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Career Fairs Are Not Just for Seniors and Juniors!

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Welcome to Campus!  The General Interest Career Fair is coming up on campus in a few days. That’s right—you can find employers, companies, post-grad programs—maybe even a J-O-B!

9777This Friday over 100 organizations will be there to greet you, hear your elevator pitch, and discuss their organizations as well as the post-grad opportunities they offer.

Freshmen and sophomores sometimes erroneously believe that they should not go to the career fair until junior or senior year.  This is a common misperception. Here are some excuses heard around campus:

I’m a freshman. I don’t need to start thinking about a career!

I have no idea what I want to do post-graduation, let alone for the next six years—let alone for the rest of my life! Yikes!

But Rocky’s lunch looks so good, and I already missed the curly fries last week!

First of all, I love curly fries as much as the next Rockyite, both let’s face it: both lunch and the Career Fair last for a while. There’s no reason you can’t eat curly fries AND focus on your future between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm this Friday. The career fair is for all students and offers the chance to start thinking about careers as well as making valuable contacts for your future.

Second, if you have no idea what you want to do 9959post-graduation, a Career Fair is the perfect place to do your research. You can either spend your time looking at stock photos of smiling faces on company websites—or you can talk face-to-face with a real representative from that company. Talk about a no-brainer. Even a brief conversation with representatives from different sectors can give you the lay-of-the-land on some career options. You might even change your mind about your career path or find a new avenue to pursue.

And if you end up in the “well….maybe grad school” zone, that’s useful information, too! In that case, make sure you make your calendar for the Grad and Professional School Fair on Oct. 4 from 12:30-3:30pm.

And finally, freshmen and sophomores—all we can offer you is a big, emphatic invitation “Come to the Career Fair!”

That’s right. Career Fairs are not just for seniors and juniors. Here are some more reasons why:

  1. It’s great practice for presenting yourself—putting a suit on (which tie should I wear), dusting off the elevator pitch (or starting one).
  2. Freshman can land internships over the summer. (What?) I’ll say it again: Freshmen can get summer internships, too!
  3. Networking takes time, and there’s no time like the present. 9881Besides, it’s great to get connected with circles outside your hometown network, especially if you’re interested in branching out after graduation.
  4. There’s no (well, almost no) pressure! When you get to be old like us seniors, you might look back and wish you took the opportunity to visit a career fair before the prospect is accompanied by jolting memories of A Chorus Line songs (Read: “I really need this job!”). Not that we seniors are thinking that! Of course not….

Here’s a few resources for front-running freshmen and smart seniors alike:

Here’s information on how to work a Career Fair.
http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/interviewing/working-fair/

Check TigerTracks for a list of the employers coming to the fair. Then, do some research so you know the right questions to ask!

Here’s how to keep your wardrobe classy and professional. http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/interviewing/dress/

9976Once you look the nicest you’ve looked since your graduation photo, hop over to our Linked In Photo Booth to get a professional headshot taken!

What are Princeton students doing over the summer?

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Answer: An awful lot! Check out this video to get a glimpse at the plans some students have in store!

The past few weeks I went around campus interviewing students about their summer plans. From freshmen to upperclassmen, students are abuzz with blueprints for travel, research, study, and work in a wide variety of sectors from law to engineering, nonprofit work to language classes. While it’s not surprising to see Princeton students engaged, there was one trend that I didn’t expect–Princeton is going global in a HUGE way. Whether through Princeton’s International Internship Program or for senior thesis research, students are increasingly seeking experiences abroad. In fact, last year 27% of students reported spending some or all of their summer abroad. It seems like that number just keeps growing!

Here’s one caveat: If you DON’T have structured summer plans right now–no sweat. First of all, it’s your summer, and you should do what YOU want to do. Now, if what you want to do is land an internship, you’re not too late! Check out TigerTracks for the latest job postings, or make an appointment with a Career Services career counselor before classes end to discuss your opportunities. 

See you in September!

Seniors, what are your post-graduation plans?

