ORGANIZING YOUR JOB SEARCH

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I finished the several-essay-long application for thesis funding this week, only to realize that job applications are just around the corner. These next few weeks are going to be very difficult as I try to balance my schoolwork, job search, and senior thesis. However, with the help of Career Services and TigerTracks, I plan to tackle the employment hunt one-step at a time.
I begin my job search with a simple assessment of what jobs are available in the various fields in which I am interested. There are several ways to keep informed both online and in person. For one, career fairs are a good way to talk to employers one-on-one and get individualized feedback on the application process and the entry-level job descriptions. In addition, on-campus information sessions are also a way of determining which companies are hiring for relevant positions and how they operate on a corporate level. (To see a list of upcoming information sessions, click on “Information Session” in the calendar section of TigerTracks). The most direct method, of course, is doing a job search via TigerTracks targeting specific “Employer Industries” and “Job Functions.” By combining all three approaches, I will have a thorough understanding of the jobs not only available, but also best suited for my skill set and interests.
My second move will be to organize all of my applications by deadline. It is important to remember that particular jobs and industries have earlier deadlines than others, and that in order to keep options open, everyone should plan to send in applications based on deadline and not preference.
The third step will be to update my resume and draft a cover lever for each company. I have used the templates on the Career Services website with success before and will model my materials based on the examples provided (http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/resumes/). During this stage, I will also make sure to have any other materials that an employer may need, such as writing samples, list of references, and a transcript.
Finally, once I submit my resume, I will schedule an appointment with a Career Services employee to practice interviewing skills. As a senior, the most convenient time to do so would be October 13th, during the “Ask Career Services for Seniors” event at Room B in 36 University Place. If I happen to miss this event due to a pressing application deadline, I always have the option of scheduling an appointment with a staff member on another day, during Career Service’s business hours (8:45-5:00).
Hopefully, completing these steps will prepare me for several interviews with employers. And, even more hopefully, I will end the school year with an offer from a company for which I would like to work.
In my opinion, separating the job search into a few, easy steps, is less daunting. The idea of trying to find a job is scary, especially with all of the activities around campus. If I complete one of these steps every few nights, I could be done with the whole process in a reasonable timeframe. Staying organized and committed is key.

IT’S ALL A JUGGLING ACT!

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Life as a college student is hard. But life as a college student at Princeton can seem to be even harder. I often find myself wondering just how I find time to do the things I have to do (attend class, work), should do ( eat , sleep, laundry, etc.), and I want to do (participate in extracurricular and student events, attend Career Service events, etc). At times, it feels like there really aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done and still have time for myself, which is necessary to keeping one’s level of sanity during these college years. It is important to find balance in your hectic life by finding a system that allows you to plan how you will “juggle” all of the week’s activities accordingly.
I can only speak for myself, but one of the greatest inventions ever has to be the ….. CALENDAR! With technology being so widely accessible, it is very likely you have access to some sort of calendar. Most cell phones, computers, and even wall bulletin boards come equipped with ways to organize chaos. I don’t have a very calendar-friendly phone, so I opt to use iCAL (calendar program offered to MAC users). I love this program because it syncs with my iPod calendar, which is very useful when I am on the go and want to quickly check my schedule. However, making an effective schedule takes precedence over the mere construction of one.
Here are some steps that I follow when planning out my time:
1. Think about priorities and events that are unchangeable. Most class, precept, work, and club meeting schedules don’t change on a weekly basis, so put these on your calendar first. This will allow you to know what times you are NOT available each week. Note meeting locations. This will give you a sense of how much time you have to travel between engagements. Mark these using a distinct color.
2. Be sure to mark events that change times on a weekly basis, but happen every week. Because I am in a dance group, I know that I will have rehearsals every week. I make sure to keep up with my dance company’s master calendar, noting updated rehearsal times and other company engagements.
3. Note deadlines. Knowing when assignments are due will help you acknowledge when having a night free to do work might be better for you academically. Trying to attend three events the night before a big paper is due might not be the best choice.
4. See what events you can attend giving regard to your available time. Try separating events into categories. Note whether an event is a “DEFINITE” or “MAYBE.” By categorizing events like this, you will better remember what it is you want to do.
5. COMMIT. The most important part of having a calendar is pledging to use it strictly. Sometimes external factors may cause you to have to rearrange your schedule, but having a general guideline for how your day looks will be really useful.
Personally, this can be stressful. On Mondays- Fridays I am occupied, on average, from 10am to 4:30 pm by “unchangeable” activities. This means that I have very limited time in my schedule to do other things. However, I look for events and activities that I can attend after these hours. For example, Career Services knows that many students are busy between “workday hours” and often has many events that start from 4:30 pm and onwards. Click here to look at the upcoming events. Once you find events that interest you, take into account your schedule and what works for you. On October 7th, 2010 at 4:30 pm, I will be attending the IMAGINE speaker series with Jennie Thompson ’90 as she speaks about her career in the media industry. Looking at my calendar, I know that Thursday evenings are a great time for me to attend events such as these. I marked this as a “DEFINITE” on my calendar because I have a strong interest in the media industry and know I would truly benefit from attending. Another event that happens later in the evening (a great time for busy students like me) is the “From Graduation to Corporation” event with author Andy Teach. Because it begins at 7:00 pm, even more students can come. I know that 4:30 event times may not work for everyone; especially for people who are on athletic teams (My roommate is an athlete).
So really, the key to being a student here is knowing how to plan, execute, and commit to a schedule! The next time you have some free time, try planning out your week. Seek out information about events and activities and be sure to add them to your calendar. As a student, you can always make time to attend those events that really interest you. School shouldn’t just be about doing the “unchangeable” things in your schedule. It should also be about making the time to explore new opportunities!

