Careers 2010-02-02

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 36 #1

February 2, 2010

NEW JERSEY COLLEGIATE CAREER DAY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS

By Richard White At most colleges and universities, the first week of January is a quiet time with students and faculty still on winter break. Not so at Rutgers! On January 7th Career Services hosted its largest career fair of the year—the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day. Some 3,800 job seekers attended the event, seeking jobs and internships from 163 participating employers.

About half the job seekers were Rutgers students and alumni, but the event was open to students and graduates of any college or university.

Janet Bernardin, manager of special programs, explained the philosophy behind the event.

“Historically, over 50% of New Jersey high school graduates attend colleges outside the state. This event, which we have been of fering ever y Januar y and May since 1987, gives New Jersey employers and New Jersey residents a chance to connect.”

Par ticipating employers represented a wide range of industries and positions. Many organizations were household names: Enterprise RentA-Car, Pr udential, and Target. The federal government—America’s largest employer with some 1.8 million employees--was also ver y visible with representatives from the DEA, EPA, FBI, FDA, and IRS. Employers were ver y pleased with the quality and quantity of candidates. Many said that this was the best fair they have attended and they were par ticularly impressed with the students who had done research on the employers in advance through the Career Ser vices website.

In This Issue New Jersey Collegiate Career Day Attracts Thousands Where RU Headed?

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From the Director’s Desk Job Search In Today’s Job Market Career Day AD

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Navigating Your Internship Search Career Services Inbox Services For Students

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Internship Spotlight Internship Spotlight Alumni Career Network AD Living And Working Overseas AD

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Altria AD

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Career Tip of the Month Staff Directory February Panels AD Follow Career Services AD

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Internships Can Give You an Edge Ask the Director Alternative Route to Teaching AD

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Spring 2010 Events

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Although the recruiters have left campus and Brower is back in the business of ser ving meals, the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day is the event that “keeps on giving.” Students who registered for the career day are part of a database that participating employers will continue to utilize this spring.

Late May will be another quiet time during the academic cycle. But once again on May 26 Brower Commons and the Rutgers Student Center will come alive with the sounds of employers and students making connections.

Dr. Richard White is the New Brunswick-wide director of Career Services at 56 College Avenue

WHERE RU HEADED? Helping you find your direction is what Career Services is all about! Career Services offers a wide range of assistance for all students from first year through graduate school. This month, Career Services Intern, Kimberly Gray, asked Rutgers students: “How has Career Services helped you pursue your career goals?” Here’s a sample of how some students responded:

Heather Drugos ‘10

History

“Career Services has helped me decide what alternative pathways for teaching can be taken after graduation. I decided I would like to attend Georgian Court University for my Masters in Education.”

Ryan Metz ’09 Ecology “I’ve recently returned to my alma mater to search for networking opportunities that Career Services can provide for a career in Ecology.”

Curt Villarosa ’12 Communication “Career Services has helped me really prepare for my future. All the career panels, information sessions, and drop-in hours are preparing me for the internship and employment process. The resources Career Services provides helped me improve my resume over winter break."

Mona Dalia ’11 Psychology/Criminology “Career Services has helped me since my freshman year. They helped me pick a major and critique my resume. They are very useful and everyone should take the time to go and see what they have to offer.”

Joshua Clark ‘10 Economics “I’ve utilized Career Services’ CareerKnight system which is a great tool to search for jobs and internships.”

Smriti Mishra ’11 Psychology “The career days that Career Services hosts are excellent. I attended the NJ Collegiate Career Day in January and gained extensive knowledge of my career path in research psychology.”

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JOB SEARCH TIPS IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET

By Dorothy Kerr

CAREERS

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

by Richard L. White

Despite the current economy, with a game plan, a goal, and some hard work, there is a good chance that you will find a position. The entry-level job market has not been hit as hard as mid-and-upper level jobs. Here are several tips for today’s tough job market, whether you’re seeking a fulltime job or internship: 1. CareerKnight—This is the Rutgers on-campus interviewing and job posting program. We expect over 150 companies to visit campus to recruit this year, representing a range of industries. You can conduct all aspects of the pre-interview process from your computer, including reading job descriptions, submitting resumes, finding out if you have been selected for an interview, and scheduling your interviews.

CareerKnight posted over 3,000 jobs and internships from over 1,000 employers last year, and you can even access the Monstertrak site from CareerKnight for additional job postings. We receive an average of 20 new jobs every business day. It’s a great source for full-time jobs, co-ops, internships, and part-time jobs.

