Spring 2007 Newsletter · Issue 29
CRC Corner
The Career Resource Center (CRC) is a free, full-service office whose mission is to establish and sustain relationships with current undergraduate students and bachelor of arts alumni that assist them in translating their Wesleyan liberal arts education into a lifetime of meaningful work.
Internships! Internships! Internships!
’Tis the season for your student to start making his or her summer plans. Did you know:
- CRC offers students a shared database of more than 6,000 internships searchable by career field, geographic location, and other criteria.
- Every Tuesday CRC collects resumes and cover letters online for selected opportunities developed especially for Wesleyan students.
- The career library contains some of the most popular and reliable internship listing directories such as The Princeton Review Internship Bible, Peterson’s Internships, and America’s Top Internships.
- Counselors and peer career advisors are available weekdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (and Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 8 p.m.) for Drop In appointments to discuss individual internship search questions.
Does Your Organization Hire Liberal Arts Students?
You know that students are looking for an internship or job at this time of year, but did you know that your organization could be listed among their options? If you would like to post a position, CRC would love to hear from you. Simply go to www.wesleyan.edu/crc/forms/jobposting.html or e-mail recruiting@wesleyan.edu.
Thinking About Life After Wesleyan
Is your student graduating this year? In addition to the many other items on his or her list of things “To Do” before May 27, here are a few more from CRC:
- Meet with a CRC counselor to discuss postgraduate plans. Stop by during Drop Ins (weekdays from 11 a.m.—5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 8 p.m.) or call x2180 to set up a half-hour appointment. CRC counselors work with all students regardless of major or career interest. “Undecided” students are welcome!
- Develop a resume and cover letter. CRC counselors can help you whether you are just starting your first ones or are putting the finishing touches on your latest versions. Having a polished resume and cover letter are essential elements in your job-search toolkit. Don’t graduate without them!
- Establish a Credential File. Considering attending graduate or professional school at some point? (80 percent of Wesleyan graduates do within five years.) Now is a great time to secure references from faculty members and summer employers. CRC will store the letters safely and send them out when requested for a nominal fee. If you register by April 19, 2007, you may charge the first set of mailings to your student account.
- Attend an Interview Power workshop. Whether you are pursuing an internship, a job, a fellowship, or graduate school, an interview will most likely be an important part of the process. Beef up your skills by learning common questions, how best to prepare, and how to dress professionally regardless of career field.
- Start building your career network. Get a primer on effective networking at the Interview Power workshop and utilize your new skills to extend your Wesleyan connections. Find alumni and parent career volunteers in WesCAN (search online in your student portfolio) and keep in touch with them as your plans progress.
- Formulate a Plan B. There is a world of possibilities for making money. Different employers have different hiring timelines. Consider alternatives that are in line with your interests and meet your goals.
- And don’t worry! Most CRC services are available for free after graduation. CRC even has a counselor who works exclusively with Wesleyan alumni.
Here are a few other useful items that will ease the transition between Middletown and beyond:
- Complete your Senior Survey. Institutional Research sends a link to the Web-based survey beginning in mid-April. Tell CRC what you think and what your plans are.
- Research your health insurance options. Know how you’ll be covered regardless of where you’re headed after leaving campus.
- Check with Financial Aid about loan amounts and payment timelines. If you will be responsible for paying off your loans, know how much you will owe and when payments start, so that you are not surprised by the first bill.
- Review your credit report. Potential landlords, car salesmen, and credit card companies are all interested in your spending habits. Check annually and look for errors at annualcreditreport.com.
- Keep in touch with friends and classmates. Beginning in July, visit WesNet, Wesleyan’s online alumni community, to check on the whereabouts of fellow graduates.