Tag Archives: Question of the Week

Question of the Week #3: How can I find an internship over the summer as a sophomore?

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“How can I find an internship over the summer as a sophomore?”
– Nonny Okwelogu ‘15

Great question, Nonny! First of all, I want to let you know that it is not too late to find a summer internship as a sophomore! Sophomore year is an interesting time to be a student. This is the year when you are narrowing down your major choices and finding out what you really want to focus on during your future here at Princeton. Don’t limit yourself, per se, but take this year to really explore the range of opportunities open to you as a sophomore. You may find that many of your junior friends have already secured summer internships or are well on the path to securing one. Don’t let that discourage you. Career Services has many resources that will help you find an internship that fits you. Here are some resources here at Career Resources that you can utilize in your internship search!

  • Attend the Summer Internship Fair/Nonprofit Fair on February 15, 2013, from 1-3 pm in the Frist Multipurpose room. There will be a host of companies in attendance that are looking for eager future interns such as yourself. This will be a great time to network with professionals and learn about opportunities that are available to you. Not sure how to prepare for the fair? Click here for a link to our website that can help you prepare for the fair!
  • Create a profile on TigerTracks and start searching for internships there! TigerTracks is Princeton’s online system with current postings of internships, fellowships, and full-time jobs. Alumni and employers who are seeking candidates from Princeton are encouraged to post here.  In addition to searching for postings, you can research employers, upload and store application documents, apply for positions, and sign up for on campus interviews.  I encourage you to make the most of this tool!
  • Sign up for an account on UCAN, a shared online system just for internships! Its postings are geographically diverse and include opportunities that you may not be able to find on TigerTracks. As someone seeking an internship, it is in your best interest to sign up today and start checking out the internships being posted.
  • Check out the Finding an Internship webpage on the Career Services’ website. This page lists all the steps that you can take to really prepare for finding an internship. Some of the tips include:
    –  Identifying internship programs in a variety of industries
    –  Preparing a cover letter and resume
    –  Talking directly with employers
    –  Reaching out to and connecting with alumni…. and much more!
  • Check out the resources by industry page of our website for specific links within your area of interest.  There are dozens of industries listed and hundreds of helpful resources.
  • One of the most critical things that you should do is make an appointment with a career counselor as soon as possible. They can help you plan an internship search strategy that is specific to your needs. If you have a specific area of interest, try meeting with a career counselor who specializes in that area. For example, Abbey Racelis is our arts and nonprofit counselor, and can help you find out about opportunities available in these fields. Make sure you schedule an appointment online or call our office during normal business hours at 609-258-3325. Our counselors are here to help you no matter what step of the process you are in.

Nonny, I hope you found this information to be very useful. I wish you the best finding an internship! I know you can do it!

Question of the Week # 2: After seniors graduate, what kind of access do they have to Career Services’ resources?

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“Once seniors graduate, how much access do we get to Career Services’ resources?”
– Diana Li ‘12

Great question, Diana! Have no fear, Career Services will still be here for you once you graduate. Career Services is here to help you as a new alum and even when you become an experienced professional in the process of redefining or changing your career. In this blog post, I’ll identify the key Career Services resources that will be available to you as a new alum once you graduate in 2013.