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Wow, I can’t believe it. Three years ago, as a sophomore, I began working in Career Services as a Communications and Marketing intern. During this time, I learned so many new skills in the communications arena. I know so much more about social media and social media marketing as well as a lot of other facets of being a GREAT communications professional. I had the opportunity to assist at many Career Services events where I got to connect with so many alumni and employers over the years—and, of course, the Career Services staff. This is one of the things I will miss most about this job.

I’ve loved working with each and every member of the Career Services team. During my time in the office each week, I was able to talk to about life on and off-campus as well as get answers to my many career-related questions. I urge anyone who has not taken the time to visit the office to meet the staff and make use of its many resources to do so ASAP. You are truly doing yourself a disservice if you don’t!

For my last blog, I decided to hit campus to talk to fellow seniors about their post-graduation plans.  I wanted to know all the cool and exciting things my fellow seniors will be pursuing after they leave Princeton.  Some students are planning to head off to full time employment after graduation, while others are planning to travel and do cool programs such as Princeton In Asia. Not every senior knows what they are doing after graduation just yet and that’s totally fine. Some are still considering their options and/or developing a plan of action for their post-graduation job search. Others have decided to take the summer off for some much needed R&R.

So what will I be doing next year? Great Question. I am pleased to announce that next year I will be a Puttkammer Fellow at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York City.  I will be working with the Center on Sentencing and Corrections helping with the Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education project as well as helping to develop a volunteer-based education model that will be implemented in three different U.S. states. I’ll also be dipping my feet into some cool social media and media relations projects! I’m so excited for my next year at the Vera Institute and hope to blog there, too.  I am also in the process of developing my own brand management/social media consultant freelance services company. I’m hoping to take this passion of my mine and turn it into something bigger!

For those who don’t have a clear sense of what path you want to pursue just yet, my advice to you is not to worry. You’ll figure it out.  For those who do know– good luck!  I hope you pursue your passions and embark on a journey that will yield much success for you in the future. We made it, you guys! We’ve finally reached what we have been working so hard for the last four years… so do well on those finals and I’ll see you all at graduation!  To my readers, I want to thank you for following my blog. This is a not goodbye, but rather, see you later.

I’m only an email or a tweet away. If you want to stay in contact with me, feel free to connect with me on Linkedin or via email at ranaelyse@gmail.com. Also, make sure to follow me on Twitter (@rainshineluv).  I know the next year will be filled with many great opportunities. Thank you Career Services! Thank you Princeton! Thank you to everyone who has helped and guided me to where I am now.

~ On behalf of the entire Career Services’ staff, we wish Rana Campbell ’13 all of the very best! We will truly miss her in Career Services!

Internships 101: A No-Brainer Guide

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Don’t call 411. If you’re deciding if you should pursue an internship this summer, there’s a simple answer.

Go for it.

bigstock_Attractive_young_business_prof_15703601To those unacquainted, internships are the star power of a job world that’s way tougher than Nintendo 64. They’re excellent ways to explore possible career fields as well as build experience and workplace skills. It’s best to have one to two internships under your belt by the time you graduate. Often, recruiters will even prefer candidates that have experience in two internships.

Here’s the no-brainer list. Make sure you know the following before moving on to the next level:
 
Level Zero: THE QUESTIONS PHASE. Every young child goes through this phase. So does every internship seeker, so before proceeding, consider the following:

  • What careers pique my interest?
  • Am I interested in a particular type of organization, i.e. government or nonprofit?
  • What do I want to do on the job? Usually you’ll do one or more of the following—research, conduct office activities, assist planning, write, work in a lab, and problem solve.
  • Where do I want to be?
  • Are dollars important to me? (i.e. Do I want to get paid?)

Level One: THE BASICS. You’re ready to go. Now for some updates.

