Why You Should Consider A Career As A PT?

Love the healthcare industry but unsure of your place in it?  Consider becoming a physical therapist, one of the fastest growing careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Here are just a few of the reasons to think about this rewarding career:

  1. Physical therapists have the ability to make a significant impact on people’s lives in both a personal and physical way. A crucial part of being a physical therapist is to foster a kind, welcoming, and safe environment so that patients can have better recovery. 
  2. Physical therapists are very active, spending a lot of time moving with their patients and doing other physical activities.
  3. This profession is one of the fastest growing careers, providing significant job security.
  4. According to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, in 2021, the median annual salary for PTs in the United States was $95,620.
  5. There are a range of spaces in which PTs can work including, but not limited to, hospitals and outpatient facilities. 
  6. There are many opportunities to travel in the profession.
  7. Because this profession usually works in the normal business hours, it allows for more exploration of other aspirations and interests as well as personal activities like spending time with loved ones

 

For more information about PT and why you should consider being one, see the links below:

Is Physical Therapy a Good Career? | University of St. Augustine

11 Reasons to Become a Physical Therapist | Indeed.com

Admissions Process for Doctor of Physical Therapy Education Programs | APTA

Physical & Occupational Volunteer Opportunities

 

Take a Deep Breath: The Internship Search Does Not Have to be (so) Stressful!

Needless to say, stress is high right now. What’s an easy way to escape? Well, for a lot of us, we seek relaxation in mindless scrolling on social media. Professor Ong tells us in The Science of Well-being (HD 3490 — highly recommend!) that this habit actually has the opposite effect on our welfare. In fact, it’s best to take a break from examining others’ highlight reels to actively disconnect from stressors (both academic and social). Whether that relaxation comes from going on a walk, reading for pleasure, or hanging with friends, make sure to find that time and that activity that works for you — your body and mind needs to relax (just as much as it needs that second cup of coffee). 

But while you do engage in those inevitable scrolls through social media, LinkedIn can be especially nerve-wracking. It is crucial to remember that while it seems like all of your peers are posting that they accepted an internship offer, that a). this is not everyone — all industries recruit on their own timelines, and b). they are NOT posting their rejections! So, as you peruse LinkedIn, try to keep on your blinders — that is, try not to compare yourself to others. As best you can, try to use the app as a means of networking, making connections, and learning about potential opportunities of interest, rather than as a reference point for yourself against others. 

If you find it too hard to limit yourself from comparison on LinkedIn, but still want to surf for new internships and job opportunities, consider devoting some screen time to Handshake and CUeLINKS instead. You’ll extract the same benefit of gathering job openings of interest without the cost of social pressure through seeing your peers’ achievements. (Full disclosure: I probably spend almost as much time sifting through Handshake opportunities as I do Instagram nowadays — and I have a few interviews coming up thanks to this hobby!)

In addition to the opportunities you may find online, the CEC has just updated our major-specific internship guides — perfect for Summer 2022! Also, in mid-December, we will be releasing more summer opportunities from our Human Ecology Alumni Association, so keep an eye out for these roles next month. In all, keep working hard, but remember your body and mind need sleep and relaxation. We’re almost at Thanksgiving Break … you got this!!

The Ugly Side of Hiring

A gold scale
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo

As much as we would like to believe that the job market is equitable, it’s not. As much as we would like to believe that hiring managers are unbiased, it’s not. As much as we would like to believe that the USA is based on a meritocracy, it’s not. 

 

In the society we live in, nearly everyone eventually enters the job market to make an income that can sustain themselves. Unfortunately, this process is not kind to everyone, nor does it treat people of different demographics equally. This blog post is intended to highlight some of the subconscious inequalities that plague the job market today, the possible reasons behind the unfairness, and why you should always send in an application even if you feel underqualified. 

 

1. Hiring managers have very little time to screen thousands of resumes, so they feel the need to make snap judgements. 

In 2018, a study by Ladders Inc. has shown that on average, hiring managers only look at resumes for 7.4 seconds [1]. This leaves a ton of room for error and bias, and goes even beyond skimming. As such, many recruiters use snap judgements to decide what pile a resume should end up in. The smallest detail can be enough to put them off, such as a second page, a missed bullet point, or a spelling error, but also subconscious filters. 

