Presented by Career Services...Your Link to the Future Office of the Vice-President for Undergraduate Education
This issue sponsored by A Supplement Yo ur g u i d e t o j o b s , i n tern sh ips, an d gradu ate sch ool Volume 37 #3
November 2, 2010
“WHAT DO I DO IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET?” An Interview with Richard White, Director of Career Services
During the last two years, the “business news” has become “front-page news”—and the news remains sobering. The Wall Street crisis, mortgage crisis, bank bailout, auto-industry bailout, declining home values, and an unemployment rate stuck around 10% are stories that are frequently in the news and causes for concern. Who would have thought that gas below $2.50 a gallon would be GOOD NEWS? But there are some bright spots and some concrete things that you can do to land a job in tough times. “Careers” spoke with Dr. Richard White last week. Is there any good news on the employment front? In the current climate, “good news” is a relative term. The New Jersey unemployment rate recently fell to 9.4%, just above the national rate of 9.2%. In its fall 2010 “Job Outlook” survey, the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts a 13% increase in entry-level hiring in 2011 compared to 2010. In short, it appears that 2011 graduates will enter a more promising job market than 2009 and 2010 graduates. How does the entry-level hiring market compare to the general job market? Having worked as a corporate recruiter in the eighties and at Rutgers since 1990, I believe that most companies understand the importance of bringing new talent into their organizations, even during slow economic times. In addition, entry-level hires are not as “expensive” as seasoned professionals and middle managers. The result is that recent college graduates may have a leg up on their more experienced competition. Also keep in mind that the national unemployment rate for all college grads is only 4.6% - about half the overall rate. What are the most promising fields for college grads? There are lots of opportunities in accounting, engi-
In This Issue What Do I Do in Today's Job Market? 1 Why Should I Attend the Graduate & 1 Professional School Day? 1 Where RU Headed Director’s Desk Staff Directory Ask the Director Federal Jobs Career Day AD
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Alumni Success Story Alumni Career Network AD Speed Networking AD
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Faculty Advice Column Internship Spotlight: Merck PRSSA AD Collegiate Career Day
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Merck AD
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Career Opportunities for Majors in... 6 6 Career Services Inbox 6 Big East Fair AD Upcoming Career Panels Services for Students Spin AD
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Fall 2010 Events Today's Job Market continued
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Why Should I Attend the Graduate & Professional School Day? Once you leave Rutgers, you will not likely have the opportunity to have 140 graduate and professional schools coming to you, in one place, at one time! This is one of the many advantages of being a Rutgers student or employee. Graduate school may also be a smart alternative in today’s job market. Whether you are just thinking about an advanced degree, or you are currently applying to schools, come speak personally with school representatives to start planning ahead, learn the vast array of programs available to you, get details on a specific program, or meet someone from an admissions office at a school you’ve applied to and who may be reviewing your application! Master’s degree students interested in pursuing a PhD or other advanced degree can also benefit by attending. This event is open to all students and staff! Don’t miss the Graduate & Professional School Day on Wednesday, November 3 at the Rutgers Student Center from 12:30 – 3:30. We strongly believe that the internet cannot replace face-to-face contact with graduate school admissions representatives. Go to http : //ca reerser vices. r u tgers. ed u and click on this event on our homepage.
neering, nursing, and technology. The federal government, the nation’s largest employer, also has plenty of openings. The numbers are only expected to grow in the coming years, as the aging federal workers retire in significant numbers. How can Career Services help? We offer a number of employment services to assist you with your job search: CareerKnight—This is our on-campus interview and job posting system. Register at http://careerservices.rutgers.edu for access to jobs, internships, on-campus interviews, and employer information sessions.
Career Days—We offer 12 on-campus events a year. Our next event is the Federal Jobs Career Day on November 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the RSC. We expect close to 30 federal agencies. Employer Information Sessions—Make personal contact with employers. Most sessions are in the early evening at the BCC or RSC. Networking—Make a list of 10 people whom you know well and who are currently working. Think about your parents’ friends, parents of your friends, relatives, members of your religious TODAY’S JOB MARKET continued on back
WHERE RU HEADED? We asked students “What advice do you have for students who are unsure about their major?”
