Category Archives: Casey Brown ’14

Casey Brown ’14, English. Lives in Rocky, works in graphic design, and loves music, writing, and dance. She agrees with E.E. Cummings when he says “I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.”

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:

UCAN

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Looking for a job or summer internship? Check out UCAN, or University Career Action Network, an intercollegiate job/internship database and my personal favorite career tool. Maintained by a 22-university syndicate, UCAN’s expansive network is a goldmine for even the pickiest job searcher.

Perhaps “you-can” sounds unfamiliar to you. If you’ve ever browsed TigerTracks or another similar job/internship search site, you’re probably familiar with the process. Just register with your Princeton email address, punch in basic profile information, and you’re good to go. You can also add basic academic information, upload your resume, and create a Onestop Talent Search profile. This last feature enters your information and resume into a search engine for employers that helps them find and recruit their candidate of best fit. That’s right, employers search for YOU.

If you’ve ever researched jobs and internships, you probably know that effective search tools make all the difference. One of my favorite features of the UCAN website is the sheer multitude of ways to approach the job search. On the internship homepage, you can browse opportunities by job title, employer, keyword, employer name, description, major, and location, either separately or all at once.

Another of UCAN’s perks is its search employer feature. Say you want to search journalism opportunities in New York City. Just go to the employer tab at the top, plug in the information, and a list of employers and their corresponding websites appears on your page. Tip: if a company does not have an internship posted on UCAN, check out their website. Usually under “career,” “contact us,” or (of course) “internships” you’ll find details on the position you’re looking for. UCAN also contains a list of contacts from companies listed by industry, if you’re looking for career advice from someone in the business.

If you’re motivated or just plain curious about your career future, UCAN is the perfect place to start or refine your search. Just go to Princeton’s Career Services website, click on UCAN on the right-hand sidebar, and check it out for yourself!

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Facebook. Twitter. Jobs. Which one doesn’t belong? Believe it or not, none. Given the vast amount of time we college age students spend on social media sites, it’s no wonder employers increasingly turn to social media to research job applicants. For the average Princeton student it’s easy to dress spiffy and speak intelligently in an interview. But what about that other person you put out there for the world to see—the one before we get to the interview. In other words, Google Search yourself. Surprised, anyone?

Now most of us probably don’t know what our Facebooks look like to the average employer. In fact, most students are pretty sure their accounts are private. But are you sure? Do you really know those pictures from last night are not front-and-center on your profile? Probably, you don’t.

Here’s what to do. You can start by reading Facebook’s novel of a guide on Privacy Controls. Here’ the short story version: everyone can see what Facebook calls “public information,” including name profile picture, gender, username, user ID (account number), and your networks. In other words, one of the most important thing you can do is keep the profile picture professional.

UNLESS, that is, you Jason Bourne your profile. In other words, make yourself unsearchable. Under Privacy Settings, go to “How You Connect,” then “Who can look up your profile by name or contact info?” and select “Friends.” That way you won’t pop up when employers search for you. For all but the forward-thinking few who use Facebook to speak eloquently about current events, this is probably a good thing.

Just to complicate things a little more, there’s the new Timeline format. Don’t want employers seeing that “is O.M.G. Bobby is SOOOOO CUUUTTEE like lol” from 7th grade? Or the seven hundred status updates with a similarly test-infused lingo? You have two options. Either limit the visibility of the specific post (available through the pull-down tab in the status update’s top right corner) or, under Privacy Settings, go to “Limit the Audience for Past Posts,” and you’ll be able to limit your entire timeline to friends only.

But in case, like me, you’re already “friends” with potential employers, here’s the tricky part. With Facebook’s new settings, privacy is often a case-by-case basis, making it all the more complicated. So while you might list one Wall post as only available to “Close Friends,” another may be available to “Everyone.” This goes for everything from personal info to tagged photos. So it’s a good idea to customize your default settings so that all your statuses about Justin Bieber don’t immediately go public. (Guilty!)

Finally, the moment of truth: the best way to really see what your profile looks like to the average employer, use a non-friend account to check it out. For most of you, this means Mom and Dad. Or you could just go to privacy settings, click on “learn more,” click on “Profile” at the top, then go to the blue box near the bottom titled “know what others see on your profile. You may be quite surprised.

You can also, believe it or not, use social media to enhance your chance of getting a job. If you’re interested in a field where currency is key, join Twitter. It will help you get news in your field right when it happens. Start by following your favorite sources of news or your favorite academics. For instance, now that Cornel West is no longer on campus, catch his words of wisdom via Twitter. Then, don’t be afraid to join in the debates. If you have something intelligent to say, by all means, say it! Or, well, tweet it. This will not only keep you informed, but show employers that you’re an active participant in your prospective field already!

For more information about how to create an employer-friendly social media presence check out this article on YouTern with a really great info-graphic on the subject: ow.ly/8pXLu.

MAJORS

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In the sandwich of applications, sophomore year is the filling. Nestled in between the urgency of applying to college and the transition to the real world, sophomore year seems like the perfect cushion, the delicious time to relax, be social, drink sparkling lemonade while lounging along the Jersey Shore…

Well, not exactly. Sophomore year is important, but more so, it’s exciting. No freshman transition, no junior papers, no senior panic – the ideal time to explore your future without all the pressure. So why not start asking yourself the big questions? What’s there to lose?
First order of business to cover: the major. By now we’ve all been here long enough to know at least something about each major. For example, if foreign language makes your cervello a little loco, Comparative Literature is probably not the wisest choice. But what if you’re faced with a tough choice? Policy or Politics? Math or Physics? Art History or Architecture? And what if you love your intended major but worry that it doesn’t provide enough career choices?

For starters, check out the “What Can I Do With My Major” website. You’re a veteran sophomore, so by now you may have a good grasp of what you want to study. If you’re feeling unsure or just curious, give it a try. Just select a major from the pull-down tab to browse descriptions, real jobs and positions alumni have held, and internships some of these majors have pursued. I, for one, am in love with this feature. As an English major, I often get the question, “Oh so what are you going to be? Teacher or a lawyer?” Now, I have concrete proof that we English majors are versatile! Since exploring this tab I have since solidified my interest in journalism as my career of choice.

Enough about me. Go to http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/majors_occupations/what_can_i_do_with_my_maj/ and see for yourself!