3 Relevant Experiences Before Graduation!

Hey Everyone, We had a blast meeting so many new students yesterday during orientation. Many ears perked up when they heard me, the tall, bald guy, loudly repeating the mantra "3 Internships Before Graduation!" over and over. When I was a student in the early '90s, just having 1 internship on a resume made you a rock star. Times have changed. 3 internships is now considered pretty good. That sounds daunting but it's not. Perhaps if I use the term "Relevant Experience", that might calm the nerves? Relevant experiences might include volunteer opportunities, on-campus employment, student club leadership experiences, and, yes, internships. An example: Benji, a Graphic Design major, was one of our office's Student Assistants for the past 4 years. His main task for our office was to design the majority of our posters, web banners and other marketing materials. Even though this was a campus job, the job title on Benji's resume read "Graphic Design Specialist". Along with a year abroad in London studying Graphic Design and some Graphic Design work for a non-profit organization, Benji was able to fill a resume with relevant experience. He starts graduate school, studying Graphic Design, at NYU next week! For excellent internship opportunities, check out our 2 main resources, Internship Exchange and Dons Careers. We look forward to seeing you in our office this year....and remember, 3 Relevant Experiences before graduation! -Alex

Internship Exchange: https://ucan-csm.symplicity.com/students/index.php?cck=1&au=&ck=

Dons Careers: https://usfca-csm.symplicity.com/students/

Alex

NEW CSC Drop In Hours!

Hi everyone,

Well, we've decided to change things up a bit at CSC and have changed our drop-in hours to hopefully make it easier for you to come see us!

New Drop In hours, starting Monday, August 24, 2009:

Mon 12-2
Tue 12-2
Wed 12-2 & 5-7
Thur 12-2 & 5-7
Fri 12-2

Please drop by and see us!

Ellen and the CSC gang

Back to School: Secrets for Future Success

Hi everyone,

Well...it's that time of year...time to get back in the swing of things and think about your future! Here is an article from Brad Karsh: President and Founder, JobBound. I think there are some great pieces of advice, so don't wait. Come visit CSC today!

Thanks,
Ellen

Nothing beats the new school year. The weather is great, the books are all new, and it's time to reconnect with your best friends. In fact, getting a job or internship for next summer may be the last thing on your mind. The truth is, often, what separates successful job-hunting students from the unsuccessful is what they do right now, at back to school time.

Here are four simple steps for the fall that can help you land a job in the spring:

1. Get your resume in order. More than anything else, this one piece of paper determines whether or not you will get the job you want. As you can imagine, that piece of paper needs to be great. On your resume, you need to focus on accomplishments instead of job descriptions. Most recruiters will tell you that a majority of resumes don't sell a student hard enough because they simply list the activities that anyone holding that position has ever done. If what is written on your resume can be written by the person who had the job before you, after you, or next to you, then you haven't done yourself justice.
2. Network, network, network. The single best way to get a job is to know somebody. Yes, it should be based on merit alone, but unfortunately, that isn't how it works. Tap into as many connections as you can. Reaching out to your school's alumni is a great place to start, and they usually love to hear from current students about life on campus. If you don't know many alumni in positions to make a difference for you, start e-mailing the graduates highlighted in your school's alumni newsletter, or check out the career center. They often have lists of alums looking to help students. Don't forget you can network with your neighbors, your dentist, your parents' friends, older siblings' friends, etc. Remember sixty-six percent of job seekers get a job through networking!
3. Become involved. Grades alone won't get you the job. Most employers want smart, well-rounded, involved students. There's still time to gain the experience that companies are looking for in new hires. Join a club, get a part-time job, and volunteer for a charity. It's even more impressive, if you get involved in a big way. It's one thing to have, "Member, Student Activities Council" on your resume. It's quite another to have "President, Student Activities Council." Obviously, companies want to hire leaders and accomplished candidates. If you prove that you have those skills, when it comes time to make the hiring decision, you're the obvious choice.
4. Visit your career center. If you want a job or internship this summer, the career center is going to be your best friend. Guess where companies go when they want to hire students from your school? The Career Center. Guess where you can get someone to help you with resume writing and job interviewing? The Career Center. And guess where you can go to find out whether you should be a lumberjack or a management consultant when you grow up? The Career Center. The fact is, your Career Center is an amazing resource for the job search. And it's all free! Go early, go often, and you can't go wrong.

The new school year holds countless, bright possibilities and great opportunities. If you get started on these four, simple steps, you are setting yourself up for career and future success!

Arrivederci San Francisco!

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for not writing much this summer, it’s been pretty crazy at the office preparing for the upcoming school year. But that means you all have a lot more to look forward to once school gets started (including regular posts from the career counselors themselves, woo!)

I’m writing today though to say goodbye (don’t worry though it’s not forever). In two weeks I’ll be on a plane to Rome to spend the next semester there studying. I’m both extremely excited and extremely terrified. But overall I know it’s going to be an incredible experience, so I can’t wait.

We’re in the process of hiring a new Career Planning Peer to take my place while I’m gone (and to hopefully stay on with us even after I return), so look forward to his/her posts in the future. Seghel will still be here of course, as well as the rest of the counseling staff.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful upcoming semester, and I look forward to writing to you all again when I return.


Allora, arrivederci San Francisco e ciao Roma!

-Sarah