Chantel Golding ‘11
Krishen Jalali ‘14
Psychology/Criminal Justice
English/Political Science
“I suggest you think about your own hobbies and interests and talk to any of the Rutgers academic advisors for assistance and suggestions.”
“You should take a wide variety of classes freshman year and see if anything clicks with you. In your free time, participate in clubs or do independent research. I became interested in politics after I took part in political simulation clubs in high school.”
Connor Givens ‘13
Laura Engelman ‘13
Pre-Business
Psychology/Elementary Education
“I would try classes that are most interesting to you. By finding an area that you enjoy, you can eventually find a job that you can be happy with. Many majors can be beneficial too, like business or science.”
“Take a lot of diverse classes. Branch out and take some courses that interest you. After finding an area of interest, talk to a dean. They can give you ideas about what you need to do next.”
Kenny Schulz ‘11
Priscilla Chan ‘14
Journalism and Media Studies
Biology
“I would advise students to take a lot of different classes in their first two years. You never know what you’ll find interesting. I picked up history as a major because I took an intro class freshman year and liked it a lot.”
“Choose something that you’re passionate about. That’s the only way to guarantee you won’t regret your choice in the years to come! If it’s an impractical major, then you can always minor in it.”
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STAFF DIRECTORY Career and Interview Center Busch Campus Center 732-445-6127 Janet Jones, Senior Associate Director Greg Sobol, Assistant Director Jennifer Broyles, Assistant Director Joe Scott, Assistant Director Sue Pye, Assistant Director Tammy Samuels, Assistant Director Toi Tyson, Assistant Director Marcia Milgrom, Career Counselor Barbra Bonifield, Career Services Coordinator Toni Berlingieri, Career Services Coordinator
Career Center at 46 College Avenue 732-932-7997 Chrystal McArthur, Associate Director David Bills, Assistant Director Larry Jacobs, Assistant Director (and Buddy) Monica Bryant, Assistant Director Sylvia Cordero, Assistant Director Tina Vance Knight, Assistant Director Doug Ricci, Career Counselor Scott Borden, Career Counselor Linda Bagen, Career Services Assistant Mark Kerr, Career Services Assistant/Special Projects
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FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK by Richard L. White Our third and final issue of Careers for the fall semester has something for everyone. If you're a senior or graduate student seeking a job following graduation, be sure to read my article, “What Do I Do in Today’s Job Market?” It discusses CareerKnight, the Rutgers on-campus interviewing and job posting system, and a Dr. Richard L. White number of other ser vices Director of Career Services that can help you. To register and put your resume online, log on to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on “Student Login to CareerKnight.” Check CareerKnight weekly to review on-campus interviews, job and internship listings, and upcoming career days. If you’re thinking about graduate school or are currently applying, the Gra dua te a nd Professiona l School Da y is for you. It will take place on Wednesday, November 3 from 12:30 3:30 p.m. in the Rutgers Student Center. It will have a national and regional focus with 140 graduate programs representing business,
humanities, law, medicine, education, engineering, sciences, and social sciences. See our ad in this issue of Careers. Some Rutgers units will also be attending. Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or internship, be sure to check CareerKnight for employers conducting in for m a tion s es sions. These are great opportunities to make face-to-face contact with employers. Most events are in the Busch Campus Center between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. If you're deciding on a major or planning a career, read our "Career Opportunities for Majors In..." article. We have 77 profiles covering 86 majors. Finally, take advantage of our programs highlighted in this issue of Careers, including the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day on January 6. Watch for our next issue of Careers on February 1, 2011, and our Career Services Weekly every Tuesday in The Targum. In the meantime, good luck with your exams and the conclusion of the fall semester.
Richard L. White is New Brunswick-wide director of career services at 56 College Avenue.
