The 32-second voicemail is still on my phone: “Hi Lily, this Recruiter from Company, I just wanted to call and give you an update on your application. I really enjoyed our conversation at the end of last week, but unfortunately, due to the highly competitive nature of this program, the hiring committee has decided not to move forward with your application.” I should have deleted this by now. But I think I’ll keep it around for a little while longer.

The feeling of being told “no” causes an internal sinking. The handful of cheery butterflies that used to flutter within the walls of your stomach solidifies into a pound of rocks. Your hands might get clammy, you might feel dizzy, you might feel the need to cry. You’ve spent all this time preparing for interviews just to be told “Sorry, we’re not interested anymore.” And even worse, you’ve also spent a lot of time imagining what life would be like in that role and at that company. It’s hard to fathom the new reality of your situation because you’ve been living in this dream state. I turned to stone when I heard that voicemail – I couldn’t even manage to cry until an hour later.

How do you overcome rejection?

Short answer: react in the way that’s best for you.

Long answer: remember who you are.

In the moments following a rejection, let your body react in the way that it wants to. Cry if you’re a crier, yell if you’re a yeller, vent if you’re a venter. Feeling angry, sad, confused, or dejected are normal responses. But how you choose to process that energy is also important. Keep in mind your worth. Even though this company isn’t further reviewing your application, it doesn’t mean you should think less of yourself. They might be looking for a different skillset or a different personality – but that’s just them. Let them hire someone else – and free yourself. You are still you: the highly motivated, highly qualified, intelligent, confident, and courageous Scripps student. You want to get hired by a company who sees that. So keep looking, keep searching. In some ways, the companies who say “no” to you are making your work as a job-seeker easier. You can cross them off your list in the same way that they crossed you off. Except you can choose to go anywhere, when they can only choose from one single applicant pool.

As cliché as this sounds, keeping your head up and your mind strong are the best ways to oversee a minor setback. Because a job rejection is just that – a minor setback. It’s nothing life-ending, nothing catastrophic. Life will go on and you will move past it. The world has bigger and better things that better match what you want, anyway. So I thank the company that rejected me a couple weeks ago. Even though I certainly don’t listen to that voicemail on a daily basis, keeping it on my phone has a humbling effect. And it’s also motivating. Yes, you said “no” to me, but that’s your loss. I’m still me and I’m still great and I’ll keep searching. To my fellow rejects, both current and future, let’s persevere.

Informational interviews have been the most valuable practice for my career development. But “informational interview” is a really, really big phrase… And it can be scary, nauseating, and awkward. Some call informational interviews “networking,” which I’m not sure makes it sound less intimidating. However, let me assure you: an informational interview is nothing more than a casual conversation. Really, it’s an informal discourse between two people who want to learn about each other – no pressure, no worry. But informational interviews can lead to big things. Actually, more like huge things. I realize that not freaking out about networking and informational interviews is easier said than done, so take it from the Queen of Networking*, you can do it. Let me help.

Finding someone to interview. Using LifeConnections and LinkedIn, finding someone in a career or area of interest is easy. LifeConnections is an easy-to-use source for Scripps alumane who want to be contacted, that’s why they’ve chosen to provide contact information. LinkedIn, my beloved LinkedIn, is a great way to find people through groups. Make sure you join the “Scripps College Alumnae Association” page and the “Claremont College Alumni” page. By searching for companies, positions, anything, you’ll be presented with a list of members who have those keywords. Messaging them through the group wil be the best way to contact them. But do yourself a favor, only contact people you really want to talk to. If you have a kinda/sorta/maybe interest in a specific person, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking for more detail – however – your interest should be translatable. In other words, you should be able to talk about why they interest you, why what they’re doing matters to you, and all in an engaging way. Don’t sound bored or distanced, because you don’t want someone (who may potentially have a big impact on your future) to feel like their time and advice is unappreciated.

Your elevator pitch. The spiel that sets the stage. Right as the conversation begins, thank them for taking the time to speak with you, then briefly (I’m talking 2-3 sentences) introduce yourself. The criteria? (1) Why they interest you (2) What experience you have that has made you want to learn about them (3) What you’re looking for. For example: “Thank you so much for talking with me today! After my internship at The Getty this summer, I’m interested in pursuing internships in Museum Collection Management, which is why I was so excited to find your profile on LinkedIn. I would love to learn more about your career narrative and role as Senior Vice President.” Then lead into your first question with, “That being said: How did you get your start at LACMA?” Of course, we’re not all interested in working at a museum, but I hope you get the idea.

