So Long, Fair Well… But WAIT- I don’t have a job!

So this is it. The end has begun. As a senior graduating in a month, it’s hard to believe that 4 years have come… and now gone. Every opportunity to hangout with friends is precious and not taken for granted. It’s a semi-sweet time.

On the other hand, for more of us than you know, the question of, “what are you doing after graduation?” still looms with a big question mark for the answer. I’ve started getting creative with my response and saying it’s like a good movie, the climax can’t come too soon- the viewer must be kept in suspense.

Nevertheless, it is a little unsettling and frustrating when friends are landing jobs and looking for apartments near their graduate schools and you’re still writing cover letters.

Words to my fellow job-seekers-
1. Blueberry Hill tonight, 9:00pm- be there! (jk,jk,jk…)

2. The sun will come out tomorrow.
May is actually an artificial deadline. We have May 16th as the deadline because that’s when we graduate- companies don’t have this deadline and will be hiring on May 17th (hard to believe, I know!)

3. Meet face-to-face! If you’re doing informational interviews- FORGET the phone!! I know, I know- it’s far away, etc. Do all in your power to meet with people in person.

4.Keep knocking. So have you really followed up with everyone you’ve contacted? Check in with the ones you haven’t contacted in a couple of weeks or a month.

5. Keep your chin up! Set your eyes on your goal and go for it.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Seniors, graduation is now upon us, but don't think that since you are leaving campus you have to leave behind all the services of the Career Center. It's true, there will be no more late nights at Bears Den, our wustl email addresses will expire, and the ID cards won't let us into anything anymore, but a positive thing is that the Career Center will always be available to you even after you graduate. Imagine, 10 years down the line, you realize that you truely hate your job and want to switch careers. You can come back to the Career Center and retake (or take for the 1st time) a career assesment test to help guide you in your career switch. Maybe you love your job, but for some reason after 2 years you are laid off. You can still make an advising appointment to talk about how to get another job in that sector or take a look at what E-recruiting has to offer. Perhaps it's 2030 and you need help with your interviewing skills because it's been awhile since the last one you did. Make a trip back to St. Louis in order to participate in a mock interview or read books about interviewing in the library. Yes, class of 2008, we will be gone after graduation on May 16th but the Career Center will never forget us.

Looking Back

The other day, one of my fellow career peers asked me "where did the last four years go?" So I started thining about where all of my time went and just how enjoyable it all has been. I also thought about how I'll be working in Chicago next year and thinking back through all of the tiny experiences that brought me to that point.

Each step I took with the Career Center ultimately, and unknowingly, brought me one step closer to my goal of a good job upon graduation. Simple information sessions about resumes and cover letters helped me prepare for the next steps, which in turn led me to prepare far better than I ever imagined. Ultimately, the preparation and experience (both good and bad) helped me figure out what I want and search it out.

Those of you reading this blog should realize by now that all of us career peers utilized the Career Center to the fullest in order to help find what we desire for post graduation plans. In the same way, each of you should be finding the opportunities offered by the career center which will help you the most. For some of you, only a few things may help, but those few things may be the difference between getting what you want and watching it dissapear in front of you.

Thoughts of a Senior

I'll admit that I don't have a whole lot to say about work (academic or professional) right now. The advice that I will give is to assume a similar mentality every once in a a while. Somebody just asked me if my work was winding down or if I was going to be busy through the end of the year. I told her that I wasn't sure if my work was getting easier or if I had just reevaluated my priorities, but that I was hoping to have as relaxing and enjoyable a month as I imagined possible.

The weather is starting to get nice, Thurtene Carnival is right around the corner, and graduation is shortly after that. I have by no means ignored my studies or my commitments to learning, but I have reminded myself that the opportunities to go outside and play softball, bike through Forest Park, or build an enormous facade with my close friends are numbered. In just over one month I will be starting my summer internship, surrounded by complete strangers. I am excited for the opportunity but I'm also commited to enjoying my limited time here.

For those of you who are seeking summer positions, do not worry! There are still opportunities available and it is always within your power to create opportunities (see older posts about using the Book of Lists or about networking, for example). A number of engineering firms, including bioMerieux, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Caterpillar are all looking for students. Other industry's are still recruiting as well! Check eRecruiting for complete listings.

Whether you are looking for a position or not, don't forget to take some time to enjoy yourself!