Administrative Office 56 College Avenue 732-932-7287 Richard L. White, Director Dorothy Kerr, Executive Manager, Employer Services Janet Bernardin, Manager, Special Programs Barbara Melamed, Website Project Manager Alison Koo, Budget and Technical Coordinator Larissa Keller, Employer Services Coordinator Lisa Goddard, Employer Services Coordinator Mary Beth Kimberlin, Employer Services Assistant
ASK THE DIRECTOR Dear Director, Is it better to go to graduate school right after college, or wait a few years and get some work experience first? Dear Rutgers Senior: Thanks for your inquiry. Some graduate programs require or strongly encourage work experience following your bachelor’s degree, while others do not. Graduate programs in such areas as business (MBA), social work (MSW), psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and public policy seek candidates with two to five years of relevant work experience. Most other programs, including law, medicine, the humanities, sciences, and social sciences do not require experience. They are looking for bright, focused students who have a passion for their field. Of course, the cost of graduate education may necessitate that you work for a few years to generate some resources for your continued education. My advice is to ask the graduate admissions offices at the schools where you are considering applying the following questions: “What is the average age of your students?” “Do you recommend work experience before graduate school?” “Can acceptances be deferred?” I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your graduate applications. --Dr. Richard White Director, Career Services 56 College Ave.
DID YOU KNOW? You have to try CareerShift! It’s an amazing job hunting and career management site. Go to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu.
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ALUMNI SUCCESS STORY Kevin Tong Rutgers ’08, B.S. Biotechnology Ph. D Student, Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences What aspect of grad school do you enjoy the most? The least? My favorite part of grad school is definitely the opportunities in which you get to see the latest advancements in biology. It is amazing to be able to talk with leaders in the field from both Lehigh and at various conferences around the country. Knowing that I’m contributing to that pool of knowledge in grad school is very rewarding. My least favorite aspect of grad school would have to be the requirement to retake several classes that I took as an undergrad at Rutgers. This includes two semesters of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, two of the more difficult courses. While it may have been difficult, it really was not that bad because taking it the second time around made it easier to follow. Overall I felt like I got more out of the courses and became more knowledgeable of the material. What is the most valuable skill to have to be in your position? I would say time management. In a Ph.D program, you’ll be asked to spread yourself pretty thin. You’re taking classes, studying for qualification exams, and working on a thesis at the same time. You have to be really careful where you spend your time and know where your priorities are. What do you think made you successful? Rutgers gave me a very strong foundation to build on before I entered Lehigh. That made the classes I had to take much easier as I already learned most of what the classes were teaching me. Also, I took advantage of doing research at Rutgers which prepared me for the research aspect of the Ph.D program. I already knew the fundamentals of a biology lab as well as the protocols and lab techniques needed to perform experiments. What advice can you give someone who has plans for grad school? Start the process early. While it’s not like applying out of high school, the graduate school process still requires as much time and effort to complete the applications, if not more. Starting early would also allow you to rank your schools by preference. Finally, starting early will also allow you plan accordingly as most graduate programs will ask you to visit, plus an interview. This will test your time management skills (usually interfering with class schedules). How has Career Ser vices helped you along your path? A lot of the workshops and meetings they provided really helped when I was first applying to graduate schools. They provided a lot of great advice, especially on how to fill out the applications, who to talk to for recommendation letters, and how to present myself during the interview. These are all key aspects of “putting your best foot forward” and showing the programs you’re applying to that they should accept you.
DID YOU KNOW? Career Services offers an online credentials service called Interfolio. You can store letters of recommendation and manage your account on a 24/7 basis.
