Tag Archives: blogs

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

Posted on by


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How You Can Use Twitter in Your Job Search

Posted on by

You’re a senior and you don’t have a job. Yet. You spend all evening combing job sites such as Tiger Tracks, hoping to find that opportunity that speaks to you. You send in cover letter upon cover letter and resume after resume, all to your dismay. No response.  Why not try something new? As an early twenty-something, odds are you use social media on a daily basis. As a senior, you have probably started to manage your online presence and reputation. Why not use Twitter as a job search tool? Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging platform that job seekers can use to connect with and follow other professionals, recruiters, hiring managers, and leaders in their industry or field. Check out these awesome tips on how you can use Twitter to spice up and expand your job search.

  1. Create a professional profile. You want to distinguish between your public Twitter and your professional Twitter. You don’t want the conversations you have with your friends about unprofessional things available to potential employers. Save yourself the hassle. Make a professionally- focused Twitter account.
  2. Make sure your Twitter name is professional. You can use your full name or a combination of name and profession. For example, my twitter handle might be @RanatheMarketer.
  3. Make sure your profile picture reflects your professionalism. For example, I might have a picture of me in an office setting. A professional headshot could also work. Just make sure the image you select denotes the image you want to present to people looking at your profile.
  4. Make sure your profile information includes the top skills you can offer. You also want to include the type of opportunity you are looking for. If possible, add links to your professional website and/or Linkedin.  You can also link to other profiles or hashtags that reflect your skills.
  5. Tweet links to interesting articles about your field or professional. Recruiters may be searching the site to see who is talking about what. Also, use this platform to broadcast samples of your work or any other information that reflects your interest. For example, I may share an article I found about how to market company Facebook profiles. Someone who follows me may be interested and grateful for the share.
  6. Follow the leaders in your industry. Use the Twitter “search” and “find people” tools to look up people within your industry’s network. I may search “marketing managers in the NYC area” and see what comes up. Or, if you find an interesting article, you may directly tweet this to one of them. Who knows? This person may tweet you back, acknowledging your tweet. This is great way to network online! Also, don’t be afraid to retweet what someone else has shared. RETWEET, RETWEET, RETWEET.
  7. Follow organizations, companies, and lists that are in your area of interest. Look for interesting tweetchats or tweetups to join. Tweetchats are pre-arranged chats that happen on Twitter through tweets that include a predefined hashtag to link tweets in the form of a virtual conversation.
  8. Search and follow hashtags in your industry to stay current. One of the most important things you want to do is stay up to date on the industry buzz. Knowing what’s hot in your industry will be invaluable when reaching out to recruiters online. Hashtags can also be used to find jobs. For examples, employers recruiting Princeton students on Twitter are encouraged to use the tag #hiretigers when sharing content. Make sure that #hiretigers is one of your saved searches so you can receive updates when someone out there in the Twitter world is looking for a tiger to hire!

I hope you find these tips useful. Want more advice? Click here to see a list of the top 25 Twitter accounts you should be following as a job seeker!

Welcome to Fall 2012!

Posted on by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How I Spent My Last Summer at CBS!

Posted on by

For the past four summers, I have had the opportunity to intern for CBS Corporation in New York City.  This summer was extremely interesting, not only because it was my last summer as an intern, but because of the exciting and challenging experiences that came my way!

In a nutshell, for the first half of the summer, I spent my last summer at CBS watching a lot of TV! As a business development intern,  I was given the task of analyzing programming and commercial loads across the four main  broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC) video on demand platforms. The aim of the project was to find ways that CBS could increase its video on Demand presence and remain competitive in the on demand world. It was basically my task to find out how CBS could make its on demand business better. The video on demand providers that I used to watch network content were Comcast, Verizon Fios, and Time Warner Cable. At first, the project seemed a bit daunting. How do I find a way to keep track of what was being made available across networks and platforms? With the help of the Vice President of Business Development and one of the Research Analysts, I was able to make a master spreadsheet that I used to input the data I collected.  It was a time intensive project, but very rewarding. At the end of my seven weeks with Business Development, I presented my findings to a group of executives within the department. I offered my recommendations on how CBS could use the current video on demand landscape to make its own business better.

I spent the summer learning about….

  • Programming/content trends. Not all broadcast networks make all of their content available via on demand. This can be for a host of reasons (production company contracts, syndication issues, etc). Some networks also only make certain “dayparts” available. Dayparts are split into categories such as “daytime”, “primetime”, and “late night”. This was eye opening to me because I once thought networks make EVERYTHING available on demand.
  • Ad Trends. I learned the difference between ad loads that were C+3 and Day 4 Forward (If you are not sure what this means….Google it! It’s a lot to explain).

For the second half of the summer, I interned with CBS Watch! Magazine.  As a Watch! Intern I helped with the day-to-day operations of running a magazine. This meant attending daily edit meetings, helping secure and track artwork, and preparing mock ups to be presented to section editors. I, along with two other interns, had the task of preparing social media content to be posted on our Facebook page. Other intern tasks included assisting at photo shoots. This summer I got to attend three, my favorite being an early morning shoot at Bergdorf Goodman with Anna Sophia Robb, the star of the CW’s Carrie Diaries. This was extremely exciting because we got to work in the iconic Bergdorf before it opened to the public. I loved working with the different CBS stars and their publicists. At first, it was a bit intimidating but then I ultimately realized that celebrities are just like every day/normal people.

When my summer came to an end, it was a bit bittersweet. I realized that I would probably never be an intern again. I was able to experience so many new things while learning so much about my own strengths and weaknesses, which to me was a great way to spend my last summer at CBS!

At the end of the summer, I was approached to write a blog for the CBS Diversity site about my four summers at CBS as well as my participation in the Emma Bowen Foundation program. Click here to check it out!

