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Hot Jobs
Find details on these
opportunities on our web
site under Grand Avenues.
Community/Health Educator
Pro Choice Resources
Minneapolis , MN
Salary range $13-15 per hour plus generous benefit package.
Full Time - Deadline: 2/21/07
This position is responsible for peer education program and reproductive health education to youth/adults in underserved communities. Must have outstanding public speaking, experience with youth, underserved populations. Women of color strongly encouraged to apply.
Online Sales & Operations Coordinator
Google, Inc
Ann Arbor , MI
Full Time - Deadline: 2/15/07
Google needs energetic, analytical individuals to join the Online Sales team within various departments supporting the customer service function. These fast-paced support groups quickly identify and resolve customer concerns and contribute to program growth. AdWords Coordinators work closely with AdWords users, helping them meet their advertising goals by providing excellent customer service via phone or email, reviewing ads and keywords for quality and accuracy, troubleshooting advertising campaigns and technical problems, and optimizing advertiser keyword lists and ads in order to maximize their return on investment.
Data Analyst
Hardwick Day
Multi-State
Full Time - Deadline: 2/26/07
A consulting firm with a nationwide practice serving private colleges and universities, seeks a data analyst to support enrollment optimization projects. This position requires significant experience and skill as a data analyst. The position requires a strong capability in multiple quantitative analytic methods. Relevant and transferable background experience would include public policy analysis, micro economic analysis and mathematically-based modeling.
Capital Fellows (2007-2008)
Includes: Executive Fellowship Program, Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program,
California Senate Fellows, Judicial Administration Fellowship Program
Sacramento State Center for California Studies at California State University
California
Full Time - Deadline: 2/28/07
Offers yearly 64 graduates the opportunity to contribute to state government policy making by working for 10-11 months as full-time, paid policy assistants in the California State Assembly, Senate, Executive Branch or within the California Court System.
Marketer-Hedge Funds and Long Only Funds
Eurekahedge
New York , New York
Full Time - Deadline: 2/28/07
The NY office of a global hedge fund marketing firm is seeking a professional to market Asian and Emerging Market hedge funds and long only funds to institutional investors. The core responsibility of the job involves arranging meetings and conference calls between institutional investors and fund managers based in Asia and Latin America . This is a highly challenging role with occasional international travel and an excellent work environment. Successful candidate will be trained in the Singapore office for a year.
Paid Internships in the Nonprofit Sector
The Partners Internship Program (PIP) coordinated by HECUA (the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs)
Summer (400 hours, approximately 10 weeks full-time) $9.25 per hour
Deadline: 3/1/07
Twenty nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive summer internship grants. This opportunity gives undergraduate students substantive experience working in the nonprofit sector, raise community interest in the work of nonprofits, and assist organizations in using interns more effectively through project-based work. Sites are located in Minnesota , North Dakota , and western Wisconsin . Students will contribute to the work through the development, coordination, and implementation of projects the organizations have designed. Projects include developing a zero-waste program, coordinating a traveling art exhibition, and developing federal public policy recommendations around homelessness.
Documentary Research and Production Internship
Minnesota Public Radio
St. Paul , Minnesota
Part Time (Approximately 4 months at 15-20 hours per week) - $9.00 hourly
Deadline: 4/13/07 (Begin in May)
To assist with the production of radio and Web projects at American RadioWorks, the national documentary unit of American Public Media. Duties include conducting library and Internet research, transcribing interviews, digital audio editing, and administrative tasks. The internship will provide basic training in radio production.
Zero Waste Environmental Education Internship
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
Hastings , Minnesota
Full Time (May 31 - August 31)
(400 hours total)
Deadline: 3/1/07
The "Zero-Waste" Environmental Education Intern will work with Nature Center staff,, partners at Eureka Recycling and partners at Dakota County Community P.O.W.E.R. to research, develop, recommend and implement "Zero-Waste" procedures at the Nature Center , and to provide much needed community outreach opportunities focusing on waste reduction at home. Training seminars required on May 31 and August 16-17 through the Partners Internship Program.
