be more than happy to answer any questions I might have about what it’s like to work in her field. He is going to contact her first and then give me her email so that I could set up an informational interview with her (this is usually a good idea so you can avoid looking like a big creep). Anyway, even I was really surprised how easy it was to find someone in a field I am interested in who could answer some questions. Ask around, you’d be surprised who knows who and how willing people are to offer the phone numbers and emails of connections! 
Note: At Informational Interviews people are usually MORE than willing to talk about themselves so getting the contact information and setting up a time might be the hardest part!
Monday, December 3, 2007
But what if my parents can't help me network?
Looking at Dan's post ("A networking experience, or two, or three..."), I'm amazed. Wow for him having contacts and using them to the fullest! But what about those of us whose parents aren't in industries where we want to be?
My parents are a real estate broker and a school-teacher. I didn't really see myself in those areas. My sophomore year, I wanted to work for a non-profit somehow related to Japan, and I was a little confused as to how to begin.
Sometimes if you just talk to people and tell them what you're interested in, even if you don't think they'll have contacts, they'll come up with the best ideas or people to talk to. And almost everybody is willing to help, because almost everybody has been in your shoes, and they wish that someone would have helped them out while they were looking. So don't feel bad talking about it! It's just a conversation.
Katie
My parents are a real estate broker and a school-teacher. I didn't really see myself in those areas. My sophomore year, I wanted to work for a non-profit somehow related to Japan, and I was a little confused as to how to begin.
I had a meeting with one of my Japanese professors regarding something else entirely, and ended up mentioning my internship search in an off-handed way. My professor put me in touch with the Japan-America Society of St. Louis. Since I'm from Chicago, that wasn't going to work out even if they did have internships available (unpaid internship in a city where I have to pay for housing, food and transportation? Nightmare. That was before the Career Center offered stipends for unpaid internships). I called them up anyway, and mentioned that I was looking for an internship and was from Chicago, and the people at the Japan-America Society in St. Louis gave me the contacts of their Chicagoan chapter counterparts on the spot. Luckily, the Chicago chapter was looking for interns, and voila! my internship materialized. It was a beautiful feeling.
Sometimes if you just talk to people and tell them what you're interested in, even if you don't think they'll have contacts, they'll come up with the best ideas or people to talk to. And almost everybody is willing to help, because almost everybody has been in your shoes, and they wish that someone would have helped them out while they were looking. So don't feel bad talking about it! It's just a conversation.
Katie
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A networking experience, or two, or three...
So I feel like it would be great to see a couple of networking moments as they happen. But since I cant post a video of my past, I guess I'll settle for just telling you how my experiences went- both good and bad.
My first experience really highlights how far networking can take you- and it all starts with my father. My father talked to his best friend about the fact that I was looking for an internship. In turn, my father's friend knew someone who needed interns. After calling him, it turns out he was looking for full time students, but he knew of someone who typically needs interns. This fourth guy had just recently filled his last position for interns but did know of a fifth guy. This fifth guy also turned out to be an Israeli general working on a joint defense project with the Air Force. We talked a few times, but in the end I did not quite have the skills needed for the position.
So in the end, five people down the line, I nearly ended up working on a military defense project for the summer (and paid too!). I was amazed at how friendly people were.
About two years ago now, my father talked with an acquaintance of his that he hadnt seen in a while. The acquaintance asked my father if he knew of anyone to fill an internship for that upcoming summer. Of course, my dad suggested I call. After only a brief discussion, I ended up with an internship for the summer. Quick, easy, and 15 minutes of networking turned into a great summer internship. As a side note, that experience helped me acquire my next internship this past summer. So in reality, two internships for a 15 minute networking phone call.
A little networking goes a long way.
My first experience really highlights how far networking can take you- and it all starts with my father. My father talked to his best friend about the fact that I was looking for an internship. In turn, my father's friend knew someone who needed interns. After calling him, it turns out he was looking for full time students, but he knew of someone who typically needs interns. This fourth guy had just recently filled his last position for interns but did know of a fifth guy. This fifth guy also turned out to be an Israeli general working on a joint defense project with the Air Force. We talked a few times, but in the end I did not quite have the skills needed for the position.
