TigerTracks Myths Debunked

Posted on April 30, 2012 by dottie

Think you know everything there is to know about TigerTracks? I thought I did—that is, until I took the time to chat with Julie Shurts, Career Services’ Associate Director of Recruitment & Employer Relations. Julie shared that Princeton’s TigerTracks system is powered by Experience, a leading provider of campus career management systems used by over 300 career centers at top schools throughout the United States. Princeton has used Experience since the late 1990s and each year this vendor has made enhancements to the system to make it more user-friendly for students and administrators alike.

During the course of our interview, Julie debunked some of the top myths about TigerTracks. Here’s what she had to say:

• Myth: TigerTracks has limited job and internship postings.
Fact: TigerTracks postings have been increasing every year. The number of overall job and internship posting has increased by 29 percent since last year alone (as of April 2012). Another key fact is that over 52 percent of the Class of 2011 found their full-time jobs by using TigerTracks!

• Myth: TigerTracks is only for specific industries.
Fact: TigerTracks is not particular to any specific employment industry. There are more than 40 different employment industries represented in TigerTracks! The range of industries with postings in TigerTracks includes Arts & Entertainment, Communications, Consulting, Engineering, Finance/Banking, Law/Legal Services, Retail/Merchandising, and Technology, among others.

• Myth: There are no nonprofit job listings on TigerTracks.
Fact: The nonprofit sector has had the greatest number of overall postings of all the industries represented in TigerTracks for the past two years! Of the 4,000+ postings in 2011-2012, 30 percent are in the nonprofit sector.

• Myth: The same jobs are always posted on TigerTracks.
Fact: The number of overall job and internship postings changes every day as new positions are added and current positions close. Timing is important, as different employers and industries tend to have different recruiting periods.

• Myth: TigerTracks is not customizable.
Fact: There are many ways you can personalize your TigerTracks profile. One way is by indicating your industry and job functions preferences. . Industry preferences relate to the type of company or organization that interests you, and Job Function relates to exactly what type of work you are interested in doing. Career Services frequently sends targeted email through the system based on these preferences, updating you on job and internship opportunities based on your preferences. If your preferences change, be sure to update them so that you continue to receive pertinent announcements. Your concentration is also important to list in TigerTracks, as targeted email messages are also frequently sent based on concentration.

• Myth: TigerTracks searches are difficult!
Fact: If you perform a job or internship search in TigerTracks and you do not get many results, review your search criteria and make sure you have selected all of the relevant options. For example, if you are looking for nonprofit sector positions, instead of clicking only “Nonprofit” from the list of Industries, consider selecting multiple options, such as all of the nonprofit subcategories, Nonprofit Organization, Foundation/Think Tank, Social/Human Services, International/NGO, Education, etc.

• Myth: TigerTracks does not allow you to save searches.
Fact: You can save any search you create. To do this, just click the “You’re Your Search” option on the Search Results page and give your search a name. Your saved search will appear on your home page when you log in. When you create a saved search, you can also opt to receive an email announcement when a new opportunity that matches your search enters the system. You can save upto 50 searches!

• Myth: Positions on TigerTracks are not only for Princeton students.
Fact: TigerTracks contains positions that are posted through Career Services as well as positions directly posted through the vendor, Experience. Positions posted through Career Services are from employers who are looking for Princeton candidates only. These positions are labeled with an orange shield icon. Positions posted through Experience are open to non-Princeton students, too.

• Myth: TigerTracks is only for juniors and seniors.
Fact: TigerTracks is for all students and every year in school! All currently enrolled undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs are automatically given a TigerTracks account at the start of Freshmen year. Your username is your Princeton email address. Your password is randomly generated. To obtain your password, click “Forgot your password?” on the TigerTracks login page. Currently enrolled graduate students can set up an account by visiting the Career Services office. The office is open weekdays between 8:45 am and 5 pm (Sept. – May) and 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (June – August).

I hope debunking some of these TigerTracks myths inspires you to log on today and start your career search! Click here to check it out!

Final note, if you have any questions about TigerTracks, stop by during daily walk-in hours from 3-5 pm and a career counselor will be happy to assist you.

Will You Pass the Social Media Recruitment Test?

Posted on April 20, 2012 by dottie

Think that what you post stays between you and your friends? Well, that’s not the case—employers may look for online information about students as they apply for internships and jobs. Recently, Career Services hosted “Do You Pass the Social Media Recruitment Test?” This event served as an introduction to the ways students can use social media tools – among them Facebook, Twitter, and of course LinkedIn – in the job search and offered tips on how to manage your online reputation. (Career Services offers similar events every semester, so watch their event calendar or the weekly CareerNews e-newsletter to see when the next one will be offered.)