Talking about yourself within questions. This is one key element that has come with practice. When I first started conducting informational interviews, I was just asking questions. It was bland. And although I learned a lot, the person I was interviewing was getting nothing in return. The people you interview want to learn about you too! That’s the only way they can help you achieve your goals, help you get to (3) What you’re looking for. Preface some questions, definitely not all, with a little transition about you. For example: “The extensive research I did this summer on antibiotic molecules really opened my eyes to pharmaceutical practices, at what point did you learn being a Pharmacist was your true calling?” Your interviewee may not ask you about your experiences or goals, so willingly adding that bit of information is necessary.

Repeat important information. Listen for key words, key phrases, key jargon. By mentioning small details that they’ve said, you’ll show you’re listening actively. This is a particularly good tactic in asking new questions. For example, “So you mentioned the history requirement for Stanford Medical School, why does that matter in admitting a student?” So I don’t know if Stanford Medical School has a history requirement for their pre-med applicants, but something that seemingly unrelated to the area of medicine is likely not typically discussed at length. So ask about it!

Follow-up. Take notes during your interview. Write down questions ahead of time and write down their responses. If you feel more comfortable typing questions and responses, then do that. But don’t feel the need to write down every single word they day – write down the highlights so you can focus on the conversation. If you have a shared interest, even better! Both went sky diving in New Zealand? Mention that (because wow). This material can be used in your follow-up email to refresh their memory. Thank them, again, for taking the time to talk and mention you would love to keep in touch. Maintaining your relationship with an interviewee is equally as vital as actually contacting them in the first place.

Ready now? YES. I can’t stress enough the importance of informational interviews – they not only help you learn, they get your foot in the door. The more people you know, the more advocates you have for your professional development. We all need a little support here and there, and finding that support on your own is not only rewarding… it’s empowering. Let’s get networking!

*Title courtesy of Valinda Lee

Navigating the job world outside Claremont is scary. Many of us can attest to the benefits of working, interning, or volunteering away from school during the summer months. But have you considered working off-campus during the semester? Up until this semester, I had never held an off-campus internship during the academic year. I didn’t think it was manageable – with my class schedule, with my homework, with my other jobs on campus. But over the past month, I’ve been interning at an ad agency in Culver City. And from my experience so far, I want to help advise any (and all) other students who are interested in working off-campus. Because it’s an incredible opportunity.

1. Finding an off-campus internship
   The first, and most obvious, step in obtaining an off-campus internship is to look for one. I found my current internship from a Scripps friend who had previously interned at the company her senior year. She referred me to her bosses, I then introduced myself, and the rest is history. She was their very first intern, and I’m still trying to fill the incredibly impressive shoes she left behind. Long story short, networking and reaching out to your connections in an excellent way to obtain semester internships. Another way is to subscribe to internship and job updates for the companies that interest you. You’ll be the first to know when they’re looking for new talent – so keep your resume and your cover-letter-writing skills up to date. I suggest creating a folder in your email settings where you can store this information, since you’ll never know when you might want to refer to it again without the hassle of searching. An additional way to approach off-campus opportunities would be to conduct informational interviews. You’ll be able to learn more in-depth information about specific roles at specific companies, as well as increase the number of people who will have your career-back in the future (we can only hope). ClaremontConnect and NIC are also great resources for internships on and off campus, make sure you log in occasionally and set-up search agents to get notified about openings in the areas you want to pursue.
2. Getting there
   I don’t have a car – but that hasn’t stopped me (pun not intended). It’s a well-understood fact that Los Angeles severely lacks in public transportation. And I’m reminded of this every time I wake up at 5:00am on Tuesday to avoid a surge in Uber prices. Let me explain… It is very possible to get yourself around even if you don’t have a car. It is might more expensive than say, New York City or San Francisco, but it’s possible. Here are a couple transportation options depending on the location of your internship:
   1. If your internship is in Downtown Los Angeles: Easy. Take the train from Claremont to Union Station. Tickets are only $7 with a student ID – and yes, they do check to make sure you’ve paid for a ticket! The office buildings in Downtown are a 7-minute car ride or a 10-15 minute walk from the train station.
   2. If your internship is in the Pasadena area: Uber may be an expensive choice (the car ride is about 20-30 minutes long), so you may want to consider Zipcar as an option. Trains and buses aren’t an efficient means of getting to and from this area.
   3. If your internship is by the beach (Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice, etc.): You can take the train from Claremont to Union Station, then take the LAX Shuttle ($8 one-way) from Union Station to LAX. I know this sounds very strange, but trust me, it works. LAX is pretty centrally located amongst the “beach towns,” so taking a cab or taking an Uber from there to your internships will save you money and time. You could also take an Uber to your work, but it could cost you as much as $55 or as little at $21. The cost depends on the time of day and amount of traffic, so be cognizant of what you might need to pay. To alleviate any of cost stress with Ubers, take an Uberpool or Lyftline! They will always apply a $1-4 discount just for using the service, even if no one hops in the car with you.
   4. If your internship is located in Upland/Montclair/Pomona: Check out Foothill Transit buses, they run across our neighboring towns frequently. Walking could also be an option, but beware of the heat!