So in the end, five people down the line, I nearly ended up working on a military defense project for the summer (and paid too!). I was amazed at how friendly people were.
About two years ago now, my father talked with an acquaintance of his that he hadnt seen in a while. The acquaintance asked my father if he knew of anyone to fill an internship for that upcoming summer. Of course, my dad suggested I call. After only a brief discussion, I ended up with an internship for the summer. Quick, easy, and 15 minutes of networking turned into a great summer internship. As a side note, that experience helped me acquire my next internship this past summer. So in reality, two internships for a 15 minute networking phone call.
A little networking goes a long way.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Networking- It’s Just Talkin’ to People
Networking. Some think of it as schmoozing or kissing up, but really it’s just having a conversation with someone. It’s being at those family friends’ holiday parties and actually talking to the adults and not playing with their parents in your search for companionship.
That old guy with the way oversized glasses and a few strands of hair left in his comb over, yeah he could actually be pretty interesting and knowledgeable; hard to believe, I know.
-Be interested in the conversation and try to learn about the person, their career, and their company. DON’T ask for a job in the first 30 seconds of a conversation!
What’s next? After speaking with someone if you feel comfortable doing so and that it is appropriate you could ask several things, such as for their business card, if he/she knows of any job openings, or for an informational interview.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Getting your foot in the door. . .
Hey everyone,
I'm Natalie, a senior Spanish major and Biology minor looking to go to dental school next fall. Applying to dental schools share many of the same trials and tribulations as obtaining a job or an internship. Resumes/applications float amongst the masses all trying to compete for the same spot/position. I have found one sure fire way to make an application/resume stand out above the rest: Networking! It a shock, but life after the undergrad years is a whole new ballgame. Often, the majority of the people are just as smart as you with many similar experiences that make them as qualified or even more qualified for whatever you are applying for. A helpful way to get your foot in the door is by knowing someone on the inside. It is a very powerful thing to mention a person's name in a cover letter as a reason why you would like a job, an
internship, or in my case a certain dental school. It makes your application pieces more personal and shows that you have really taken the time to investigate the company/school. Also, many jobs are never posted, so knowing people to let you know about these hidden jobs are the only way of ever applying. Approximately 80% of jobs are found through networking; clearly it's a great thing to get started doing.
However, networking is a skill. One has to know where to encounter people that can help them get where they want to be. The Career Center can help with its many activities such as the "Meet the Companies" sessions, "Lunch with a Pro" series, and "Road Shows" trips. You can even network by yourself with the help of career fairs, informational interviews, volunteering within your field, and professional associations. I've personally found it helpful to contact the Washu Dental Alumni Association, volunteer in the dental field, and tour dental schools. Also, your personality and how you present yourself is very important when networking. Being personable, down to earth, and just generably likable can get a person very far in life, with jobs, internships, and post bacclaurate schools. One way to see how your personality comes across to other people is through the mock interviews that the Career Center offers. It's a lot to keep in mind, but networking is very useful for getting to the next step of your career goal.
I'm Natalie, a senior Spanish major and Biology minor looking to go to dental school next fall. Applying to dental schools share many of the same trials and tribulations as obtaining a job or an internship. Resumes/applications float amongst the masses all trying to compete for the same spot/position. I have found one sure fire way to make an application/resume stand out above the rest: Networking! It a shock, but life after the undergrad years is a whole new ballgame. Often, the majority of the people are just as smart as you with many similar experiences that make them as qualified or even more qualified for whatever you are applying for. A helpful way to get your foot in the door is by knowing someone on the inside. It is a very powerful thing to mention a person's name in a cover letter as a reason why you would like a job, an
internship, or in my case a certain dental school. It makes your application pieces more personal and shows that you have really taken the time to investigate the company/school. Also, many jobs are never posted, so knowing people to let you know about these hidden jobs are the only way of ever applying. Approximately 80% of jobs are found through networking; clearly it's a great thing to get started doing.However, networking is a skill. One has to know where to encounter people that can help them get where they want to be. The Career Center can help with its many activities such as the "Meet the Companies" sessions, "Lunch with a Pro" series, and "Road Shows" trips. You can even network by yourself with the help of career fairs, informational interviews, volunteering within your field, and professional associations. I've personally found it helpful to contact the Washu Dental Alumni Association, volunteer in the dental field, and tour dental schools. Also, your personality and how you present yourself is very important when networking. Being personable, down to earth, and just generably likable can get a person very far in life, with jobs, internships, and post bacclaurate schools. One way to see how your personality comes across to other people is through the mock interviews that the Career Center offers. It's a lot to keep in mind, but networking is very useful for getting to the next step of your career goal.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Hi Everyone!