The session began with the obvious question – what is the Internet saying about you? Students in attendance looked themselves up on dogpile.com and other websites, and happily none uncovered too much unsavory information. Some found videos of themselves, and the one post-doc present saw links to his research that he didn’t know existed. Kathleen Mannheimer, Senior Associate Director of Career Services, who hosted the event, said students may be surprised what information exists about them online and what employers can easily access. She suggested setting up Google alerts with your name so you can see what comes up in searches. She also suggested that when posting anything online, students should consider whether they would want to see that information, photo, etc. printed in the newspaper. If you happen to come across anything you would not want to see as public information, lifehacker.com has good tips how to remove information from the Internet. Check out this infographic entitled, “The Google Yourself Challenge” to learn more.

The presentation then shifted to LinkedIn, the social media platform that was founded with the express purpose of business networking. Despite this, Mannheimer said employers can use any social media platform, even Twitter and Pinterest, to track and source candidates. Mannheimer showed one of LinkedIn’s educational videos on creating a professional profile. Tips included uploading a business-like picture and giving an in-depth summary of your experiences. LinkedIn has undergone a number of changes to be more applicable to students. “In the very early stages, it was primarily for experienced professionals,” Mannheimer said. A LinkedIn page now includes opportunities for student data such as GPA and relevant coursework.

Other features of LinkedIn include the ability to search by company or industry and to research a role model’s career path. Mannheimer suggested that students reach out to recent hires at their dream companies and ask how they landed the job. She also discussed that when reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn, it is not the same as “friend requesting” on Facebook. You should add a professional introduction and message to your request for connection.

Facebook and Twitter can also be good sources for job information. Companies often have pages specifically devoted to recruiting on Facebook, and there are Twitter handles that exclusively post job openings, such as @TweetMyJobs.

Despite the increasing relevance of social media platforms in the job search, one stands out. “LinkedIn is going to be the most important for you right now,” Mannheimer said. Career Services staff can help you review your LinkedIn profile in the same way they offer resume critiques. If you would like assistance, schedule an appointment.

On a final note, I suggest all students search their name on the Internet to see what information turns up and review their social media presence to find out what an employer might see. Now’s the time to “own” your online reputation!

Know Your Passion: Advice on Applying to Graduate School

Posted on April 16, 2012 by dottie

On Friday, Career Services hosted “Preparing Your Graduate School Application Materials,” which served as an introduction for students to the world of graduate school and graduate school applications. Satomi Chudasama, Assistant Director, Liberal Arts & Engineering Career Counseling, gave the presentation, and about twenty students attended.

Chudasama emphasized that students should not pick a graduate school based on ranking alone; they should also pay attention to the programs offered. “What you want to do and what the school is offering need to match.

The presentation drew many parallels between graduate school applications and college applications, but the chief difference between the two is that faculty members read graduate school applications. Because of this, it is important that undergraduate interests correlate with the program. “Graduate schools want you to know what you’re applying for,” Chudasama said. Having this sort of passion is important for reasons beyond the application. Graduate school, especially a Ph.D. program, is all-consuming. “It’s intense.”

When considering which program to apply for, it was emphasized that highly ranked schools might not be ideal for a student’s specific interests. Students need to look at specific offerings as well as other characteristics, such as location (“You’re going to spend a long time there.”) and faculty. One tip Chudasama gave was to look at the authors of articles you enjoy reading for class. “If they are teaching somewhere, where are they teaching?”

As far as specific application materials go, Chudasama mentioned the letter explaining grade deflation that Princeton encloses with a transcript and said transcripts are also scrutinized for the students’ course selections. Standardized test scores can also counter a sub-par GPA. Since scores are valid for five years, it was recommended that students take tests while they are still in school, when they have good study habits.

For the statement of purpose, students may show their passions. “There’s no right or wrong way to write this statement, which is tricky for a lot of people,” Chudasama said. Career Services can provide reading and editing services, but it’s best to avoid the late-November rush.

The deadlines may be in the fall, but it is advisable for students looking to prepare over the summer. Sophomores, she said, should develop their passion and specific area of interest, but juniors can do more to research specific schools and take the relevant tests.

Career Services can provide more information on graduate school, setting goals, and specific elements of one’s application. Chudasama also highlighted the Credentials File service, which keeps letters of recommendation on hand for students applying to multiple schools or applying several years after graduation. For more information about the Credentials File system or about graduate school in general, visit http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/grad-prof/.

Students and Summer Planning

Posted on April 16, 2012 by dottie

Now is the time of year when well-meaning adults and classmates ask, “What are you doing this summer?” While I tend to answer in tones of great despair, it seems that many Princeton students have their plans all sewn up.