Upcoming Events
MAJORS FAIR
Sophomores attend the Majors Fair for an opportunity to speak with department representatives, as well as members of the CDC staff for help in your decision making process. Details below:
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Hill Ballroom - Kagin Commons
For a complete list of upcoming CDC programs and events, be sure to check out:
http://www.macalester.edu/
cdc/events/index.html
Internships
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS IN NON-PROFITS
HECUA and the Partners Internship Program are pleased to announce 20 paid summer internship positions in nonprofits around the region. Twenty nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive summer internship grants from the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA), made possible through funding from the Otto Bremer Foundation. The grants are made through the Partners Internship Program (PIP) to give undergraduate students substantive experience working in the nonprofit sector, raise community interest in the work of nonprofits, and assist nonprofit organizations in using interns and volunteers more effectively through project-based work.
This year's internship sites are located in Minnesota, North Dakota, and western Wisconsin. Students will contribute to nonprofit work through the development, coordination, and implementation of projects the organizations have designed. The projects this year include developing a zero-waste program, coordinating a traveling art exhibition, and developing federal public policy recommendations around homelessness.
The Student Information Sheet includes information on how to apply and also available is the list of Partners Internship Program sites. You can find more information on PIP 2007 at www.hecua.org/pip.html .
Beyond the Piggy Bank
Suggestion Box
WHO YOU KNOW IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU KNOW
The methods may have changed, but old-fashioned networking is key to landing a dream job. Networking shouldn't be limited to the people you know well or those in your field of interest. Tell virtually everyone you meet about the skills you have and the type of job you're seeking. Ask if they know anybody who would be a good contact, and take copious notes in a small notebook you carry with you. People want to help, but only if they're asked.
Web Watch
MYWORKSTER.COM
"Much has been written about job seekers not getting hired because of what was considered inappropriate material on their MySpace or Facebook page. Even pictures can be enough to jeopardize your chances of getting a job offer.
Now, there's a way to have a professional presence online (including a profile, resume, and video resume) as well as a means of networking with other job seekers and employers. MyWorkster also has job listings, which are provided by Indeed, the job search engine."
Source: Allison Doyle, Associate Director, Skidmore College adapted from article at
http://about.com/
Featured Fellowship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will award scholarships to help students with exceptional promise (GPA of 3.5 or higher) and demonstrated financial need complete a graduate degree. Macalester may nominate two students to compete for these awards. Candidates must already be accepted into a graduate or professional school at the time of application for this award. Candidates need not be U.S. citizens. Campus application deadline: February 26, 2007.
For details on the scholarship, consult the Cooke Foundation website at: http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.
org/jkcf_web/home.aspx?page
=Main&_redir=697
For further information on fellowships, please visit the CDC website: http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/
graduateschool/financing
/fellowships.html
Grad School Notes
THE NECESSARY TOOL:
THE MENTOR
There are many resources you will find as you move through you graduate journey. But there is one that will be critical during the stress, successes, and bouts of confusion-a mentor. A mentor is a person that coaches you throughout your graduate experiences; helping you to grow professionally and personally. During the relationship you can discover more about your career objectives and goals. In addition, knowledge of your academic field will potentially increase exponentially.
Most new graduate students are automatically assigned a mentor (usually a Professor or staff member) in their field of interest. If you find that you do not have a designated mentor, then see if there is a student services program operating on campus that can assist you or locate one yourself. Mentors can be found in the classroom, your community, and even in your family! Consider the following questions when selecting a mentor:
Does the mentor have time to take you on as a mentee?
Does the mentor have a background in your field of study?
Does you mentor have resources or links to those in your field of study?
Do you feel comfortable with your mentor? Do they listen to you? Is it a mutually respectful relationship?
If you can answer "yes" to these, then politely request your prospective mentor if they would not mind mentoring you on a monthly basis. Mentors are a valued resource during the graduate process and sometimes a lifeline to success during this laborious time. Remember to locate one once you have a moment to breathe and thank your mentor with a card each semester!
Contributing Writer: Christina Cowens Gholson, Career Counselor
What is the CDC?