I know I didn’t mention all of the areas within Los Angeles that possible internships may be located, but if you keep an open mind and a positive attitude, you’ll get yourself to where you need to be. If you’re lucky enough to have generous friends in Claremont who will reasonably offer their cars to you, that’s even better! But I know that option is not always the case. If your internship is unpaid – also don’t feel discouraged. Scripps offers students with off-campus, unpaid internships a grant to help get them there. But if you are getting paid for your work, save a portion of that paycheck and use it towards getting around.

3. Scheduling
   If the internship you want requires a certain amount of hours, look at your schedule. You are a student first, so if there is a conflict with one of your classes, don’t take the consideration too lightly. It’s best to plan for an off-campus internship one semester beforehand, so as to avoid any scheduling conflicts and prepare other employers you have have of timecard changes. Despite having an off-campus internship, I still work at CP&R as a Career Consultant (because it’s the best). But the moment I found out I was being extended an offer to intern away from Claremont, I emailed Valinda to let her know that my work schedule at CP&R might change. Although it never wound up changing, it’s best to be responsible and courteous.
4. During the internship
   Yay! You landed an off-campus internship! Take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Now make it a point to work really hard. An amazing bonus to internships during the semester is that the likelihood of the company asking you to stay into the summer (or into a full-time role) is generally high. Not all employers are the same, but making a good impression while also exhibiting utmost professionalism – no complaints about the commute or how backed-up with work you are – will open many doors for your future.

Consider this crash-course complete. If you have any further questions about off-campus internships, I’d be happy to talk more in person. Or drop in to CP&R Monday-Friday 10am-5pm! Any internship is possible, so remember you’ve got a ginormous support group who is happy to help get you there.

When it comes to your career, relationships are treated with a veil of silence and cone of shame. Choosing a career while also considering a relationship is seen as taboo, distasteful, or even worse, a detriment to your livelihood. I’m talking boyfriends, girlfriends, sisters, brothers, friends, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins… You get the idea. All relationships matter, regardless of the dynamic or the people involved. And what’s most important is that everyone is in a relationship, whether it’s friendly, familial, or romantic. So why is the dialogue around relationships and careers unspoken? I believe that you can still be a strong, independent woman or man who cares deeply for a certain relationship, but who also wants a career. To give you some of my personal background, I grew up in Claremont, CA. I am very close with my parents (and my cats, let’s be honest), and although I’ve spent large portions of time away from Los Angeles – studying abroad in Siena, Italy, interning in New York City – I have a strong inclination to stay in California. I have also been dating my current boyfriend for three years, and despite having graduated from CMC in the Spring, he works out of LA and travels on the days that I conveniently also have class. I’m not the guru on relationships, but they matter a lot to me. And I want to encourage all of us to think differently about the people we love and the careers we want – because they’re worth talking about together.

When it comes to thinking about the early stages of your career, it’s important to evaluate your values when it comes to making that decision with your relationship in mind. In other words, think about the criteria that you want out of a career and think about the criteria you want out of a relationship. Do you want to stay in Chicago because you’re family would only be a 20 minute drive away? Do you want to find a job in Atlanta because your girlfriend recently moved there for work? What about choosing a job that pays less but is in the same city as your brother? Consider the type of person you are, both independently and in the relationships that matter to you. Are you willing to compromise higher pay for proximity? Are you willing to relocate completely for a new life elsewhere? Do you want a work-life balance? There is zero shame in any answer to those questions. Zero shame. If you want to choose a lower paying job to be with your friends – do it. If you want to move to be with someone else – do it. If you want to stay put and work – do it. The world is your oyster and opportunities are literally everywhere. Best part is? If you’re willing to look and willing to make it work, you can have a career and have a relationship simultaneously. Call me crazy.