Natalie Scholl, a junior in the classics department, will be working in the office of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann this summer. Scholl was drawn to the internship because it would be in her native Minnesota, only a forty-five minute drive from her parents’ house. Scholl is exploring opportunities in law for after graduation, and said, “It’s good to be involved in local politics.” Scholl credits her extracurricular activities, which include leadership roles in conservative Princeton groups, for helping her to land the internship. She made use of Career Services’ online tools and guidelines in writing her cover letter and organizing her resume. Despite resources from Career Services, Scholl said that one of the hardest things about the internship search “was just knowing where to look.”

Brandon Zamudio ’14, a politics major, will be interning in France this summer. Through OIP, he found a museum internship at Musée de Compiègne. “You can put that I’m not interested in museums,” Zamudio said, who looks at the internship as “exposure to culture and language.” Before coming to Princeton, Zamudio had never taken French, but is now looking at a French certificate. He sees the internship as an opportunity to “be independent internationally and in a different language.” Though the internship application was similar to that of a domestic internship, there was one noticeable difference – the interview was in French. Zamudio said he prepared for it “just like in any other interview,” though he took care to brush up on specific phrases he thought he would need. “If I have a good answer but can’t articulate it, what’s the point?” Zamudio said. Clarified 4/19/2012: Zamudio, while not exploring museum work as a long-term option, still looks forward to exploring related professions during his summer internship.

Also planning on an international internship is Reena Glaser, a sophomore in the psychology department. Glaser found her consulting internship through Birthright Excel, which connects students with internships in Israel. Before coming to Princeton, Glaser had thought of becoming a dentist, and last summer she shadowed dentists and other doctors. However, through personality tests and sessions with Career Services advisors, Glaser found that consulting would be a better fit. She applied for around 30 internships, but was rejected from all but this one. Glaser succeeded in spite of the obstacles of changing her career path in the last year and having “no business learning on campus.” Internships are essential for supplementing a business resume.

Though Zamudio and Glaser’s internships are taking them to different countries, remote internships allow the work to come to you. Lizzie Martin ’14, who is in the Woodrow Wilson School, has two remote internships lined up for the summer. Martin said these opportunities are rare, but found “applying for them to be relatively easy.” She will be working for literary agency and for a literary magazine, which requires her to read manuscripts and write reports. Martin has been working for the literary agency, which is based in New York City, since January. Meeting with Career Services advisors helped Martin land both jobs. “I have a solid resume because of the help I got in Career Services,” Martin said.

These students all have different plans for the summer, but they all approached their searches with great diligence and patience. It can take time to find a dream internship, and sometimes the perfect internship doesn’t present itself right away. What counts is making the most of any opportunity given.

Understanding Japanese Business Etiquette

Posted on April 6, 2012 by dottie

This past Friday, I inadvertently observed a key tenet of Japanese business etiquette – and violated another – as I skidded into Michiko Yamashima’s presentation on Japanese Business Etiquette almost twenty minutes late. I had sprinted over to the Career Services office after an exam ran long, and slid into a back row, bending forward and inclining my head to duck into a seat. I had performed, in essence, a hurried form of the Japanese indication of respect and sincerity, the お辞儀, or formal bow. I neglected, however, to appear in full Western business attire, dark suit and conservative shoes included.

These gestures – formal bowing, and the observance of appropriate attire—are but two of several important Japanese business customs to be observed in corporate situations. Why are these gestures necessary? And why should we Princetonians familiarize ourselves with their importance? Just as Americans expect foreigners to greet us with a firm handshake and jovial grin, so too do Japanese businessmen and women anticipate compliance with a few basic customs as a show of mutual respect.

In a business setting, junior employees should take their seats closest to the door, and take care to avoid the most comfortable chairs. Women take a relatively subservient role, and customarily serve alcoholic beverages and other drinks to their male counterparts. Resumes intended for use in Japan should include the applicant’s age and passport-sized photo. If nothing else, however, the following three aspects of Japanese business etiquette should be observed:

Bowing is more than a neck exercise. Western-style handshakes span the spectrum from wet fish to bone-crusher; bowing, too, requires practice and precision. There are three levels of bows, Yamashima explained: the least pronounced an informal greeting, the mid-level appropriate for business meetings, and the third, deepest bow reserved for apologies. When bowing to an associate, keep it slow and measured, and make sure to maintain eye contact at the beginning and end of the gesture.
Business card presentation is a form of art. In Japan, business cards, like credit cards, are treated as extensions of people themselves. Business cards are typically exchanged between all parties present at a meeting, and are presented and received with two hands. The recipient is expected to briefly inspect the business card, indicate admiration with a brief nod, and provide their own in return. Travelers to Japan should arrive fully stocked with business cards – it is not uncommon to hand out 100 cards in a single week!
Dress for success – conservative, subdued success. Western business attire is commonplace in most Japanese cities, and both men and women should dress in dark suits with dark ties, socks, pantyhose, and shoes, as appropriate.

