NEXT ’18: Job shadowing @ The Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center

Tags

externship, job shadowing, NEXT, NEXT 2018, Northwestern, Northwestern Externship Program, northwestern university

Antonia is a first-year student in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences majoring in psychology and minoring in music cognition. She participated in the 2018 Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT) and spent a day job shadowing a Northwestern alumnus at The Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center in Schaumburg, IL.

I applied for NEXT because I wanted to gain more specific knowledge on clinical psychology. Although I have learned a lot about psychology in general, I have not been formally taught about clinical psychology. All I really know is that clinical psychology focuses on the treatment of patients with emotional and mental disorders.

In April, I shadowed Edward Oriole at the Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center. Lighthouse offers individual, family, and couples therapy, and they gear their services toward the improvement of one’s mental and emotional health. Edward pursued both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern University, majoring in psychology and clinical psychology, respectively. His work mostly involves the use of Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy, encouraging active thinking and changes in one’s belief system regarding others’ intentions. He also works with patients that have suffered from drug addictions with the same methods. I was intrigued by Edward because his education followed the same path that I have planned.

Throughout the externship, I observed the environment of the lobby and offices. Although I could not observe any of Edward’s therapy sessions due to confidentiality and comfort levels, I still gained knowledge about what is effective in a clinical psychologist’s workplace. I frequently heard white noise and saw calming imagery such as fish and warm yellow walls. The comfortable, intimate environment of Lighthouse benefits the emotional well-being of a patient before they visit their therapist.

My biggest takeaway from this externship is that the main goal of clinical psychologists is to put mental health first. When Edward conducts couples therapy, his goal is not to keep couples together at all costs; he wants what makes each member of the couple happy. In general, the main goal of therapy is to advocate for positive mental health, not keep people in one’s life.

Finally, Edward offered one important piece of advice that I had not previously thought of: the more you relate to your patient, the more they will prefer you and stick with you. Patients want to feel confident in their therapists, and they want to feel an intimate connection. They need someone in their life that will listen to them and know how to help them because they have lacked that figure for most of their life.

Advertisements

4 Considerations When Selecting a Writing Sample

Tags

application materials, career advising blog series, career advising series, Northwestern, northwestern university, taylor, writing samples

By Taylor Kinn, NCA Assistant Director of Student Career Advising, serving students enrolled in the Harvey Kapnick Center for Business Institutions Minor

If you are in the process of applying for an internship or full-time position there is a chance employers may request a writing sample as part of your application. Ultimately, an employer wants to know more about your written communication and evaluate your ability to perform in the role. Below are a few questions I recommend you consider when selecting a writing sample:

• Who is your audience? Consider what you know about the employer: the industry, client focus, or other aspects of the employer’s work can provide guidance on selecting a topic for your writing sample. For example, if the organization focuses on public policy in urban areas and you’ve written a course paper about the impact of educational policy in Chicago, this could demonstrate both your interest in the employer’s work and the knowledge that you’ll bring to the role. This is an example of how industry and employer research can help to inform your application.
• Why are they requesting a writing sample? You also want to consider the style of writing the employer is interested in reviewing. Consider the role and how writing and communication play into the tasks you will be asked to accomplish. For example, writing press releases, blog content, and client reports may require three distinct styles.
• What do you hope to share? The content and style of your writing should ultimately showcase your Both the topic and style of writing are ways for you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you can offer the employer. For example, if an employer wants to see that you can analyze information, this skillset may be better showcased in a research paper rather than an opinion based essay or non-fiction piece of work. Or, if creativity is important, sharing a piece that clearly conveys your ideas and point of view will be most effective.
• Should you draft a new sample or use an existing one? There may be a situation in which creating a writing sample specifically for the application makes the most sense. The employer may even request this. For example, an employer may want to see how you communicate professionally and request that you submit a mock email. However, just because you haven’t written a course paper or other piece about the industry to which you are applying doesn’t automatically mean you need to create a sample. Still, you may decide that tailoring the content and/or style of writing to a given employer or industry is most effective for your application.

Keep in mind that most writing samples will be 2-3 pages, unless otherwise specified, and a section of a larger work can be used. Be sure to follow instructions about the requested writing sample and always proofread. Your ability to follow instructions is another way employers assess your attention to detail.

Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your career adviser (for job/internship applications), or career counselor (for graduate school applications) if you have any additional questions about how to select a writing sample or other aspects of the application process. The Writing Place can also provide you with guidance and feedback. Best of luck selecting your next writing sample!

DC Government, Law and Policy Career Trek 2017 Recap

Tags

career treks, career treks 2017, Government, law, networking, Northwestern, northwestern university, Policy, washington dc

By Samantha Schmidt and Abby Hodonicky

Samantha Schmidt will graduate in June 2018 from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences with majors in history and Middle East and North African studies.

Abby Hodonicky will graduate from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences in June 2019 with majors in psychology and English literature as well as a minor in legal studies.

Our first day of the Government, Law and Policy trek started with group introductions as we bonded over our travel woes from the day before. After setting out from the hotel, our first stop was the American Medical Association, where we enjoyed learning about how the organization has evolved to become more liberal in recent years. We then took the Metro to Georgetown Law School, a visit whose highlights included a self-guided tour of the beautiful campus and insight from an admissions officer about how using the GRE as an admissions test will likely diversify the pool of law school applicants. From there, we headed to Albright Stonebridge Group, an international consulting firm whose model of building mentoring relationships between new employees and more seasoned advisors sounded like it would make for an excellent work environment. That evening, the unfailingly hospitable former Congressman Kolbe hosted us at his home for dinner. He told fantastic stories about his world travels and regaled us with his insight into the current pitfalls of politics in Washington, a fascinating conclusion to our day.

The next day began with a question and answer panel with Northwestern alumni who work on Capitol Hill, the highlight of which was hearing about the state of gender relations in their workplace, the challenges women face, and the progress they have made. Afterwards, we visited the Urban Institute, where it was encouraging to hear about their goal of “elevating the debate” in DC by focusing on objective research as the best guide for societal progress. We then braved the downpour outside to walk to the State Department, and once there we were gratified to hear one employee’s impassioned speech about the importance of studying what you love and then using that knowledge to make the world a better place. For dinner, we headed to a young alumni reception hosted by Holly Rehm, WCAS ‘08, and her husband. It was wonderfully helpful to hear from them and the other young alums about the practicalities of getting by in DC when you first arrive, including the tips to take on two jobs and find multiple roommates.

On our third and final morning, we checked out of our hotel and signed thank you notes to our various hosts before setting off for the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank that describes itself as “a university without students.” While there, we heard from scholars Karlyn Bowman and Norman Ornstein about their long, illustrious careers and fascinating research on polling and the current administration. Finally, we finished our trip with a visit to the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where we had a lovely conversation over lunch about the general benefits of a law degree in terms of developing your critical thinking and writing skills.

The employers and alumni throughout the trek enthusiastically shared advice, and some common themes shaped our conversations. Most commented on the importance of networking, particularly of personalizing your interactions with potential employers and never burning bridges. Holly Rehm, for example, suggested calling an employer after submitting your resume to make sure your name stands out. Holly’s point not only gives a concrete example of personal networking, but gets to the importance of persistence. Several alumni explained that it is important to show excellence in all of your work, even if you do not intend to hold a certain position forever, so that you can advance along your chosen path.

Visiting DC enlightened us to the day-to-day realities of living and working in the nation’s capital. The intensity of the city’s atmosphere, manifested in the long hours, high stakes, and broad reach of the work its inhabitants do, is definitely challenging, but hearing from alums also reassured us as to how rewarding these efforts can be. It was also useful to visit such a wide variety of employers working in diverse fields, and hearing about how people’s career paths can wander between these industries confirmed that our lives in DC would never be dull.

We were surprised by the combination of flexibility and drive that alumni showed. While maintaining the importance of keeping a driving purpose in mind, they attested to the unexpected twists and turns of their careers thus far. Some recent alumni shared their happiness working in a job they never intended to pursue, and the interests that were sparked by getting hands-on experience in local government and on Capitol Hill. The coexistence of flexibility and tenacity show the compromises that end up shaping one’s career in DC.