Action Step: Visit the Career Services website at http://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “Student Login to CareerKnight” at least once a week.

2. Career Days—Attend the NJ Diversity Career Day on Friday, February 19 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the RSC. Login to “CareerKnight” from our website two weeks in advance to see who’s coming. This event is open to all students.

Action Step: Review the list of participating employers two weeks prior to the event, and research them through their website. Come early on February 19 to get an edge on the competition. Dress professionally and bring your resume.

3. Employer Information Sessions and Open Houses—Make personal contact with recruiters on campus and begin to build key relationships with hiring organizations. Most sessions are in the Busch Campus Center or Rutgers Student Center in late afternoon or early evening.

Action Step: Visit the Career Services website at http://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “Student Login to CareerKnight.” Click on “Career Events.”

4. Networking—A must! Tap into your own personal network and the online Rutgers network. Personal Network--Make a list of 10 people with full-time jobs whom you know well. They might be relatives, neighbors, local merchants, former supervisors, professors, etc. Include phone numbers and email addresses. Alumni Career Network--Utilize this database which lists Rutgers alumni by their major and career field. Log on to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “Alumni Career Network.” All members have expressed interest in providing career information and advice.

Action Step: Call or email your contacts. Ask them how they got their jobs, what they like and dislike about their jobs, and how you should conduct your job search.

A final note: Stay flexible and remain open to different possibilities. Think about part-time jobs or volunteer assignments to get your foot in the door.

Good luck with your job search. Let us know how we can assist you.

Dorothy Kerr is Career Services’ executive manager of employer services at 56 College Avenue.

Did You Know?

We offer a FREE resume writing software on our website called Optimal Resume. This product also has a new Optimal Interview module. Practice your interview skills and get feedback, all from the comfort of your own computer!

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

This issue of "Careers" has something for everyone. For juniors, sophomores, and first-year students, our article, "ABC’s of Internships," lists a number of resources for you to consider as you plan your search for a paid or unpaid pre-professional experience. Juniors seeking a summer internship should register for CareerKnight Dr. Richard L. White and submit resumes to Director of Career Services employers that will be interviewing intern candidates on campus in February and March. CareerKnight is also your source for online internship postings.

Seniors should also utilize CareerKnight for on-campus interviews and online job openings.

Also note our upcoming Internship Career Day on February 5 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Rutgers Student Center. Over 50 employers will be at the event to discuss summer opportunities with you.

of Arts & Sciences? Check out the Rutgers Internship and Co-op Program, co-sponsored

by SAS and Career Services. Log on to careerservices.rutgers.edu and look for the link under “Hot Topics.” You do not need to be an SAS student to participate in the program.

We encourage first and second-year students to read about our programs and services specifically geared to these students. We invite all students to attend our New Jersey Diversity Career Day on February 19 in the Rutgers Student Center, and students focusing on careers in education to attend our Education Career Day on February 26 in the Rutgers Student Center.

In this issue we are continuing our three series: “Ask the Director,” which includes a selection from our online Q&A service; “Career Tip of the Month,” which focuses on volunteer internships; and “Career Services Inbox,” which provides a glimpse of a student benefiting from involvement with Career Services.

Best wishes for a successful spring semester.

Did you know that if you secure an internship or co-op position next summer or fall, you can gain three or six credits from the School

Dr. Richard L. White is New Brunswick-wide director of Career Services

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February 2, 2010

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NAVIGATING YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH You have probably heard about the benefits of internships and co-ops—career exploration, work experience, skills development, a foot in the door with an employer, building your resume, and generating income. But what do you need to do to land an internship or co-op?

Let’s start with some basic definitions. An internship is a part-time or full-time work experience, typically lasting one to two semesters or the summer. It may or may not relate to your major. Internships are paid or unpaid, for credit or not for credit. A co-op is a full-time, six-month experience, which typically requires that students take a semester off from college. Co-ops are always paid and may be for credit.

GETTING STARTED Career Services is a good place to start. Stop by or call our career centers at 46 College Avenue (732-932-7997) or the Busch Campus Center (732-445-6127 Ext. 0) to set up an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your interests, skills, and values within the context of your major or potential major. Write a draft of a one-page resume and have it critiqued during “drop-in hours” at 46 College Avenue (Tue. and Thu., 1:00-3:30) or the BCC (Mon. and Wed., 1:00-3:30). Check out “Optimal Resume,” a resume builder under “Quick Links” on the Career Services homepage.