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INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: An interview with MERCK & CO., Inc. Sunny Kanneganti, Chemical Engineering 2010 Where did you work and what were your main responsibilities? I had two internships at Merck. My first was in an operations group where I investigated malfunctioning equipment and diagnosed a solution. Simultaneously, I had to construct an inventory database from scratch in MS Access, all while learning more about the company and people in it. My second summer at Merck was in a technology group. My project was to query, diagnose, and provide a solution for cooling equipment that had been acting out of specification plant wide. My job was to take an inventory of all the units
and find common themes and problems. By the end of the summer I had created a rubric that allowed someone to quickly analyze a unit's condition and determine what the most probable cause for malfunction was. This was multitasked with smaller data analysis projects and further learning about the company. How did you get your internship? Merck and Rutgers have very good relations. I applied for on campus interviewing my sophomore year, which I learned about from my department. I ended up interviewing with Erik Dienemann on campus, and the rest is history. What did you like best about your internship? I mostly enjoyed learning about the culture and the company as a whole. Furthermore, my individual projects taught me specific skills and further developed critical thinking abilities that I had learned in school. Merck was ver y good about providing a solid internship experience, and there were over
100 other interns, some of which I'm still good friends with today. Having a solid peer group changed my internship from just a "job" to an "experience." What were the m ost valu able thin gs you gain ed ? The experience and learnings are invaluable. Learning about the company and working at a real job gave me a better sense of what I wanted after graduation, and weighed heavily into my job vs. grad school debate. The experience developed my skills and gave me a breadth of things to talk about at interviews that demonstrated leadership, critical thinking, and all of the other abilities that interviewers love to ask about. What are your career goals and jobsearch strategy? Right now my career goals are to grow at Merck and further my education simultaneously, which Merck has been very good at helping me with.
During school, my job search strategy was a three tier approach. From freshman through junior years, I applied to as many internships as possible and had one every summer (two at Merck, one at another company). During the year I participated in lots of interesting extracurriculars, even if they weren't very relevant (newspaper and jujitsu come to mind). When I had finally geared up to begin seriously interviewing, I sought help with close friends and online resources to practice interviewing, tweak my resume, and have more overall presence. I ultimately secured my job with on-site interviewing at Merck, but before I knew I had the job, I actively searched for job postings online and through Rutgers' CareerKnight. I asked friends if they had heard of opportunities, and even visited other campus career fairs to seek out companies that didn't actively recruit at Rutgers. The internship experience combined with leadership roles in extra-curricular clubs made interviewing a thousand times easier.
FACULTY ADVICE COLUMN Dr. Thomas Papathomas Busch Campus Dean Biomedical Engineering What advice can you give students who are not sure of their major? I would advise students to visit Career Services and talk to the advisors. Not only will students be able to learn about job opportunities in a specific field of study, but Career Services has the tools to help orient students to a career path based on their interests and talents. I would also tell students to talk to their professors, especially professors who teach the courses that interest them the most. This way you build relationships with professionals in what you may be interested in. It is important to network with different people even through family and friends and keep an open mind about what you may want to study. Given the current economic situation, what suggestions do you have for students who are debating between going to grad school
and entering the work force? It mainly depends on the student. Some students may want to pursue a job right away due to financial reasons such as paying off student loans, but others may need to pursue graduate school in order to secure a more stable job. When in doubt I would advise students to cast a wide net: Take the necessary exams and apply for graduate school, but also apply for jobs in your field as well. One advantage is that you will get good scores in the necessary tests (GRE, LSAT, etc.) because the material is fresh in your mind. If you succeed in both, then you can select the best option, based on the offers that you receive from graduate schools and from employers. What job related skills will students develop through this major? Students studying Biomedical Engineering are strongly encouraged to gain as much practical experience as possible through their courses and internships. The senior
DID YOU KNOW? Career Services hosts some 350 career seminars and programs every year with over 20,000 attendees.
design course gives students the opportunity to design products that they can present to prospective employers. This gives them an edge and shows employers that they have the experience and skills necessary to begin work immediately. The field of Biomedical Engineering is very wide so students are given a taste of the different tracks within the field, but they also choose a specific track to focus on. Furthermore Rutgers has a new Master of Business and Science graduate program for students who want to continue their studies in engineering combined with courses in business. What job opportunities are available for students in your field, and what can students do to increase their chances of finding a job? Students in the Biomedical Engineering field have a wide variety of jobs to pursue. There are opportunities to work for hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies and other health
and medical organizations. Students often go into designing products such as artificial limbs, ar tificial skin, and medical instruments, depending on their specific track. We also have students pursue careers in computer-aided image analysis such as working on programs for automatic diagnoses. To increase your chances of finding a job, I would say cast a wide net, meaning don’t limit yourself and keep an eye open for many opportunities that may come your way. Visit Career Ser vices and take advantage of the programs and career days that they offer. Although it is really convenient to search for job opportunities online, nothing beats face-to-face networking. Finally I would advise students to work hard in their classes, but go beyond academics and become involved in your community and other extracurricular activities. You want to show employers that you are more than a student; you are a person engaged in your community who can handle many activities at once.
