Category Archives: Post Grad and Career

January 13, 2013

Moving Tips

Filed under: College Life, Post Grad and Career, Social Life/Relationships, Tips, Travel & Abroad - Angelina
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Serena Piper Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It’s the start of a new year, which means the start of a lot of new things in your life. You could be graduating college soon, starting a new job, joining the Peace Corp., or pursuing graduate school. Whatever it is, it will probably eventually involve having to move. Depending on what you’re moving for, it might be quite a milestone, but don’t let all the excitement make you overlook taking care of anything at your current place. I’ve moved more times than I can count, and each time I learn something new about the process – here are a few tips; some old, some new.

1. Checklist

Live with roommates? If so, it helps to make a checklist of your items in each room about a week before the move. Go through each corner of every room and write down what’s yours. When it comes time to pack, you can go through the list and rest assured you didn’t leave anything behind.

Written Packing List of Things

Photo © kylesteed

2. Keys

Instead of just leaving your house/mail key with a roommate, check with your landlord to see who you should leave extras with. You never know what will cost extra money.

Set of keys

Photo © Swell Dame

3. Verification

This is just a precaution to be on the safe side, have your landlord sign a form saying you are officially off any lease you signed when you first moved in.

Signature for Release from Lease

Photo © immsm

4. Mail

Most people don’t submit a change of address until a day or two before they move, but I recommend doing it as much as four or five days before, if possible, as it takes some companies awhile to catch up. This also ensures nothing slips by from major accounts.

Pile of Mail, Letters, and Packages

Photo © Warm 'n Fuzzy

5. Document

Do a cleaning walk-through with your landlord before you move out to make sure you’ve done an acceptable job. Be sure to take photos as proof of how you left the place. This includes fixtures, door trimmings, window blinds, etc.

Clean Empty Apartment

Photo © CharlieBoy808

My two biggest pieces of advice? Start early and take this time to go through your things and purge items you no longer use. No one likes moving a lot of stuff, so the more you find that you don’t use anymore, the better it is to donate. Also, depending on where you live, different rental companies have different move-out requirements, so double check those!

Happy moving!

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January 4, 2013

Internships

Filed under: College Life, Post Grad and Career, Tips - Angelina
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Serena Piper Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

No matter what year you are in college, it’s important to be on the lookout for internships. You don’t need me to tell you internships provide valuable hands-on experience, paid or not, and connect you to people who have an in with your dream work field. Internships are the gateway to securing a job. However, don’t just expect one to fall in your lap; finding a good internship can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it and necessary. Don’t want to be one of the thousands of students displaced and panicking after graduation? Here are a few places and ways to start searching!

1. Career Center

The people who work in the career center are pros at finding internships and jobs, and helping students perfect their resumes and cover letters. When companies are looking for interns, they often post with universities. Since you’ll be on campus anyway, stop by and check for openings.

Career Resume Interview Workshop

Photo © SJSU SLIS LISSTEN

2. Intern Queen Website

One of my favorite websites for available internships is the Intern Queen, run by internship expert Lauren Berger. It’s chock full of opportunities, career advice, and college tips. Post your resume, scroll through the listings, and even apply to become a Campus Ambassador.

Lauren Berger Intern Queen

Photo © The Intern Queen Network

3. Spread the Word

Tell everyone you know that you’re looking and, more specifically, what you’re looking for. By using social media, blogs, professors, family, and friends… word of mouth is a fast way to find connections.

Talking About Internships

Photo © British Embassy in Ukraine

4. LinkedIn

Perhaps an employer won’t use the site to reach out to you for an interview, but putting your education, experience, skills, and recommendations out there is a great way to market yourself. My current internship boss checked out my LinkedIn profile before our interview and said it played a part in her decision to interview me.

LinkedIn Website

Photo © Team 29 Born to be Wild

5. Call

Another way to find an internship in your desired field is to “cold call” as Intern Queen’s Lauren Berger did. When the company she wanted to work for didn’t have information about interning, she picked up the phone. So if your dream company doesn’t outright list their intern opportunities, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone!

Young professional business man talking on the phone at office building for internships

Photo © AlExAkE

Above all, be persistent. Attend career and internship fairs on campus, check with the alumni office, and scour any other internship sites you come across. However, don’t depend on online listings, as some sites are not frequently updated or even legitimate offerings.

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September 19, 2012

Pajama Pants Epidemic

Filed under: College Life, Post Grad and Career, Tips - Angelina
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Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It is an epidemic that is sweeping through college campuses all over the country. Boys, girls, men, women, everyone seems to be affected by this strange, new, yet somehow unsurprising ordeal. What is it that is afflicting the students of higher education you ask? Pajama pants, yes that’s right, pajama pants. This seemingly harmless sleepwear option has crept its way out of our beds and into our classrooms. And up to a point, I understand that fascination the student population seems to have with this choice in apparel. Pajama pants are comfortable, warm, and easy. Most students who wear them to class look as if they just rolled out of bed, because that is exactly what they did!

Now you are probably wondering, “What’s the big deal? So some students like to wear what they sleep in to class? Big whoop.” Well, here is a newsflash that some of you pajama pants enthusiasts may not have considered; as college students, we are preparing to make our way into the professional field where we will expect to be taken seriously and treated like adults. That mentality and attitude starts right here, right now, in college. But how do you expect students, faculty, or even teachers to take you seriously when you can’t even take the time to dress yourself in an appropriate manner in the morning? This is the dilemma faced by the pajama clad at every college campus. Sacrifice their sleep to look presentable, or enjoy the soft and sweet comfort of their bed as long as possible.