WORKING A CAREER FAIR

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A few days ago I added the the General Interest Career Fair into my blackberry calendar (Oct. 1st 10:30-2:30 in Dillon). It’s an easy way to meet employers one-on-one without having to go into the city or set up an appointment—it’s on your own terms. I’ve gone every year since I’ve been at Princeton (4) and each year my strategy changes a little.
My freshman year was a learning experience. I showed up in shorts and a t-shirt, having intended to go to the gym around noon on Friday, and instead found the basketball courts filled with employers. Thinking “why not!” I walked around and talked to several employers, trying to figure out which company belonged to which industry (not as easy as you’d think). I remember going up to the SAP Americas table and asking them what they did, and if they thought I should apply in future years. The representatives from SAP, of course, were very professional and not only explained their industry, but also encouraged me to apply for internships my sophomore year. In retrospect, however, I bet they were unimpressed by my attire and my lack of knowledge about their company. So embarrassing!

My sophomore year, I was a little more prepared. I came in full business attire and had resumes to spare. By that point, I knew what companies like Bain, Centerview, and Oliver Wyman were and what type of student might be interested in them. I was still curious about investing strategies and finance at the time, but chose to go the media and advertising route, hoping for a more creative summer internship. I zeroed in on a few companies that I knew would have an advertising/marketing department: Anheuser-Busch, Madison Square Garden, Target, and Rosetta Marketing. I should have done some research on what positions they had available, though, because the majority of the companies were not accepting applications from sophomores that year. If I had checked out the Career Fair page on Tiger Tracks beforehand, I would have known which companies were open to my resumes and which were not. It was still worth my while to talk to the organizations that were strictly looking for juniors and seniors. I was told by recruiters that, they would “keep your resume flagged” for next year.

My junior year I was really pumped. I had on a nice, business-casual outfit and felt confident. I brought with me a stack of resumes as well as a notepad and summaries of all of the organizations I wanted to visit. I ended up speaking with representatives from five companies: Johnson & Johnson, Madison Square Garden, Time Inc., Under Armour, and Anheuser-Busch. A few of the organizations were not accepting applications that year, and therefore I simply used the time with respective recruiters to learn more about first-year positions out of college for my senior year. However, Madison Square Garden and Under Armour turned out to be very, very good visits for me. I ended up in fantastic, 20-minute conversations at each booth. I gave the recruiters my resume and told them I would be applying for their program that night. (If I could do it again, I would have already applied before the fair, though.) I got their cards and followed up the next day. Immediately, I got a first-round phone interview with both companies the following week. Before the end of the next month, I had an internship offer from both organizations.

This year is the most important, however, because I’m no longer looking for summer internships, but rather a good job where I can begin a career. I plan to talk to a wide range of companies this year and discern whether I fit into their equations.

It is as equally important process for students as it is for recruiters. As students, we try to figure out if the company is doing the types of the things we like to do, if it is projected to do well in the next few years, and if it is nurturing to new employees. The recruiters, on the other hand, are trying to make their company as appealing as possible to prospective employees. They are looking for well-qualified, friendly people to grow with their companies.

My friend works for Bain and will be attending the fair as a recruiter. He gave me some good advice, “The young alumni and new recruiters are sometimes just as nervous and excited as the students! Therefore, the more confidence you exude, the more confident we feel, and the better the interview.”
He also told me to think of the process as though I were pitching myself to an employer off of their general requirements list. I should be able to compare my skill-set with the desired qualities of applicants on the organizations’ lists, and determine with which companies I best align. If I can see a good match early on and can verbalize a favorable comparison of my abilities with their desired qualities, I am more likely to make a lasting impression in a sea of applicants. This type of targeted preparation will keep me ahead of the pack, making me appear as though I have an insight into the pointed skills for which a company is looking.

