Internship-Search Resources

By: Maureen Corbett

If you haven’t started doing so already, you’re behind on the hunt for your perfect internship this summer. Internships are essential professional experiences that help build your resume and allow you to acquire unique skills that are pertinent to your field of study. Not only can an internship teach you what you do and don’t want in a career, but it can give you the opportunity to network with successful professionals and help you build key relationships. I could go on for days about how important it is to gain internship experience before you graduate, which is the main reason why if you haven’t already started looking for one, you better start as soon as you are done reading this blog. Internship searching can be daunting, but with the help of a few resources you will be well on your way to landing the dream job-experience you've always wanted.

1     1. The Purdue LACD Website

The Career Development website has an internship and job-posting tab that will lead you to a plethora of internship information that is readily available to Purdue LA students. The LACD team posts information regarding the requirements of these internships and jobs, as well as contact information and how to apply. The website also contains links to fantastic websites that help you search for internships and full-time employment opportunities, as well as information about upcoming career fairs and company information sessions that take place right on campus.

2       2.  Professional Pathways Newsletter

Every month the LACD team emails out a monthly student newsletter to all liberal arts students containing career related information. This almost always includes newly-posted internship opportunities.  If you missed an email, the LACD website always features the latest edition, so students have no excuse not to read it.

3      3.  Glassdoor.com

Unsure of whether or not you even like the company you are applying to? Glassdoor shares company reviews, salaries for different positions, and interviewing strategies for thousands of businesses across the country. It is a great resource that will provide you with information that students can’t necessarily find in a simple internship details description.

4        4. IndianaINTERN.net

Want to stay in Indiana this summer? This site had thousands of internship openings all across the state, many of which go unfilled every summer. Create an account and start applying now!

5        5. CCO Express

The CCO Express website has endless resources and tools that will allow you to find your perfect internship in a heartbeat. One if its most impressive features is notifying you when new positions in your field open up and make the application process incredibly. Still unsure of how CCO Express works? Attend the “Making the CCO Work for You” workshop during Career Week in February. More information to follow! 

Things I Wish I Knew

By Corinne Feight

As a Resident Assistant at Windsor Halls, I get the unique opportunity to interact with women of all ages—from freshman to sophomores as well as juniors and seniors. Seeing these young girls starting out college for the first time reminds me of when I first came to Purdue. I lived in McCutcheon my first year and it was honestly one of the best years of my life…minus the far walk from campus. Regardless, looking back now, there are so many things I wish I did, wish I had started early, or simply just wish I had known. Two weeks ago, I put on a program for my girls that centered on these ideas, and thought that I would share my senior wisdom via my blog too. I won’t be going into as much detail here, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at cfeight@purdue.edu.

First, I’ll start with more campus-based tips and then move onto jobs and internships. I can probably say that the first thing I heard when I walked onto campus was, “Get involved!” This can definitely seem overwhelming here since we have over 800 student-led organizations and clubs, but it’s important. Don’t discredit what it means to be a part of something. My advice to you is don’t be a hero. Don’t try to join every club you find interesting because you’ll tire yourself out and not really get to know anyone well in the organizations you join. Stick to a few that you are really passionate about and strive to obtain leadership positions. Each organization has to have an Executive Board. Find your fit there and develop close relationships with the Board and the members of the club. This will give you the depth you need on your résumé as well as allow you to gain valuable leadership experience. And don’t forget about the opportunity to expand your network!

Next, and I cannot stress this enough, fill out the campus-wide scholarship form! It takes time…a lot of time, but that is exactly why everyone else isn’t doing it. I have been filling it out every year since I have been here. It’s true the first few years won’t be as rewarding because you don’t have as much to show for yourself. However, once you begin getting that experience and getting involved, you will have a more competitive application. None of my friends ever took the time to fill them out and thus made it easier for me to get the scholarships I was applying for. Believe me, it will be worth your time and effort when the scholarships start rolling in!

You’ve probably heard this over and over again, but it really is true that the job market is about who you know. Figure out now what you want to do and where you want to work then search your network for people who can get you there or people who have the connections that can. This means that while you’re in school…network, network, network! Get to know your professors, especially if you’ll need recommendation letters down the line for grad school or law school. Don’t burn bridges with your friends. Develop a stellar LinkedIn profile, which is easily the most useful job-searching tool of this century. Many previous blogs have talked about its advantages so I’ll just leave you with that. Don’t forget to use Purdue’s Alumni! They want to help you and can be advocates for you down the line in their field. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor. Who doesn’t love to talk about themselves? You just need to go out and find them because they won’t be actively seeking you.