RUTGERS INTERNSHIP AND CO-OP PROGRAMS Rutgers Internship and Co-op Program • Earn 3 credits (internship) and 6 credits (co-op) from the School of Arts and Sciences: • Internships require a minimum of 180 hours of work • Co-ops require 6 months of full-time work • You must complete an online course consisting of weekly journals, a final paper, and a learning agreement • Some internships are paid; all co-ops are paid • You must have completed 30 credits and have a 2.75 GPA (and a minimum of 12 credits if a transfer student) • You do not have to be an SAS student to participate • To apply, log on to careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on “Students” and “Internships & Co-op” Engineering Co-op Program • Earn 6 credits from the School of Engineering • Work assignments are full-time for 6 months

• All positions are paid • You must have completed 90 credits and have a 2.5 GPA School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS): Student to Profession Internship Network (SPIN) • Earn 3 credits (internship) or 6 credits (co-op) • Work assignments are 160 hours for internships and 6 months full-time for co-ops • Internships are paid or unpaid; co-ops are paid • You must have completed 24 credits, including at least 12 at SEBS and 6 the previous semester, and have a 2.0 GPA • To apply, log on to sebsspin.rutgers.edu School of Arts and Sciences • Select the 1 credit option • To apply, log on to sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/academics/forms/internship.html Rutgers Business School • Select the ½ credit option • To apply, log on to business.rutgers.edu Academic Department Programs • You may be able to obtain credit through your academic department • Ask about internship, research, and independent study options HOW TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP First Steps Meet one-on-one with a career counselor to develop your internship search strategy. Have your resume critiqued during drop-in hours. Register with CareerKnight to view internships posted for Rutgers students.

Career Days Attend career days throughout the year; ask employers about internships and co-ops. Attend the Internship Career Day on Friday, February 5.

Internship Seminars Check out our events calendar for seminars on finding and applying for internships.

Research Explore research options at Rutgers: Go to rutgers.edu and click on “research.” Log on to careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on “internships” for information and advice. Visit Career Services at 46 College Ave. and the Busch Campus Center and research internship guidebooks. Check out the

“Career Collection” in the Kilmer Library on the Livingston Campus. Also, check out these websites: Jerseyintern.com, Internships.com, Biospace.com/jobs, Usainternships.com, Vault.com, WetFeet.com, CareerShift.com.

Networking Check with your academic department for leads. Develop your personal and professional network of friends, parents of friends, relatives, recent graduates, neighbors, professors, Rutgers staff, high school teachers, local merchants, and ask them for leads (not a job) and watch your network grow! Utilize the Rutgers Alumni Career Network with over 1,700 potential mentors are searchable by major and career field. Find Career Services on Facebook and Twitter.

On-Campus Interviews Practice your interviewing skills using Optimal Interview; log on to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on “Optimal Interview” under “Featured Services.” Review the list of employers coming to campus to interview students for internships; submit your resume via CareerKnight; if selected, schedule your campus interview.

10 HELPFUL HINTS Good luck with your internship or co-op search. Here are some helpful hints to ensure your success in the interview and on the job: 1. Maintain your professionalism at every step of the process 2. Dress for the interview in business attire 3. Arrive 15 minutes prior to the interview 4. Follow up your interview with a thank-you email or let ter—the same day 5. When you arrive on the job, focus on both learning and contributing to the organization 6. Always ask what you can do and how you can help 7. Bring a positive attitude to your work, even if it is not exactly what you expected 8. Demonstrate your value to the organization, and this may lead to greater responsibilities and possibly a full-time offer 9. Network with supervisors, colleagues, managers, and other interns to learn about career paths in your field 10. After your work assignment concludes, stay in touch with your supervisor and colleagues to keep the door open for future opportunities

Career Services Inbox Ms. Chrystal McArthur Director, Career Center at 46 College Avenue Dear Ms. McArthur Thanks for the wonderful support you and your staff at 46 College Avenue have given me. In my mind, the "A Team" consists of you, Tina Knight, and Monica Bryant.

Tina and you are outstanding women. I have been fortunate enough to attend your two job-hunting seminars at the East Brunswick Library. These presentations were outstanding on many levels. You both have a deep compassion for people. These seminars were attended by 50-75 people, who were unemployed or soon to be unemployed. These people were lost and scared. Tina and you calmed everyone's nervousness about losing jobs and changing careers by answering all of their questions in a clear and calm manner. Most important, you provided a step-by-step approach to finding a job. Your PowerPoint presentation was professional, well written, well organized, and filled with pertinent information. Finally, you answered questions until well past 9:00.