I'm Shelly and one of the other Career Peers at the Career Center. It's been a pretty busy semester so far, with classes and job searches. I think the most important thing I've been trying to figure out is what exactly I want to do exactly with my life, and that sometimes changes everyday. I have so many interests, ranging from healthcare, consulting, finance, marketing, and food sciences. I always see these cool and interesting jobs on eRecruiting and everytime I talk to a recruiter, either at information sessions, job fairs, or interviews, I get excited about the positions offered! I'd love to work in Chicago, but there are definitely times when I dream about working in cool places like London, Hong Kong, Alaska (bear hunting, anyone?), and everywhere in between.
I think the main thing I've learned so far is just to be open minded to all opportunities and you never know what you'll end up loving! It's always great to talk to recruiters and Wash U alum and ask them about their own career paths. And, as always, the Career Center is here to help in anyway we can! Good luck :)
I'm Shelly and one of the other Career Peers at the Career Center. It's been a pretty busy semester so far, with classes and job searches. I think the most important thing I've been trying to figure out is what exactly I want to do exactly with my life, and that sometimes changes everyday. I have so many interests, ranging from healthcare, consulting, finance, marketing, and food sciences. I always see these cool and interesting jobs on eRecruiting and everytime I talk to a recruiter, either at information sessions, job fairs, or interviews, I get excited about the positions offered! I'd love to work in Chicago, but there are definitely times when I dream about working in cool places like London, Hong Kong, Alaska (bear hunting, anyone?), and everywhere in between.
I think the main thing I've learned so far is just to be open minded to all opportunities and you never know what you'll end up loving! It's always great to talk to recruiters and Wash U alum and ask them about their own career paths. And, as always, the Career Center is here to help in anyway we can! Good luck :)Friday, November 9, 2007
A slightly different path
When I first took a career assessment test at The Career Center when I was a freshman, the top job it thought I should consider was "Catholic priest and/or Rabbi". I was a little disappointed, to be honest. I had come looking for direction, and this test basically told me to go and join a convent. Great.
Fastforward to now, 4 years later. I've graduated from WashU with a major in Japanese. Having spent a year in Japan, however, I'm pretty sure that I don't want to live there, but I'm not fluent enough to use my language skills in a professional setting here in the US. This puts me in a bit of a bind in terms of finding a job directly related to my major. By the time graduation was nearing, I didn't have any solutions to this problem, and I was beginning to panic. It was time to think "outside the box" (nooooooo!).
Thankfully, I got a job at The Career Center working as Career Development Fellow, a one year position doing student group outreach on campus. This satisfies my primary career-related urges: helping people, giving advice, and having lots of contact with others (all things that would have made me a darn good priest, if only I weren't so attached to being female) AND gives me time to plan my next step, with lots of help and support if I need it.
And my next step is this: I'm applying to graduate school to study creative writing and become an English teacher, something my friends have always teased me was my kharmic fate while I always insisted that my past lives couldn't have screwed up that bad. But now I'm thinking maybe they were right. I'll fulfill all my career-related urges, and get to play with language. What could be better?
Oh, yeah... not having to write a personal statement. Ah, well. If you need any help with a resume or cover letter (or personal statement!) feel free to stop on by. Oh, and did I mention? I took another career assessment test this summer. This one told me I should consider becoming either a teacher or a career counselor. Guess I'm in the right place :)
~Katie, cdf
Fastforward to now, 4 years later. I've graduated from WashU with a major in Japanese. Having spent a year in Japan, however, I'm pretty sure that I don't want to live there, but I'm not fluent enough to use my language skills in a professional setting here in the US. This puts me in a bit of a bind in terms of finding a job directly related to my major. By the time graduation was nearing, I didn't have any solutions to this problem, and I was beginning to panic. It was time to think "outside the box" (nooooooo!).
