Tag Archives: Casey Brown

Career Services To Host “First-Ever” All-Princeton Resource Fair for Summer Internships & Funding

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As soon as you set foot on Princeton’s campus, hundreds of summer opportunities are available to you —study abroad programs, summer internships, summer fellowships, and more. There are so many opportunities and so many paths to consider. Where do you start?

Navigating campus resources can be overwhelming. The good news is that an event is fast approaching where you’ll be able learn about a variety of Princeton resources for internships — all in one place. On November 16th, Career Services will be hosting the All-Princeton Resource Fair for Summer Internships & Funding.   From 1-4 pm, Frist Lower Level will turn into your “one-stop smorgasbord” for internship opportunities and funding options.

“This fair is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the different internship programs and funding options available specifically to Princeton students,” said Jennifer Prudencio, Assistant Director of Internships and Career Counseling and fair manager.

“Departments and programs attending will together represent hundreds of intern positions!” The fair will include opportunities as diverse as Princeton’s many departments. “Programs will be representing areas such as nonprofit/public service, arts, education, entertainment, international affairs, entrepreneurship, technology, research, finance, and environment, to name a few,” said Prudencio.

Participating departments and programs (so far) include: Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Center for African-American Studies (CAAS), Davis International Center, Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, Pace Center for Civic Engagement Guggenheim Internships in Criminal Justice, Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS), Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW), Princeton Entertainment Internship Program, Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI), Princeton in Asia (PiA), Princeton University Office of the Executive Vice President, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton University German Summer Work Program, Princeton University Investment Company (PRINCO), Princeton University Program in Global Health and Health Policy, Princeton’s International Internship Program (IIP), Princeton-Blairstown Center, Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE), and the Woodrow Wilson School Undergraduate Program.

One of the advantages of internship fairs is their unique propensity to open up your options. As you wander among the many booths and chat with various representatives, you may just stumble on an opportunity that you never would have considered otherwise. “When I meet with students, I often get the question, “how do I narrow down my options while staying broad so that I don’t miss any opportunities?” said Prudencio. “Coming to this fair will help you do just that: learn about new fields or organizations that you may have not considered before.”

In addition, the fair will display many funding opportunities available through Princeton. “You will also learn about some funding resources for unpaid internships that you may secure on your own,” said Prudencio. “These applications are different from applying directly to an internship position.  Since many of them require that you secure an internship on your own, this can help you to really start thinking outside of the box!”

Representatives from the new student funding portal called Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE) will also be attending the fair. Students can learn about this new resource, which will help them navigate funding opportunities in one cohesive website.

As Prudencio stresses, there’s no time like the present to start planning for summer 2013. “Many of the applications are still in the midst of preparing to go live,” said Prudencio. “Deadlines for these programs and funding resources may begin as early as December, so this will help you plan well in advance…You can also learn about the application process and how to prepare your own application.”

Planning on attending? Prudencio explains how you should prepare. “You can visit the most up-to-date list of attending programs/departments on TigerTracks,” she said.

“Read about the program on their websites and come with questions. Imagine yourself preparing to apply for these programs – what would you like to know that you can ask in person? Areas to consider include preparing your application, understanding the program’s timeline, and learning about the internships themselves (organizations, benefits of participation, etc).”

Finally, you don’t have to break out the tux for this event. Casual or business casual is fine!

Welcome to Fall 2012!

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Welcome to fall 2012! Leaves are changing, the schoolwork has only just started to pile up, and the dining halls have already rolled out the pumpkin pie. Moreover, ‘tis the season to plan ahead. Consider this:

Imagine you’re a professor opening up your email. You start daydreaming about how you have more papers to grade than dollars of U.S. debt. Suddenly, you click on an email from one of your students: “Urgent: Recommendation Letter due Tomorrow.”

Talk about nightmare and a half. So, why not start thinking about jobs, internships, and graduate school now? “I wish I did” will be “Thank mercy, I already did!” Here’s five steps to get you off to a productive start.

Step 1: Find your big picture direction, find your groove. What makes you tick? What are your strengths? Are there specific issues that you want to see resolved by the time you’re 40? What can you do to achieve this? Do some self-searching here or here. Find your big picture direction through programs like Breakout Trips, Princeternships, or study abroad!