As a result of working with Monica, I now have a topnotch resume, a plan, and the resources to find my dream job. She is the ultimate professional with an unlimited number of ideas. She has been able to answer every question that I have asked. I cannot stump this woman. She has been extremely generous with her time and has been very patient with me. I would not be this far along in my job search if it had not been for Monica.

You have an exceptional team at 46 College Avenue.

They all have a genuine desire to help people and have the knowledge and willingness to do so. It is not every day that you find this rare combination in people.

Sincerely, Sharon Rogers East Brunswick, NJ Rutgers MBA ‘91

Did You Know?

During the fall semester, 115 employers conducted 763 interviews on campus.

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INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT Derek Communication ‘1 0 Altria Sales & Distribution Summer Internship Where did you work this past summer?

I worked for Altria Sales & Distribution Derek Kornbluth (ALS&D) in Bedminster, Altria Intern NJ. The internship was set up to have classroom learning at the office every other Monday and in the field training on the other days. I visited retail stores that held our products (Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, SKOAL, Copenhagen, and Black and Mild to name a few) with full-time employees showing me the ins and outs of the business. I worked everywhere from the NJ Shore to Brooklyn. After a couple outings I was given my own mini-territory to go out on my own and apply my training.

How did you get your internship?

An alumnus from my fraternity (Sigma Chi) is a full time employee and told me to apply online. After completing that process, I attended a career day where the company was present. I talked to representatives and received an interview. I progressed through the three-part interview process. The first round inter view was at Busch Campus Center, followed by a panel interview, and lastly a day in the field to see what the job was all about.

What were your main responsibilities?

The first responsibility was to learn about the Territory Sales Manager position and how to manage such a large category. The management of my 15 store mini-territory was my practice. I was the retailer’s resource for the brands ALS&D owns. I needed to make sure that these stores were updated on all initiatives, fully stocked, and had the products and prices visible in a responsible way.

The next responsibility was to create a 20minute power point presentation with two other interns on a real problem/business opportunity the company was facing. My topic dealt with Black and Milds. This was the most exciting presentation I have ever given because it was not a hypothetical topic; the company wanted our input and fresh ideas.

What did you like best about your internship?

The part that I liked the most was that everything was real. I was not given fake customers to sell to, or a hypothetical problem to solve. I gained tons of real world experience, which I will be able to use for the rest of my professional life.

Would you recommend your employer to Rutgers students?

Yes, I would fully recommend ALS&D to any student at Rutgers. I have never been able to say before that I was excited for work every day. You are constantly

Kornbluth

faced with new challenges and always kept on your toes. If you are looking for a challenging yet rewarding summer experience, go sign up!

How relevant was your work to your academic program at Rutgers?

My schoolwork was ver y relevant to what I did over the summer. I was able to use my communication skills, time management aptitude, public speaking knowledge, and analytical problem solving ability when I talked to retail owners, and when it came time for me to get up in front of an audience for my presentation, I felt at home. This internship also helped me develop skills that I lacked too. I always felt comfortable talking to people, but I can now concisely and clearly express what I am tr ying to convey.

What were the most valuable things you gained from your internship?

I gained two incredibly valuable life lessons. The first area was real world experience. Coming into your senior year in college is a stressful time. You are unsure what you want to do after college, and if you do know, you might not know what to expect. I feel I have a much better grasp on life after college from this internship. I have a clear path I want to follow, and I know how to succeed.

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT Kelly Burckhardt Unit Manager, Altria What skills does Altria seek in new hires for full-time or internship oppor tunities?

Altria looks for self-motivated student leaders. We recruit candidates that display strong verbal and written communiKelly Burckhardt cation skills, analytical and Altria Unit Manager planning abilities, and demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

What is special about working for Altria?

At Altria we provide continuous leadership training throughout your career. This keeps our employees motivated, challenged, and continuously builds their skill set in our competitive, ever-changing industry.

What is Altria’s training philosophy?

We train our employees using the model of explanation, demonstration, trial and feedback. To begin, we provide rationale and background information so the employee understands the goal or strategy behind the program they are selling. If it is a product, we review the features and benefits and demographic information that would help the employee educate the retail community about our new product. Next, the manager or trainer would demonstrate how to walk through the selling conversation, and then the employee has the opportunity to try independently. We always provide balanced feedback on what went well and what aspects of the selling conversation could be improved, so our employees’ skills consistently improve.