Thankfully, I got a job at The Career Center working as Career Development Fellow, a one year position doing student group outreach on campus. This satisfies my primary career-related urges: helping people, giving advice, and having lots of contact with others (all things that would have made me a darn good priest, if only I weren't so attached to being female) AND gives me time to plan my next step, with lots of help and support if I need it.
And my next step is this: I'm applying to graduate school to study creative writing and become an English teacher, something my friends have always teased me was my kharmic fate while I always insisted that my past lives couldn't have screwed up that bad. But now I'm thinking maybe they were right. I'll fulfill all my career-related urges, and get to play with language. What could be better?
Oh, yeah... not having to write a personal statement. Ah, well. If you need any help with a resume or cover letter (or personal statement!) feel free to stop on by. Oh, and did I mention? I took another career assessment test this summer. This one told me I should consider becoming either a teacher or a career counselor. Guess I'm in the right place :)
~Katie, cdf
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Rejection
Last week, I was rejected for a job with Boeing.
Normally, I would feel let down by such a failure, try to understand why Boeing didn't think I was good enough, and rationalize to myself that I really am a good person and it was Boeing's loss and not mine (essentially my same reaction to being rejected by girls.)
However, last week when I received that "job opening has been filled" email, I brushed it aside. The reason: that job was a summer internship for last summer, and I applied for it about 6 months ago. In the past six months, I have probably been rejected by Boeing for a dozen different internships--most of the rejections coming in June and July when I was already working somewhere else.
Getting into a job or internship is a fickle process. From my experience, it is a far cry from the straightforward college admissions process that everyone at WashU should be familiar with. Companies do not send out brochures or those little CD's the size of business cards to students with high PSAT scores. Companies do not have January 15 deadlines. Companies do not wait list the borderline applicants. What does it take to land a job? Well...I'm going to leave that for the other Career Peers and my future posts. If you really want to know, just drop on by Umrath Hall and visit with one of us or an advisor (basically Career Peers in grownup form).
So, I should probably say who I am. Besides being a Career Peer with WashU's Career Center, I'm a senior mechanical engineering student from Utah, and I like to gripe about Boeing.
-Dave
Normally, I would feel let down by such a failure, try to understand why Boeing didn't think I was good enough, and rationalize to myself that I really am a good person and it was Boeing's loss and not mine (essentially my same reaction to being rejected by girls.)
However, last week when I received that "job opening has been filled" email, I brushed it aside. The reason: that job was a summer internship for last summer, and I applied for it about 6 months ago. In the past six months, I have probably been rejected by Boeing for a dozen different internships--most of the rejections coming in June and July when I was already working somewhere else.
Getting into a job or internship is a fickle process. From my experience, it is a far cry from the straightforward college admissions process that everyone at WashU should be familiar with. Companies do not send out brochures or those little CD's the size of business cards to students with high PSAT scores. Companies do not have January 15 deadlines. Companies do not wait list the borderline applicants. What does it take to land a job? Well...I'm going to leave that for the other Career Peers and my future posts. If you really want to know, just drop on by Umrath Hall and visit with one of us or an advisor (basically Career Peers in grownup form).
So, I should probably say who I am. Besides being a Career Peer with WashU's Career Center, I'm a senior mechanical engineering student from Utah, and I like to gripe about Boeing.
-Dave
Monday, November 5, 2007
Effective Search Strategies
Hi fellow students! My name is Chris and I am one of the Career Peers here at WashU. I am currently in my fourth year of a five year 3/2 BS/MBA program. I have spent the past three years studying Mechanical Engineering. However, I put all of that on hold at the beginning of this year to start my MBA education (no concentration just yet) and I will complete both at the end of next year. In the meantime, I am trying to learn as much about working in the business world as I possibly can by seeking a summer internship as a consultant.
