Come so far, got so far to go

by Rachel

So it's my first blog post, yay! As my second full month as a CCI here at the CPDC (we love our acronyms!) draws to a close, I've been reflecting back on how far I've come.  Today, at the suggestion of one of the career consultants, I made a spread sheet to keep track of how many appointments and what type of appointments I've had so far.  I've only been seeing students on my own for two weeks, but I've already had 9 students! Then I counted up the resumes I reviewed before the Fall EOC, and realized I had reviewed 17 in the month of September.  It seems with every appointment something comes up that I'm not entirely sure of the answer, but I'm starting to realize that this isn't a job that I could learn from a book or from power points; at a certain point you have to jump right in and learn baptism by fire style.  Looking at these numbers, I realize that while I still may have a lot to learn, what I have learned is starting to weigh heavier on the scales.

While I'm helping to guide students on their way to having successful careers, I'm also realizing this internship is helping me develop my own career.  An area I've always struggled is asking for help when I've needed to. I'm learning, especially in the career field, that there's always someone that can help you come up with another resource and a different angle to look at a student's issue from.  Even with everyday tasks, I have umpteen great resources right outside my door to help me expand my knowledge.  Even if career services isn't the direction that I ultimately go in student affairs, the skills I'm developing in this office will help me wherever I go.

The Secret to Finding the Perfect Job

by Jake

No Pandora today, instead I'm streaming the new Manchester Orchestra album, Simple Math.

Okay, everyone, I'm ready to share the secret.  I've been searching, applying, and interviewing for full time Student Affairs jobs since December.  I've been following SA Tweeters, reading their blogs, and reading the blogs they read.  I've had my ear to the ground and turned over every stone (except heavy ones).  At the end of the day, I've found an answer...

There is no secret.

Sorry, y'all, but it's the truth.  Construct the perfect resume.  Write the perfect cover letter.  Apply to the perfect job in the perfect location.  At the end of the day, you will be united with the right job.

There is no perfection.

Every job will have its downside to go with its upside.  Every location will lack something.  Every supervisor will have a flaw.  There really is no such thing as a perfect job.  Sorting through those flaws to find the best fit is how we determine which job is the right job.

Every resume and cover letter will be viewed differently.  One person on the search committee may value a creative resume with superb writing while another will be in search of facts and content.  One person may prefer your experience as an RA while others may be more interested in your first prize for raising sheep for wool during your internship in Scotland.  Why put in the job description that I should have a sense of humor if I can't make sarcastic remarks in my cover letter?  Dates on the right or the left?  Who cares!

This internship is ending and I'd like to share the one thought that reigns supreme in the career search and the search for meaning at-large:

Be true to yourself.

Let's face it, search committees can sift through the BS, so why bother giving it to them.  If you don't want to work by yourself, then apply for jobs where you'll work on teams.  If you can't stand working outside the city, then apply to jobs in metropolitan areas.  If you are allergic to cats, then avoid the apprenticeship with the cat farm down the street.

You'll land the job that fits because you genuinely want to do that work in that place with those people.  Some of us may have to settle for a less-glamorous job at the start, but keep shooting higher and higher because that great fit may only be an application away.

An Introduction of Sorts

by Jake

Today's Pandora station:  The Strokes

Oh hello!  My name is Jake.  You can read about me in the About Jake section, naturally.

Today is Wednesday, the first of my three-day week as an intern in CMU's Career and Professional Development Center.  It's hard to drag myself out of bed on Wednesdays (you know, my Monday).  I don't have to get up early for anything Sat-Tues, so Wednesday is the toughest.  I also bike to work, or walk in the winter, so the single-digit temperatures today made my electric blanket seem like heaven this morning.  There's no better way to become alert in the morning than by walking a mile and a half in 8 degree breezes, though.  I think that's the main reason I can avoid coffee all day!

Today is not like normal Wednesday because my schedule is full of appointments with students preparing for tomorrow's career fair, the Employment Opportunities Conference (EOC).  I've been busy all day since my first appointment at 9am and I'll be working til the (my) bell at 3:30.  My appointments today are almost exclusively to help students prepare their resume for tomorrow's phenomenon that is a career fair.  Most of the students today met with me last week and wanted to schedule time to review their adjustments, so the second half of our appointment is usually an explanation of what tomorrow will be like.

Shake hands.  Smile.  Eye contact  Suit and tie.  What's your year?  What's your major?  Why do you want to work for us?  What are some projects you've done?  Scan the room.  Map out your route.  Make sure to do your research!  You'd better know what internships Google is offering before you give them your "elevator speech"!

It's a game, the career search.  Not only do you have to do impressive things to put on the resume, but you have to present it well, along with a cover letter, then clean up and present yourself well at the career fair.  Maybe then you'll get an interview! 

Then there's the interview.  Do it all again.  Be ready to map out your biggest strength and weakness.  Think about a time you faced adversity and overcame.  Can I talk about when I played on a sprained ankle in the state championship?  Or maybe when I was paired with the lazy kid in class for our final project?  I don't know if "not killing your partner" really counts as "overcoming adversity"...

It's all a game that we have to master.  We are all salesmen when it comes to the job market, which is why everyone has to be able to communicate well, no matter your field. 

The most interesting aspect for me is that I'm on both sides right now.  I'm telling students how to prepare for the job search, but I'm job-searching myself as graduation approaches.  I look forward to sharing part of that journey with you, so you might figure out your own path.

Give the advice, then take your own.  Hopefully I'm giving good advice.