  • Read Career Services’ weekly CareerNews e-mail every Monday for a list of opportunities and deadlines as well as workshops and events to help you build the job search skills you need.
  • Update your resume and draft a cover letter. If you need a “cheat sheet” check out the Career Planning Guide.
  • Practice your interviewing skills, and not just to the mirror– although that works, too. Attend workshops or schedule a mock interview to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Level Two: THE SEARCH. Welcome to the stage of the furrowed brows, Nicholas Cage-style. This, actually, is the fun part.

bigstock_Portrait_Of_A_Female_Executive_1576130Your bright, shiny new internship is just around the corner. Don’t forget to follow up with employers 10-14 days after applying. It is not too late to continue applying in April. There are still plenty of internship postings coming in to Career Services; some are just waiting for someone (like you, perhaps) to fill them!

 

 

Common Conundrums: Job and Interview FAQs

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As my peers and I search for jobs bigstockphoto_Your_Career_340932and summer internships, a few sticky topics have come up—how do I dress for my interview? Write a follow-up email? Tell an employer about my weaknesses? How can I balance career dreams and community engagement? After researching these questions, I’ve come up with several answers.
Dear friends—I hope this helps!

  1. What is business casual?
    For starters, DON’T break out the flip-flops. Most of you already pass this rule. But how do I look sharp? What does this label even mean? Should I wear khakis or Suit pants? Truth is, for most jobs, this will be your wardrobe. Only a select few dress in business attire every day. Here’s a handy list for dressing up, compiled from our career website.
    DO remember that business casual is more business than casual.
    DON’T look sloppy. Dining hall breakfast garb like sweatpants and t-shirts is, of course, never acceptable. Also, make sure that your “nice” clothes are all neat and well tailored. Nothing too tight or revealing!
    For ladies, DO wear skirts and nice dresses. Make sure they’re not too short.
    Also for ladies, DO try any of the following combinations: dress + cardigan or blazer, or skirt + sweater set, knit top, blouse, button-down, V-neck, centerpiece shirt, or turtleneck.
    For men, DO wear pressed pants with a new photobelt.
    For men, DO wear business formal minus the tie and the jacket. Often, a polo shirt can be appropriate, too.
    If this is for the interview, DO research the company you’re interviewing with beforehand. Often you’ll be free to express more personality in an interview with Google, Facebook, and other computer software companies as well as in the film and fashion industries.
    Bottom line, DO research before getting dressed. If you have questions, contact your interviewer for more information.
  2. How do I write a follow-up email?
    If you’ve seriously applied for jobs and internships, the follow-up stage (or, more accurately, the do-I-follow-up? stage) is fully stocked with opportunities!  Check out Alison Green’s short, snappy follow-up email for a good model: http://bit.ly/r60Zrt.
  3. Tackling the “what’s your greatest weakness?” question.
    Kryptonite? Narcissism? Well, to be honest, nothing!
    Needless to say, these answers won’t fly in the job interview. This is a tricky question, and when an interviewer asks many of these questions, it’s to your advantage to think creatively and show that you are a thoughtful, self-reflective human being. You’re not Superman, and even wearing a Super-suit and cape to your interview won’t prove that. (Note: do not test this theory. See section on Business Casual above.)
    DON’T spin a weakness into a strength. “I don’t have any weaknesses,” “None that I know of,” “I frequently work overtime at the expense of my social life,” “I’m so efficient that I don’t have to delegate” are all great weaknesses to have. But for the interview, you can do better.
    DO use this model. Wetfeet identifies a three-part system to answering this question. First, identify a real weakness. Next, show how you’ve improved upon that weakness. Third, celebrate your improvement. That way you’ll come across as human and fallible but still determined and adept at problem solving.
  4. As a senior, do I “give back” or pursue a life-long dream?
    In a perfect world, you’ll be doing both next year—painting, dancing, writing, breaking into fashion or film, trying your hand as an actor. Why not? You’re young and there’s no (or, well, few) strings attached!
    Yet, you’ve had an uncommon opportunity in education…you feel like you should give back right away. What do you do?
    Often, you can do both. Rana Campbell, a senior and Sociology major, plans to pursue her dream job in the media industry while also giving back where and when she can—through a local afterschool program or as a volunteer for a program like Peety Greene Prisoner Assistance Program, where she has volunteered weekly for all four years of her undergraduate career.
    For others, it’s a service job and a dream on the side. Landed a job in consulting? You can still take dance class at night. What about travel? Are you taking a job abroad and itching to write a novel? No time like the present!
    Look to the Alumni Careers Network to find previous Princeton grads that are currently carving the path you desire. You’ll find that a career might take you on paths you never even imagined!
  5. How do I find jobs if I want to work in a particular city in the U.S.?
    Oh, so you want to work in New York? Easy. We’ve got that one in the bag.
    Other cities aren’t so easy to scope out. As an east coast school in New Jersey, we might be a bit partial to our neighboring cities when it comes to jobs. That being said, there are some easy steps to take to find a job—wherever you may wish to be next year.
    First, on TigerTracks and UCAN, the search feature allows you to list postings by location as well as by keyword. Bam. Done.
    Second, check out GoingGlobal.com. Even though you’re not technically going abroad, the website has a wealth of organizations listed for major U.S. cities. You can browse their lists by city, and then more closely by industry.