2017 San Francisco Startup and Technology Trek Recap

Tags

career treks, career treks 2017, Northwestern, northwestern university, San Francisco, startup and technology career trek 2017, startups, technology

By Eli Wallace

Eli is a senior majoring in history and minoring in business institutions in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He participated in the 2017 Startup and Technology Career Trek in San Francisco.

Day 1

LinkedIn

Andy Linder organized and led our visit to LinkedIn. He is a Northwestern alumnus who graduated from Medill in 2016. Andy works in sales for LinkedIn’s Global Leadership Program, and has worked there for a year.

The main event during our LinkedIn visit was a panel discussion and Q & A with six LinkedIn employees. Andy led the panel, and four of the remaining five were all Northwestern graduates. The sixth member was a recruiter. After the panel, Andy took us all to LinkedIn’s rooftop terrace where we had photo ops and many enjoyed LinkedIn’s free snacks.

Insider’s insight: A member of the sales team told us that 2/3 of LinkedIn’s revenue comes from enterprise sales.

Biggest takeaway: Create an effective LinkedIn account. Students and professionals can attract real opportunities from their LinkedIn presence. Surprisingly—or not surprisingly at all—Andy was recruited for his job via LinkedIn. The more personal, current, and polished your profile is, the more likely you are to attract opportunities.

Sutter Hill Ventures

Sam Pullara spoke to our group at Sutter Hill Ventures. He enrolled in a physics PhD program at Northwestern in the mid-1990s, but left during his first year to pursue his interests in computers and technology. Sam spent about half an hour sharing his background with the group, and an hour fielding our questions.

Insider’s insight: Sutter Hill Ventures is one of the country’s oldest venture capital firms.

Biggest takeaway: There is no standard route to becoming a venture capitalist. Sam started off in a physics PhD program in Chicago, and ended up as a technology specialist, entrepreneur, and now venture capitalist. The common thread amongst Sam and others is that they pursued their interests and said yes to attractive opportunities.

Day 2

Handshake

David Shull and Alex Amerling spoke to us at Handshake. David was the fourth person to join Handshake after the three co-founders. Alex was the company’s first real employee. The two of them spent half of our time together telling us the exciting story of Handshake’s founding, and the other half answering our questions.

Insider’s insight: Hollywood depictions of startup founders are more accurate than you think. David and about seven others on the original team spent the earliest days of the company traveling around the country in an old, beat up Ford to sales and investor pitches, and working out of a rented house in Silicon Valley.

Biggest takeaway: The best ideas come from solutions to problems. The founder of Handshake came up with the idea after experiencing firsthand how difficult it could be getting good jobs from lesser known universities. He originally started by using the expertise he had gained from job recruiting to help his friends get jobs. After graduating, he decided to take a leap of faith and start a company doing it.

Pinterest

At Pinterest, we got a tour of the office, and spoke with a panel of employees who were Northwestern alumni.

Insider’s insight: Pinterest has a giant pin made of Legos in their building.

Biggest takeaway: Take opportunities when they come your way. Many of the alumni that spoke to us were not from San Francisco, but went there when they had the opportunity to work at Pinterest. Most of them are happy for doing so.

Thumbtack

We were lucky enough to have one of the three co-founders of Thumbtack, Sander Daniels, speak to us. He spoke about his personal background, the early days of the company, and then thoughtfully answered the many questions we had for him.

Insider’s insight: Although Thumbtack is a software company, none of the three co-founders come from technical backgrounds. Sander graduated from Yale Law School, and the other two co-founders have a background in politics.

Biggest takeaway: “It’s important to have civic minded founders.” –Sander Daniels. Sander and his two co-founders began brainstorming ideas not necessarily to start a company, but to start an organization that would have a sizable impact on the world around them. Sander’s and Thumbtack’s story was a reminder of the importance of looking to serve others as opposed to only thinking of yourself.

Alumni Panel

The panel was held at Northwestern’s beautiful San Francisco campus. Andy Linder, Zack Moy, Jo Lee, Avy Faingezicht, and Michael Krakaris spoke to us. They shared with us their backgrounds, answered questions, and spoke with us individually after the panel discussion. They were all fairly recent graduates (within about 5 years out). Despite their youth, two out of the five had started companies, and one had just sold his company two weeks before speaking to us.