Fortunately, I have been able to plan my internship search based on lessons I have learned over the past two years:
START EARLY. It is never too early to start searching for an internship.
USE THE CAREER CENTER. Even if you have no idea what you want to do, there are a number of resources that can assess your strengths and interests. If you think you know what you are looking for, a peer or advisor can help you refine your search.
BE ACTIVE. Job listings change daily. Check eRecruiting frequently to stay aware of what is available. Also, your resume should be a dynamic document that you regularly update.
NETWORK. Whether you attend a job fair, a company information session, or a Career Center workshop, use the opportunity to develop a list of contacts who can help you learn more about the professional world.
STAY POSITIVE. You are not always going to get every opportunity you apply for, but the very worst thing that can happen is that you learn a lesson and become a stronger candidate in the process. You never know what you are capable of unless you try for it.
FOLLOW UP. Whether you are following up an application or an introduction, doing so solidifies your network, makes you more memorable, and ensures that contacts have everything they need.
Good luck in your own searches and by all means, let us know if we can help!
Fortunately, I have been able to plan my internship search based on lessons I have learned over the past two years:
START EARLY. It is never too early to start searching for an internship.
USE THE CAREER CENTER. Even if you have no idea what you want to do, there are a number of resources that can assess your strengths and interests. If you think you know what you are looking for, a peer or advisor can help you refine your search.
BE ACTIVE. Job listings change daily. Check eRecruiting frequently to stay aware of what is available. Also, your resume should be a dynamic document that you regularly update.
NETWORK. Whether you attend a job fair, a company information session, or a Career Center workshop, use the opportunity to develop a list of contacts who can help you learn more about the professional world.
STAY POSITIVE. You are not always going to get every opportunity you apply for, but the very worst thing that can happen is that you learn a lesson and become a stronger candidate in the process. You never know what you are capable of unless you try for it.
FOLLOW UP. Whether you are following up an application or an introduction, doing so solidifies your network, makes you more memorable, and ensures that contacts have everything they need.
Good luck in your own searches and by all means, let us know if we can help!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Hey Reader!
My name is Sarah, I’m originally from Columbus, Ohio. I’m a senior in Arts and Sciences majoring in the all but extinct Social Thought and Analysis program. I will also graduate with a minor in Fine Art. As you might imagine, with this combo I get a lot of the really fun “OOOhh, and what ARE you planning on doing with that?” questions. Besides finding amusing ways to circumvent these questions, I also really enjoy music, reading, biking, and traveling.
As far as next year, I’ve decided that I would love to go to grad school eventually, but for the time being I’m a little “schooled out”, I’m sure many of you can sympathize. I also decided to take some time off pre-grad school so I can make sure I’m going in the right direction before I commit to any specific grad study.
So far I think my main interest is in working in the non-profit sector, possibly in the DC area. Many of these jobs don’t hire until the spring so for now I’m just trying to wait it out and get a target list of some organizations in order so I can attempt to avoid answering the aforementioned question by saying “yep, probably nothing”.
I’ll keep you updated, but until then, good luck in your own internship/life/major/summer employment/job searches!
-Sarah
My name is Sarah, I’m originally from Columbus, Ohio. I’m a senior in Arts and Sciences majoring in the all but extinct Social Thought and Analysis program. I will also graduate with a minor in Fine Art. As you might imagine, with this combo I get a lot of the really fun “OOOhh, and what ARE you planning on doing with that?” questions. Besides finding amusing ways to circumvent these questions, I also really enjoy music, reading, biking, and traveling.
As far as next year, I’ve decided that I would love to go to grad school eventually, but for the time being I’m a little “schooled out”, I’m sure many of you can sympathize. I also decided to take some time off pre-grad school so I can make sure I’m going in the right direction before I commit to any specific grad study.
So far I think my main interest is in working in the non-profit sector, possibly in the DC area. Many of these jobs don’t hire until the spring so for now I’m just trying to wait it out and get a target list of some organizations in order so I can attempt to avoid answering the aforementioned question by saying “yep, probably nothing”.
I’ll keep you updated, but until then, good luck in your own internship/life/major/summer employment/job searches!