Question of the Week # 9: “How do I manage looking for a job and writing my thesis?”

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“How do I manage looking for a job and writing my thesis?”  – Mary Adeogun ‘13

If you are a senior like me, you have a lot on your plate right now! Between classes, finishing your thesis, and staying involved in extracurriculars, it’s hard to find time for something really important to most seniors… the JOB SEARCH. There’s a lot that you have to do and not a lot of time to actually do it.  Though this time of the year can be especially busy, it is important to try to keep a balance and prioritize. Your job search is similar to any other endeavor in that your results will be directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort you expend. Don’t forget to leave time each week for your job search tasks.  Here are some easy tips to manage your time efficiently.

  1. Make your breaks worthwhile. It’s not reasonable to think that you can write for 24 hours straight (and it’s not good on your eyes).  Typing activityWrite in one hour chunks and thentake a break. Trust me, you’ll be more productive if you set realistic goals. Make your breaks something that you can look forward to. Maybe one of your breaks can be looking up jobs using social media networks. Create a daily schedule of breaks and make sure to include at least 2-3 (20-minute) blocks of time that you dedicate to looking for jobs. If you want it to happen, and you plan for it, it will!  Set alarms on your phone to remind you when these breaks will happen.
  2. Make an appointment with a Career Counselor.   Arrange some time to get away from academic work. Career counselors are here to help you. Maybe you need someone to vent to about your job search worries? Maybe you need someone to help refine your job search strategies? Take this time to get completely away from your thesis for thirty minutes. The Career Services office is pretty relaxing (it’s definitely better than being stuck in your dungeon-like carrel) and provides a change of scenery for thesis-stressed minds. You will also feel good about making the time to do something for yourself and focusing on life after Princeton.
  3. Set up Search Agents & Subscribe to Industry Newsletters.  You might be too busy to comb websites daily for the latest openings. Aggregating content is a great way to save time.  Make sure your TigerTracks profile is up to date based on your current interests (these may have evolved over the four years since your profile was created). You will receive emails as opportunities in your field of interest are posted. In addition, you can usually set up job search agents on company sites or other job boards. You can set up how frequent you want alerts. Another useful tip is to subscribe to industry newsletters. As someone who is interested in media and communications, I subscribe to the Mediabistro daily newsletter.  I like to set aside some time each day to read through my emails and check out what’s happening in the industry. This is a great way to keep up-to-date and save time while doing so. Because you are so busy right now, let the information come to you!
  4. Listen to Career Talks Online While Writing.  You might be the type of person who likes to listen to music while writing. While this is great for focusing, why not change around what’s coming into your sensory pathways? The Internet is filled with career-focused webinars, career advice videos, and professional testimonials that are available for free. Instead of opening iTunes, try listening to an inspirational career talk.  Not only will you be writing your thesis but you will also be gaining useful career information and advice.bigstockphoto_Graduation__1766172
  5. Relax. One of the best things you can do during this time period is to just relax! You will be able to get everything done—from your thesis to your job search. The latter may take a little time, but just remember to keep positive through everything. Graduation is right around the corner!