Insider’s insight: While the panel members certainly valued their academic education from Northwestern, they credited extracurricular activities and experiences for teaching them skills that were most applicable to their careers. For example, Avy worked internships during the school year after his manager at a summer internship told him he was deficient in important computer skills. Avy ultimately got a job at Apple upon graduating.

Biggest takeaway: Very little in Silicon Valley is predictable. Two of the five panel members had started companies. One was 27 and the other was just 23. This would be seen as unusual in most environments, but in Silicon Valley, it is common. Silicon Valley is not the best place to go for one looking for a traditional career path. But if someone is comfortable with uncertainty along with opportunity, it’s a great place to be.

Day 3

Facebook and Instagram

Our last visit of the trek was to Facebook and Instagram’s campus. There was a panel discussion and a tour of the sprawling campus afterwards. Just about anything one would need could be found there: several restaurants, a dentist’s office, an arcade, and much more.

Insider’s insight: There were only eight people on the team that built the Instagram Stories feature. Many entrepreneurs look at a large, successful company like Facebook and believe it’s almost impossible to compete with it. In reality, only so many resources and attention are allocated to any given project. It was the responsibility of eight people to create a competing product to Snapchat.

Biggest takeaway: It’s possible to find an entrepreneurial environment in a large, mature company. Despite the fact that over 17,000 people work at Facebook, everyone on the panel spoke of their ability to work on the things that interested them most, and with a relatively high degree of autonomy. If freedom to run is what someone is looking for, there may be more options than what they’d initially expect.

Conclusion

The San Francisco Startup and Technology Trek was an incredible learning experience. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been exposed to so much valuable information and such impressive people in such a small time period—just two and a half days. We saw software companies and venture capital firms, companies in their infancy and mature companies like Pinterest, and we even got to speak with the co-founder of a billion dollar startup. The trek gave me a firsthand perspective on something I had only read about before—the startup and technology environment in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

Going into the trek, I was deciding between accepting a job offer I received in San Francisco, or asking the firm to give me an offer in Chicago. My mind was made up to accept the San Francisco offer before my plane had landed in Chicago after the trek. My decision was largely informed by this trip to San Francisco. It may be possible that this trek changes the trajectory of my life. I hope that future students find it as valuable as I did.

NEXT 2017: Job Shadowing @ The Richards Group

Tags

Career Development, career exploration, externship, job shadowing, NEXT, NEXT 2017, Northwestern, northwestern university

Becca Smith (SoC ’17) is a Communication Studies and Spanish double major. Becca spent a day job shadowing a Northwestern alumnus at The Richards Group via the NEXT program.

Tell us about the organization and alumnus that hosted you. Why were you interested in job shadowing this alum?
I completed my NEXTernship with The Richards Group, an advertising agency located in Dallas, Texas. I shadowed Brad Todd, one of the Principals at The Richards Group. I was interested in The Richards Group because I wanted to get a feel for the advertising and marketing scene in Dallas, as I am very interested in working there after graduation. Brad’s position interested me because I could tell that he had experience and connections in every branch of The Richards Group, giving me overarching exposure to the advertising industry.

What did your day entail?
When I arrived, I was greeted by Brad and Kelsey Hoffmann, one of his team members. I chatted with different members of The Richards Group before sitting in on a brainstorming session. Much to my surprise, my opinion was encouraged and accepted with the same attention and importance as everyone else in the meeting. We took a tour of the building and I saw how much of an emphasis The Richards Group puts on a balanced and healthy lifestyle. The building includes a full-size gym, free healthy snacks, and exercise classes. After lunch, my day finished with sitting in on a few meetings and talking to people from different departments.

What was your biggest takeaway from your day? What new insights did you glean from this experience that will help you most as your prepare for or make decisions about your career path?
As cliche as it sounds, I left The Richards Group feeling at home. I already had a network of brilliant people in an amazing company, simply by spending eight hours with The Richards Group. After my NEXTernship, I realized just how important it is to think about how you and a company “fit” together. I had an absolutely amazing experience and I am so thankful to The Richards Group, Brad Todd, Kelsey Hoffmann, and the NEXT program for giving me this opportunity.