Step 2: Research jobs, internships, and fellowships now. That’s it, click on TigerTracks, go to UCAN, and attend info sessions and career fairs. Easier said than done? Here’s a secret: Google Calendar. I cannot stress this enough. Pencil in important dates, and you’ll get pop-ups to remind you the day before something is due, or ten minutes before an info session.

Step 3: Refine your resume. If you’re writing your resume go to Career Service’s page here. If you’re refining it, WetFeet gives you the insider tips here. And if you’re tired of spending your Saturday nights alone, sleepless, and toiling over your “Experience” section, save your loneliness for your love life and sign up to meet with a career counselor here. An extra pair of eyes will help you get a lot done in a short amount of time. More importantly, your social life will thank you.

Step 4: Fill in the missing pieces. You’re president of every student group on campus. But have you engaged in service? If not go here. You’ve taken Chinese for three years, but have you traveled abroad? If not, check this and this out. You’ve had a steady summer job—but have you held a job that will provide you with a professional recommendation? Go here. You’re doing great in your major, but have you applied for awards that will show your credibility? Just think: your marketability is like a Monet jigsaw puzzle—you might look great with the pieces you have, but a complete picture will look even better to employers and application boards.

Step 5: Relax! You’re almost there. And then check out some interview tips while you’re at it. To stay “chill” in the interview, get some practice. Career Services offers mock interviews. Come with your resume and a description of the jobs you may be interested in.

Are you ready for Career Fair 2012?

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Are you thinking….
Should I go to the career fair? I don’t know…I’m not a senior yet. How useful could it be?

VERY useful. Here’s the deal. This Friday over 116 employers will assemble in Dillon Gym to meet YOU and tell YOU about their organizations. If you’re interested in a full-time job, an internship, or a fellowship, the career fair is a great way to meet representatives of your prospective career or post-grad path. If you are a junior or senior, you probably already knew this. If you are a freshmen or sophomore, you may wonder if it is worth your time to go, or if it is too soon in your college career to speak with employers.

No matter what your class year, you are probably NOT thinking: “This is going to be a breeze.”

Why shouldn’t it? Sure, everyone’s in suits (including you!), but a formal environment doesn’t mean that this isn’t also a learning opportunity. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, this is a great event to attend to get a feel for various industries and to learn how to make a crisp first impression. If you’re nervous, here’s the remedy.

Just think: What does camping in the wilderness and going to a career fair have in common? Answer: You’ll be better off doing both if you’re prepared. 

Here are three ways to get the preparation you need to thrive, not just survive:

  1. Check out Career Fair tips here. There’s more that a little finesse involved in “working” the career fair. These tips will take you from just another student in the crowd to that student—the one on top of her/his game who makes an unforgettably sharp impression. That can—and will—be you!
  2. Research participating employers. TigerTracks has a list of all the employers you’ll meet. Pick some favorites, and do a good Google search. Then, plan some company-specific questions to get the conversation flowing. It will look good when employers see you’re curious AND that you know a thing or two about their companies. 
  3. Get feedback. Career Services is offering extended walk-ins from 2-5 pm every day this week until Thursday. Counselors will offer friendly, expert feedback on your resume and elevator pitch (the way you will introduce yourself to employers). If you’ve never been to a career fair before, this is an excellent opportunity to get prepared.

Okay, if you are thinking: “This isn’t for me. I enjoy curling up with a good textbook. I’m not a meet and greet type of person.“

I have two things to say to this. One, of course you are! You’re (clearly) smart, talented in your own ways, and, if the median person on campus is any indication, you’re really, really, ridiculously good looking. Two, in that case at least come for the LinkedIn Photo Booth. Career Services will be offering free professional headshots near the gym entrance. This is a great way to professionalize your LinkedIn profile and get rid of that mystery photo at the top of your page. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the fair—come early and come prepared!

It’s NOT Too Late to Land a Summer Internship!