My last bit of advice is to come early. There were over 1,000 students there last year, and a projected 1,500 for this year. Be the first to stand out!

FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORES: GET INTERESTED IN THE 2010 GENERAL INTEREST CAREER FAIR!

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So, I hope all of you have spent the last week assessing your personal interests and values and are on your way to establishing and maintaining your personal brand. As I mentioned in last week’s post, I decided that, this week, I want to focus on the ways that you can take advantage of Career Services events and resources. Contrary to what many people believe, Career Services is not just for upperclassmen. Yes, juniors and seniors are not the only center of attention around here. Career Services also cares about freshman and sophomore.
One of the first things I remember doing as a freshman was signing up for TigerTracks. I didn’t really even know what it was at the time. After reading about it, I created a profile that was catered to my academic and career interests and searched for possible summer jobs and internships. It was really cool to get emails from Career Services about opportunities and events that might be of interest to me. For example, I remember getting an email blast about an event where an representative from Paradigm (an entertainment agency) would be talking to students. I was thrilled because, at that time, I was really interested in the entertainment sector and wanted to know more about the industry. At the event juniors and seniors really dominated the questions, but I was able to learn a lot from what I heard. Although I wasn’t trying to place a resume with the representative, I got the experience of hearing her talk about what it would take to be a qualified applicant, and how to best present myself within that industry. Those two lessons were definitely worth the time being there! Therefore signing up with TigerTracks should on your URGENT TO-DO list.
Another thing I urge you to do is to check out the 2010 fall events list by clicking here! Browse through the events, read about the types of opportunities available on campus this fall! Don’t scroll past the date “October 1, 2010” because this is the date of the annual General Interest Career Fair, which will be held in Dillon Gymnasium from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm THIS FRIDAY! But wait, you’re an underclassman…. you aren’t interested in finding or securing a post-grad position yet! Right? Well, while this may be true, this does not mean that you shouldn’t attend a career fair. Career Fairs are a great place to learn more about certain industries, network with professionals within these organizations, and get a feel for what you can look forward to when you actually are a junior or senior. Representatives from over 90 companies will be there to speak with you about potential full time and internship opportunities. This will be a great place to practice marketing your brand and making lasting impressions
How, then, do you prepare for a career fair? Well, it all depends on your goals. Here are a few basic tips and reminders for freshman and sophomores that will make the anticipation of October 1st stress-free and interesting!
If you are a freshman or sophomore, you might be interested in browsing different tables to get information about companies that come to Princeton (maybe specific ones you might be interested in based on their industry or popularity). Or maybe, you might just want to take-in the experience of a career fair and see what happens.
If you are looking for a summer internship, your priorities will be different. It might be useful to review the list of participating companies on TigerTracks and see which ones are looking for interns. Then follow the tips below before Friday:
  • BE PREPARED BY RESEARCHING EMPLOYERS (especially those with internships you are interested in)
  • DEVELOP A PERSONABLE INTRODUCTION (a quick 20-30 second pitch for who you are and what you are looking for)
  • THINK OF QUESTIONS TO ASK (Try to ask open-ended questions to extend your conversations)
  • PRINT OUT A RESUME (Be sure to have it reviewed by a career counselor before the fair)
  • PLAN YOUR WARDROBE (Be sure to dress as professionally as possible)
If you want more extensive advice, check out pages 33 and 34 of Career Services’ Career Planning Guide! Remember, this is all a process. Try not to be intimidated by the idea of attending a Career Fair. Think of it as a learning experience that will help you in your future years at Princeton. With that being said, I hope to see you all on October 1st!

FRESHMAN, FRESHEN UP YOUR PERSONAL BRAND!