The Northwestern Externship Program (NEXT) matches Northwestern students with alumni for a day of job shadowing each spring, co-hosted by NCA and the Northwestern Alumni Association.

SIGP 2016: NCA awards record number of grants to support unpaid summer internships

Tags

Career Development, internship, Northwestern, northwestern university, SIGP, summer internship grant program

One of four groups of 2016 SIGP recipients

The numbers are in: More than 350 students are receiving grants of at least $3,000 to participate in unpaid internships this summer as part of Northwestern Career Advancement’s (NCA) annual Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP). These students are part of the 10^th SIGP class, which awarded the highest number of recipients from the largest pool of applicants, surpassing last year’s record of 255 grants. The program has come a long way since its inaugural year in 2007, when fewer than 100 students applied to receive one of 10 available grants.

SIGP’s primary purpose is to provide funding to Northwestern undergraduate students who are completing internships in fields that do not typically offer paid experiences. The grant covers students’ living and travel expenses throughout the duration of their internships.

NCA executive director Mark Presnell said that it was difficult to predict how much SIGP would grow this year, but that its increase in applicant numbers shows the demand that exists for this type of funding. Seven hundred students applied for a grant this spring, nearly double the number from 2015. Applications include three essay questions that are evaluated on several points, including demonstrated need and consideration of internship learning objectives.

“I think it’s clear from a student perspective that SIGP allows students to pursue a wide range of interesting internships without concern for personal funding,” Presnell said.

This financial support allows SIGP recipients to pursue opportunities that otherwise might not be possible. In 2015, eighty-six percent of SIGP recipients surveyed said that they would have had to turn down their summer experience or supplement it with a second job had it not been for SIGP funding.

For Corinne Wessels, a rising junior in the School of Education and Social Policy, SIGP has allowed her to pursue her dream internship at Lurie Children’s Hospital in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Program.

“To me, receiving a SIGP grant was so much more than money,” Wessels said. “Without a SIGP grant, my amazing experience at Lurie Children’s Hospital would not have been possible. The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Program deeply relates to my aspirations of a career in psychological services and mental health. Thanks to a SIGP grant, I am able to gain a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as an undergraduate student at Northwestern University and gain valuable experience, in an environment that resonates with the future atmosphere of my career.”

SIGP funding comes from a variety of sources, such as Northwestern alumni, staff, central administration and friends of the University. Major contributors include the Alumnae of Northwestern University, Council of One Hundred and Buffett Institute for Global Studies.

This summer, SIGP students are interning at organizations such as the United States Department of Commerce, American Documentary Inc., and CNN Buenos Aires. Students will travel to internship sites all over the world, from Chicago and Washington, D.C., to Argentina and Hong Kong.

Magdalena Flores, a rising sophomore in the School of Communication, will pursue an internship at the Latino Policy Forum in Chicago, where she will build on her communications skills.

“Receiving a SIGP grant means that I am able to gain the real-world experience that will help me in my future career path after Northwestern,” Flores said. “As a communications intern for the Latino Policy Forum in Chicago, I am able to apply theories learned in academic courses to my daily media and public relations tasks.”

Frank Laucerica, a rising senior in Bienen, will participate in his second SIGP internship at the Miami Summer Music Festival. He values the learning opportunities that are paramount to the internship experience.

“Internships help us maximize the time we invest in the pursuit of mastery,” Laucerica said.

To round out their internship experiences, SIGP recipients are also engaging in career development activities throughout the summer, such as participating in discussions on LinkedIn, conducting informational interviews, and networking.

This week: Hot Internships Outside of Chicagoland

Tags

Career Development, careercat, internships, Northwestern, northwestern university

 From UCS student employees Derek Tucker and Laken Howard

A summer internship in another city is the perfect excuse for a change of scenery, and you could find an opportunity at a company you never would have known about had you searched only within the Chicagoland area. If you’re looking to expand your horizons and escape Chicago this summer, consider applying to an internship outside the city at one of the following companies:

Employer: Nike
Position: Global Communications Intern
Class: Juniors and seniors
Compensation: Paid Internship, Access to Athletic Facilities, Discount on Nike Brand
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Application Deadline: March 27^th
CareerCat ID: 94038

This 12 week internship with Nike is an awesome opportunity for students to get involved in the world of global communications. As a Nike intern, you will establish and strengthen connections with audiences all over the world through the lens of innovation and sport. You will help Nike to focus their brand image and manage corporate reputation and brand equity. Previous interns have said that Nike’s communications internships provide amazing real world experience and that you should expect to do exactly what their full time employees do. You can apply for this position on CareerCat with a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.