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Does it seem like everyone has an internship this summer?  Your best friend, your boyfriend, your best friend’s boyfriend, your preceptor, your preceptor’s boyfriend…just about everyone, that is, except you. If this is the case, don’t give up hope!

Many summer internships aren’t secured until April or May. It’s not too late to find the internship that is the right fit for you. Stay focused,  search smart, and be bold. Here are some tips I found:

  1. A lot of jobs re-open applications right about now. A lot of employers, especially in publishing, media, and nonprofit, may not even begin hiring until the spring months. Check out http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/default.asp?gdsr=1&=0&jbdr=10. It has a selection of internships in media—all posted recently.
  2. Are you finding internship with expired deadlines? You can sort your search results by upcoming deadlines in TigerTracks and UCAN. When conducting your TigerTracks search, go to the top bar of your internship search results, put your mouse over “date posted” and click “Application deadline.” Or, go to UCAN and under “sort by:” at the top, select “deadline.” UCAN still has over 1,300 summer internships you can apply for in a variety of fields.
  3. As you might imagine, four times as many people apply for paid internships than for unpaid internships on Internships.com. If are still considering an unpaid internship, now might be a good time to apply. Here’s a link to some other advice on finding internships late in the game: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2011/05/04/its-not-too-late-to-find-a-summer-job-or-internship
  4. Keep a discerning eye. Watch out for bogus internships and stay focused on your goals. Try going to the pull-down tab at the top of the Career Services website and click on “Online Resources.” The “Specifically Internships” page aggregates internship search engines specific to your interests, industry, and preferred location. Backdoorjobs.com is one of the most interesting links listed. This site lists adventurous, short-term summer jobs, from safari guides in Alaska to International volunteer opportunities. Here’s a link to Career Service’s Online Resources, which is a good place to start: http://www.princeton.edu/career/about_us/online-resources/. And here’s a link on detecting a bogus internships: http://www.wetfeet.com/advice-tools/internships/how-to-identify-a-shady-internship.
  5. Don’t overlook networking as a way to tap into unadvertised or non-posted internships. Be sure to reach out to family, friends, alumni, and other professional contacts to explore potential opportunities they may be aware of. To search the Alumni Careers Network for alumni in your field of interest, click here.

Lastly, to pull your “just-in-time” strategy together, schedule an appointment to meet with a career counselor for personalized guidance.

Best of luck!

Break into Vault!

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Shhh…this resource is so good, you might not want to give it away. Of course, your efforts would be in vain, since this exclusive website is free for all Princeton students, faculty, and staff. Nevertheless, there’s a certain element of mystery as you traverse Vault, the Gringotts of job and internship search engines. So when I stumbled on Vault at the bottom of Career Services’ website, I was intrigued. I clicked on the link, set up a password, and found myself in one of the job search’s best-kept secrets.

Here are some of the perks:

The Guides: Vault’s website contains an eye-watering 80+ career guides on industries, employers, international opportunities, interviews/resumes, and other career topics. I thought I’d never find information on careers in music writing, my rather narrow field of choice. Did they ever have what I was looking for! From the creative side to the business side, possible interview questions, the inside scoop (will I really be fetching coffee?), pay rates, and job descriptions in the field. Also, check out Vault’s Guide to Top Internships, co-written by senior education editor and Princeton alumna Carolyn Wise.

The Search Engines: You can search by company, industry, profession, or filtering through job or internship databases. I decided to search professions and typed in “lawyer.” Vault came back with a list of “uppers” and “downers” as well as personality “matches” and “misses.”  Among the uppers were “high salaries” and “Large-firm perks such as firm retreats and free meals.” Sounds pretty nice. The downers told the other side: “long hours, high stress level, and high level of dissatisfaction.” Hmm…maybe I’ll keep looking.

Blog and Career Advice: From their Career Advice page to their blogs, Vault has information from every step of the way: the job search, on the job, career advancement, etc. The videos and blogs offer a nice, accessible alternative for students. Since signing up for Vault’s emails I now welcome the arrival of my weekly email with articles on topics like unpaid internships (very useful), cover letter mistakes (very useful), and office romance (not at all useful for me, but very interesting nonetheless!). I also read an article warning against using the exclamation point! …there I go again.