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Hey! My name is Rana Campbell. I am a current sophomore here at Princeton University. I am a proud New Jerseyian, having lived in Orange, New Jersey my entire life. Apart from being a student, you might possibly spot me dancing with Black Arts Company, running an event with the Princeton Caribbean Connection, or volunteering at a local prison with the Petey Greene Prisoner Assistance Program. I am also one of Career Services Communications and Marketing interns. This is my first week on the job, and I already love it!
When I was first asked to write a blog, I thought it would be a good idea to do a four-part series, especially for Princeton Freshman (I was where you are just last year). Career Services has a wealth of resources available to you during your first year on campus—I didn’t know as much then as I do now about the ways they can help freshman. I thought it would be really good to let you have an inside scoop because the things you learn now will really help you later on. They assist undergraduates like you will all aspects of career planning which includes choosing a major/career, exploring various career interests, and developing effective job and internship search strategies. Cool, right?
I know most of you are thinking that it wasn’t too long ago when you were a freshman in high school. Now, you face this daunting, yet exciting new life called college. In fact, you even have the task of being a freshman again, but this time your worries are completely different. They now concern dorm furnishings, navigating campus, and even finalizing those hectic of schedules of yours. Let’s not forget the fun things in life such as juggling extracurricular activities and late night study breaks. Thinking about how to best use Princeton Career Services may be the furthest thing from your mind. True, you probably aren’t worried about securing a professional entry-level job yet—but you may start thinking about summer internships. No matter what type of experience you are thinking about, in order to be successful, you need to learn how to effectively communicate your goals and personality. The only way to do that is by assessing your interests, strengths, and values—starting now!
What is your brand? Get a scrap piece of paper and try answering the following questions: How do others describe you? How do you describe yourself? What are your most striking, admirable, and noteworthy characteristics? What makes you tick? What is the (insert your name here) experience like? Knowing the answers to these initial questions will definitely help you during the next few years. Think of yourself as a company. Yes, you are an INC. You are your own pool of product, brand, resources, and assets. Therefore, do you have a plan for growth? How can you, as a freshman, grow your brand this year, so that you will be better equipped next year when career hunting gets a bit closer?
TRY NEW THINGS! Most of us already know what we are good at. However, many of us don’t know what we could possibly be good at. The activities fair is a good place to sign up for new experiences. Who knows, you could possibly explore new interests (other than those you did in high school) by taking a leadership position in a club. Now is time to unleash your potential. Limiting yourself at this point is a big NO-NO. Go to a lot of open houses. Introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Don’t be scared to dip your feet into new waters. Attend all those pre- orientation events. Just by doing this, you can set out on your own path and create a personal brand that is as unique as you are. Seek out opportunities to:
  • BUILD NEW SKILL SETS
  • EXPAND YOUR NETWORK
  • OPERATE OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
  • DEVELOP YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL & TIME MANAGEMENT ABILITIES
  • BE CURIOUS AND ASK QUESTIONS
The most important part of this process is to understand how you will accomplish all these brand- building strategies. By the end, you will have a better understanding of who you are and the values that are important to you. When it comes to searching for summer jobs or internships, you will definitely need to evaluate your personal brand and describe yourself in ways that illustrate what sets you apart from others. PriceWaterhouseCoopers created a really interesting guide made just for students that I think is really useful and pertinent to the idea of personal branding. Click Here to Check it Out!
Yes, now is the time to start developing new skills and seeking out ways to develop your brand. This will ultimately serve as the major force in anything you do—academically or career-wise.

ABOUT ME

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Hi Everyone! Since this is my first post, I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Jessie Dicovitsky and I am an intern at Career Services. I am a senior majoring in visual arts and getting a certificate in creative writing. I’m involved in several activities on campus such as Business Today, Circle of Women, the Republican Club, and peer advising, as well as being a member of a sorority and the Tiger Inn eating club.

I wanted to blog for Career Services, because I’m not one of those kids who has it all figured out—I have no idea what my job will be upon graduation or even exactly what career path I am going to take. Therefore, I’m just like you: looking for internships and jobs, preparing for interviews, and hopefully figuring things out along the way.

The last couple of years I worked in the entertainment industry with the help of some generous Princeton alumni. But this year, I want to keep my options open. I just finished applications for a ton of consulting companies and am now scouring TigerTracks to see if there are any interesting jobs related to advertising and marketing. (Sign in to TigerTracks and then under “Job Search” look for “Employer Industry” and then highlight “Communications/Media”) I found a whole bunch of stuff for soon-to-be graduates, so it will take me a while to sift through the positions.

Since there is no one particular industry in which I am interested, I’m really focusing on being as prepared as possible for any type of phone or in-person interview coming up in the next couple of months. I went to the Resume Night at Frist on Tuesday so that the Career Services staff could help sharpen some of the points on my resume. My next step is to go to the Interview Skills & Strategies session this Thursday (9/23 from 4:45-5:30 at Career Services) to be able to adapt to any sort of interview environment. If I have to miss that, though, I can always make it up at Career Services Class of 2011 Walk-in Hours this week and next at 3-5PM or at the senior Mock Interview Day on Friday (9/24 from 2-5 at Career Services).

Some of my friends have told me that all of this preparation is a little overzealous, but then again, some of my friends have amazing I-banking offers and don’t have to worry about any of this… I’m not too concerned about trying to find an offer immediately, but I’d like to be ready if the opportunity arises. It’s not like attending any of the Career Services events take up that much time!—I’m still watching Party Down every night and one alumnus just sent me a screener of the movie BURIED that comes out this Friday (It’s amazing!! Go see it!!). My only point is: it never hurts to be prepared.