UNC students gain marketable skills through study abroad, office says
In today’s fierce competition for jobs, the need for recent college graduates to stand out means every experience must be marketed as a strength.
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In today’s fierce competition for jobs, the need for recent college graduates to stand out means every experience must be marketed as a strength.
The call to become a teacher can be strong but not without hesitance.
Despite a recent survey showing that employers will be hiring more college graduates next year, the class of 2011 shouldn’t necessarily breathe a sigh of relief just yet.
When recruiters were asked to rank their top universities based on quality of graduates by the Wall Street Journal, UNC tied for 25th.
University Career Services will host a “How to Find an Internship” workshop on Sept. 20 to help students familiarize themselves with the process.
Ninety percent of success has nothing to do with book smarts.
Students looking to gain an edge in a highly competitive job market took advantage Monday of a Resume Marathon sponsored by University Career Services.
Students looking for jobs will be greeted by dozens of potential employers as part of the University’s career fair agenda this week.
The economic downturn has not only led to an increase in unpaid internships, but also a new trend of college students paying to get internships.
For 2007 UNC graduate Meg Petersen, staying in Chapel Hill post-graduation was an obvious career decision.
Students nationwide are preparing for their summer internships, and so is the U.S. Department of Labor. A surge in unpaid internships as a result of financially-stretched companies offering more uncompensated positions has prompted the department to clarify requirements. It wants to make sure unpaid interns are not unfairly overworked. According to the revised requirements, internships with for-profit companies should resemble educational training and must benefit the student without displacing paid workers or providing immediate advantages to the employer. Also, both student and employer have to agree that the student won’t be paid and the student won’t be guaranteed a job after the internship. “It’s the first time that they are using the word ‘intern’,” said Gary Miller, assistant director of business-related internships at University Career Services. Miller said the revisions only clarify guidelines and will not affect students who have acquired internships through University Career Services because those companies already follow the revised stipulations. Although there has been an increase in unpaid internships, the N.C. Department of Labor has not received many complaints from students regarding unfair work practices during internships, said Dolores Queensberry, director of communications for the department, in an e-mail. She also said that she does not expect to receive complaints from companies as a result of the revised guidelines. But Miller said the guidelines could cause some employers to not offer unpaid internships because they are unsure if their programs meet requirements. “They may think, ‘I’m unsure of what I’m doing, so I’ll just stop’,” Miller said. More companies might be looking for unpaid interns, but the continuing recession is causing an increase in demand for paid internships among students. This could mean that the revised requirements would have little impact on students’ internship choices. Kelly Kessler, a sophomore political science major, said she might intern without compensation with Project Vote Smart this summer to gain more work experience. But she said the lack of money is causing her to rethink her options and that the revised stipulations will not sway her decision either way. “The economy is the reason I’m not sure that I’m going to take it,” Kessler said. Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Emily Strader is the student employment coordinator at University Career Services and also counsels students pursuing careers in the arts. In light of the upcoming graduation in May, we asked her questions about what recently graduated artists should do to get started in the arts world. Daily Tar Heel: For graduating seniors, how can you get involved in art right out of college? Strader: Most of them are going to pretty much have a destination city in mind, go to that city and find work that pays the bills and that has an arts community. That city depends on their field of interest within the arts. For a new graduate, they need to pick a destination city that has the reputation as being an arts city. It can be New York or Chicago, but it can also be Mexico City or Santa Fe. DTH: What part-time options are there for people working another job? Strader: It’s anything from a temporary or seasonal job, and some of the best casting takes place in the restaurants of New York City. Also, students can find ways to promote and sell their art on the side if it is visual art. Otherwise, it’s any kind of part-time job that will make ends meet. There are any number of organizations that look for graphic designers or painters; it’s just a matter of doing your homework to seek them out. Most entry-level jobs will be behind-the-scenes, but through those jobs you can network in that art community. DTH: What are some places or jobs people don’t think about but are still arts related? Strader: People don’t think of art as being across so many industries – it is thought of as museum and galleries. People can work in corporate positions, in hospitals, in public relations, in arts centers, in arts education, in venue management. Technology is really impacting the arts industry through gaming and software development. Art is a very broad, wide area of opportunity, and it’s more than just our perception. We think it’s just a certain way, but it’s really so much more than that. Many arts students have interests beyond the gallery, museum or painting. Many have interests in wedding planning, the tourism industry, design