Yamashima’s message, while most useful for those anticipating a career in Japan, is applicable to all students seeking future employment: do your research, and pay attention to the customs of your workplace.

What Kind of Law Will You Practice?

Posted on April 4, 2012 by dottie

Tuesday night, Career Services hosted “What Kind of Law Will You Practice?” a panel featuring seven Princeton alumni with legal degrees. Around thirty undergraduates attended, and the alumni shared their experiences in law school and beyond.

The majority of the event was given over to the alumni to describe their career trajectories and offer advice. Among the panel, there were several unconventional paths to law school, including Chris Colvin ’88, who was an MAE major at Princeton and Jason Eaddy ’98, who worked in computer science before obtaining a law degree through night school. “It took my parents a good five, six years to understand what I do for a living,” Eaddy said, who now consults with lawyers on technology-related cases.

The panel also included two alumni who work in criminal law. Facing a question from the audience about the possibility of becoming jaded as a public defender, Arthur Hopkirk ’81 and Isabel McGinty *82 offered words of encouragement. Both agreed that working as a public defender was a very tough field. “There’s no let-up…in criminal law, it is people’s lives,” McGinty said. Hopkirk said it can be difficult to find fulfillment in public defense if you want to win cases, since even the best lose 80 – 90% of their cases. Instead, “you have to really take internal satisfaction,” Hopkirk said.

Two panelists who talked about the reality of debt incurred over law school were Christina Keddie ’03 and Ani Mason ’00. Keddie was drawn to law school as “the extended Robbie George experience.” She now works as a labor and employment lawyer, saying that nonprofit work may not pay enough to effectively manage the debt. In contrast, Mason was able to obtain scholarships because she was interested in human rights.

Mason also said networking through the Alumni Careers Network was instrumental in building her career. At any point in her career, she was trying to develop relationships with people in the field. Colvin, who founded two networking companies, supported this view. “Network now, and network for your entire careers,” Colvin said.

Though the panel distributed a lot of information on the difficulties of law school and a legal career, Zachary Goldstein ’05 was optimistic for the attendees’ future: “You go to Princeton. It’s up to you.”

For those looking for more information about law school, Lyon Zabsky is Career Services’ pre-law advisor. She was present at the event and can answer more detailed questions about law school applications.

Career Services’ Facebook Offers Glimpse into History!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by dottie

Just like everyone else in the world, Career Services had to switch to the new Facebook timeline format last week. Career Services’ unveiled and introduced their new Facebook timeline with this status update:

Welcome! We hope you like our new Timeline format! An overview of the history and evolution of Career Services at Princeton University is available on our timeline. A career function was established in 1912 and the office has undergone many transformations over the past 100 years! (Yes, that’s right Career Services celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year!!) We are adding the last two decades worth of history over the next few days to bring us to present-day Career Services. “History aficionados” out there should enjoy this wealth of historical information!

Career Services has had many transformations over the years and the historical information in the timeline includes photos as well as news articles from each period. In order to see our Facebook page, first click here. (Don’t forget to “like” the page so you can receive updates on events, news articles, and expert career advice.) On the right hand side of the page, one should see a timeline. The timeline dates from “now” all the way back to when Career Services was “founded”. If you click on the “founded” link, you will be taken to a page that gives details about the center’s founding as well as shows you a picture of Career Services’ first director, George MacFarlane Galt, graduate of the Class of 1890! In 1912, Career Services was called the “Self Help Bureau” and was designed to assist students with financial needs to find work during the academic year, summers, and post graduation.

As you browse through the various decades, it is so interesting to see the different name changes, events, and happenings of Career Services throughout the past century. For example, I was able to read a clip from a 1935 newspaper article in the Daily Princetonian entitled, “What Employers Looked For in Graduates in 1935.” Who knew that articles like this were being written in 1935? (I didn’t!) Another milestone that caught my interest was a 1976 Daily Princetonian article titled “Career Services Reduces Seniors’ Anxiety” that discussed how students who came to Career Services were less anxious about the challenges of the job market and economy because they were developing a plan. This is so similar to students of today!

I really like this new feature of the Career Services Facebook page. I hope other students take the time to browse through the history of Career Services to understand how the center has changed in many aspects, but remained the same in one, which is to help students find their way in the career development process!

Break into Vault!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by dottie

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!

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