The Career Development Center is here to assist students in planning, articulating and applying their educational experience to meet their future goals. The office is located on the first floor in Kagin Commons, and offers individual counseling sessions with a career counselor, an extensive career resource library, job/internship listings and opportunities from around the globe. The CDC resource library features: Information about Fellowships,
Internships and Job Postings; information on Companies and Government Opportunities; pamphlets and materials on resume and cover letter writing; books on etiquette, interviewing, grad school and the job search process; and an
extensive alumni directory, sorted by career.
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HOURS
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
(Daily Drop-ins between 2 - 4 p.m.)
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Macalester College
Career Development Center
Kagin Commons
1600 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 696-6384
Fax: 651-696-6131
cdc@macalester.edu
http://www.macalester.edu/cdc
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Counselor's Corner
WELCOME BACK!
If you are just returning to campus for this academic year, we’re happy you are back in our midst. If it seems that you have not left campus since Labor Day, our best wishes to you as well.
“Spring Semester”, to quote an esteemed Student Affairs colleague “goes by in about ten minutes.” Seems that way, doesn’t it? Staying afloat with academics, graduation preparation, summer planning, gap year or Plan B options, internships, clubs and organizations, family, friends – etc, is terrifying, exhilarating, overwhelming, fun.
Career Development should not and cannot be one size fits all. First year student needs and concerns are very from those of a senior. However, we are including a simple outline geared towards students in all stages of developing their career, with suggestions to take you through the next few months.
FEBRUARY
- MN Private College Job Fair preparations such as organizational research should be in full swing.
- Choosing a Major? Meeting with a Counselor and utilizing self-assessment tools could be the ticket for the undecided.
- Visit the CDC homepage (www.macalester.edu/cdc). This full-service page covers everything, job postings, major options, writing a personal statement for graduate school, organizational research and resume development, to name just a few topics.
MARCH
- Spring Break is a great time to do occupational research and informational interviewing.
- Visit a city under consideration for your long distance job or graduate school search.
- The Resume Doctor is in, every day at the CDC. Work on designing/revising this important document.
APRIL
- It is never too late to look for summer/intern/professional opportunities. While it may seem that “everyone has something already”, trust us. They don’t.
- Let the CDC help you run a search of what Macalester alumni are doing, based on major, profession, graduate program or geographic location.
- Check out links on the CDC homepage highlighting current industry and professional trends, such as the Top 50 Companies for Diversity.
MAY/JUNE
Graduation/year-end parties/finals/moving home. What isn’t happening in May and June? The CDC is open in the summer. We are here for you if you don’t quite get beyond basic survival needs until then. Good luck!
Contributing Writer: Mary Emanuelson, Assistant Director , CDC
Mac Movies & More
 MOVIE CORNER
The Oscars. More hype and less substance than the Super Bowl? Maybe, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been recognizing films since 1929. Pretty mainstream for the average Macalester student, we realize. However, in the spirit of honoring cinematic tradition, we will highlight career development lessons and tips to be learned from each of the Best Picture nominees.
Disclaimer: The author of this article has NOT, in fact, watched any of these movies but will depend on both word-of mouth reviews from friends and colleagues as well as observations by nationally syndicated movie critics.
THE DEPARTED
The viewer will gain good insight into the inner workings of a South Boston police precinct. (occupational research) Skill building is possible in the areas of information gathering, multitasking and weapon use. Lively discussion could follow regarding how much compromise is necessary to achieve goals.
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
This film offers the perspective of two friends fighting for Japan who survive several battles while watching their comrades die. The film focuses on the psychological make-up of the Japanese soldiers. It is graphic and upsetting, according to one of the viewers I polled. Career development may be difficult to pinpoint here, but it does give the viewer a human look at "the enemy". War is hell.
BABEL
Many of the reviews were less than glowing. What this movie could offer you is multicultural insight, as it tells four stories in four countries and on three continents. The clashing cultures in the midst of isolation, grief, confusion, fear, connection and love may help the viewer develop skills in deep psychological analysis, simply to keep up with this sprawling story.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
"Everyone pretend to be normal, okay?" pleads one character in this ensemble driven movie. Haven't we all felt this way about our families at one time or another?! LMS has received more positive reviews than most of the competition. Development in general, career included, is not possible without outside influences such as family. Perhaps you can take some time to compare and contrast this crew to your own family.