and fabric, textiles and multimedia. DTH: For visual arts, how can you get your work out there? Strader: Find local venues along Franklin Street that will let you post your artwork. Always have a business card with your work. Students should also tap into public art submissions. There are also local organizations of Chapel Hill. Every artist needs to learn about writing because artists feel effects of grant writing that gets their work out in a space. DTH: For performance arts, what are some alternative ways to get involved in performances? Strader: There are tons of non-profit, little theaters that people just love to participate in. If a student wants to build his or her resume around performance, participating in outdoor drama for the summer or the peak season would be one big, good resume builder. Find those small theater companies that want performers. In big cities, you have to find ways into the theaters with call backs and auditions, perhaps by working behind-the-scenes at first. The best way to get into the arts is to go to the place. DTH: For music, how can you find gigs or more steady performance opportunities? Strader: Find management, people who find music to market and promote. Through self-promotion, find places that would regularly let you come in and let you perform. A lot of that is done by advertising on a Web site and using social media to help spread the word. The real promotion comes in going to gigs for business that need groups and bands. Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
When it comes to finding a job, everyone — from family and friends to acquaintances — is a potential contact. Here are a few tips and programs from University Career Services that can help you count networking among your job search skills: Tips - Create a list of contacts who you think would want to help you with your job search if asked. - Make an index card with information and notes for each contact. - Record important points from each conversation. - Set goals for contacting a certain number of people each day or week. - Send a thank-you letter or call again to encourage a follow-up. - When speaking to a contact: 1) Identify yourself. 2) Briefly describe your career goals and the job you are looking for. 3) Briefly describe your experience, qualifications and skills. 4) Ask whether the contact knows of any job openings or any other contacts. 5) Ask if the contact is okay with you using his or her name when calling other contacts. 6) Ask the contact if you may send him or her a resume. Resources - An online database called Carolina Collection makes thousands of UNC alumni available to students. The directory has contact information for professionals across the globe who have volunteered to assist and advise students in their career search. Access the database online at careerweb.unc.edu. - University Career Services hosts six to eight Networking Nights each year to give students a chance to meet, learn from and make contacts with real-world professionals. Each night focuses on a specific profession that students might have a tough time finding a first job in, such as public relations, publishing or the arts. The next Networking Night is for people who enjoy working with people. It will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hanes Hall. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Liberal arts majors remain popular, even in a tough job market, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The survey’s findings are reflected in the UNC student body: 70 percent of undergraduate students are declared as liberal arts majors. University officials are teaching those students how to apply their degrees to different fields to broaden their job prospects, said Jeff Sackaroff, associate director of University Career Services. Career Services held a panel called “Business Careers for Liberal Arts Majors” on Saturday to help students realize that the skills learned in liberal arts majors can be applied to the business world as well. “Recruiters who come here don’t recruit for specific majors,” Sackaroff said. “Many (students) have interests in business but don’t know if they’re qualified and how to go about making that connection.” The panel featured UNC-Chapel Hill graduates who have entered the business world in jobs related to everything from entrepreneurship to finance to management after liberal arts studies, Sackaroff said. The liberal arts education is built on several pillars that makes it attractive to recruiters across the board, he said — communication, honesty and integrity, teamwork, interpersonal skills and motivation and initiative, Sackaroff said. One of Saturday’s panelists was Josh Anspaugh, a 2008 UNC-CH graduate in management and society who is now employed as a deal agent at an international investment bank. Anspaugh said that while interviewing for his position, he emphasized specific parts of his education, like economics and calculus. “The most essential part of my job is being able to communicate clearly with clients,” he said. “This is where I can speak about the merits of a liberal arts degree.” The path to employment is not necessarily entrenched in what’s printed on a student’s diploma. “Employers are looking for graduates that can demonstrate creative problem-solving skills, are critical thinkers and excellent communicators,” said Michele Tracy Berger, associate professor in the department of women’s studies, in an e-mail. According to a survey conducted among 2009 UNC graduates, of those who responded, 64 percent said they had secured jobs and 28 percent said they were headed to graduate school, Sackaroff said. However, the response rate to the survey was just 40 percent, he said. “I’m hesitant to say 98 percent of our students have plans,” Sackaroff said. Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
For years, the infamous brain drain worldwide has made the United States the recipient of many of the world’s brightest minds. Now that we have some incentive, let’s return the favor.