-Sarah
Welcome Readers!!!
Greetings blog readers!! Welcome to the Career Center’s new blog! I hope you enjoy it and continue to visit and comment on the posts. I suppose I should introduce myself now : )
My name is Ashley and I’m a senior majoring Accounting with an unofficial minor in Organizational Behavior. Like many seniors, I am in the middle of trying to figure out what I want to do with my life after graduation. I used to want to do public accounting, which is essentially auditing. Then I wanted to work in Corporate Finance, which is ambiguous enough for me to not have to decide what I really want to do. But, recently I decided that I want to pursue a career in health care administration. I truly believe this is a great field to work in because not only are you able to work in a business atmosphere but you can also indirectly take part in curing and saving lives. I am by no means “doctor material” so I think this career path will allow me to use my business background in a health care oriented job. So, now I just need to decide if I want to attend a graduate program for a Masters in Health Care Administration (MHA) next Fall or if I want to work for a couple of years and then pursue graduate school? Just to be safe, I’m taking the GMAT next week. I figure worst case scenario, I don’t go to graduate school next year but I can use the scores for when I eventually decide to go. Fortunately, I also have some second round interviews scheduled with Eli Lilly, Abbott Laboratories, and Wells Fargo. So keep your fingers crossed that I get an offer from at least one of these. I’ll keep you posted on how the interviews go, how the GMAT went, and my decision on graduate school. Good luck with your respective job searches and please feel free to stop by Quick Questions at the Career Center on Wednesdays from 2-5pm if you want to chat with me.
Ashley
My name is Ashley and I’m a senior majoring Accounting with an unofficial minor in Organizational Behavior. Like many seniors, I am in the middle of trying to figure out what I want to do with my life after graduation. I used to want to do public accounting, which is essentially auditing. Then I wanted to work in Corporate Finance, which is ambiguous enough for me to not have to decide what I really want to do. But, recently I decided that I want to pursue a career in health care administration. I truly believe this is a great field to work in because not only are you able to work in a business atmosphere but you can also indirectly take part in curing and saving lives. I am by no means “doctor material” so I think this career path will allow me to use my business background in a health care oriented job. So, now I just need to decide if I want to attend a graduate program for a Masters in Health Care Administration (MHA) next Fall or if I want to work for a couple of years and then pursue graduate school? Just to be safe, I’m taking the GMAT next week. I figure worst case scenario, I don’t go to graduate school next year but I can use the scores for when I eventually decide to go. Fortunately, I also have some second round interviews scheduled with Eli Lilly, Abbott Laboratories, and Wells Fargo. So keep your fingers crossed that I get an offer from at least one of these. I’ll keep you posted on how the interviews go, how the GMAT went, and my decision on graduate school. Good luck with your respective job searches and please feel free to stop by Quick Questions at the Career Center on Wednesdays from 2-5pm if you want to chat with me.
Ashley
Friday, October 26, 2007
A fast start for Engineers
Hello all!
I'm Dan, a mechanical engineer (in a few short months) from Ohio. Having used e-recruiting last year to find and secure an internship, I knew it would be important to prepare myself for the early season of engineering jobs. So I started off by fulfilling the requirements of the Senior Prep Series (which is required to interview on campus). During my meeting, I found out that the season for many engineering and business jobs were already holding interviews.
So I started my job search by limiting my options and really thinking about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do after graduation. After some recent experiences in both large and small cities, I realized I wanted to live somewhere I could depend on a subway service or short car rides as transit for work. A few key cities came to mind- New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Saint Louis, LA and San Fransisco. About the same time I heard about an opportunity to work with a company for a two year rotation, at the end of which I would be better suited for management. Looking back on my experiences and what "work" I enjoyed the most, I decided this would be an excellent opportunity for me.
I looked through the e-recruiting listings for both the NSBE Career Fair as well as the Career Center's Career Fair to see what companies would be coming, as well as which of those companies offered similar programs.
Since then my search has been all about finding new companies to apply to, visiting information sessions, and completing applications (hopefully not forgetting them!). My life, with the addition of my school work, turned into a whirlwind of socializing, finding a job, and work- with little time left for sleep or rest.