Mostly importantly, you need get an internship. Try to get one in your field. This not only gives you experience, but also allows you to weed out certain aspects of your field that may not align with your interests. Internships are so important because many companies hire directly out of them. This means that it doubles your chances of getting a job after graduation and that it’s that much harder to get into a position when you don’t have an internship. Keep an eye out for things you’re interested in and be persistent! Taking the initiative really goes a long way and will help you set yourself apart when you are shooting for that internship or job.

I like to inspire myself with a quote by Steve Martin: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Find what speaks to you and get started!

Time Constraint

I am presented with an ever increasing need to manage my time effectively. Between graduation, one internship, one job, 15 credits, and three extracurricular activities, time is of the essence in my life.  Not to mention the fact that during all of this I also have my future career to worry about. Effective time management is something I will be working on throughout this semester.

Before I started working on any major task or project with my internship, I sat down with my boss to go over goals. Goals concerning what I wanted and goals she wanted to see me achieve.  One of these goals was the elusive time effective time management.  So I will definitely be working on this to not only boost my ability, but to also show my boss that I care about my job and pushing myself to achieve for better than better.

Here are some tips that I will definitely be following to achieve this goal:

1. Organize, Organize, Organize

I cannot stress how important it is to remain organized or start bettering your current organization skills. Mess and chaos will not only throw you off, but it will also take away time of productivity. An easy solution is to use a planner. They are useful when having to plan for multiple things at once and give a visual representation of what things surround you. I will definitely be utilizing my planner more this semester to stay on track with my assignments and projects.

2. Maintain Body Health

Sleeping, eating healthy, and exercising are important ways to keep your body maintenance at a good level. This will end up helping with lowering stress and keeping a good balance of attitude. Feelings that contribute to being overwhelmed will get in the way of staying on track. A healthy lifestyle can improve your focus and concentration, which will help improve your efficiency so that you can complete your work in less time.

3. Breaks are Encouraged

Now it may seem odd to think that better time management comes from incorporating breaks into a hectic schedule, but it is beneficial to have breaks. Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized. When you need a break, take one. Take a walk. Do some quick stretches at your workstation. Take a day of vacation to rest and re-energize. I have set time goals of how long I can work until I can reward myself with a break. This helps me focus on the needed item for that time limit, then allows for the release of stress and provides a clean slate for the next project to be worked on.

4. Learn to Say No

Sometimes when it comes down to the nitty gritty, patience and understanding is what is necessary. Block out time on your calendar for big projects. During that time, close your door and turn off your phone, pager and email. Friends and events may seem like good breaks, but in the end it pays off to focus on the task at hand. Learning to say no to friends will help keep you on task and on schedule.

Looking Forward

By Sarah-Jean Murray

This semester I am enrolled in a “Professional Practice” class (with one of my favorite professors) which meets once a week and discusses resumes, portfolios and how to get a job after graduation. In our first meeting this past Tuesday, the professor went around the class and asked each of us where we wanted to work after graduation. Many of our answers were vague and generally boiled down to, “Wherever I get a job”. Clearly, as a class of 29 seniors, we are clueless! He showed us that we are completely unprepared for the challenges of the real world. We have gone through college and our design classes completely focused on projects and portfolios but have neglected to do our research on what comes after graduation. Of course we have applied to jobs, updated our resumes and researched for interviews but generally we have not thought about the specifics.

Thankfully this class will be helping us with the process of finding out which companies we want to work for and who works at these companies. Who is the art director? What have they done previously? What kind of work do they do? Knowing these specifics will help us once we get those interviews and are asked questions about why we want to work for the company. Having that knowledge, being prepared and being able to answer those kinds of questions will be far more impressive than having nothing to say or making up something on the fly.

I’m excited to continue my journey towards graduation and even more excited to eventually enter the professional design world!

Personal Branding, Legally Blonde Style

By: Katy Claucherty

Let’s admit it - Legally Blonde is one of our many guilty pleasures. Who doesn't love the determined blonde who decided to go to Harvard out of nowhere – and actually did great? What you might not have realized yet is that Elle Woods can teach us valuable lessons about finding a career through personal branding.

Her Resume

When asked by her professor if she had a resume to submit for his internship program, Elle was able to reach down and pull one out of her bag. Lesson #1: Always carry a resume! You never know who you’re going to run into and network with that can lead to a job opportunity.

If you prefer not to carry resumes everywhere, make sure you keep several business cards in your bag with your name, contact information, and link to your digital portfolio. That way, every professional you give your card to can see your resume, references, writing samples, design skills - everything that's in your portfolio!

Elle’s resume was specifically tailored to a law related position, but remained true to her personal brand. When asked, she was ready to pull out her pink, scented resume out of her bag and give it to her professor.

Her Application Video

While most Harvard applicants would send in a written application essay full of their achievements and what they can offer to the Harvard community, Elle sent in a playful video that really showed off her personality and experiences. For example, she demonstrated her leadership skills and ability to run meetings as her sorority’s president. Elle used her personal experiences to show the admissions board why she was qualified to attend Harvard. Lesson #2: Elle stood out from the rest of the applicants with her pink scented resume and her video application.