Finding Your Niche: Visual Arts

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Often, the visual arts, archaeology, and art history get a bad rap. Word on the street may suggest that these majors aren’t exactly practical major choices.   Nevertheless, a major/career in these fields can lead you on many rewarding career paths. Alumni who majored in art and archaeology at Princeton reported a variety of different career plans, from positions as literary agents and research associates, to jobs as lawyers, teachers, analysts, or professors. That being said, you don’t have to look very far outside your major to find job opportunities.

First, here are some resources for jobs in the arts:

Check out this site for a quick synopsis on many various careers available to art history majors: http://www3.nd.edu/~crosenbe/jobs.html. You may find something interesting and unexpected.

Also, here’s a wealth of information on art and architecture resources: http://www.ilpi.com/artsource/welcome.html.

Northern Michigan has a long list of job databases by arts industry, from design to film: http://art.nmu.edu/department/AD_Career/AD_Career-Jobs.html#AGENCIES.

Artjobs.org is an independent jobs database. The site currently features 880 postings for positions in all kinds of arts and creative nonprofits https://artjob.org/.  Watch out though—this site costs money if you want to look more closely than a casual browse.

Also, if you’re interested in arts and business in New York, check out http://www.artsandbusiness-ny.org/about_us/ for information, tutorials, and several internship listings for positions within the organization.

While your possibilities for post-graduate careers are nearly boundless, there’s nonetheless a vibrant, international network of jobs for which your art/art history major uniquely qualifies you—museum jobs. Boy, are there a lot of these.

Of course, this list is not to limit your search. Many a Princeton grad has taken his/her own path with an art/art history degree. Visit the Alumni Career Network to speak with alumni who can tell you more about their personal career journeys. This way, you can learn from the painters, artists, producers, curators, editors, and executives who were once where you are today.

 

Question of the Week # 8: “Why is it important to connect with alumni?”

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Throughout your time at Princeton, you will meet so many people who will have an impact on your future. One of the groups that can be extremely helpful in the “career sphere,” in particular, is alumni. Princeton alumni are great — they want to see and help other Princetonians excel in the world. They are also extremely well connected and want to help leverage their networks in order to give back to their beloved alma mater’s students. Throughout my four years at Princeton, I’ve reached out and stayed in touch with many alumni — and have seen positive results through each interaction.

9708Tonight, Career Services is hosting their annual “Alumni Connections” student-alumni networking at Prospect House from 6-8 pm. Over 40 Princeton alumni from a host of industries and fields will be in attendance. Come learn how their major influenced their post-Princeton choice and also get advice on how to pursue your own career interests! RSVP today if you already haven’t. This is the largest student-alumni networking event of the year and you do not want to miss it! Tables are arranged by industry and each student will receive a booklet with biographical information of the alumni participants.

Last year, I scoured the Alumni Career Network (ACN) and set up interviews with alumni in my field of interest. (Of course, I blogged about this and you can read all about it here.) This is a searchable database of Princeton Alum who have volunteered to provide career-related advice to Princeton alumni and students. There are over 4800 volunteers worldwide!

In addition to the alumni volunteers in the ACN, it is also important to maintain your connection to “soon-to-be alums,” or graduating seniors. Some of my closest alum contacts/friends are from groups on campus. Since we were already friends (or acquaintances) on campus before they 9823graduated, I always make sure I get their phone number or stay connected to them through Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. I made an effort to check in with them every few months to see how they were doing. Another perk is that since these alums already know me in such a personal capacity, they have been really influential and helpful throughout my time here. I feel very comfortable going to them to ask for both school and “real world” advice. They also are closer to my age so the Princeton experience (both highs and lows) is still pretty fresh for them.

