Tag Archives: Claremont Connect

Must… Get… Job…

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This week will forever be referred to as The Week of Application Domination. After a few sad months of getting my hopes up as I applied for one job at a time, I decided to go for it and apply for all of them at once. Because, it’s March. Then it’s April. Then it’s May. And I’m starting to get terrified that I won’t have a job by the time Scripps asks me to move out. However, Application Domination came with a few interesting consequences. I’ve included a checklist to help you know if you’re life is being consumed by your job search. I’d love to provide suggestions for how to escape this domination, but I’m pretty sure the only escape is getting the job. So if this list describes you, congrats! And my fingers are crossed for you, because that’s the only thing left to do…

  • You have at least 5 different versions of your resume: I have HR operations, HR recruiting, Communications, Business, Business and Communications, Blogging, Social Media Expert… But really, they all look the same. (Though I’m convinced that one sentence change makes all the difference.)
  • Your desk is covered with company brochures and business cards.

    This isn't overwhelming...

    This isn’t overwhelming…

  • You try to apply for the same job for the second time because you forgot that you already applied for it. (Yes. This really happened.)
  • You already know what jobs you’ll apply for during senior year because you’ve come across them as you desperately search for something you can do THIS summer.
  • You could write a networking-email in your sleep.
  • You spend what little downtime you have searching through your favorite companies’ career page to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
  • The rest of your downtime is filled with the most mindless of activities:
    • You’ve taken every Buzzfeed Quiz. Even the weird ones.
    • There’s nothing on your Facebook newsfeed that you haven’t already seen.
    • For that matter, there’s nothing on your LinkedIn newsfeed or Tumblr dashboard that you haven’t already seen.
  • You daydream about getting the call or email saying you got the job.
  • You only want to talk about jobs and the companies/internships/ideas you’re in love with.
  • Your friends are forced to take drastic measures to attempt to get you to talk about something else… “Did I tell you about the new technology they created to make the process more efficient?” – Me. “Yeah, it is surprisingly warm out today…” – Everyone who is sick of hearing me rant about the companies I love.
  • You’re able to recommend jobs for other people because you’ve come across so many during your search: “Oh, you want to be a project manager?! Have you tried A, B, or C? I know D and F have internship openings as project managers!”
  • You know how to find any program director, recruiter, CEO, etc. by using a combination of LinkedIn and Google.
  • You jump every time you get an email. “WHAT IF IT’S AN ACCEPTANCE?!”
  • You feel kind of lost once you’ve applied to everything on your list because you’re not sure what to do when there are no applications to send. Because now you’re supposed to just… wait?!?!?!
  • You search again. You try new sites. You refresh ClaremontConnect. You continue this until you find another job, then you choose 1 of the 5 resumes, and start again.

 

I’d continue to make the list, but I’m going to scroll through ClaremontConnect again. New jobs could’ve been added since I checked this morning. Here’s hoping one of those emails is an acceptance so this madness can end soon!

Application Time Part II: Procrastination

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So, you know that post Emma wrote back in November about how it’s application time? This is Part II. Because yes, I did turn one application in that week and then proceeded to procrastinate on the rest of them. I told myself that I had exams to study for and papers to write. (And to be honest, Netflix to watch…) I told myself they’d get done over winter break. Yet as soon as winter break came around I had to spend time with family and friends and read the books that I’ve been meaning to read! (Annnnd watch some Netflix…)

But now it’s February and I’m running out of excuses. So I’m going to procrastinate by writing a blog post to help YOU to stop procrastinating, and maybe I’ll get inspired as well.

We’re going to make a toolkit! (Using several tips I learned at the Time Management Workshop hosted by CP&R as part of the Emerging Professionals Program.)

What you need:

Motivation!

  • Think about what you’re applying for and why! If it’s something you’re passionate about, that might make you excited to start your search for the perfect job or fill out the applications that will secure it.
  • If the prospect of the job itself doesn’t motivate you, try rewarding yourself after. If you filled out two applications, then you can spend a half hour on Facebook. After you hit “submit,” you definitely deserve a night of Netflix.

Information!

  • Google is every college student’s best friend. Google information about the field you’re looking to go into. You can find prominent companies or positions in that field. You can also find general descriptions of your ideal job so you know what you’re working towards!
  • If that seems like it requires a little too much effort or you’re not sure where to start, make an appointment at CP&R! My first appointment helped me so much. I learned how to look for jobs on ClaremontConnect, find Scrippsie Alums through Life Connections, and how to make my resume look like I’ve actually done something. (#undergradlife)

Application! (Had to keep with the –ation theme.)
Now you just have to do it and this is where the time management comes in, but thanks to the workshop I have a few quick fixes for that!

  • Do applications stay at the bottom of your to-do list in lieu of this week’s reading? (And this week’s episode of Sherlock?)
    • Try using the site “Remember the Milk” or download the app “Remember the Milk”. (It’s free!) You can (and should!) set due dates for each task, and the app will send you notifications or emails about what tasks you need to complete today. This way you can’t keep all your applications at the bottom!
  • Do you not know your schedule well enough to know when you could have you “Remember the Milk” tasks be due?
    • Try taking a closer look at what you’re doing each day with either of the worksheets attached below. If scrolling through Tumblr takes the 5pm-7pm slot three nights a week, maybe one or two of those slots could go to applications!


  • Do you automatically type “facebook.com” every time you open a new window in your browser and get stuck scrolling through your newsfeed instead of opening the application you intended to turn in?

Now stop reading the blog and START APPLYING!!! Right now. 

No. Don’t open Facebook in a new tab.

 

Welcome Back To School! Time to Start Taking Advantage of Great Opportunities.

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Now that school’s back in session, this is a great time to go onto the new ClaremontConnect and start signing up for various career-boosting events on the 5 C’s!

We are very fortunate to belong to a very diverse college consortium. By just observing ClaremontConnect, you can see that every College brings different opportunities to the 5C’s: CMC and Pomona attract recruiters from top consulting firms and government organizations; Mudd hosts the fall career fair that specializes in science and technology; Pitzer hosts the spring career fair for the Peace Corp and nonprofits; and Scripps introduces students to many companies from all sectors throughout the semester.

Students tend to forget these important truths: Regardless of what school you are from, all students are invited to attend all events AND regardless of what school you are from, all of 5C’s career centers are eager to help you.

Last year, I signed up for resume reviews, mock-interviews, info sessions, and company visits (some at Pomona and CMC) and was often surprised at how few Scripps students participated at 5C career events. Why not? They are all free! Plus, some opportunities take you to really cool places!

Through the ClaremontConnect, I attended a LA Galaxy soccer game (got some free swag) and met with the team’s marketing director and CEO, visited the Boston Consulting Group office in downtown LA for an info session, and toured the Deloitte PR firm in LA. I was even able to hand-deliver my resume to many of the recruiters at these organizations. I can’t even describe to you how invaluable these experiences were for me.

5C’s students at the LA Galaxy networking event last year

No matter what you decide to do, these 5C opportunities are worth your time and give you very important fundamental career tools. I recommend all first years to start going to a few events this year. If you are a returning student and are still trying to figure out your life plan (like me), know that the Scripps CP&R office, the 5C’s, and the Claremont Connect are all there for you to help!

Seize the day! Make the most of your year and start now! Welcome back!

For more information, go and sign-in to the ClaremontConnect > Events (7C) > Tabs (Career Fairs, Organization Events, Career Services Events)