I’ve had a bone to pick with businesses that offer unpaid and not-for-credit internships for some time now. So you can imagine my dismay upon reading a recent New York Times article preaching the value of such positions and how companies pressed for cash are increasingly relying on interns to do work for free. The unpaid internship is one of the biggest swindles out there for college students today. The promise of a “one-of-a-kind experience” is often left unfulfilled. Menial office tasks and the occasional chat with an executive often constitute an entire summer. In the end, students usually receive a letter of recommendation from a lower-level supervisor. It’s hardly worth a summer of volunteering, in my opinion. More importantly, however, these positions perpetuate a cycle of socioeconomic discrimination. While many employers deem internships a prerequisite for a salaried position, many students — especially those paying off student loans or funding their own education — can’t afford to work for free. And often, landing another job on top of a full-time unpaid internship isn’t an option. Thus, employers are in effect denying these hardworking and often exceptionally qualified individuals who simply don’t have a means to fund such a job. The problem of unpaid internships speaks more to the companies that participate than to the interns themselves. I know firsthand the difficulties associated with unpaid internships. When I could no longer afford travel expenses to drive back and forth from Raleigh twice a week, I approached my employer. Fortunately, my boss made the internship cost neutral by covering all of my travel costs. But others are not so lucky. A good example of this is the internship program with the U.S. Congress. Only a handful of offices fairly compensate their interns. However, the vast majority of Congressional offices expect students to move across the country, live in an area where the cost of living is much higher and work full-time for free. On top of that, many of the opportunities are not legitimate experiences in government. Giving Capitol tours and sealing envelopes for eight hours a day doesn’t really constitute what it’s really like to work on the Hill. There are a few business that really do offer great work experience for their unpaid interns. The chance to shadow executives, work on crucial projects or the opportunity to have work published can really pay off in the long run, especially if the duration of the internship was part of a trial run before a permanent position. But these companies will never get all of the qualified applicants they seek when their employees are not compensated fairly for their valuable work. After all, when interns are treated like permanent employees and are expected to produce the same quality work product, they deserve fair compensation. It’s unfair and exploitative for companies to rely heavily on unpaid college student interns. Clearly, something is amiss when McDonald’s pays its lowest-level employees more to flip burgers than a business pays an intern to produce valuable work product. So when applying for internships this summer, I urge students to avoid selling themselves short by taking a job that pays less than they’re worth. And don’t let anyone fool you — your work is valuable. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hired you in the first place.
Jacquelyn Gist is a career counselor with University Career Services who often counsels students who are considering less traditional post-graduation options. What are the most common reasons you hear for taking time off? Many don’t know yet what they want to do or want to have an adventure while they are free of obligations. Some want to add to their “marketable experience.” Others want to make a lasting contribution to the community and the world. Sometimes students are just burnt out because they’ve been in school since they were five and they’ve worked or interned almost every summer of their college years. What are the most common things for people to do? Most students choose an organized program, such as Teach for America. However, some find employment on their own doing things as unusual as working on a dude ranch, teaching at a school in the Palestinian territories or working as a ranger in a national park. Many people are looking to do a career, even if it’s short-term, that they love. UCS considers this its job — to help people discover career options they love. Sometimes people look at time off as a chance to explore nontraditional career areas. What is your advice for students considering taking time off? Start thinking about your options very early and research them well. Sit down with a counselor and talk about what your long-term plans are and how your options fit in with those plans. There’s a good chance your parents are going to go, “You’re what?” The more you’ve thought things through, the better your experience will be and the more your friends and family will support you.
