A Reminder:

The other day in our Career Peer meeting, April M. said something that every Wash. U. student absolutely needs to remember: we are all talented, are receiving a great education, and as such,are very well off, even though we are immersed in an unrealistically competitive environment. As a Wash. U. student, you have more going for you than you might think. One of those things is the Career Center!

The job/internship is fraught with anxiety and fear for some, but needn't be. Sure, there are lots of things to tackle, like getting your resume in good shape, writing a cover letter, and learning interviewing and networking skills. However, there are some easy and small steps you can take to make these tasks manageable.

For instance, many students come into quick questions with cover letters and resumes that need some work. That's perfectly fine. In fact, that's great! Nobody is born knowing how to construct a good resume or cover letter. These are somewhat arcane skills that must be learned, and there is no better place to start than the Career Center.

The Moral of the Story is this: fear not, you are smart, motivated and ambitious. You will not always be competing against the likes of Wash. U. students, and even if you are, once you take a few simple steps to prepare, you'll knock their socks off.

Architecture Career Fair

Designers,

It's that time of year!  Architecture firms from around the country are coming to Wash U soon.  It's now your chance to meet them face-to-face!  A little nerve-racked, but looking for summeror full-time employment?  We can help.

Do this:

1. Visit our Architecture Portfolio & Resume Review session from 6-8pm tomorrow (Wed. 2/11) in Givens Hall.

2. Stop by the Architecture How to Work a Career Fair session from 12-1pm on 2/17 in Givens Hall

3. Come to the Career Fair on February 25th from 5:30-8:30 in givens Hall.  Make sure to know which companies you would like to meet before you come.

Good Luck!

Things to Consider as You Move Forward with Your Job/Internship Search

Try using CAREERlink in other ways than just looking for available positions. Use it to build your target list by searching for companies by industry and city, or to get names of hiring managers at companies you are interested in. Don’t forget that there are other career networks such as CareerBuilder, Monster, and HotJobs. Check them out and post your resume. Just remember where you post it (you don’t want your boss finding it five years from now and getting the wrong idea). Also keep in mind that privacy (or lack there of) could be an issue. Don’t include your address and home phone number—e-mail and cell number should suffice.

Spend extra time tapping into the hidden job market. You are now competing with more people for the advertised jobs. So think of ways to find the unadvertised jobs—this means building your network. Ask friends, friends’ friends, friends’ parents, parents’ friends, professors, alumni, career advisors—you get the point—if they know anyone who does what you are interested in. Finding the contacts is not the hard part…that hard part is actually doing something about it once you find them.

If you are a senior, consider applying for an internship—it could buy you more time to look for a job. It could also help you get your feet wet if you have never actually done anything related to field you want to work in. After the summer, they may just hire you full time!

As you continue with your job search remember to stay organized. Keep track of the companies you apply to, the materials you send them, and approaching deadlines. Also keep in mind that just because you applied doesn’t mean your work is done. If you have not heard back from the company contact the hiring manager. Don’t let an opportunity slip by because of disorganization or laziness.

Keep up the hard work!

Follow up correspondence

Sending a thank-you letter may seem obvious, something your mother drilled into your head as a child when learning proper etiquette, but when it comes to landing a job it can make all the difference. Polls have shown that about 50% of applicants do not send a thank-you note or follow-up email after an interview. This form of correspondence is not just a means of showing appreciation, but is also an opportunity to rehash important skills and to emphasize why you are a great fit for the company. With that being said, here are some helpful hints to writing a great follow-up letter.

• The letter will have a similar format to a cover letter and you can bring it to Quick Questions for a review.
• Remember to address it to the individual you interacted with.
  
• You should begin with something that will catch the employer's eye or remind them about your interview, such as what aspect you enjoyed most about talking to them.
• If you forgot to mention an important qualification, this is the opportunity to add it in.
• Close with a statement of appreciation and hope for the future.
  
• Some FAQs I found helpful can be found here http://www.quintcareers.com/thank_you_letters.html
  

Standing Out

As we all know, right now, there are a lot of people looking for jobs, and not as many jobs out there. What can you do to stand out to recruiters?

The number one most important thing is to show your interest! Do this by preparing well for career fairs and interviews by researching the company.

• Know current events affecting the company (e.g., new legislation, new acquisitions/mergers).
• Be prepared with 3 questions you can ask the recruiter to show that you've done your homework and that you know that you are interested in the company. Make these questions about topics that you can't find the answer to on their website. Ask about how a new current event is affecting them. Ask about the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of the job. Ask about community service projects they've worked on.
• If you've been networking and know some people in the company, don't be afraid to drop some names (don't be obnoxious though!)