Other Inside Scoop: Do you want to what it’s like to work for a specific employer? Have you ever wondered how much you’ll make with your prospective job/company? Shhh…this is the secret part. Vault has a section all about Salaries and Reviews. I won’t tell you the reviews and rates that I looked up—check it out for yourself!

Pinterest for Career Advice and Inspiration!

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Fashion, food, art, books—and now career inspiration. For all the Pinterest fanatics out there, Career Services has started a Pinterest of its own with 8 different boards. Get the latest career info from interview tips and career advice to events and inspiration like this pin: “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.” These words of wisdom from Steve Jobs are enough to get me through a hard week…maybe even through midterms week.

Another one of my favorite boards is “Social Media & YOU!” which has cool infographics about how to create a professional online presence, how to use social media in your job search, and how recruiters use social media to find information about candidates.

Following Career Services on Pinterest is a great option if you:

  • Want to be notified about the latest eventsAre looking for inspiration to re-pin to your friends
  • Want interesting, visual tips about how to make a solid impression in the interview or at the job fair
  • Are interested in what your peers are doing to jump-start their careers
  • Want to browse visuals about the latest on social media and recruiting

Check it out at http://pinterest.com/princetoncareer/.

Princeton Focuses on Careers in the Public Good

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In my role as intern, I assist with the marketing of Career Services’ events.  Since I have an interest in the arts, I thought I would ask Abbey Racelis, Assistant Director for Arts, Nonprofit and Government to “guest blog” about the upcoming Nonprofit Fair.  Here’s what Abbey had to say:

Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.

The informal motto of Princeton reflects a long history of preparing students for positions of leadership and lives of service in many fields. Because of our students’ continued commitment to meaningful work, Career Services is hosting the Nonprofit Career Fair – “Careers in the Public Good” on Friday, March 2nd from 1pm-4pm in Frist’s Multipurpose Room. This fair is designed to be a showcase for organizations to share information with students about current opportunities and the rewards and challenges of working in the nonprofit field.  This year we are welcoming 47 organizations from a wide range of sectors including NGOs, Arts, Sports, Education, Cultural, Environmental, Human Rights/Social Justice, Health, Community Advocacy, Foundations, and Government!

Some of the agencies you can expect to see at the fair on Friday include but are not limited to (find full list of participating organizations on TigerTracks):

Access Now: an international NGO that advocates for an open and secure internet as a means to free, full and safe participation in society and the realization of human rights. Founded in the wake of the 2009 Iranian post-election crackdown, Access teams with digital activists to build their technical capacity and to help them advocate globally for their digital rights. www.accessnow.org

America SCORES:  inspires urban youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. America SCORES envisions a world where all youth find their voice, achieve their goals, and unleash their full potential. America SCORES partners with urban schools to provide a high quality, team-based program that integrates soccer, poetry and service-learning. www.americascores.org

NY Sun Works: New York Sun Works created the renowned Science Barge; a prototype, sustainable urban farm and environmental education center on the Hudson River. The Greenhouse Project Initiative is based on The Science Barge model, and dedicated to bringing the concepts of urban sustainability and environmental science to NYC’s schools. www.nysunworks.org

Global Youth Connect is a 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1999 by international youth leaders supported by key human rights advocates and scholars. In a nut shell, GYC advances human rights and creates a more just world by empowering young activists from around the globe through a combination of cross cultural human rights workshops, site visits, volunteer service, and sustained human rights activism aligned with grassroots NGOs, policy makers, and other stakeholders. www.globalyouthconnect.org

Department of Justice: The Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of various types of economic crimes, including international bribery, corporate fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, mortgage frraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, and procurement fraud.

 Check out the “Career Fair” section of the Career Planning Guide for tips on how to prepare for the Fair.

If meaningful work is something you are interested in, please check out the Nonprofit Fair on Friday, March 2nd from 1-4pm in Frist!

 

Interested in the arts, nonprofit, or government? Meet our NEW career counselor!!

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From dancers and artists to those looking toward government and nonprofit, Princeton hosts a smorgasbord of interests on campus. However, when it comes to searching for a job or internship, some choose to leave those interests behind in pursuit of a more “traditional” job.