THE QUEEN
This is a portrait of the British royal family in the days immediately following Diana's death. You will gain insight into crisis management and quite a bit of background on one of the world's most famous dysfunctional families. Tony Blair's image-conscious response shows the battle between private and public responsibility, giving the viewer a look at how boundaries can play out at home and on the public stage.
Any movie can be influential in terms of career development. Reactions ranging from, "Dang, I sure needed to escape reality and quit thinking about my future for awhile" (Harry Potter) to "This movie has changed my life and given me a sense of direction" (Harry Potter again; perhaps you are motivated to become the next JK Rowling).
Your input would be appreciated, as the CDC in-house reviewer rarely sees movies without animation or above a PG rating. Please email Mary at emanuelson@macalester.edu with your favorite life-changing/perspective enhancing/pure entertainment escapism movies. I'll share your feedback in an upcoming issue.
Contributing Writer: Mary Emanuelson, Assistant Director , CDC
Senior S.L.A.M.
(Seeking Life After Macalester)
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Welcome back from break! I am sure over the past month you heard this phrase more than once …”So, what are you going to do after graduation?" Innocent enough question, but irritating after the fifth, tenth, or twentieth time. Now that you’re back, it is important to take advantage of the resources that are available to assist you in deciding what is the right next step for you.
A great first step is requesting a list of Macalester alumni that might be working in a field you are looking to pursue. The CDC has access to the alumni directory and can help you not only with running the report, but also offer suggestions on the best approach on contacting them and how to make the most of your conversation. It may seem daunting to email or call an alum, but they are a fantastic resource and have volunteered to be in the directory, so they won’t be surprised if you are contacting them.
“So what are you going to do?” If you think this might help in your search for what is next, set up an appointment today by calling x6384 or drop by our office in Kagin. We have drop-in hours daily from 2-4 pm.
Contributing Writer: John Mountain, Associate Director, CDC
Junior Jumpstart
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
Use this semester to bump up your networks! These connections are great for exploring careers, making connections for internships, jobs and graduate school!
There are the obvious opportunities - speakers in class, internship connections, community service colleagues, and employment. But don't forget connections that can happen through research projects, alumni who are on campus (or a list of alums in a particular field that you can get from the CDC), parents and connections of friends and relatives, committees that you serve on, etc. Remember "six degrees of separation" or the game "Kevin Bacon"? The world really is pretty accessible!
Keep track of people you meet - when, what you talked about, things you might connect with them about later. You might even want to create your own "business card" to give to others with whom you want to keep the communication going. These connections are people who can help you gather the information you need to plan and connect so that you can meet your goals. And more often than you might think, you'll be in the position to return the favor!
So keep your eyes wide open and start working on those networks! For more information on networking, check out the CDC's web page on the topic. http://www.macalester.edu/cdc
/careersandjobs/jobsearchskills/
networking.html
Contributing Writer: Denise Ward, Associate Dean for Student Services
Sophomore Syllabus
CHOOSING A MAJOR
Anxious about choosing a Major? Not sure what department is right for you? The good news is, you are not alone. Even better news is, you can come to the Majors Fair and learn more about your options. The Majors Fair offers a great opportunity to talk with people currently in the department and find out what area might be the best fit. The CDC will also be there with additional resources that might help in your decision making process. Take advantage of this chance to bring some clarity to what major might be right for you. Here are the details of the Majors Fair, please call the CDC at x6384 with any questions. Hope to see you there.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
11:30 AM – 1PM
Hill Ballroom- Kagin Commons
Contributing Writer: John Mountain, Associate Director, CDC
First Year Focus
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS: SCORING THE INTERNSHIP OF YOUR DREAMS
Now is the time to start thinking about Summer 2007 plans. Yes, chilling on the beach and or reading a good book is useful to your psyche, but so is a summer internship that could help launch your career choices three years from now. Employers are interested in students that have used their summers wisely and have developed their interests in respective fields.