In addition to evaluating your own values, it’s very important that you communicate your goals in your relationship. If you keep your relationship’s “other half” in the dark, you’re bound to have problems adjusting in your new stage of life. Once you’ve thought about what you want in a career and what you can envision life being with or without your relationship – tell your partner. Just tell them. Write it down, spell it out, send a carrier pigeon, maybe summon Hedwig. But communication is your friend. By opening up the dialogue in your relationship, you not only allow for your wants and desires to be recognized, but your other half will (hopefully) feel comfortable doing the same. So when the lines are clear and the conversation is open, you can collaborate together. You may be surprised that they don’t want the same things as you: Maybe they want you to go to grad school, maybe they want to live alone at first, maybe they haven’t given it any thought yet. Be bold, go forth, and conquer the dialogue.

And lastly, give it a try. After you’ve done some reflecting on your own and with your relationship, do whatever is decided. Go for it. Hopefully, it will work out. But then maybe it wont. Who are any of us to know if we don’t try at first? If you’re someone who follows their heart, follow your heart. If you’re someone who follows their head, follow your head. Do what’s best for you and for whomever else you want to do what’s best for. Just promise me one thing: believe in the union of careers and relationships. It’s an extraordinary thing to experien

I should start with a warning: I am probably the wrong person to be writing on the topic of choosing a major. The process I went through was full of ink smudges and mascara smudges. I routinely changed my mind and scribbled over one disciple for another on my Junior Major Form, hence the ink smudges. And I cried frequently out of sheer confusion, hence the mascara smudges. When your first two years at Scripps are hard enough, adding on the decision of your major is often times the icing on a not-so-tasty cake. But we all have to go through it and we all have to make an eventual decision – and that is where I want to help. My process was far from perfect, but it worked, so let’s talk about the journey.

I applied to Scripps and all the other colleges on my list with the intention of being an English major. But something during my summer before college made me think I didn’t like reading. Maybe I was burned out from high school? Maybe I thought I was too cool for school? Who knows… But I took it as a sign that I should enter into college undecided in my major. This definitely had its benefits: I felt free to explore, take classes with my friends, and rejoice in all of the academic opportunities at Scripps. But these feelings and actions also came with a sense of worry. As my first semester of college turned into my second, I suddenly felt the pressure to know what I should major in. I also thought that my major would be an end-all be-all for my future career path. So I evaluated the courses I had taken so far by answering the following questions:

• What about this class interested me? The readings? The professor? The topics discussed?
• What other courses are offered in this discipline? Do they sound just as engaging?

I took quite a few politics and international relations courses my first year, and after answering the questions above, I somehow decided to pursue economics. You’re not reading that incorrectly – I literally jumped from politics to economics without having taken one class in the latter’s field. Those questions work, I promise you, but I somehow deduced from my own responses that I needed to change disciples completely. So I went for it.

I took my first economics class fall semester of my sophomore year. And it was fascinating, interesting, but also really hard. At the same time that I was taking Macroeconomics, I was taking an Intro African American Literature class down at Pomona. By the end of the semester, I received a C in Macroeconomics and an A in Intro African American Literature. I needed to reevaluate:

• Why did I decide to take this class? Because it would get me a job after I graduate? Because it’s what I love?

My answer? I took Macroeconomics because I thought an Economics degree would get me hired after I graduated, so I desperately tried to make myself be good at something I was clearly not cut out for. I am not good at Economics. But I did realize that I am good at literature. Intro African American Literature made me unabashedly happy. It was my realm, my space, where I needed to be.

And then I decided to go abroad. Spring semester Sophomore year, I traveled to Siena, Italy. I spent four months living and breathing Italian culture. I was living with my beloved Paola, eating spaghetti every day, and forgetting about the fact that I had declared my Economics major before hopping on a plane for Europe. I was genuinely happy in Siena, which was the same feeling I experienced after submitting my last paper for my literature course. So when it came time to register for classes for the Fall, I didn’t chose a single Economics class. Instead, I chose American Lit Survey I, British Lit Survey 2, and African American Writers. I’m sure my sigh of relief was heard around the world—because the satisfaction was real.

Although my journey through majors may be hard to follow, the bottom line is: Do what makes you happy, do what challenges you healthfully, and do whatever you want. There is no formula to get hired after graduation. As Nonie Creme SC ’94 puts best: “People sometimes roll their eyes at certain majors like, ‘What will you do with that?’ The correct answer is ‘Anything I want, actually.’” Reflect, evaluate, and maybe go abroad. If you study something you’re passionate about, your life will greatly improve – just as mine did. You will develop a newfound confidence in your abilities as an academic, which will (hopefully) transfer into your confidence in finding a post-grad path. In the end, your major only matters by the degree in which it makes you feel fulfilled. A job is just a job, and there are plenty out there for you to have. But a Scripps education is only for four years, make the most out of it.