Seems like the hectic life is starting to pay off as I'm now starting to receive offers to interview. I cant wait to get in there and start competing for these programs. Honestly I dont think I could accept any typical engineering job.
I'm Dan, a mechanical engineer (in a few short months) from Ohio. Having used e-recruiting last year to find and secure an internship, I knew it would be important to prepare myself for the early season of engineering jobs. So I started off by fulfilling the requirements of the Senior Prep Series (which is required to interview on campus). During my meeting, I found out that the season for many engineering and business jobs were already holding interviews.
So I started my job search by limiting my options and really thinking about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do after graduation. After some recent experiences in both large and small cities, I realized I wanted to live somewhere I could depend on a subway service or short car rides as transit for work. A few key cities came to mind- New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Saint Louis, LA and San Fransisco. About the same time I heard about an opportunity to work with a company for a two year rotation, at the end of which I would be better suited for management. Looking back on my experiences and what "work" I enjoyed the most, I decided this would be an excellent opportunity for me.
I looked through the e-recruiting listings for both the NSBE Career Fair as well as the Career Center's Career Fair to see what companies would be coming, as well as which of those companies offered similar programs.
Since then my search has been all about finding new companies to apply to, visiting information sessions, and completing applications (hopefully not forgetting them!). My life, with the addition of my school work, turned into a whirlwind of socializing, finding a job, and work- with little time left for sleep or rest.
Seems like the hectic life is starting to pay off as I'm now starting to receive offers to interview. I cant wait to get in there and start competing for these programs. Honestly I dont think I could accept any typical engineering job.
And we begin...
Hey everyone!!! Welcome to the Career Center’s blog.
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Carrie-Lynn, a senior majoring in Psychology and Anthropology. I’m from central Florida and let’s just say I need some “wide open spaces” and don’t plan on going back there after graduation. I love mountains and driving on a hot summer day with the windows down and a great song blasting on the radio.
So, what am I going to do after graduation? Great question. I’d like to know too. What I hope to do is work in the environmental field in a position that has a public policy aspect. I’ve started my job search process by creating a target list of different environmental organizations that I want to learn more about and contact to in hopes of conducting an informational interview with a staff member. I’ve set up a couple informational interviews and so currently, I am preparing for those.
I’m also looking for a job geographically, because as I mentioned earlier I love mountains, so I think I might enjoy ending up in Denver.
That’s about it right now. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
~CL
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Carrie-Lynn, a senior majoring in Psychology and Anthropology. I’m from central Florida and let’s just say I need some “wide open spaces” and don’t plan on going back there after graduation. I love mountains and driving on a hot summer day with the windows down and a great song blasting on the radio.
So, what am I going to do after graduation? Great question. I’d like to know too. What I hope to do is work in the environmental field in a position that has a public policy aspect. I’ve started my job search process by creating a target list of different environmental organizations that I want to learn more about and contact to in hopes of conducting an informational interview with a staff member. I’ve set up a couple informational interviews and so currently, I am preparing for those.
I’m also looking for a job geographically, because as I mentioned earlier I love mountains, so I think I might enjoy ending up in Denver.
That’s about it right now. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
~CL
Friday, October 12, 2007
An Introduction
Welcome to the Washington University Career Center's Blog, written by the WashU Career Peers. We'll share our personal experiences in the hope that they might inspire you on your own job and internship searches. You aren't alone!
As a reminder, we encourage you to come to 157 Umrath Hall from 12-8PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 12-5PM from Wednesday-Friday to ask a Quick Question about resumes and coverletters to our Career Peers; no appointment necessary. If that's not convenient for you, we also have Quick Questions from 1-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lopata 324. Just drop on by! Or, call our main office at 314-935-5930 to schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor. We're here to help.
As a reminder, we encourage you to come to 157 Umrath Hall from 12-8PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 12-5PM from Wednesday-Friday to ask a Quick Question about resumes and coverletters to our Career Peers; no appointment necessary. If that's not convenient for you, we also have Quick Questions from 1-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lopata 324. Just drop on by! Or, call our main office at 314-935-5930 to schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor. We're here to help.
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