With fewer jobs in the corporate sector, some students might turn to the nonprofit industry to start their career path. Jacquelyn Gist is the University Career Services counselor for social work and nonprofit careers. She said she prefers to work for nonprofit organizations because of their ability to develop multiple skills. “If you have a skill, talent or interest, no matter what your position, you are going to use it,” Gist said. UNC often encourages students to volunteer during college and to continue volunteering after graduation, said Alice Denson, executive director for the Orange County Literacy Council. The council tutors adults in reading, writing and math, and it helps newcomers develop their English-speaking skills. “We find that a lot of work we can do through volunteers,” Denson said. “I think you will find that in a lot of community-based nonprofits.” Shelley Day, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill, has worked in the nonprofit industry for more than 25 years and has never worked in the corporate market. “I enjoy working for nonprofits, where every day you see what you’re working for,” Day said. The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill provides short-term housing for seriously ill children being seen at UNC Hospitals, and for their families. Day said the families who stay at the house tell her how helpful the volunteers and staff are during their time of need. She said it establishes a personal connection between the house residents and staff. Day said another benefit of nonprofits is the small staff, which allows for lower costs. The Ronald McDonald House has five full-time employees and 75 house volunteers, including groups that cook and clean for the families. “We have to raise over $600,000 a year, and our volunteers allow us to run on a small budget,” Day said. But Denson said she believes there isn’t a significant difference between nonprofit organizations and corporate jobs. “You still have to look out for what to do to keep a stable organization,” Denson said. Day described her reason for working in nonprofits in two words: personal satisfaction. “If you can be passionate about your work, then volunteer,” she said. Gist said working for University Career Services has given her the opportunity to help students do things that they find satisfying and that help improve their community. For more information about the Ronald McDonald House, visit www.chapelhillrmh.net. For the Orange County Literacy Council, visit www.orangeliteracy.org.
In a shifting job climate, University Career Services is giving UNC students opportunities to define their career path and make informed decisions regarding their future. The office is offering a series of “networking nights” to give students the chance to meet with local business professionals in many careers across fields that, according to the office’s Web page, can be “hard to break into.” Many students are unsure of what to expect when they hear about the events, but representatives from Career Services said they are informative. “Networking nights are informal events for students to come and meet with employers — not necessarily recruiters, just company representatives — to share what it is they do in a particular field or industry,” said Sue Harbour, assistant director for career exploration. “It is a really good way for students to hear from 15 to 25 people working in different jobs.” Career Services is holding networking nights throughout the year, with four already scheduled for the fall semester. The first event, on Oct. 8,will feature careers focused on the environment and sustainability. Harbour said the events are designed for career exploration. Many students, including freshman Dulce Castillo, said they think the events sound interesting. “I think I will do them,” Castillo said. “It sounds like a good way to find internships and job opportunities and make connections with people.” Making connections is a key purpose of the networking nights and other events organized by Career Services. “They are a great way to build a network,” Harbour said. “When people go on and get jobs, if it’s something they’re really truly interested in, then those are connections they’re going to have made.” According to Harbour, the nights are popular, with 183 students attending the international careers event last spring. “It’s really not a bad problem to have, because it’s a service we provide to you and is covered by your fees, so we want you to take advantage of it,” she said. Harbour also said students interested in the events should RSVP online at the Career Services Web site and print off the “Networking Night Tips for Students” pamphlet. The pamphlet offers suggestions about how to meet with professionals, as well as general business etiquette. Students going to the networking nights should also bring an open mind. “All Carolina students have a wonderful set of skills they’re developing. And a skill can be used in a plethora of different settings,” Harbour said. “It’s helpful for students to kind of sit there and just open up and say ‘Yes, I’m an environmental studies major,’ for example, ‘but where else can I be, where else can I use these skills?’” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.