Her Degree

Elle got her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Management from UCLA. She got a degree in what she's passionate about and even got to use her knowledge of hair and fashion to win her first case in the courtroom (wearing pink head to toe, of course!).

Lesson #3: Bring something new to the table. Don't just take the required courses for your chosen major. Instead, really diversify and take classes in areas that you are truly passionate about. You never know when your unique interests will come in handy! Having a minor sets you apart from the competition and allows you to possibly work in different careers.


Remember to stay true to who you are – personally and professionally – but still keep your industry in mind. I sincerely doubt sending a bikini application video to Harvard University will result in your acceptance. Tailor your materials (resume, cover letter, business cards) to reflect both your industry and your personal brand. Not everyone can pull off a pink scented resume!

The trick when job searching is to be unforgettable. Make yourself stand out from the crowd of applicants, whether it’s through your experience, a stellar interview, or creative resume and cover letter. From her pink scented resume to her stylish courtroom clothes, Elle Woods is definitely unforgettable.

Graphic Design Job Tips

By: Samantha Werry

Now that my winter break is over, it is time to get back to work. For my blogs last semester, I focused on general career tips and topics. This semester, I wanted to have more of a focus on a specific job and since my major is Visual Communication Design, or Graphic Design, I wanted to focus more of this degree. I wanted to help myself as well as other people in my major who is nervous to graduate.

How do you find your first job? How can you reduce the stress associated with every part of finding the job? These are some typical questions that arise in my mine. Luckily I have had a few internships, so I understand how to do this to some extent, but I have never had to search for a real job before. Below are some tips by providing an overview of the whole process.

Before you can begin.

Everyone needs to understand certain aspects of yourself and the environment to be able to work to you full potential. Some of these are

1. Yourself: your motivations, strengths, and weaknesses;

2. Your work: its nature, style, and variety; and

3. The job market: corporations, design offices, and the wide variety of other businesses that employ graphic designers. Then you can get ready to present yourself and your work in a portfolio.

Overall, make sure you do your research. Do it on yourself, what you can provide, and if the market is good where you are willing to work.

Create a portfolio.

To create a portfolio, only select your best work! The work you chose represents yourself. Since we are in school, everyone has projects they loved and some that they hated. Do not put the bad ones in there if you do not even like it. The people seeing your portfolio might think the same thing and not hire you. It is also a great idea to take advantage of your school when they are holding portfolio review sessions. Go to them! It can never hurt to get fresh eyes on your work.

Resume.

Everyone looking for any job should have a resume, but designers have more creative freedom than others. Now I am not saying to make your resume look like a poster or a part of your work, that is horrible design. You want to keep it simple, with a little something to reflect yourself. Do not make it all graphical. No one can read the resume and employers will throw it out because it has too much going on. Your portfolio is where you should display designs, not your resume. Also, give the facts an employer wants to know and needs to know. It is also another good idea to have a business card ready. There you can show your design style.

In the interview.

The first interview is always the most stressful, so arrange mock interviews with friends to get practice and feedback. Your friends can help you prepare. At the real interview, try to relax and remember to breathe. Once there, interview them as well! Find out if you would fit the company. Be interested in what they are doing. Then tell them how you would benefit their company and what you can do for them. Remember, you are the product. They need you to work there. Not you to work for them. Show them you are the best for them to get.

You got offered a job!

If you get offered the job, do not blurt out “yes” right away. Take your time deciding if this is the job you really want. Do more research on the company to make sure this is what you really want. Also see if you can afford to live where the company is with what they are offering to pay you. Overall, make sure everything can work for you.

Reference: http://justcreative.com/2007/12/30/how-to-get-your-first-job/

The Importance of Giving Thanks

By: Janna Parke

It is common to go into an interview and be polite by giving a firm handshake, looking the interviewer into the eyes, and saying please and thank you. These unspoken rules will help a person to appear polite at the time of the interview, but what about after the interview? Believe it or not, there is one more step you can do in the interview process that could make you stand out. One way to do this is by sending a follow up email. Taking the time to write a short, but effective thank you to your interviewer is a good way to show you are not only polite, but that the time he or she spent interviewing was valuable to you.