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

What can a stu d ent exp ect to learn d u ring an internship at Altria? Will Altria be back on cam p u s?

During our summer internship a student can expect to learn about the tobacco industry, our Company Mission and Values and their practical application, the role and responsibilities of our entry level Territory Sales Managers, and the principals of marketing our products. Yes, Altria has been and will continue to be present on campus recruiting for full time and internship positions.

Does Altria value the work/life balance for its employees?

Yes, the autonomy of our sales positions allows for flexibility. With good time management and planning skills you can achieve a great work/life balance.

What type of questions can a student expect during an interview with Altria? Are they behavior-based?

We interview by asking behavior-based questions that allow us to identify whether the student has critical thinking and analytical skills, planning and prioritization skills, leadership skills, and can work well with a team to achieve a goal. The student will be more successful if he or she can structure their answers using the STAR model (situation, task, action, result).

What is the best way to find out more about Altria?

Come meet us at the next on-campus event, or visit our website:

The next valuable part of my life that has improved was my communication ability. I can now clearly articulate my thoughts and influence action. This applies to phone calls, emails, and face to face contact. Before this job I had the confidence, but I needed the finesse in knowing when to talk and when to listen.

What are your career goals?

My first goal is to successfully complete my student ambassadorship. I am currently attending meetings where ALS&D is present, and I am in charge of organizing and facilitating meetings with student organizations on campus.

All of this hard work will hopefully lead to a full time position with ALS&D’s sales force. Within ALS&D there is a lot of oppor tunity for promotion to work in cross-functional depar tments.

The sales depar tment fits my personality per fectly and would be a great star t for me.

What is your job-search strategy for this year?

I plan to stay active with Career Services and attend as many career fairs as possible. I feel these fairs are a great way to meet many companies and ask questions of real employees. Career Services is a great resource for career fairs and other employment opportunities.

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

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FEBRUARY 2, 2010

CAREER TIP OF THE MONTH Real World Experience A recurring theme in entr y level job search is the lack of experience factor.

"Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me?" Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines? Possibly for some, but there are other alternatives.

Many students focus exclusively on seeking paid work experience as their only alternative. Be careful not to box yourself into this limited focus. As a Hiring Manager, I look at any and all experience you may have accumulated to date, whether full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid.

Work experience makes you more marketable as a job candidate; it also gives you the opportunity to gain greater understanding about your chosen field. You will be able to find out in advance what many of the positives and negatives are, then truly enter your field with your eyes open. Or step back early from what could have been a major career mistake.

So as you approach the task of gaining real world experience, do it from a "sponge" perspective--be ready to soak up every bit of information that comes your way. Fulltime or part-time. Paid or unpaid. Worker or observer.

An internship is often considered to be nirvana for the college student seeking work experience. The original "co-op" idea--combining classroom study with practical work experience--has evolved into a universally accepted program for gaining work experience. The experience gained in an internship/co-op has become the key differen-

tiator for many new college grads. Make no mistake--a successful internship can be your ticket to locking down a job offer (or several job offers) early in your final year.

But it can come at a price.

Most schools offer credit for formal internships during the school year. But it is usually only six to nine credit hours, not the standard fifteen per semester to graduate on a "normal" schedule. In addition to standard work hours, you may be required to write term papers to report on your experience. The net effect of the lower credits earned while school is in session may require some interns to go an extra semester or summer session to make up for the lost credit hours.

Another adaptation of the "internship" term is to refer to summer employment as an "internship." This experience in the field also plays well in your job search, although you should not be concerned with finding work that is specifically listed as an internship. If you ask an employer if they offer summer internships, the answer will often be "No." However, if you ask the employer if they offer summer jobs in your field, the answer may be "Yes." Why the difference? Because most employers consider internships to be formal training programs in preparation for real work, while summer jobs are simply doing the real work. Which would you rather do? The real work is always the best experience.

Content written by Brian Krueger, President, CollegeGrad.com, Inc. Copyright College Grad.com, Inc. Used by permission of the author and publisher. Additional entry-level career information is available at www.CollegeGrad.com.

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

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

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FEBRUARY 2, 2010

THE DAILY TARGUM PAGE C7

Internships Can Give You an Edge Ask the

by P eter Vogt MonsterTRAK Career Coach If you've ever wondered if you should do an internship while you're in college, here is a clear message for you that will help you make up your mind.