College Girls Wearing Pajamas Out and Slippers

Photo © Amy Watts

It is not just about taking you or the way you present yourself to the world seriously, but if you do not take enough pride in the way you look, how are you going to take any pride in your studies? In your relationships? Or even at your current job? The occasional pajama pants day is understandable, acceptable, and expected.

Beware – do not fall victim to the pajama pants epidemic!

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July 9, 2012

Life After College: Now What?

Filed under: Post Grad and Career, Travel & Abroad, Volunteering and Giving Back - Social Community Manager
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bio of girl

 

 

 

 

Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment, and it’s even more wonderful if you have already secured a post-grad job… but what about those of us who haven’t? Your happy little moment of celebration can easily be soured with the reminder that you don’t have your foot in the job market yet, but rest assured, there are plenty of options for the unemployed undergrad.

peace corps

Photo © oar4me

Join the Peace Corps

Train for six months, serve for one to two years in another country with a monthly allowance, and get paid $7,500 for your work? Yes please! There are about nine different categories volunteer work falls under, from Education and Health to HIV/AIDS and Business. Connect with a recruiter in your area to find out more about the application process, but it’s best to start early if you want to be volunteering within six months. You might not get to pick which country you go to because it’s all based on the needs of what skills you have, but it’s a great opportunity to travel, make a difference in the world, and take a break from school to let the economy recover before you job search. Not to mention, it will look great on your resume! Side note: the other option is to do Americorps, which recruits volunteers to serve here in the U.S..

Teach English as a foreign language (TEFL)

english as a foreign language

Photo © seetefl

Become certified to teach English in another country in as little as 4-6 weeks and all online! You may be able to find a program overseas that doesn’t require you to be

certified, but most employers look for people who are. With the TEFL certificate, you can teach in a variety of countries, such as Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, European countries, and South America. If you think you might want to teach, consider the very basic TEFL certificate. Even with the basic certificate, it’s a great resource to have if you want the means to live anywhere you wish. 

Just travel

map for travel

Photo © Cali4beach

A lot of people I’ve talked to seem to have one thing in common as far as what they regretted not doing after college: traveling. If you have long lost relatives overseas, take advantage of the connection and give them a call or send an email to catch up. Usually, families are more than welcoming when it comes to hosting. Since housing and food is already hooked up, all you’ll have to worry about is your round-trip plane ticket (assuming you want to come home!).

Still feeling stuck? It’s important to remember not to panic. You always have options; just put the time and research into seeing exactly what they are. The more research you do on your own, the better you’ll feel and the better choice you’ll make.

 

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June 11, 2012

What Would You Tell Your Freshman Self? Think EPIC.

Filed under: College Life, Post Grad and Career - Social Community Manager
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This is Part 2 in a series of letters from college graduates to their freshman alter egos. (Here’s Part 1 on freshman advice.) Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your younger self about your college years?

photo of guy

By guest blogger, Keith Kaplan: ALBION COLLEGE: Brains (double-major honors student, Mortar Board, College Fellow) and brawn (swim team captain and an avid outdoorsman who most days can be seen paddling on the river that runs through his campus). Co-founder of the eponymous DK Cookies (on Facebook!).

If you ask many older folks about college, they’ll most likely say they miss college or something involving how great their college experience was.

They’re definitely right. Being a current college student and from my experiences, your college experience should be EPIC.

To make your journey an epic experience, I put together a list of the top tips to have a stellar experience these next few years of your life – I would’ve wanted to know these going into my college experience.

Don’t be a cement head. While in school, you’ll experience situations you probably haven’t experienced before. Whether it’s new activities or learning new skills, always have a positive mentality and a drive to achieve. Be sure to ditch the “I am not good at this, so I won’t try” cement head attitude – you’ll only be limiting yourself.

photo of boy

College freshman Keith

Don’t be afraid. I know from personal experience, I’d be afraid to try something new by myself, whether it was attending a club meeting or joining an intramural sport. Don’t be afraid. The only person that can limit yourself is you.

Have fun, but be responsible. In college there will be parties, there will be drinking, and there may be some risky behavior. I say feel free to partake in these social experiences, but be responsible. This might take a few times to adjust to, but you will learn soon enough how to balance a social life and your studies.
Be yourself. Typically, there are a bunch of activities to do on or around campus. If you have to change yourself for something or someone, don’t do it. There will always be a group of people, an activity, or a hobby that’ll fit your interest.Take advantage of your college network. This includes other students on campus as well as your professors and administrators. Ask upperclassmen about professors and classes to take and not to take. Also, use your college campus as a microcosm to try out new ideas, whether it’s a business or starting a new club or sport.Meet your professors. Office hours are great for connecting with your professors. Students might think of office hours as a weakness because they see it as not performing well and needing extra help – FALSE. Connecting with your professors could lead to possible job and internship opportunities, and research positions.College is about learning, discovering yourself, your interests, and your passions. I say if you don’t put yourself into uncomfortable or challenging situations, you are doing college wrong. One more thing, please try something new because you may never know what you’ll discover about yourself.

 

Professional college student (for now),
Keith Kaplan

 

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