How should you get started? Stop by the Mac Internship Office and speak to the friendly staff. They can guide you to and through the internship search and selection process. In addition, the Internship Office has green binders full current of internship opportunities. After you have gotten acquainted with the internship office, walk over (literally two steps) to the Career Development Center. We can assist you with your resume and interview skills.
Below are a few resources you may consider during your search:
Vault/Inroads Guide To: Diversity Internship, Co-op and Entry Level Programs and Vault Guide To: Top Internships, 2006 (located in the Internship Office Library, Kagin Commons)
idealist.org and Macalester College's Grand Avenues E-recruiting (Online)
Cheers,
Christina Gholson
Contributing Writer: Christina Cowens Gholson, Career Counselor, CDC
The Bookshelf
The 2007 College Career Bible by Vault, Inc., New York, 2006.
The 2007 College Career Bible by Vault covers over 30 hot industries and is the complete resource for careers for college students and recent grads. Get the edge you need in a competitive hiring environment: insider knowledge. This book provides expert advice on corporate diversity, resumes, cover letters, interviews, internships, networking and graduate degree programs.
Figuring out what you would like to do is half the battle; once you have done that, your job search will automatically become more focused. After you've decided on an industry or position, look for information about the day-to-day responsibilities such a job will entail. It's tough to really understand what it's like to work at a place or position without these tips, which is why Vault provides "Days in the Life" notes and Q&As for many different occupations. Some of these are included in this book; others can be found in Vault's guides on specific industries or on www.vault.com
This book can be found in the Job Search- General section in the CDC resource Library.
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Macalester at Work
by Katie Lim '08
CDC Student Staff
Delvin Cai
Macalester Class of 2005
Mac alum and Towers-Perrin associate, Delvin Cai, tells us about his work at an actuarial consulting firm. He provides an exciting description of the actuarial field and offers insight for Mac students about pursuing a career as an actuary and utilizing the opportunities available at job fairs.
CDC: What is your current position?
DC: I'm an associate in Towers Perrin - Tillinghast. This is how it works in our firm: when an associate accumulates enough business acumen and client exposure, he/she moves up to become a consultant, and further down the road a principal (partner) of the firm.
CDC: How did you find your current job?
DC: I had an internship at the Towers Perrin Minneapolis office, which earned me a ticket to the nationwide interview in Philadelphia in my senior year. There was a match-making process between the candidates and the offices with open spots, and I picked Hartford since it is the major office for property / casualty business.
CDC: Can you describe a typical day on the job as an actuary and tell us a little about what an actuary does?
DC: Remember Ben Stiller in that movie "Along Came Polly"? Yep, that's how we do it, press a button on the laptop and suddenly I know if you're long-living/car-crash prone/dateable. While the real thing is less comic, you can still think of an actuary as a modern fortune teller without a crystal ball.
The actuarial field is actually quite extensive in term of job functions. There are pricing actuaries working for insurance companies, and there are reserving actuaries working for consulting firms (my case). And if sliced differently, there are actuaries specialized in life, health, pension, property/casualty insurance. Non-traditional positions are also sprouting these days, such as financial hedging actuaries that micro-manage the gigantic life insurance funds, and ERM (enterprise risk management) actuaries that target the corporate risks, both financial and strategic, as an integrated unit.
As to myself, I crunch numbers all day and play Price-Is-Right at lunch break. Back on a more serious note, I'll tell the story on the reserving actuary's side, since I work for an actuarial consulting firm. I typically have up to 4 projects on my plate, each with a different consultant and his/her client. At the early stage, actuarial students rely on statistical tools, such as spreadsheets and SAS, to aggregate insurance data and extract underlying information. The firm also develops internal software to facilitate our work.
The approach on each project can be quite different based on the client's business and data availability. For a medical malpractice insurer client, we need to figure out how many beds and doctors are in each insured hospital and how the past law suits developed. For a client in the offshore energy business, we are interested in what storm statisticians say about future hurricanes and how accurately the client itself has been estimating the past losses to hurricanes at early stage.