Employer: Hulu
Position: Editorial Intern
Class: Freshmen, sophomores, juniors
Compensation: Paid Internship
Location: Santa Monica, California
Application Deadline: August 13^th (Hiring on a rolling basis)
CareerCat ID: 93318

This internship immediately struck us as an interesting and eclectic opportunity for those in Medill who might be interested in writing, editing, and marketing/social media. During an editorial internship with Hulu, expect to leverage your knowledge of what’s going on in the world of television, movies, and current events to engage Hulu’s users and showcase key series. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to contribute to social media marketing efforts and even write for Hulu.com. Interns will present a marketing plan two weeks into the internship and spend the rest of their time at Hulu executing their plan. To join Hulu at their offices in sunny Santa Monica, apply through CareerCat with a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.

Employer: JDS Development Group
Position: Intern
Compensation: Paid Internship
Location: New York, New York
Application Deadline: April 1^st
CareerCat ID: 94151

This internship with JDS Development group is a paid opportunity to spend the summer in New York working with project management staff to participate in all of the various functions of project management. You will attend project meetings, review various technical drawings, work on marketing, sales, and brand development, conduct research related to projects, and prepare contracts and financial statements for review. This internship would be a great opportunity for engineers looking to get a broad idea of what goes into project management and product development. JDS Development is looking for students who want to work in a team-oriented environment, ask insightful questions, and have knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel as well as Adobe Acrobat. Apply online through CareerCat with a resume and cover letter!

This Week: Hot Jobs & Internships

Tags

Career Development, careercat, internship, jobs, Northwestern, northwestern university

From Career Ambassadors Derek Tucker and Laken Howard

Looking for a cool internship or job? The sheer number of postings in CareerCat can be overwhelming to sort through at times. Here at UCS, we’re searching through the listings to uncover some unique, interesting positions you can apply for in CareerCat. Check back each week to see more “hot jobs,” and don’t forget to do some searching of your own to find the position that’s right for you!

Employer: The Chicago Chamber Musicians
Position: Development/Special Events Intern, General Management Intern
Class: All undergraduates
Compensation: $10/hour
Location: Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: July 31st
CareerCat ID: 93517
This internship with the Chicago Chamber Musicians is an awesome opportunity for those interested in arts management or development. The Chicago Chamber Musicians is a society of professional musicians and supporters dedicated to the study and performance of chamber music. While both internships prefer a background in music, it is not required. The Development and Special Events intern will assist with planning and night-of activities for CCM’s annual Gala as well as other development tasks as assigned. The General Management intern will provide general office support such as copying, mailing, and other administrative tasks. This 10-15 hour per week internship is paid which is pretty unique (and awesome) for the fine arts world. A resume and cover letter are required to apply through CareerCat.

Employer: Abercrombie & Fitch
Position: Leadership Development Internship Program (Merchandising, Inventory Management, Finance)
Class: Junior
Compensation: Paid Internship, Housing Included, Discounts on all A&F Brands
Location: Columbus, OH
Application Deadline: March 7th
CareerCat ID: 93108
This internship program with Abercrombie and Fitch starts with a two week comprehensive training program where interns will get a broader view of the company and its brands. After that, interns are placed in business critical areas for the remainder of the internship. Merchandising interns will oversee vendor communication, attend fittings, participate in design reviews, and stay up to date on the latest product trends. Inventory Management interns will develop department specific inventory strategies and participate in selling reviews. Finance Interns will impact the financial profitability of the company through opportunities in planning and analysis, real estate, and store operations. The company requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, junior status, proven leadership experience, and a desire to pursue a career in retail after graduation. You can apply with a resume (with SAT or ACT scores complete with breakdowns) and an unofficial transcript through CareerCat.