 

2. Sometimes, hiring managers are looking for someone with a particular skill/skillset.

I have had this told to me using the analogy of an orchestra: If only the tuba player is retiring that year and the orchestra is hosting auditions, it does not matter if you are the best trumpet player in the world who has also cured cancer and saved the world from mutually assured destruction, because the orchestra does not need a trumpet player. However, the audition may have been generally sent out to all musicians. Similarly, in the job market and hiring process, only a few positions may be open, with requirements or skills that are not always explicitly stated. Sometimes, these needs might not have been shared with whomever wrote the job description. It is not your fault that you did not have that particular skill. 

For this reason, when there is one, it is always worth it to pay close attention to the job description, because companies will have tried to be honest about exactly what skills they are looking for. Even then, such lists might be incomplete, or simply inaccurate, as plenty of people are hired without fully meeting the job description. When possible, this is also why it is important to attend information sessions and network within the company, because both could reveal insider information about what the company is lacking or what the company culture is like.

 

3. Unfortunately, racism and sexism are very much still alive in the hiring process, even though it is less overt than ever. 

Several audit studies have shown that hiring managers evaluate female and male candidates differently. While there is little to no relationship between call-back likelihood and GPA for male candidates, there is an inverse U relationship for women—i.e. Women of moderate GPAs (B-average) were most likely to be called back [2]. Women with low and high GPAs were both called back less often, at similar call-back rates. It appears that while likeability was the most important trait for women, competence and commitment were most important for men [2]. It was hypothesized that high-achieving women were perceived as uptight and thus, lacking likeability. Such inequalities are absolutely not your fault. 

There are also similar studies that have examined race. For example, a meta-analysis of several studies shows that on average, white people receive 36% more callbacks than black people [3]. People are judged most commonly through their name, which most people are born with. 

West campus of Cornell, as seen from the slope

4. Where you go to school matters. While Cornell is a prestigious institution, it is not a super-elite university. 

School prestige also plays a huge role in the resume screening process [4]. Rivera et al. have found that many investment banking and law firms classify schools into target and core schools. More students are recruited from the core, or super-elite schools, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Wharton Business School of Penn University, and more money is spent on the recruitment process there, for events like coffee chats and interview prep workshops. This practice stems from a belief that super-elite universities have already pre-screened their students heavily, and that students from “second-tier” schools are only there because they could not get into the super-elite schools. As well, there is the belief that a student from a super-elite institution will be more likely to become someone influential, and it would be good for the firm to network with these people and be associated with them. While students are also recruited from target schools like Cornell and the other Ivies, far less money is spent on recruitment and far less students are taken. Students from non-target or core schools have little to no chance at all, because all of the spots can typically be filled by students from these two types of schools. 

Unfortunately, the college admissions process is also unfair. More than ⅔ of students at Harvard come from the top income quintile (top 20%) [5]. By receiving prestigious entry-level jobs with high incomes, these students are given a leg up over students who were not hired. Thus, the hiring process is also a system that reproduces income inequality. 

 

5. A person’s history gives them different amounts of cultural and social capital, so people are at different stages of learning the “hidden curriculum”. 

Cultural capital is defined as knowledge, behaviour, and skills that a person can use to signal their social status and competence. It often manifests as familiarity with unspoken norms—ex. Knowledge that it is important to send a thank you email after an interview—and it is gained primarily through one’s social network, family, and environment, so the most useful kinds of cultural capital can differ by place. It can dramatically impact a hiring manager’s impression of you when unfortunately, some people were simply born into situations that allowed them to accrue the right kinds of cultural capital while others were not. For example, immigrants are often disadvantaged, having accrued cultural capital that allowed them to succeed in their previous country, but not their new one. 

Social capital is similar, but it is more about who you know, your network and connections. Certain connections are more valuable than others, as it has been found that people of lower economic status are more socially isolated [6]. Research has found that networks are more important than competence when it comes to job searching, and numbers range from ⅓ to 85% of jobs are the result of personal connections [7]. Regardless of the exact figure, connections appear to be highly useful. Learning cultural and social capital are as much a part of college as any academic learning, forming the hidden curriculum.

 

6. The person reviewing your application or interviewing you will have their own personal biases, but who reviews your application is left up to chance. 

Though it may be obvious, it is still worth noting that there is an element of pure chance in the hiring process. Hiring managers will resonate with different types of people, who are involved in different activities. It may just happen that a hiring manager has the same hometown as the candidate, the same extracurriculars, or perhaps they were in the same sorority in university. Under a system where hiring managers have only seconds to review resumes, these points of similarity can be pivotal for making a candidate memorable, and in an interview, they may be the spark that allows the interviewer to develop a connection with the candidate. 

Often, hiring managers look for candidates who are like them, who will fit in with company culture. Unfortunately, this usually means someone of similar demographics. Thus, it may be worth it to consider the demographics of the company that you are applying for, and how that might also boost or harm your chances. This also manifests itself with extracurricular activities, as there are certain barriers to engaging with them which have to do with a person’s demographics. For example, in the world of investment banking, some hiring managers  consider rowing more valuable than ping pong because it is perceived as being more athletically intensive, even though it is also less accessible due to being a very expensive sport [4]. Part of the reason why this bias developed could be because many people who work in investment banking were rowers themselves in high school, but not ping pong players.

 

Despite all of these inequities, however, it’s not all doom and gloom. I hope that that has not been your main takeaway! While it is true that there are many things wrong with the current US hiring system, I do not mean to discourage you from applying to jobs. In fact, I hope that this only shows that the system was not built to be fair, and rejections should not be personal attacks on your character. In fact, I think knowing about this unfairness shows that there is an element of luck to the process. While it is easier for everything to align for some demographics compared with others, you never know when they will, so it is still worth doing the best you can and giving it a try. 

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

 

P.S. I think many of these same thoughts can be applied to both the Cornell club application processes and the internship application process! Keep your head held high, don’t sweat it. 

 

References

  1. O’Donnell, R. (2018). Eye tracking study shows recruiters look at resumes for 7 seconds. HR Drive. https://www.hrdive.com/news/eye-tracking-study-shows-recruiters-look-at-resumes-for-7-seconds/541582/#:~:text=revealed that the time recruiters,an average of 7.4 seconds.
  2. Quadlin, N. (2018). The Mark of a Woman’s Record: Gender and Academic Performance in Hiring. American Sociological Review, 83(2), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122418762291
  3. Quillian, L., Pager, D., Hexel, O., & Midtbøen, A. H. (2017). Meta-analysis of field experiments shows no change in racial discrimination in hiring over time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(41), 10870–10875. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706255114
  4. Rivera, L. A. (2011). Ivies, extracurriculars, and exclusion: Elite employers’ use of educational credentials. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 29(1), 71–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2010.12.001
  5. At Home with Harvard: Inequality in America | Harvard Magazine. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2020, from https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2020/06/at-home-with-harvard-inequality-in-america
  6. Algren MH, Ekholm O, Nielsen L, Ersbøll AK, Bak CK, Andersen PT. Social isolation, loneliness, socioeconomic status, and health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark: A cross-sectional study. SSM Popul Health. 2020;10:100546. Published 2020 Jan 20. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100546
  7. McClear, S. (2019). How will you find your next job? Networking, probably. Ladders. https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/how-will-you-find-your-next-job-networking-probably

 

Disclaimer: Of course, all of these points should be taken with a grain of salt! Contact Angella Lee (al2354@cornell.edu) if you have problems with anything in this article. Several of these studies point out that experiences still vary by major, and most of these studies were US-based. We are happy to look into specific majors and industries upon request—book an appointment with us, and feel free to ask about our specific experiences.

Remote Internship Opportunities for Summer 2020

Looking for a remote internship for the summer? We have highlighted specific positions that may be of interest to you as a Human Ecology student. This page will be frequently updated with new opportunities, so be sure to check back often!


Internship Opportunities from HumEc Alumni

Internship with 22 Interiors

We are a boutique Los Angeles based residential and commercial interiors firm.  We aim to educate our interns through a range of activities: assistance with client presentation preparations, updating design library, communication with local LA vendors, shopping at the PDC and various other showrooms / galleries, etc.

  • Virtual or in-person, unpaid
  • Schedule:  July – August / we are flexible – 20 hours a week / possibly more
  • Qualifications:
    • Passionate with all aspects of design
    • Current enrollment in an Interior Design program of study
    • Excellent communication; both written and verbal
    • Multi-task in a high-pace environment
    • Must have initiative to follow through with pending items
    • Problem solving skills
    • Meticulously organized, efficient, and detail-oriented
    • Manage in-house sample department
    • Run errands as necessary for design projects and Principal Designer including pick-ups/drop-offs; may require moving and lifting
    • Shopping trims and fabrics at the PDC and other showrooms
    • Support Interior Design team as needed
    • Bonus if proficient in Adobe Photoshop
    • Driver’s License and Car Required if in person

Please email Lucie@22Interiors.com with a portfolio and email that clearly talks about our required qualifications.

 

Internship with Maternal Health for the State of Illinois

We are working on a Strategic Plan for Maternal Health for the State of Illinois. This summer, we are likely to need help with an environmental scan of the multiple policies affecting many of the areas where we would like to focus the strategic plan. A PAM major interested in women’s health would do a great job.

  • Virtual or in-person, unpaid
  • Schedule: Flexible
  • Qualifications:
    • Good fit for a PAM Major
    • Interested in women’s health/maternal health

Contact Dr. Arden Handler at handler@uic.edu with a CV plus a cover letter about your Cornell experiences and your interests/prior experience in women’s/maternal health.


Health & Wellness


Design & Fashion


Agriculture & Environment

Career Fair… So What Now?

So you went to the career fair. You felt overwhelmed and the entire experience made you more stressed for your future than you were before. You feel a bit lost. You’re not alone.

First and foremost, breathe. The job-search process is very stressful, and sometimes we forget
to take a second and just breathe. In order to think clearly, you have to relax yourself, creating a
calm state of mind. Make sure to practice methods for alleviating stress, such as taking walks,
meditation, or just hanging out with friends.

Another thing to remember is that you have more time than you think. People tend to rush to
find job experiences, making you feel compelled to rush as well. The environment we are in can
be very competitive, and it is important to remember that you must forge your own career path:
take your time to figure out what you want.

On Rejection
Rejection can be very difficult. However, it is best to never take these things personally. Doing
so will result in a lot of unneeded mental pressure and emotional strain; taking things like these
personally gets tiring. It is not your fault; it’s okay that this happened, it’s understanding that you
would be upset.
If this process ever becomes too stressful or strenuous, there are many resources on campus
available if you need someone to talk to. These resources include EARS, CAPS, or other
mental health professionals at Cornell Health.

 


Remedying Your Situation

Networking
Networks are such an important factor in a job search. 85% of hires are the result of networking!
Use your connections to find your dream position. Reaching out and finding your support
network can also be useful if you are in a time of need.

Set Goals
A system of goal-setting is integral to an effective job-search routine. By creating
specific objectives throughout your job search you ensure that you are consistently
working towards something and using your time productively. Use SMART (Specific,
Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound goals). This is done so that you focus
less on things that have yet to be defined, and focus more on what you can do to define
it. Do small things, worrying about big things like what job you want is not going to be
helpful, focus on resume perfection, honing skills, etc. Figure out who you are, what you
want, and what interests you first. Applying to something just for the name is not helpful

if it is not interesting to you. Talking to advisors and older, knowledgeable, and
trustworthy peers is very helpful as well!

Dear Aunt Martha: Staying Relevant with References

Image of a message bubble made of paper
Dear Aunt Martha,

Applying to jobs has been a long process, but I’m almost done with round one! I have one last barrier before being able to get my dream job: asking for references. I have past professors and employers in mind whom I named as references for a summer internship that I did two years ago, but I haven’t really been in contact with them for a while. Do I need to ask for their permission to name them as references on my latest applications?

Sincerely,

Anxious Applicant


Dear Anxious Applicant,

That’s wonderful to hear that you are near the end of the first round of your job search journey! Congratulations! And yes, you should absolutely ask your previous references a second time whether you can name them on your most recent applications– not doing so could be construed as disingenuous. You mentioned that you haven’t been in contact with your references in a while, and since I consider keeping in touch to be a valuable form of networking, I’ve broken down how to not only ask your previous references for assistance, but how to keep in contact with them as well!

How to ask again for a reference:

  1. Always start the email off by asking how the other person is doing before jumping into updating him or her about your life. Update your reference on what you have accomplished since the last time you spoke with him or her. For example, “Since last summer when you kindly agreed to write my letter of recommendation, I have since finished my internship as a research assistant at Weill Cornell and have started my job search for full time employment.”
  2. After your life update, ask if they would be willing to help you again by serving as a reference for this job.
  3. End your email by thanking him or her for their time and help.

How to keep in contact with references:

It may seem daunting to continue networking with your references, but it is standard procedure, and sometimes even expected! Simple updates such as “I’ve recently started my second semester of Senior year and am super excited to take classes in ________,” can be sufficient. Other more detailed updates that include a mutual connection are often a nice touch: “I’ve started a new project in my studio class that applies what you taught us in [class name]! It is centered on ______, and I’m really excited about this project because it has implications in __________.”

These short, simple updates, are an important step towards helping you establish a professional network. So don’t be afraid to start updating your references on your professional life because they will be a crucial source of support for your future career development process!

Warmest regards,

Aunt Martha

Internship & Project Funding Opportunities

person holding pencil near laptop computer
Photo Credits to Scott Graham

Beyond the academic school year at Cornell University, there are many opportunities that await in the winter, spring, and summer breaks. Whether you want to venture halfway across the world to teach for the summer, engage in a community service project, or stay in another city for a summer internship, Cornell has many opportunities to fund your travels. Check out some of these resources below to learn more!

All Semestersbooks emoji:

  • Community-Engaged Student Travel Grant Program 

    (Deadlines: October, February, March) 

    • The Community-Engaged Student Travel Grant Program provides funding to Cornell students participating in service-learning and/or community-based research domestically or internationally. The travel grants are intended to support student travel that enables participation in: faculty-led course-based service activities; team-based learning and engaged cornellresearch projects; mentored internships; and team-based consulting projects. It is NOT meant to support undergraduate research or conference travel. Awards go up to $1500 for winter and summer breaks, and $750 for spring breaks. Applications for summer travels are usually due in October (Winter), February (Spring), and March (Summer), and students are notified within the month. More information regarding this grant can be found at Engaged Cornell’s website  
  • Human Ecology Alan D. Mathios Research and Service Grant 

    (Deadlines: October, March)

    • The Human Ecology Alumni Association (HEAA) awards grants annually to qualifying students in the College. The grants are available for students use in furthering the three objectives of the College: research, teaching, and outreach. The grant program is college of human ecology cornellcompetitive in nature. Examples of grant applications that might receive rewards include but are not limited to: independent research, academic project, service project, community/extension application of course or research work, travel and/or registration expenses to attend conferences to present student research, and expenses related to summer coursework that are not available at Cornell. Any student who receives HEAA grant funding is required to submit a short formal report and receipts documenting expenses no later than 6 weeks after the conclusion of the project/event. More information can be found Human Ecology’s website.
  • OADI Funding opportunities

    (Deadlines: September, November, February, March, May)

    • The OADI Individual Student Funding Program provides funding opportunities for active program participants of OADI programsand general participants. Active program participants may be members of the following OADI Programs: Pre-Professional Programs (P3); OADI’s Opportunity Programs (HEOP/EOP and POSSE), McNair Scholars Program, OADI Research Scholars Program, OADI First-in-Class Mobilizers, and Gates Millennium Scholars Program. More information regarding eligibility and application timeline, please visit the website at OADI’s website . oadi cornell
      • General funding (within the US):

        • The OADI General Funding Application provides sponsorship for local research/professional development experiences and graduate preparation opportunities with the United States. Sponsorship covers items such as: Graduate School Exam and Application Fees; Domestic conference expenses (registration, transportation, meals, accommodations, etc.); and costs affiliated with local internships, externships, research experiences, and community-based and service learning opportunities.

Summersun emoji:  

  • Student Assembly Summer Experience Grant (SASEG) 

    Deadline: April

      • This grant is designed to aid students to complete summer unpaid or minimally paid career-related experiences. The funds are drawn from the Students Helping Students fund and are open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors in all 7 undergraduate colleges. Each college’s career office will be reading their own students’ applications. A maximum of $3,000 could be awarded for eligible students. Prior to applying for this grant, students must have already secured a summer internship. Certain summer experiences, such as fee-based programs (any program that charges a tuition or a fee, including Cornell in Washington, Urban Summer, etc.), personal research projects, and taking summer classes are not covered. Applications open mid-spring semester are are usually due in April. More information regarding the important dates, eligibility, and application process can be found SASEG website .
  • Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award 

    Deadline: April

    • The Robison-Appel award was established to recognize and honor students who have had significant involvement in community cornell public service centerservice by providing support for their projects (which must address a community’s social needs or problems). Three projects are selected every year and each receives a $1,500 grant. More information can be found at Robison-Appel website
  • Human Ecology Summer Research Stipends for Undergraduates 

    Deadline: February

    • The College of Human Ecology provides a limited number of $4,000 stipends to CHE undergraduates who will be involved in full-time summer research with a CHE faculty member. Both the student and the faculty member must be in CHE.College of Human Ecology logo

Fallleaf emoji:  

  • Community Partnership Funding Board Grants

    • The Community Partnership Funding Board (CPFB), a student organization, seeks to foster leadership and social responsibility by encouraging students to take action against social problems. The CPFB assists students in developing grassroots community action projects and administers grants from the Community Partnership Fund to make these projects possible. Funding for up to $2500 per project, per year. More information can be found CPFB website.

International world emoji:

  • The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies

    • The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies will offer up to $300 to provide organizations for activities that are approved by Mario Einaudi Center for International StudiesCornell’s Office of the Dean of Students. More information regarding how to apply can be found Mario Einaudi Center website .
  • Asian Studies Undergraduate Travel Grant

      • Students have the opportunity to spend part of a summer in an Asian country on an Asian Studies Summer Study, Research, and Service Travel Grant that provides funding for travel and living expenses. Applications are due in mid-February and decisions are made before spring break. At the end of summer, recipients must provide cornell department of asian studiesdocumentation of travel and submit a 10-page report summarizing the summer language and cultural experiences. Applicants may be from any college or major, but must have a proposed project that relates to their area of study. Priority will be given to students who have completed 2 years of language work in the relevant language prior to departure, have no prior travel experience in the area of travel, and are Asian Studies majors or minors. Grants are eligible for up to $3,000. More information regarding the grant and the application process can be found Asian Studies website .
  • OADI Off-Campus Opportunity Fund (International)

    OADI cornell

    • OADI is now part of a Cornell streamlined Off-Campus Opportunity fund and is a common application that can be found on Cornell Abroad’s page. The fund consolidates the application and awarding process of four previously distinct grants offered through the following central units: Cornell Abroad, OADI, Engaged Cornell, VPIA & Einaudi.  This funding is primarily for short-term programs when financial aid is less available.

My Job and Internship Timeline

person with crossed arms in front of calendar

Why can’t I find any job or internship postings for my career field? If you have ever asked yourself this question, chances are, you aren’t too familiar with the timeline of your industry. But don’t worry, by the end of this blog post, you will be familiar with the nitty gritty details of your field.

Business/ Consulting/ Banking/ Finance

  • Any job or internship that is related to business, consulting, banking, or finance typically have their recruiting season early in the fall semester. Generally, a good way to find an internship or job is through Cornell’s fall career fair where recruiters from different companies will be looking to fill positions in their company. Interviews for job and internship positions usually occur within two weeks after the fair. If you don’t end up landing the perfect job or internship at the career fair, don’t worry. There will be plenty of listings for jobs and internships that will be posted after the career fair on different websites such as Cornell Handshake or LinkedIn. It is important, however, for you to take initiative to search for internships and jobs during the Fall semester as most positions for these industries will be filled by the time Spring semester comes along.

Health/ Fashion/ and Design

  • Internships and jobs for fields in health such as graphic designing, lab research, or formal summer internship programs usually have their applications for their positions opening early in the Spring semester. Many programs such as SURP (Summer Undergraduate Research Programs) have deadlines for their applications late in January or early February. Generally, at the spring career fair, there will be recruiters from large pharmaceutical companies that will be looking for people to fill positions in their research and development department. In terms of working for a lab in a university, these job postings will be scattered throughout the spring semester as labs will be posting openings based on their own timelines. From past students’ experiences, some have received offers for internship and jobs as late as May, so don’t worry if you don’t know what you are doing for the summer during the middle of Spring semester.

In general, to be competitive for job and internship positions in any industry, a good resume and cover letter is needed. It is never too early to start your resume and cover letter, so drop by the CEC anytime between Monday-Thursday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm or Friday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm to ask a Career Assistant for help!

Senior Job Hunt First Steps

It’s the first semester of your senior year of college and there is one thing on your mind: JOBS. As friends start to receive return offers and interviews, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. So what should you be doing as a first semester senior who wants to start the job hunt now?

1. Edit Your Resume and Cover Letter

At this point in your educational and professional career you most likely have  some experience writing cover letters and resumes. Before you really start looking for openings, we recommend that you fine tune your resume and cover letter to create stellar starting documents that can then be easily personalized for specific companies and positions. Make all the necessary updates and additions then have the documents reviewed. You can come into the CEC anytime M-TH 10-4pm or Friday 10-2pm for a walk in critique. Having these documents ready to be personalized for companies will make applying to positions you find later much easier.

2. Engage in On Campus Recruiting/Networking

While it may seem daunting, going to company information sessions and career fairs are excellent ways to start finding a job. The benefit of these sessions is that they allow you to not only learn about companies and discover potential career interests – they also allow you to network! Fostering relationships with company recruiters will help you throughout your professional career – even if you don’t necessarily apply for the job they are advertising. If you need tips on how to network come into the CEC for advice

3. Scour the Web and Work your Network

In the digital age there are a plethora of online job listings and recruiting websites that can help you find and apply for a job. Sites like LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, Glassdoor, etc. are great starting points to find openings in various industries and locations. Another great way to find jobs is to reach out to your network. Ask former employers, teachers, friends, and family if they have any recommendations or know of any openings. You can also consider cold emailing or calling the HR department of companies you’d love to work for to ask about positions and pass along your professional materials. Crafting these network/cold outreach messages may be difficult or feel awkward – just remember that there’s no harm in trying and the CEC can help you prepare the perfect note.

4. Consider Interning

If all else fails and you’re still scrambling to find full-time employment in the field of your dreams, consider interning instead. While it may seem like a less glamorous start to your post-graduate life, it can be a worthwhile move. Sometimes limited experience may be the determining factor preventing you from getting an experience so taking time to intern over the summer can help you get the experience you need to land the dream job. In addition interning for a company that you love will help you network within the organization and potentially help you land a job after the internship is over!

5 . Stay Positive!

It might take a while, it might be incredibly daunting and overwhelming, but do not give up! Applying for and getting accepted to a position is a marathon, not a sprint. If you need help and advice come into the CEC for assistance – we’re happy to do whatever we can to help you secure the job of your dreams.

An additional note:Different fields have different application timelines so do some research about your field before you panic over a lack of jobs or acceptances. You might just have to wait until second semester to apply – it all depends on your specific ambitions.

How to Email Companies about Internship Positions

Are you still searching for the perfect summer internship? Have you looked through all of the job posting but nothing seems interesting? Do you have a specific company you want to work for, but they don’t have any internship postings? Try reaching out directly to companies that you would like to intern with, even if they don’t have internship postings online! An internship inquiry email sent to a company is a great way to show the company that you are interested in their work and joining their team.

Here are some tips for writing a strong email to ask companies about possible positions:

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