As experience grows, the work becomes more of an art than science. You are now expected to make judgmental calls where numbers can't reach, detect industry trends hidden in charts, and make your findings into vivid stories that CEO's and consumers alike can understand. At the end of the day, we want to tell our clients how likely their reserved funds (or money hidden under their bed) are sufficient to cope with future financial liabilities arising from accidents and catastrophes.
CDC: The path to becoming an actuary differs from other careers. Can you give us an overview of the steps necessary for success in the career?
DC: I feel the actuarial career is just like any other job. After all, it's all about staying diligent and honest, finishing your work on time, plus being a good team player. The biggest difference, if any, is the credential system. Think of the three brutal exams in CPA or CFA, multiplying that three times gives you the actuarial exam series. The nine exams cover knowledge ranging from probabilities to government taxation, from classic insurance theories to contemporary industry trends. The first four exams (primary level) are offered in the spring and fall every year, and the next five are offered only once a year. Each exam demands a serious commitment.
On the bright side, I think passing exams has tremendous benefits for an actuary, and is one (or nine) very important steps to career success. When it comes to insurance knowledge, actuarial exam credentials speak volumes, and are truly your loyal assets, making you a strong job candidate no matter if it is in London, US, or Bermuda. At the same time, each exam is also like a glass ceiling that caps your working opportunities. Too bad the most interesting work is on the top.
But I want to emphasize that exams are definitely not everything. Far from that. Never ever neglect your communication skills. After all, you are working with people, not numbers.
CDC: Can you tell us about your career search which led you to your current job? Could you also discuss the preparation that was necessary during your time as an undergraduate?
DC: I ran into Cynthia Weldon, a Mac alum working for Towers Perrin (TP), at a Mac career fair. She showed me a recruiting brochure for internships and taught me how to pronounce "actuary" - I still remember that fancy little brochure, golden like sunshine. While interning at the TP Minneapolis office, I met some fascinating people in the property/casualty consulting business. Thanks to their guidance, I chose Terrorism Risk Insurance as the topic of my Economics honor thesis. That was a good time, besides it helped me land a job with the property/casualty division of TP.
I only passed one exam when I was applying for the job, while other candidates had at least two. But I don't think that was the bottleneck. I found the recruiters were mainly looking at our level of interest and communication skills. It was basically that "airport test" I heard - Do I want to get stuck with you in the airport for half an hour? Keeping this test in mind helped to prepare for the interviews.
CDC: What qualities do you think people need in order to succeed in the field of actuarial science?
DC: First and foremost, an interest in the field. If you think insurance is cool, you're in. If not, a good internship probably will change your mind. You need that to survive the exams.
Second, still an interest in the field. There is so much to learn; the industry is enormous, not to mention the new things coming out every year. And it craves for new experts.
Last, low and behold, an interest in the field. I don't believe some people are more successful simply because they're more responsible or more analytical. We all have done a good job somewhere, maybe in different contexts. But if I remember correctly, I did a good job because I first cared about it.
CDC: What is the most interesting part of your job?
DC: The most interesting part of my job is that I never know what challenge is awaiting me out there around the corner. New clients come up with interesting requests, bosses pass down more responsibility, other offices need an extra hand, etc. Things can happen pretty fast.
When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, TP needed to respond quickly with a white paper to analyze the hurricane's unprecedented financial impact on the insurance industry. I was fortunate to join the team, assisting and learning from some of the best in the industry, whose high energy level motivated me through those restless days and nights.
Check out this white paper, "Hurricane Katrina: Analysis of the Impact on the Insurance Industry" online. Good stuff.
CDC: Do you have any plans for what you might like to do next in your career?
DC: First I would like to finish the rest of my exams and receive fellowship as soon as possible. That opens up lots of doors.
CDC: What words of advice would you offer for Macalester students interested in an actuarial career?
DC: I first want to focus on the exams: you should sit for the first two actuarial exams, especially if you are going for a Math/Econ major already. Two exams can give you a great edge as an undergrad, and actuarial recruiters may tear your shirt apart fighting to pull you to their side.