"As an employer, hiring someone right out of school can be somewhat daunting," says Melissa Kinsey, senior account executive for Jackson-Dawson Integrated Marketing Communications in Greenville, South Carolina. "However, hiring someone right out of school who has had an internship can make the task a little easier."

Why? Because employers can draw several impor tant conclusions about you if you've par ticipated in at least one internship or co-op.

You P robably Have the Right Stuff

station may be one indicator to an employer that this candidate has the right stuff."

You're Truly Committed to Your Chosen Field For all a prospective employer knows, you -- a new grad applying for a job -- might simply be testing the waters of a particular career field.

Sure, you're trying for the job, but how does the employer ensure you really want to work in the industry?

One way the employer can gauge your commitment is to see if you've done an intern-

“In this age of fast-paced business environments, we want everyone to get up to speed as rapidly as possible.”

MISSY ACOSTA

Donn Pearlman was an award-winning news anchor and reporter at WBBM/CBS Radio in Chicago for 25 years. He says there's no comparison between a new college grad who has interned for a commercial radio station and one who has volunteered for a college station.

"Almost anyone can get a position of some kind at a college station," says Pearlman, senior managing director for ITQ-Minkus & Dunne Communications in Chicago.

"After all, the station is there as an educational tool to help teach students about broadcasting. However, competition for jobs, even internships, at commercial stations is considerably tougher. So a resume that includes an internship at a commercial

spend a lot of time training an employee only to find out they now want to travel the world with a rock band."

Media Relations Manager for Ackerman PR

ship in your field. "Employers who hire people with internship experience can be more sure they're hiring people who know they want to be in the particular profession," says Stephanie Specchio, director of communications at Elmira College in Elmira, New York. "Internship veterans aren't tr ying to find the perfect fit. They've already done that as interns."

"Usually, former interns have a better handle on what they'd really like to do," adds Rosemar y Reed, president of Double R Productions, a Washington, DC-based television production company. "I don't want to

You Won't Need Much Training and Hand-Holding If you've got internship experience, you've already received some basic training in your field and thus have less of a learning curve facing you as a new full-time employee, says Missy Acosta, media relations manager for Ackermann PR in Knoxville, Tennessee.

"In this age of fast-paced business environments, we want everyone to get up to speed as rapidly as possible," stresses Acosta, who is also Ackermann's internship manager. "That ramp is accelerated when someone is already experienced."

From an employer's perspective, when two new college graduates are competing for the same job, the one who has internship experience will almost always have an advantage.

So if you're wavering about whether to pursue an internship, do yourself a favor: Take the internship path to give yourself a competitive edge in the job market.

"Measuring an internship-exposed student against a non-internship-exposed student can best be compared to the difference between a roll of film and a photograph," says Errica Rivera, director of college relations at Nationwide, a Fortune 500 insurance company in Columbus, Ohio. "Both started out the same way -- with potential. The difference is in the development."

Reprinted with permission MonsterTRAK’s Career Guide.

from

Director Dear Director: I recently graduated from Rutgers with a double major in economics and criminal justice. I am seriously thinking about becoming a teacher. What are my options? Do I need to get certified? If so, how?

Thanks for your help.

--Future Teacher

Dear F.T.: Thanks for your inquiry.

There are three avenues that you can pursue to become a teacher: (1) Private School--You can apply directly to a private school with a bachelor's degree. No additional courses, credits, or certification is necessary.

(2) Master's in Education-Apply to the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers or other education schools. This is a two-year program, which involves courses, a practice teaching assignment, certification, and a virtual guarantee that you will land a job.

For more information for the Rutgers GSE, log on to http://www.gse.rutgers.edu.

(3) Alternate Route--This is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education. It enables you to get a job first with a public school in New Jersey, and then gain your certification evenings and weekends while you work. For more information: Alternate Route information: http://www.nj.gov/njded/edu cators/license/ New Jersey recruitment resources for current and prospective teachers: http://www.state.nj.us/njded /clear/teach/recteachers If you want to consult with a member of our staff, contact Tina Knight, our education liaison, at tvknight@rci.rutgers.edu or 732-932-7997.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your academic and career planning.

--Dr. Richard White Director, Career Services Rutgers "Career Knight" 56 College Avenue

Did You Know?

Career Services offered nearly 200 career-related programs during the fall semester, and we have even more planned for this spring.

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FEBRUARY 2, 2010