Here are some quick tips on writing a thank you letter after an interview from AbleBits:

• Write it promptly. Send out your thank-you letter after the event (for a job interview, you'd better do this within 24-48 hours). You will still be fresh in the interviewers mind, but this is also enough time that shows you also took time to think about how the interview went.
• Make it personal. A standard message will be lost among other job-seekers' letters. Address your letter to one person, not just the company or organization in general, and mention details from the event, it will make your thank-you letter stand out.
• Make it short and stick to the point. Make your letter short, direct, clear and concise.
• Sound natural. Express your gratitude and make the thank-you letter sincere, heartfelt and tactful.
• Proofread it before sending. Always carefully check your spelling and grammar. Errors and typos are unprofessional, but nothing could be worse than misspelling of someone's name. Take a minute to double check the spelling of all names in the letter.
• Hand write, hard copy or e-mail? In general, typed (paper or email) thank you letters are recommended. Some managers, however, like hand written letters. In the tech industry, a thank-you email is appropriate. E-mails are also fine in less formal situations or if time constraints require it.

For the LACD Internship, the follow up email was an essential part of my being hired. The process was in parts: send in a resume and cover letter, a personal interview, then a group interview. After receiving an email that I didn’t make it to the group interview, I decided to thank Lisa for the opportunity and mention that I was interested in any upcoming opportunities. Luckily my email was still open five minutes later, because Lisa quickly responded and invited me back for the group interview that was an hour away. Without that email, I wouldn’t have been considered for a second interview, and I wouldn’t have been hired. Look at how far a simple “thank you” can take you.

Source: http://www.ablebits.com/outlook-templates-phrases/thank-you-letters-samples.php

Making your Resume Stand Out

By: Maureen Corbett

A person’s resume is by far and away the most important tool they can use to market themselves to potential employers. As current college students, I’m sure you have heard this statement more times than you could care to remember. The idea of putting your entire professional life on a single piece of paper can be daunting, and it can be even more intimidating knowing that you have to compete with every other person in the job market. However with the right resources and mind set, you can build a resume that will make you a shoe-in for any position you may want.

Power Verbs

These are key phrases in your resume that employers are looking for that will demonstrate the type of worker you are. Power verbs instill an image of you in a recruiter’s mind that makes them associate you with that word. Verbs such as “managed” “developed” and “organized” at the beginning of your sentences show that you have the necessary leadership experiences and qualifications that would make you the best candidate for the position.

Tailor Your Resume

The worst thing you can do is send the same generic resume to every company you apply at. Make sure you are reading the job descriptions carefully and highlight key traits about yourself that fit those expectations. You can also tailor your resume depending on the kind of job you are searching for. If you are an art and design major, for example, add some graphics that will help build your own personal brand. You can reference the Career Handbook for more information about how to organize the layout of your resume.

Use Your Resources

Have your resume read by many different people! You can schedule a meeting with the Liberal Arts Peer Partners, who are trained to critique student resumes. You can find their schedule information here, or find them in the liberal arts advising office throughout the day Monday through Thursday. The CCO will also review student resumes and provide professional advice as to how to make your resume highlight your skills in the best way possible.

Preparing for the New Semester

By Corinne Feight

Welcome back to campus! Like many of you will agree, I’m sure, break was much too short. I was home for only about two weeks because of my Resident Assistant responsibilities. Not exactly the long and relaxing break I was looking for, but spending time with my family over the holidays was still worth it. We kicked off our intern meeting almost immediately upon our return last Friday to make the new interns (we have three!) feel comfortable and familiar with the objectives of the year and their position on the team. We also delegated out project manager duties for the rest of the semester. I got to speak for about 30 minutes about Career Week and our upcoming goals and expectations. It was exciting to explain it to our team and refresh my memory about the awesome programs we have in the works. As always, there will be a few hiccups along the way, but I am antsy to get started and get back to work in this first week, as there’s still so much to prepare.

However, for those of you who may not have a reason to be too excited for this coming semester, Kendra Cherry from About.com suggests five things you can do to prepare for classes, as it’s much more than just stocking back up on school supplies and textbooks.

1. Establish a Good Sleep Schedule

Remember that you need about seven to nine hours a night! Sleep deprivation will only drag you down, especially if you have early morning classes or exams.

2. Learn to Cope with Stress

Many of the projects and commitments you have at school can stress you out. This can hurt your academics and your personal health. Maintain your stress through outlets like athletics, sleep, music, etc. Find what works for you!   

3. Boost Your Memory

Personalize your studying! Check out this link for some helpful hints: http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/memory_tips.htm

4. Focus on Good Study Skills

Does getting out of your room, house, or apartment work? Head to the library! There are plenty of study spaces on campus where you can clear your head and get to work. If these aren’t for you, find a location where you can be alone and focus on your homework. This place will be invaluable when it comes to exam time. Also, don’t procrastinate!

5. Practice Healthy Eating Habits

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard it before, but it’s the truth. It can really help to jump start your day and your brain. Eating the right foods can make sure that your feeding both your body and your mind. Unhealthy foods have a tendency to drag you down. Take a few minutes a day to think about how you can improve your food intake.

Source: http://psychology.about.com/b/2012/08/21/five-things-you-can-do-to-get-ready-for-next-semester.htm