The second exam (Financial Modeling) actually requires a few college classes (called "VEE credits"). Lucky for you, the Math & Econ classes at Macalester completely meet the requirement (Professor Miao's Statistics and Professor Krueger's Econometrics for example). Do this for yourself; Google "CAS VEE Directory" and check out the "Approved Courses." You'll find Macalester among the schools approved, and if you have taken those Mac courses, congrats, you're half way done with Exam FM.
Other good news is that Professor Heekyung Youn at our neighbor, St. Thomas, teaches a couple of GREAT actuarial classes. She used to teach at the U of M, and also appears at actuarial seminars. Her name is well known among Twin Cities actuaries, many of them her past students and successful.
But as I said before, don't neglect universal job skills such as communication and teamwork. There are plenty of opportunities to practice on and off campus.
Always ask for advice from upperclassmen going into an actuarial profession. I gained great support from these smart guys: YiPing Du, Adugna Tolosa, Kagabo Ngiruwonsanga.
Also, learn how to "showcase" your set of strengths and interests during the interviews. After five formal interviews, you'll be a pro. And do yourself a favor, go to the CDC for some great mock interviews. They even video tape them to send to America's Funniest Home Video. John Mountain helped me tremendously back then.
Dress to impress. I mean for the interview.
CDC: Anything else?
DC: When an opportunity shows up, it normally doesn't spell out the word for you. Trust your gut feelings, and don't hesitate to invest your time and energy when you believe you see a window of opportunity. You might get exhausted at the end of the day/week/month, but it's always that extra effort that leads to "extra"ordinary.
Featured Article
WORKING OVERSEAS
January of my senior year, I found myself eating lunch, sitting across from a professor, someone who had acted as a mentor over the past year and a half of my life. He asked the one question I had been asking myself for the past couple of months. “What are you going to do when you graduate?”
I stopped chewing, shrugged my shoulders, and with a sigh, gave my response. “I have no idea”. He asked me what I thought of teaching in Thailand, his home country. I could teach university students, no less. I laughed at the idea. Me? A teacher?
The semester wore on. I sent out resumes to many different places, including three universities in Thailand. By April, my options were slowly dwindling, and one evening, after participating in a phone interview with Bangkok University, I received an e-mail offering me a teaching position.
Several months later, I woke up in Bangkok, at the beginning of a year that would change many aspects of my life forever. I was hired on as a language instructor, teaching university students basic English. I didn’t speak any Thai previous to arriving, but learned enough Thai by the end of my experience to communicate food preferences and directions. I had a place to land when I leapt: a furnished apartment, a job contract waiting for my signature, and a few people to help me adjust to the new environment. After nine months, I knew that I had gained what I sought to gain, and I applied to graduate schools in the States and began the process of embarking on the transition back to the US.
I could write for hours, recounting my experiences working overseas, however, the meaning of those experiences to me couldn’t have the same meaning that your experiences would have to you. A common theme I hear is that people don’t know where they want to be, or how they want to get there. After ten months of working in Thailand, I knew in my heart that I had to leave there, that my dreams of counseling were awaiting me in the States, and I came back forever changed, and forever impassioned.
My story, my reason for wanting to go overseas isn’t too different from the passionate lives I meet passing through the CDC. I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school in Counseling Psychology, and that one day I would come back for it. But, I also needed to go, create an existence for myself, and be all that I had been afraid to be. I will be graduating from my program in the spring, and some days I don’t know how it will end up. I am secure in the knowledge that my foundation of experiences will guide my direction.
Overseas work isn’t for everyone. If it is for you, I leave you with a list of resources, not by any means a comprehensive list, and the knowledge that if you want it to be, it will be. I am Jackie Elvehjem, Graduate Intern in the Career Development Center. If this article speaks to you, I encourage you to stop in, and we can help you make this happen.
The Peace Corps
www.PeaceCorps.gov
The JET Program
http://www.us.emb-
japan.go.jp/JETProgram/
homepage.html
Escape Artist
http://www.escapeartist.com/
jobs/overseas1.htm
Australian Career Opportunities
http://www.careerone.com.au/
Idealist: Non-Profit Careers
http://www.idealist.org/
Euro Jobs
http://www.eurojobs.com/
Contributing Writer: Jackie Elvehjem, Graduate Intern, CDC
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