Employer: Blackstone
Position: Future Women Leaders Program
Class: Open to current sophomores (graduating in 2016) who are interested in exploring a career in the financial services industry
Compensation: All expenses paid for Thursday, April 10-Friday, April 11 experience
Location: New York, New York
Application Deadline: March 12th
CareerCat ID: 93816
Blackstone’s Future Women Leaders Program is a unique 2-day experience (Thursday, April 10-Friday, April 11) among financial firms, enabling participants to develop a well-rounded business mind through an interactive information session, networking, and skill-building sessions. Program participants will have the opportunity to interact with business and recruiting professionals at Blackstone’s headquarters in New York City. The program introduces the knowledge, training, and skills necessary to build a strong resume and well-guided career path. Find application instructions in CareerCat.

Winter break to-do list: Prepare for the UCS Winter Internship & Job Fair

Tags

employers, Experiential Learning, Fellowships, internships, jobs, Northwestern, northwestern university, Recruiting, Research, Study Abroad, Travel, Volunteer, Winter Internship & Job Fair

With finals behind you and three weeks of break ahead of you, it’s likely you’ll have some downtime.

Our advice? Use your free time to prepare to land a summer opportunity at the UCS Winter Internship & Job Fair on January 9 in Norris — whether it be an internship, job or fellowship, volunteer service, research or travel. If that isn’t incentive enough, we’re offering our LinkedIn Photo Booth (free professional headshots) from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the fair (first come, first-served) and the first 500 students to arrive at the fair will receive a free business card holder, thanks to Coca-Cola.

Here are 10 things you can do in the next month to make sure you’re ready for the big day:

1. Prepare your resume: Review and update your resume to tailor it to the type of position you are pursuing. Print multiple copies of your polished resume on resume paper.

2. Research the employers who will be attending the fair and potential opportunities. CareerCat, Hoovers, and Glassdoor can help guide your research!

3. Prioritize the employers based on your interests. Find a full list of employers in CareerCat > Events > Career Fairs.

4. Prepare and practice your Elevator Speech, a 30 second-1 minute pitch about yourself and your interest in the employer and/or specific opportunity. A successful elevator speech is brief and will answer two basic questions: Who are you? And why are you interested in this opportunity?

5. Practice responses to sample interview questions.

6. Develop questions for each employer/recruiter. Have the questions ready in a notebook or folder. Your questions should be thoughtful; the internship & job fair is not an opportunity to ask about things you can find on the employer’s website.

7. Purchase and/or polish a suit.

8. Organize your materials for the fair (folder, notebook, portfolio, etc.)

9. Plan to visit your career advisor during all-day UCS Express Advising to have your resume reviewed or your questions answered before the fair. Express Advising is Wednesday, January 8 and Friday, January 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at UCS (620 Lincoln St.) and the UCS Express Advising Center in the Main Library, 2^nd Floor, Core.

10. Mark your calendars for the “Preparing for the Career Fair” workshop, offered Wednesday, January 8 at 4 p.m. in 620 Lincoln.

Tips for the Upcoming Career Fair

Tags

career fair, northwestern university, northwesternucs

So two days into the Fall Quarter and I’m already talking about attending Career Fairs! That’s right- companies have been calling and emailing all summer because they want to meet you and share with you their employment opportunities. Due to the quarter system and starting a bit later than normal, companies are anxious to get to Northwestern and start recruiting. This isn’t a bad thing, but it leaves little time for NU students to prepare for the fall recruiting season.

With the Fall Job and Internship Fair on Tuesday, October 2nd from Noon-4pm in Norris University Center, 2nd Floor, I thought it would be good to share with you all a video UCS made at our Winter Fair last January. The advice still applies and comes straight from the recruiters. Most who will be here again this Fall!

In addition, UCS staff will be at Norris, Louis Room from Noon-4pm on Monday, October 1st hosting the One Stop: Career Fair Prep Walk-in Event. It is a stop in and come back later if you need to style program. Come in to get quick answers to your career fair related questions, receive a resume review, practice answering recruiter questions, practice your elevator speech, etc. We’ll also have Career Guides, listings of the companies who will be at the Career Fair and more resources.

See you all next week at one of THE networking events of the year at Northwestern! Go ‘Cats!