  1. Career Services Appointments.  You will still be able to make Career Services appointments to meet with career counselors. You can either have an appointment in person or make an appointment to have a phone or Skype conversation with a counselor. Counselors are able to help you at whatever stage of your career.
  2. Another great resource that is still available to alum is our great Pre- Law Advising.  Our prelaw advisor is available to help you with all your law school questions and needs. You can make an appointment to speak by phone or in the office.
  3. Access to Tiger Tracks Alumni Portal.  As an alum, you still have access to Tiger Tracks, our online job-posting portal–however, you will now have access to the “alumni portal.” In fairness to each graduating class, the student portal is available only while you are an active student. This is why it is important to take advantage of the all of Career Services’ resources now, while you are still in school. After graduation, you will be allowed to access job postings that have been designated for alumni.
  4. Alumni Careers Network.  All Princeton alum have access to the Alumni Careers Network. This is a great Internet database of alumni who volunteered to offer career advice for students and fellow alumni. It is actually one of the most popular resources used by students and alumni. There are over 4,600 alumni volunteers worldwide. In an email introduction, you should mention that you found their name on the ACN and ask if they would be available to answer a few questions you had about their industry, organization or role. Be sure to have specific questions and to thank them in advance for their time and consideration.
  5. Credentials Files. Career Services offers a file storing service for your letters of recommendation and can send them out upon your request. This service is especially convenient for those applying to several schools with letters from multiple recommenders, or for those students and alumni who intend to apply in future years. Students and alumni who are interested in applying to any kind of graduate or professional school, as well as fellowships, scholarships, and special nominated internships should consider using this service. Please note,  The Credentials File Service is only for letters for graduate and professional schools—not employers. Your file will be maintained free of charge while you are a student at the University and for one year after graduation.
  6. Website. One of the greatest resources Career Services provides is its fabulous website—chuck full of helpful advice and resources! Log on to  www.princeton.edu/career and explore the site. There is so much career- related advice and resources directly on the website that can help you answer any career question you have. You can access this site from anywhere, which is why it is so great. In particular, you should browse the career resources under “links by industry.”
  7. Career Services Events.  If you are ever in the Princeton area, you are always welcome to come to any Career Services event or panel, including our annual career fairs.
  8. Alumni Partnering. One of the greatest things about being a Princeton alum is the opportunity to give back to the Princeton community. Here are the ways that you can be involved with Career Services post graduation. Click here for more detailed information.
  • Join the Alumni Careers Network to volunteer to help students and alumni with career advice and networking opportunities
  • Host a Princeternship. Want to take a Tiger under your professional wing? Princeternships are a great way to partner with current students and help them figure out what career is right for them.
  • Speak on Career Panels & Attend Networking Receptions. We actively seek alum to come back to campus and speak at our Career Services panels and networking events. Don’t forget about us when you graduate!

Diana, I hope I have answered your question. As a fellow senior, I think a lot of students might be wondering what happens after graduation. I would encourage you (and all seniors) to set up an appointment with a career counselor asap to review your job search strategy and make sure you are on track before we enter our final semester here at Princeton (if you haven’t already done so!).

Question of the Week

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Can Career Services help me find career opportunities other than the ones posted on Tiger Tracks? – Jason Warrington ‘13

Such a great question, Jason! Career Services offers a host of ways to find out about career opportunities other than the ones posted on Tiger Tracks! In fact, our website is the number one place to go if you need more help with finding opportunities. Check out the following tips. I’m sure they’ll help out a lot!

  1. Use the Career Services website to search job opportunities by INDUSTRY at http://www.princeton.edu/career/about_us/online-resources/by-industry/.  This is a great resource to browse different opportunities depending on the industry you are interested in.
  2. Create a professional LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is a great resource for college students and alumni to build professional networks. It can also be used to learn about industry trends and research potential employers and opportunities. LinkedIn users can subscribe to job boards and groups. For example, I am subscribed to a social media job board. Whenever there are new postings, I get a customized email notifying me of “jobs I may be interested in.”  Our career counselors can help you set one up!
  3. Attend Career Services Events. Each semester Career Services hosts more than 100 programs and events. Attending these events is a great way to find out about opportunities that are not on TigerTracks. Events range from career panels and alumni speakers to company presentations and career fairs. Even more, they are a great way to network with other students and professionals who may be able to connect you with more opportunities. Check out our event calendar today!
  4. Alumni Networking.  One of the best ways to learn about career opportunities and to receive career advice is to get in contact with our wonderful Princeton alum! The Alumni Careers Network (ACN) portal is a great way to search alum by industry and profession.  There are over 4,000 volunteers worldwide who can be used as a resource when considering a career or for general networking within a specific field.
  5. Make an appointment with one of our career counselors who can provide customized job search strategies for each of the students they see.  Visit Princeton.edu/career for online scheduling or call our office at (609) 258-3325 to make an appointment today!

As you can see, Jason, TigerTracks is not the only Career Services’ resource that you can use to research career opportunities. It’s actually just one of many. Remember, the job search is a process and Career Services is here to help you.

If you have a question about Career Services you would like answered, feel free to contact me at recampbe@princeton.edu and I will do my best to assist you!