But we don’t have to.

Meet Abigail Racelis, Career Service’s new Assistant Director for the Arts, Nonprofit, and the Public Sector.  Since joining the team this July, Abbey has dedicated herself to bringing non-traditional job and internship opportunities to campus for students interested in creative writing, dance, theater, visual arts, and the nonprofit and public sectors.

“My main vision is to be an advocate for all students, but especially those who are thinking about pursuing what some would call ‘non-traditional’ careers. My goal is to bring more exposure to (and add  to) all the great things Career Services offers for students interested in the arts, nonprofit, and public sectors. I hope to use my previous industry experience and interest in the arts, social justice issues, and policy mixed with my student a airs background to help bring something new to Career Services for Princeton students.”
 

If you were pleasantly surprised to see more flyers in your inbox regarding opportunities in fields like nonprofit, visual arts or fashion, thank Abbey. Since beginning her new role, she has worked tirelessly to inform students about unique fields of employment and build on-campus recruiting networks with new companies. In addition to meeting with students individually in her role as a career counselor, she has already coordinated several campus events, including a panel on Careers in Visual Arts, the Christie’s Information Session, panels on Nonprofit and Government Internships, and she just facilitated a panel on Careers in Fashion last week. All of these events were very popular with students.

“We brought in the VP of Marketing for Lacoste, the Merchandise Planner from the Gilt Groupe, the Executive Vice President of Sales and Logistics from Rosie Pope Maternity, an Assistant Buyer from Michael Kors, and a Production Manager at Ralph Lauren,” all of whom are recent Princeton alumni. Contrary to popular belief, it’s rather common for Princeton students to pursue careers in creative industries, she explains, especially on the business side.

“Students can use their analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, as well as expand and explore their creativity while gaining exposure to industries that are fast-paced, high energy, and dynamic,” she said.

Abbey’s own career path provides a wealth of ‘in-the-biz’ experience. After graduating from the University of Connecticut, she moved to New York City and embarked on a career in fashion. She started out as an account executive in sales for one of the top childrenswear manufacturers, working on small “mom-and-pop” accounts and gradually moving up to the big department store accounts, like Dillard’s and Macy’s. Her position working with character licensing and eventually as a merchandiser gave her unique exposure to both the sales and design sides of fashion.

In addition to her experience in fashion, Abbey has always nurtured a lifelong involvement in the arts, especially dance. Growing up as a dancer in the conservatory world, part of her decision to move to New York involved pursuing a career in dance. While working a full-time job she also performed in some off-Broadway productions as a back-up dancer, appeared on Good Morning America, took (and still continues to take) countless classes at Broadway Dance Center and workshops with various  choreographers, and even spent a summer working at the School of American Ballet “pursuing a childhood dream in a different perspective.”

Abbey’s interest in career counseling sparked while she was working in fashion and was appointed Internship Director for a childrenswear company. “I needed interns and started recruiting at universities in the city. It was when I was going to the career fairs, recruiting, and working with my interns that I realized I loved working with students.” So, leaving the Big Apple behind, she headed for Bowling Green, Ohio to get her masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs.

After working for a few years at Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan in academic advising, Career Services, and athletics, she found herself at Princeton. “I love the students here and getting to know their stories. I think they’re inspiring and they’re doing a lot of things here that I would have never thought to do as an undergrad. They’re very ambitious, intelligent, and very motivated; I’m excited to see the students grow.”

This new, smiling, fashionably dressed member of Career Services has much to offer students in fields as diverse as they are. “I’m really excited about this role. Everyone’s career path, just like mine, is not perfectly linear– there will be unexpected twists and turns. My main goal is to be someone that students can feel comfortable coming to and talking about their future with.”

Students can schedule an appointment to meet with Abbey by using the online scheduling system on the Career Services website.

Career Resolutions

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The January-February months are a busy time for Princeton students. Still, between exams, intercession, and new classes, this motivated group has managed to keep an eye out on their futures and career. On a bright January afternoon, I went around campus to ask students about their career goals and resolutions for 2012. Here’s what they had to say: