What's Next?!

Out of Slump?

2010-04-20T12:34:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I've neglected the blog a little lately and I'm sorry. I know it went against my original intentions to ALWAYS keep you informed of the good and the bad, but I've been in such a slump the past two weeks that the bad just seemed too bad, too whiny to post. The stress of school work coupled with the sinking realization that the "G" word (graduation) is quickly and truly approaching left me a bit down in the dumps, not to be overly cliche. I have always been somewhat of a control freak, (ok total understatement, I AM a control freak, I like to things in order and I need to have a plan) so the prospect of giving up my beloved routine and my life at SLU in exchange for, well nothing right now, is nerve racking and absolutely anxiety-provoking.

However, I finally took my own advice, NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. My cousin Barry Shrage is the President of Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston, and has said before that he would be willing to help direct me to people and organizations after I graduate. I'm extremely interested in working for non-profit organizations, especially for organizations whose values I share and missions I support. My own Jewish community has always been a major influence on my life and a strong support system as I was growing up. My love of the Jewish community inspired me to begin looking for/applying administrative assistant roles within Jewish organizations to get my feet wet and see if this is an area I would like to work in.

This morning I got up the courage to email Barry and ask for his input and advice. I don't know why I have such a hard time asking for help, but it has never been my strong suit. Anyway, long story short, and with Sarah's reassurance, I sent him an email with my resume attached. To my surprise, Barry called me about 10 minutes later eager to be of help and promising to send my resume out to some people he knows. Whaaaaat? I feel SO lucky! Could this be the break I've needed? Whether anything comes from it or not, this is the "PULL RACHEL OUT OF HER SLUMP NOW"that I've needed. I'm suddenly re-energized and reinvigorated and admittedly excited at the opportunities that will certainly come, if not from this from something. and they will come, I'm sure of it.

Character Building?

2010-03-30T13:46:00.000-04:00

I spent the first part of last weekend in NYC for EECD NY and my two, very much anticipated, interviews. I nervously practiced answering potential interview questions in my head the whole train ride to the city, and even found myself making a game out of trying to write down as many positive character attributes about myself as I could. Dorky, I know. As it turns out, while I'm not so optimistic that I'll get jobs out of the weekend, I sure left with some valuable experiences.

For starters, how about the Alumni Networking Event. I walked by myself into a room full of important-looking alumni and knew almost no one. If finding the courage to walk up to strangers (involved in their own conversations) and introducing yourself doesn't build character, then what does? I also managed to navigate the subway by myself uptown, downtown and uptown again. The interviews themselves were nerve-racking. The first was nothing like I expected, and I struggled to get the interviewer to give me a chance to actually talk about my experiences. Awkward. The second interview went much better, despite an embarrassing snag in the middle. Out of nowhere my voice cracked and left, and I found myself coughing/choking while trying to answer a question about how I work as a team. Uhhhh. The interviewer asked me if I needed water while I, turning bright red, tried to recover my voice. What a fluke. I'm hoping that the embarrassment didn't hurt my chances too much, and I felt that I at least articulated myself well for the rest of the interview. But the whole time all I could think was, "Really Rachel, REALLY? Did that just happen?!" UGH. Luckily, the interviewer seemed impressed by the end of the interview, but I was left frustrated. She informed me that there were no positions available at this time, and I would simply be added to the company's college recruiting database. "Perhaps there would be something available in a couple months?" she said. I was left with one final character-building moment, sitting at a cafe near penn-station to grab lunch by myself. It was the first time I'd ever sat down and eaten by myself, and it's something I've always feared. Silly, I know, but true. I soaked in the atmosphere on Fashion Ave. before my long trip back to Canton.

While I may not have found a job, I did gain valuable experiences--and to me, that made the weekend a success, no matter what. Character Building. I feel like they're will be a lot more of that in my future.

Scam?!

2010-03-23T11:53:00.001-04:00

My post a few weeks ago about identity theft/job post scams, rang a little to close to home in the middle of last week. A scammer caught a hold of my innocent, somewhat naive, and very much job-wanting roommate. Her desire to be employed overcame her common sense after receiving a congratulatory message that she had been selected as the top candidate for a job she applied to. One more tiny step and the job would be hers, the email promised. She was directed to a website to fill out a credit report, just so the company could "be sure she managed her finances well." In a moment blinded by the supreme prospect of having a job, she typed in all of her information, bank account and social security numbers and all.

A few hours later she went back to research the company--which didn't exist. The phone number given was disconnected, the website wasn't there, and the person who signed the letter couldn't be found. The horror of what she'd done sunk in, and her embarrassment was more intense than her shock. She couldn't believe she was taken advantage of like that, and that she had been naive enough to fall for the scam. Luckily, she realized the fraud quickly enough to shut down her accounts and avoid too much damage being done. Lesson learned and time to be extra careful. It's hard to accept that people will hit you while you're down (I mean, how sleazy to pick on the unemployed!) but it happens, and we have to be aware of the scams out there. Some things are too good to be true, so be careful if you get a job too easily, or an employer wants information that they shouldn't need.

p.s. T-minus 3 days until my interviews for ECCD in NYC!

Shots on Goal

2010-03-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

I've used the analogy before, but job searching is truly the definition of a roller coaster ride; It has it's ups and downs and bumps in between, it's both thrilling and terrifying and sometimes it makes you want to vomit and other times it's exciting and fun. Last week, my best friend rode full-speed into the low, sickening blows of the roller coaster and got rejected from the job that everyone was sure she would get. She had the qualifications, the network connections, the experience, and the passion on top of a carefully composed cover letter and a phone interview that left her confident and glowing. I was already preparing myself for losing my best friend to her new research job in Wyoming...too far away from me in my selfish taste, but cheering her on all the same. She was the perfect candidate, the job was hers. That is, until five days later when she received the most generic of rejection emails--not even getting the courtesy phone call she was promised.
Her eyes welled with tears as she read the note that clearly was the same to everyone who had applied, her name stamped at the top, and ending with a dangling, "good luck in the future" leaving her feeling slightly shattered and even more hopeless. "If I can't get the job that I'm qualified for and have personal connections to, how am I going to ever get any job?" she bemoaned. I, usually full of cliches, quotes, and comforting advice, was at a loss for words. She was right. She should have gotten that job...now what? More disappointing news from other friends, made for quite the pity party/ben & jerry's feast in my townhouse living room last night. My friend Heather finally burst out with her own, homemade analogy. "Guys, it's like playing soccer," she urged. "Sometimes you have to take 10 shots on goal to make just one. But every time you make that shot, you think it's going to go in, it has to. Sometimes, a lot of times, it doesn't go in. But you know that you'll eventually get the ball into the net, make that goal--that's why you keep playing the game." We all burst out in laughter from her sudden, motivational soapbox speech. But she was right, and her words were perfect. We resolved to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start taking more shots on goal and that was the end of the self-pitying...though we did finish the ice cream.

P.S. Less than 9 weeks to graduation. ahhhh!

Hard Work DOES Pay Off!

2010-03-02T11:44:00.000-05:00

Guess what?! I landed 2 INTERVIEWS through ECCD NY, both at major publishing firms! The endless resume revisions and cover letter editing is finally starting to pay off. And now, it's finally starting to click and my hard work feels worth it. Yes, there is still a long road ahead, more jobs to apply to, cover letters to write, but in the meantime at least I know that putting in your all does get results. Not to mention, I can now feel confident that, contrary to my prior beliefs, I am a qualified candidate and companies do want to interview me! So now, I'm doing a little preemptive spring-break basking-- in the bragging rights, and it feels so good.

Let the interview prep begin!

No Experience Required?

2010-02-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

It's been hard enough as it is trying to find positions to apply to that I'm actually qualified for but then I find out this: job-search scammers have been on the rise due to the economic recession. According to an article in Time Magazine (link below), authorities have seen a surge in new cases of scam artists advertising fake jobs in order to steal personal information from innocent job seekers. Are you kidding me?What kind of cruel person takes advantage of those who are already unemployed? Websites like craigslist are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent postings. However, there are a number of ways to spot job scams. Check out the list below, and the article from Time Magazine and make sure to be a cautious searcher. No experience required and starting salary of 100,000 IS too good to be true. Time Article

20 Sure Signs that a Job Post could be one of the Craig's List Job Scams

It has a generic, over-used or vague job title. Admin Assistant or Customer Service Rep are popular ones.
The jobs that indicate that "Telecommuting is Ok". This attracts many people and gives them more responses.
They fail to list a specific location for the job - i.e. they list no location under the city or area that you are searching.
They list a salary or hourly wage that seems too good to be true or too specific like $13.64 - 34.23 / hour. What the...?
They list it as a government job.
They post a job with a title that doesn't match the description.
They use strange sentences or misspellings.
A search for that job title in Google - example "Admin Assistant Craig's List" and comes up in many other cities with the exact same job post. Because Craig's List is free - they can easily post the same bogus job post in every city.
If the description has a bunch of exclamation points and promises high income in one week.
If the description boldly states "No Experience Necessary" but has a promise of high pay.
There is no job contact information. A quality job post will tell you who to email or give you a valid company website.
A link that is to a home business or multi level marketing opportunity website. This isn't a JOB - but a business venture. If you were looking for a home business opportunity you would have searched that category.
A link that redirects you to another site.
A link that takes you to a job membership site and asks you to register.
A quick response to your email inquiry that tells you they have reviewed your resume when you didn't even send it.
A quick response to your email inquiry that leads you to another website that promises you more job openings - like government jobs. Click after click - nothing but a time waster...
A response to your email inquiry that asks you to sign up for a web-conferencing service so you can be part of a training call.
A response to your email inquiry with a name and company that does not exist.
A response to your email inquiry from someone in a foreign country looking to hire people in the United States to handle accounts payable or receivables.
The same auto response to all of your emails. There isn't a real person at the other end of the email account.

Information from: Hubpages.com

mid-life crisis at 21?

2010-02-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, so hopefully 21 isn't mid-life...but crisis and meltdowns certainly sound fitting (though, perhaps dramatic) during this whole job search process.

prime example-- facebook post from my best friend over winter break:
"dear rach, i just had my first job search meltdown :( probably going to be the first of many. i misssss you, i neeeeeed you. and i will see you tomorrow, but you should still chat with me tonight, love love"

First job search meltdown...of many to come? Yes. Amidst job database after database, changing key words, and locations in hopes of finding something new, the results can be over (or under)whelming. Coupled with pressure from family and friends, plus maintaining your campus activities, job, and coursework, finding a job often feels like a fifth class. It's absolutely stressful--no wonder my friends and I are all taking turns being emotional wrecks. But enough negativity and complaining. It's time to pull myself together--and for you to pull yourself together-- and get in the game. Sending in the first job application was the hardest, but now, little by little, it's getting easier. The more proactive I am, the better I feel, and the fewer "mid-life crisis" I have. Worrying about next year without actually doing anything is useless. Put the fear behind you and crank out some cover letters. Now, let's just hope all of the hard work pays off...

Resumes: Makeover Edition

2009-12-01T10:49:00.000-05:00

So one would think, as a peer advisor whose job revolves mostly around helping other people write and edit their resumes, my resume would be something close to perfection. Logical? yes. True? NO. I've been putting off finalizing my resume for a very long time. It's not that I didn't have a resume at all. In fact, I'd written several. As ridiculous as it sounds, I just never got around to working with a professional staff member to really edit my resume.

Almost halfway through senior year and it was time to simply 'get over' my cowardliness and face my resume head-on. I met with Sarah and we began tackling my resume. We first worked on creating a general resume and then made a couple of resumes tailored to specific industries. Many hours and edits later my resumes were finished, and even Sarah could find nothing left to change. Despite the tedious process of "making over" your resume, it's such a relief to have it done.

Get yourself into career services, and get your resume reviewed. Your parents and your friends are not good enough to be the only people giving you feedback. A polished resume is not optional, it's required if you want to successfully navigate the job market.

Spotlight on Careers

2009-11-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

So I've been doing a ton of job searching this past week now that I've been feeling a little bit more motivated. After running tons of searches, each time slightly altering the search criteria, I realized that I don't actually know what type of job I might like. I mean, I know where I don't want to work and what jobs I don't want to do (refer to the 'Dunkin' Donuts' blog entry), but what do I want to do? When I first started this blog I named a number of career possibilities--journalist, editor, event planner, social activist, educator, non-profit work, to name a few. But what is it like to work in these career fields? What do these people actually do??

Enter "Spotlight on Careers." Despite it being recommended to me before, I'd never really spent much time on it. However, now that I'm trying to answer all the questions I raised above, I'm finding it more and more useful. The site is broken down into five "career categories." Within each category are a number of career profiles. These profiles are incredibly comprehensive. The profiles includes an overview of the career which consists of "popular careers," "key skills," "mean annual earnings," "current trends," and "types of employers." The profiles also give resources for graduate and professional schools in that area as well as list profiles of professionals in that field.

This is definitely a site worth exploring, and finally I'm starting to get some clarity on all of these different career possibilities!

Paid Internship?

2009-11-10T10:24:00.001-05:00

BREAKTHROUGH! I was eating lunch in the pub yesterday when Carol stopped by my table to ask if I'd seen the new Times Inc. internship that Emily just posted on SAINTSLink. Times Inc.? Paid Internship? Summer 2009? Suddenly I felt a rush of excitement, a feeling that I've been missing this whole time.

I hurried onto the computer, logged onto SAINTSLink and found my new project. The opportunity was given to SLU by alum David Dusek '93, Deputy Editor of Golf.com. Lucky for me, I had had the chance to eat dinner with David while he was here for Laurentians in Residence. And now I completely understand the importance of networking--it's all starting to click. This is the beauty of SAINTSLink, all of the jobs and internships posted are posted by companies interested in SLU students, and many times by SLU alumni, which gives us an edge over others applying for the positions.

So, time to email David for a little advice and help on the application. Also, I'm going to start searching for other paid internships for the summer. An internship might just be able to hold me over until I find a job. FINALLY I'm starting to feel a little a bit more excited about this whole job (internship?) search process.

Dunkin' Donuts Worker??

2009-11-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I devoted two hours purely to job searching--which led to a meltdown that included me crossing my arms and proclaiming that I am unqualified for every position and have absolutely no chance at a future. The cause? Too much time spent searching on the site CareerBuilder.com. I'd run a search for entry level positions in Philadelphia, PA only to come up with being able to work in the U.S. Army or Dunkin' Donuts. Thus, the child-like, irrational meltdown ensued.

Ok, so let's step back. After a pep talk from my dad, a reminder that I am not in fact destined to work at Dunkin' Donuts for the rest of my life and a few, much needed, deep breaths I got my head back in the game. I recently met with Sarah and promised her I would do several small tasks to make the big task (finding the job) less overwhelming. I worked on those and then pulled out a paper I received at the Gap Year program that had a very long list of websites of Gap Year opportunities. I started sifting through some of the sites, and wow there are a lot of neat programs out there. So, time to re-evaluate and start reminding myself that I am qualified for a number of jobs and I will find a job after Graduation. Positive thinking, deep breaths and time to devote many more hours to job searching. And NOT on generic websites like CareerBuilder.com, that only creates unnecessary panic.

Good starting places: SAINTSLink, LACN, Career Search & Vault.

The Gap Year

2009-10-20T10:40:00.001-04:00

New epiphany. So I'm sitting in the Career Services office yesterday, working on my resume for the umpteenth time, when Sarah Coburn, assistant director, says to me, "you know we're holding a program called "The Gap Year" on Wednesday. I really think something like this would be perfect for you, Rachel."

The Gap Year. Why hadn't I thought of that before? "The Gap Year" is a short amount of time (usually anywhere from a few months to two years) during which students takes time off from study or 'career' work in order to volunteer, travel, explore, etc. With a tight job market and numerous new national and international opportunities, the Gap Year is becoming very trendy. The Gap Year can be a great time for a little self-exploration before 'real-life' begins, whether that means going to graduate school or launching your career. And let's face it--there's no better time in life to take a 'breather' than now while we're young, unmarried, and have virtually no responsibilities except to ourselves. The Gap Year can give you an experience like no other, not to mention an added boost on your resume.

Make sure to learn more about "The Gap Year" by attending a program about it on Wedneday, October 21 at 4pm in the Monaco Room.

Time To Get Started...Check this out!

2009-10-13T10:36:00.003-04:00

Enough with the procrastinating. It's about to be mid-semester break, unbelievably a quarter of senior year has passed already. I'm hoping that the saying, "better late than never" is still applicable to this whole 'job search' thing...but I have a feeling there's only so long that expression will work.

So where to even get started? I'm a history major, mostly because it's a subject i'm interested in and pretty good at. I never considered how my major would or could affect my career path. It seems like I declared my major ages ago, when 'real-life' seemed so far in the distance that it wouldn't matter anyway. But, here I am, a senior history major. What do history majors do anyway? For that matter, how do you even find out what people with your major do after graduation?

Advice: Go to Career Services and click on "Career Exploration" on the left-hand side. Under the "Four Year Roadmap" (which warning, reading may cause slight panic) is a table called, "What Can I Do With A Major In..." How incredibly convenient! I'm hooked, apparently my major can lead me to more career paths than I ever expected. I'd never even heard of or considered some of these careers until I read about them on this site...history majors have gone on to practice law, work in libraries and museums, conduct historical research, become educators, run for political office, and so much more.

On the "Career Exploration" page there are links to a number of other resources as well. Check them out and get started searching!

P.S. Don't forget, Senior Class Dinner with members of the Board of Trustees is October 22nd!

Welcome!

2009-09-22T11:25:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone, Welcome to the blog!
Just a brief introduction to who I am and what my goals are for this blog. I'm Rachel, a senior here at St. Lawrence University (but shh I'm not admitting my senior status yet). I'm a history major and I have minors in French and Education, none of which really makes any sense because in actuality I have NO idea what I want to do after graduation. I know, I know...we're seniors. I should have this figured out by now. But I don't, and I'm betting a lot of you don't either. To add to my embarrassment every time I'm asked the dreaded, "So, what are you doing after graduation?" question, I work at Career Services as a Peer Advisor. Working in an office with so many resources, you would think I'd have my life plan more in order. Yet, my life is nowhere near to being in order--and I have to admit, I'm terrified and overwhelmed. In this blog I will detail all of the ups and downs I face as I try to figure out what I'm doing after graduation. Follow along as I try to make sense of what to do with my liberal arts education, and maybe you'll relate to what I'm going through.
So SLU, here it goes.

P.S. Feel free to post comments, share stories and advice. We all need all the help we can get!