Are you ready for Career Fair 2012?

Posted on by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Princeton Alumni are a Great Resource

Posted on by

Last Friday, Danny Steiner ’10 spoke about Careers in Hollywood. It is great to meet alumni who can provide insight into the opportunities available to students. Career Services offers several options for connecting with alumni in your field. Here are your choices:

  1. Networking events. Career Services hosts several events specifically designed for students to network with alumni. Last Friday’s Careers in Social Entrepreneurship, for example, was part panel and part networking. Every fall they host an “Alumni Connections” event and networking receptions are held at regional alumni clubs every summer. Students have the opportunity to interact with several alumni at all of these events–not just one given speaker. These events are great ways to meet many people in your chosen field.
  2. Solo speakers. I’ve yet to go to a Career Services “Careers-in” event where the speaker didn’t spend a few extra minutes afterwards to talk to individual attendees. While it’s not the specific purpose of an event like Careers in Hollywood, asking questions of the speaker is a way to show interest in his field. Worst-case scenario, you learn more about a career that interests you; best case–you get a business card with an email address.
  3. Finding alumni on your own. The Alumni Careers Network is a great place to start. It’s a searchable database of nearly 5000 Princeton alumni who have volunteered to help students that’s run by TigerNet, another great resource. With the ACN, you can search by degree, employer, or job title. Some alumni make themselves available just to give general information, but others offer assistance on finding jobs or internships. All you have to do is send that first email.

While Career Services provides many ways to get to know alumni, all of them have one thing in common–the student has to take the initiative. For more tips on exactly what to say and where to look, visit the Career Services’ page on developing contacts here.

 

Interested in Law School?

Posted on by

Career Services co-hosted the Law School Preview last night with the Firestone Library in order to give students an idea of what their legal future might hold. For someone like myself, whose knowledge of law school comes from The Paper Chase and Legally Blonde, the preview was an eye-opening experience.

The preview opened with a small talk from David Hollander, who is Firestone’s legal librarian. Hollander introduced the future legal students in the room to the phrase “the magic of legal research,” and provided information on researching the law. Hollander practiced law for three years, and he said that knowledge of primary (court cases, executive regulations, and statutes) and secondary (Law Review, treatises) sources was essential for every law student.

The majority of the preview was conducted by Michael Herz, a fellow in Princeton’s program in Law and Public Affairs (LAPA). Herz explained that he would be simulating an “ordinary class,” though he wouldn’t focus on the Socratic method, a formerly popular method of teaching law. Instead, he said that the class would be “having a conversation, less that [I’m] grilling you or testing you, or humiliating you.” The reports of ultra-scary law professors (think The Paper Chase) apparently have been greatly exaggerated.

The twenty or so students attending the preview had received a packet of cases upon registering for the preview. Case law, Hollander had previously explained, created precedents but not statutes.

Among points covered in the discussion of the cases were the three elements needed to understand a case: the outcome, the justifications for that outcome, and the legal rule that could be extracted. “You don’t know what a case means until you’ve seen it applied,” Herz said. In the discussion, students were asked to look for “meaningful distinctions” between cases, or, alternatively, to look for cases where the same justifications could be applied. In this way, students learned how lawyers consider cases related or unrelated.

This is Career Service’s fourth year hosting the Law School Preview, but you don’t need to wait until it comes around next year to learn more about law school. Keep an eye out for the alumni panel “What Kind of Law Will You Practice?” (Tuesday, April 3, 7:00 pm at Career Services), or schedule an appointment with Lyon Zabsky, the career counselor in charge of pre-law advising and all other things law-related!

Salzman ’07: Tip for Future Social Entrepreneurs, “Think Big!

Posted on by

Social entrepreneur Alex Salzman ’07 spoke Wednesday night as part of the Imagine series hosted by Career Services. Rather than speak specifically about his business ventures, Salzman spoke about personal habits he has adapted and engaged in dialogue with the intimate audience.

Salzman opened by asking students what their majors and what their passions were. Individual answers often contained no overlap, and students’ passions ranged from social justice to surfing. Economics majors in the audience explained they were there to explore options beyond investment banking, and Salzman, an economics major himself, empathized.

A Toronto native, he came to Princeton looking for something beyond achieving a perfect 4.0. His high school years had been academic, he said, and “to do it all over again doesn’t seem logical.” Students in the audience agreed. “Oh God, is [college] going to be like high school all over again?” said one, admitting that this was a fate she wanted to avoid.

At Princeton, Salzman lived the entrepreneurial life. Not one to pursue extracurriculars like Triangle or DiSiac, Salzman was able to take a leave of absence as an underclassman to assist in the launch of TerraCycle, Inc. Beyond these activities, Salzman said he was also grateful for the connections he made through Princeton, saying he had found “trusted mentors” through the Princeton Entrepreneurs Network, which he is currently working to reboot.

Several of the personal habits Salzman shared are applicable to the daily grind at Princeton. He is an advocate of meditation and suggests that students build 90-day plans to accomplish goals. A year, he said, is too long, but 30 days is too short. He advised that students view their lives holistically, balancing day-to-day routine with the big picture.

To close, Salzman re-stressed the importance of taking initiative in one’s daily life and not waiting until graduation to begin big projects. To learn more about Salzman’s current business, including what he calls “an eHarmony for business,” visit www.viscapfunds.com. In the meantime, think about what dream projects you have for yourself, because Princeton is more than just the diploma. “Oh God, is [college] going to be like high school all over again?” Only if you don’t do anything about it.

One final note, if you are interested in learning more about social entrepreneurship, don’t miss the Nonprofit Fair and Social Entrepreneur Panel tomorrow!

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

Posted on by

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.