Another important aspect of reaching out to alumni is the help they can give during the job and internship search. Want to speak to someone in a field you are interested in? Want some general career advice? Need help connecting in a new city? Want real job search strategies from a Princetonian? Alumni can help with all of this! Career Services also offers so many other student-alumni engagement programs you can check out: Princeternship, Princeton-in-Washington, the IMAGINE Speaker Series, and Alumni Panel Events based on Industries.

9907If you want some more advice on how you can connect with alumni, make an appointment with a career counselor. A career counselor might be able to give you targeted suggestions based on your needs and interests.

Hope to see you all tonight at Alumni Connections!

Question of the Week # 7: What are some unexpected career paths for liberal arts majors?

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Question of the Week #7: What are some unexpected career paths for liberal arts majors? – Emanuel Castaneda ‘16

As you may know, Emanuel, career paths are not always perfectly linear. For instance, you may not know where you will be career-wise five years down the road.  In From Bullfighting to Finance, Carmen Bermudez gives a great portrait of her career path and shows that where one starts out may not be necessarily where one ends up! With a liberal arts degree, the path to one’s “ultimate” career usually involves many twists and turns. This is primarily because liberal arts majors are extremely well rounded and suited for positions in a variety of industries. Here at Princeton, liberal arts majors aren’t only well versed in their specific major, but they have developed analytical, writing, problem solving, research, and communication skills—all traits that are extremely valuable in today’s job market! Don’t believe me? Check out this great Daily Finance article What Good Is a Liberal Arts Degree in the Job Market?.  Author Vanessa Richardson outlines some great techniques for liberal arts majors as they explore their career options. Here are some highlights from her article:

  • Believe in your degree
  • Sharpen your skills
  • Market your skills
  • Give your skills a boost
  • Draft a portfolio and cover letter that shows off your degree
  • Determine whether you need more education

Another resource that can help you explore some “unexpected career paths” is the Links by Industry page on the Career Services’ website.  Career Services’ posts links to a host of industries that might not be typical for liberal arts majors. Some that really caught my attention were the following: TV, Film, Entertainment, Religion, Sports-related, Manufacturing, Fashion, and Pharmaceuticals & BioTech. The Career Services Annual Report is also a great place to learn about the post-graduation career plans of graduating Princeton seniors.  Students reported accepting positions in fields such as Retail Trade, Health Care & Social Assistance, Information, Educational Services, Construction, Public Administration, and many more! Also included in the 2012 Summer Experience Report that offers a look at the types of summer opportunities Princeton students have pursued. Take a look at these publications to get a better feel for the types of industries hiring Princeton students and graduates.

All career paths can in some ways be deemed “unexpected.” Unless you have very solidified career goals such as going to medical school to become a physician or law school to become a lawyer, there really is no set equation that can predict where you end up. My advice to you is to really use your liberal arts education to become a well-rounded student and person. Take classes that both challenge and interest you. Try to amass and refine your skills so that you can be marketable in the job market later on. In “Strengthen Those Soft Skills” on the SavvyIntern site, author Dave Ellis points out that employers are seeking candidates with the soft skills gleaned through a liberal arts curricula. Seek out opportunities such as extracurricular activities, internships, and even volunteer work where you can further develop these skills, make connections and turn interests into passions. Sometimes the best career information may come from out of the box thinking or unconventional experiences. (For example, take a look at this great article about how one woman’s volunteer experience turned into a career opportunity).  Don’t limit your options—explore them while you are in school so you will plenty of future opportunities to choose from.

Make sure to set up an appointment with a career counselor today to speak one-on-one to someone who can help you get started exploring your interests. There are also lots of programs and resources for freshmen such as you to get the ball rolling. Check out Career Services’ infographic “Freshmen Year: 12 Steps to Begin Your Career Development,” for specific steps you can take now. (In fact, you should consider applying for a Princeternship as a great way for you to get an inside look at different career paths and receive invaluable advice from alumni. Applications are now live on TigerTracks!)

Hope this helps, Emanuel.