Be friendly, energetic, and show confidence!

• Greet the recruiter with a firm handshake
• Keep a smile on your face
• Be excited and animated when you discuss your past experiences!
• Mock interviews and public speaking workshops can help with this

Show them what's unique about you

• Consider putting a brief "Interests" section on your resume. This is where you can talk about your passion for rockclimbing or jazz music. These can be great conversations starters and will make the recruiter remember you.
• If you have a personal website that looks professional that showcases more of your skills (e.g., artwork, graphic design, past papers and projects) put the link on your resume.

Follow up.

• Send a thank you card after interviews
• If a few weeks have passed and you haven't heard back, it's okay to call them on the phone to check on the status and reiterate your interest
• To keep in contact with past employers, people you've had informational interviews with, and other people in your network, you can send cards on non-denominational holidays (e.g., New Years, Fourth of July) to keep in touch

Here are some helpful links:

• http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/college/?article=jobfaircrowd
• http://www.talentzoo.com/news.php?articleID=13
• http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/jobhunt/resume/2002-11-13-online-recruiters_x.htm

Economic Crisis or Opportunity in Unexplored Places?

Now that campus is icing over for the winter and snow continues to coat the streets, many of us start to think about relocating to a warmer climate. Sure, travel is a nice thought at this time of year, but with the economic downturn many people assume it is out of the question, especially with the lack of stability in the job market. But graduating seniors searching for jobs or looking for a transitional year, our country’s financial crisis is also an opportunity to work abroad in countries where the cost of living is much cheaper. Don’t know where to start looking? Try some of the following sites:

www.goingglobal.com
www.couchsurfing.com
www.unitedplanet.org
www.bunac.org.uk

Happy Times are here again.....it's finally BREAK!!!!

So I just got out of my last final of the semester and let me tell you I am literally sitting on Cloud 9 right now. And though I'm not sure how great I did on my finals I am more excited about this break than I have been about any break as of late. I do have to say that though I will be sitting around in my pjs for the next few days not doing anything, I will devote some of my break to my Job Search and you should too. For all of you underclassmen, looking for internships over break is really the best thing to do being that you have no work or finals distracting you. Company representatives are usually in the office for at least a portion of our three weeks of heaven, so if you can't find anything online that interests you, call the company that you would really like to work for! No one ever does that, so it'll definitely make you shine like the bright star that I already know that you are! For you overachievers, if you already know what you're doing this summer, use break to create some contacts by informational interviewing! They're not job interviews they're really just conversations that allow you to learn more about the jobs that you could potentially do, and if you have already been hired to work for a company you must already know someone to interview! It's never to late or early to informational interview, I mean we're all just trying to find our place in the world and I find that informational interviewing only makes that process easier! Seniors, if you don't have a job yet, don't panic!!!! It's still really early, but informational interviewing this break just might change that for you. So get out of bed one day during break, get on Careerlink and look for companies that interest you and call the contact and ask if they could possibly hook you up with someone who does what you want to do one day. Then go watch cartoons!

Study Break Anyone?

Hey Architecture Students!

Getting frustrated with studio?  Want to take a break?  Stop in and visit the Career Peers at the Career Center in the DUC.

I’m a Junior in the College of Architecture and as I get ready to apply for summer internships, I’m thinking about you.  Don’t forget that the winter is when many firms are holding interviews for their most competitive summer positions.  Pick your portfolio up off the shelf, revise your resume, and begin the job search process.  With our help, it’ll be a breeze.

Do this: Begin by taking a look at your past semesters’ portfolios and grab the best examples of your work.  The hard part is already done for you: you’ve already documented your models and drawings!  Employers are looking for a small sampling of your work to get an idea of who you are.  Create a simple layout for your portfolio, save, and close.

Next, open up your résumé and add your most recent achievements.  Need help creating one?  Visit our website and take a peek at our design templates: careers.wustl.edu.  One you’ve taken a stab, print it out and visit us for some further advice. 

Once you’ve compiled all of your information, start considering which jobs you’d like to apply for.  Do you or your parents know any architects back home?  Have you heard about a job through email, or the Internet?  Have you checked out CareerLink for job postings?  Need any other help with you job search, come ask us!

Once you’ve found some internships you’re interested in, make contact with the firm, and take it from there.  Remember, if you have any questions direct them our way.

See, that’s not too difficult, right? 

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break! But don't take a break from networking! Thanksgiving gatherings may be the perfect time to meet friends of family and make new connections. Also, don't forget to chat it up while standing in the long lines outside the mall on Friday.

Have a nice Turkey Day!