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAJORS IN... by Chrystal McArthur There is one primary concern of students deciding on a major: What are the career possibilities available to specific majors? In this day of increasing costs for a college education, students and parents want to be sure that their investment of time, hard work and money will pay dividends, and lead to a meaningful job and career. The Career Services staff helps students learn about career opportunities as they relate to individual skills and interests, previous work experience, and their academic majors. We offer workshops about choosing your major as well as panels of speakers discussing careers. We also encourage you to take advantage of our Rutgers Online Career Planning Site. This site enables you to identify your interests, skills and values, and then relate them to Rutgers majors and real jobs obtained by Rutgers graduates with those majors. Another valuable resource is our series of Career Opportunities for Majors in… profiles. Each profile describes the major from a career perspective and lists typical employers, sample occupations, and actual positions obtained by Rutgers graduates. Our "career opportunities" series includes 77 profiles covering 86 Rutgers majors! Copies are available at our 46 College Avenue office and on our website. Go to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on “College Majors and Careers” under Quick Links. Whether you're deciding on a major or planning your career, check out this resource as you explore career options.
Chrystal McArthur is associate director of Career Services at 46 College Avenue.
CAREER SERVICES INBOX “Dear Janet, I want you to know that I really thought your graduate school fair was very useful in our recruitment efforts for this year (2009), and that it was by far the best fair I attended this year (out of 11). See you next year. Regards, Joel Karpp Yeshiva University” (Graduate school recruiters like coming to Rutgers, because they like our students! So join them at our Graduate & Professional School Day on Wednesday, November 3 from 12:30 – 3:30 at the Rutgers Student Center)
DID YOU KNOW? Our two New Jersey Collegiate Career Days—offered in early January and late May—are Career Services’ largest events of the year with over 150 employers and 2,500 job seekers.
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DID YOU KNOW? Prudential has moved up to be the #1 hiring organization at Rutgers.
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TODAY’S JOB MARKET continued from front organization, local merchants, teachers, coaches, supervisors, and colleagues. Contact them for career information, advice, job leads, and other people to contact. Also check out our Alumni Career Network with more than 1,800 mentors, searchable by undergraduate major and career field. What knowledge and skills are employers seeking? Some employers are focused on discipline-specific knowledge such as accounting, computer science, engineering, or graphic design. But many others are seeking skills that liberal arts majors bring to the table: strong oral and written communication, analytical, organizational, project management, research, and teamwork skills. I’m a liberal ar ts major. What can I do and where should I look?
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Look for jobs where your professional and personal skills can have an impact. Many employers seek “all majors” for entry-level positions. Attend the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day on January 6; we expect over 150 employers. How is the internship market holding up? There are still lots of opportunities for internships. Many employers utilize internships as the preferred method of attracting and hiring full-time employees. Interns can also perform some tasks that full-time employees handle during better times. They are the best way to get your “foot in the door,” get noticed, build your resume, and generate a full-time offer. What tips do you have to help my job search? Some of the keys to a successful job search during tight times are to start early, utilize a variety of resources
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(online job postings, newspapers, career fairs, and campus interviews), develop a networking campaign, and utilize Career Services. How can I expand my job options? I would recommend the following: expand your geographical parameters; consider positions unrelated to your major; consider a part-time job; consider taking additional courses or graduate courses to supplement your knowledge and your resume; and be flexible, resourceful, and creative. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your job search, and let us know how we can help.
Dr. Richard White is director of career services at 56 College Avenue. If you have questions or need advice, email him at riwhite@echo.rutgers.edu.