Find details on these
opportunities on our web
site under Grand Avenues.
The Information Management Specialist
U.S. Department of State
Washington , DC and Nationwide
Full Time – Deadline: 4/7/08
Must be U.S. citizen
This position is responsible for information resource management programs and information technology worldwide. The work is diverse and challenging. IRM employees support a vast spectrum of computer technology, ranging from state-of-the-art systems to the older legacy systems. They are responsible for managing and administering a worldwide telecommunications network, maintaining the telephone and wireless programs at overseas embassies and consulates, managing the Diplomatic Pouch and Mall operations and performing other duties such as supporting visits of high-level officials, including the President.
Strategy & Communications Associate
Echoing Green
New York , New York
Full Time – Deadline: 4/11/08
The Strategy and Communications Associate will be part of a three to four person team and will work most closely with the Vice President of Strategy. The Associate position is mainly a support role focused on managing the strategy and communications initiatives to broaden the recognition and reach of Echoing Green and advance the goals of the organization.
Somali-Speaking Legal Assistant/Interpreter
Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis
Minneapolis , MN
Part Time (12-20 hours per week)
Deadline: 4/12/08
Undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in poverty law and serving immigrants with low-income. Prior course work or clinical experience in immigration or poverty law is a plus. Excellent research, oral and written communication skills, organized, detail oriented. Fluency in Somali is required. Must be eligible for the Work Study Program.
Male Health Educator
West Suburban Teen Clinic (WSTC)
Excelsior, MN
Full Time – Deadline: 4/12/08
Responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating WSTC's education and outreach programs, with a special focus on male reproductive health. Must be male. Spanish speaking a plus.
Information and Referral Specialist
(Bilingual or Multi-lingual)
Greater Twin Cities United Way
St. Paul , MN
Full Time – Deadline: 4/13/08
Fluency in English and Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali or other languages.
Answer incoming phone calls and refer callers to appropriate community resources. Recommends limited financial assistance in accordance with policy guidelines, maintains a current knowledge of community resources and professional expectations, Must make decisions and judgments calls in emergencies and crisis.
Information and Referral Specialists
Greater Twin Cities United Way
St. Paul , MN
Full Time – Deadline: 4/13/08
Same as above without the language requirements.
Upcoming Events
LIBRARY ALUMNI CAREER PANEL
Wednesday, April 16
6-7 PM - Harmon Room, Library
Free Pizza will be served for registered attendees. Register for this event at: http://www.macalester.edu/library/
forms/careerregister.html
Did you know that Kiplinger Magazine listed Librarian as one of 7 great careers for 2007? As part of National Library Week celebrations, come hear alumni librarians talk about their careers. Sponsored by the Library and Career Development Center.
SENIORS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR THE
CDC TROPICAL BASH: ALL DAY DROP-INS WITH A TROPICAL VIBE. GET EXCELLENT CAREER ADVICE AND TROPICAL BEVERAGES TO MATCH!!!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
10 AM-4 PM, CDC,
Kagin Commons
Watch for details in the next issue of CareerStreets on May 5th .
For a complete list of upcoming CDC programs and events, be sure to check out:
http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/events
/index.html
Beyond the Piggy Bank
In this section, the CDC provides you with links to information on managing your personal finances. We hope you find this useful. This newsletter’s topic is:
"Easy Money"
Suggestion
Box
THE ON-CAMPUS FINAL IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE
Want to leave an excellent final impression? Write out your "thank you" note immediately after the interview and hand-deliver it before the interviewer leaves at the end of the day. Final
decisions for company-site callbacks are usually made the same day, so make your best case while you can still have an impact on the outcome. If you were not the last interview on the schedule, sit down in the waiting room and scribe your response on the "thank
you" stationery you brought with you. Then give the card to the receptionist and ask that the card be passed on to the interviewer. If you are the last interview of the day, write a quick note and get it to your interviewer before he or she leaves (most recruiters spend a few minutes organizing the accumulated information before departing). You can even have part of the note (the "thanks for your time" opening) written ahead of time. Then track the person down before he or she leaves the building (beware of alternate escape routes!).
If you are unable to get your "thank you" card to the interviewer, call the office and ask for the interviewer's voicemail. When messages are checked that evening, your personal "thank you" will make a lasting impression. If you are unable to get through with any of the above, send an e-mail thank you to the e-mail address on the business card.
By taking these simple steps, you will definitely stand out from the crowd.
(Source: - Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search.)
Web Watch
 ONE DAY. ONE JOB
One Day, One Job is the insider's guide to unique and exciting entry-level job and career opportunities for recent college graduates. Every day one employer is highlighted and the jobs that are being offered for recent college graduates. The job postings are an example of how you can use the Internet to find great information about exciting jobs.
Check out this blog at: http://www.onedayonejob.com/ for information about entry-level jobs and occasional articles that further detail the methods used to find the jobs written about.
Featured Fellowship
For information on fellowships, please visit the CDC website: http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/
graduateschool/financing
/fellowships.html
Grad School Notes
FINDING FUNDING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL
Step 1: Apply for financial aid as soon as possible! Fill out necessary forms early, because it may take a few months to hear back about what types of financial aid you are eligible for.
Step 2: Contact your department. Call the main office of your graduate program or contact your advisor (if assigned) to inquire about possible grants, scholarships, or fellowships that may be available. PhD students are usually more likely than Master's Degree students to have guaranteed funding available.
Step 3: Network! Talk with current students or alumni of the program to ask advice on ways they funded their education. They may know of offices or departments on campus that are open to hiring students from your program. They can also help you estimate how much money you may need each semester.
Step 4: Apply for available graduate assistantships. Assistantships usually require the student to work 10-20 hours per week and may provide tuition waivers and/or health insurance, in addition to an hourly rate. Assistantships are on-campus positions and are typically more flexible in working around your schedule of classes. Teaching Assistants (TA) might be expected to grade exams and assignments, lead discussion sections, hold office hours for student questions, and attend the class regularly. Research Assistants (RA) work closely with professors and assist with research and data analysis. Administrative Fellows may work in student service offices, such as admissions or campus programs, performing administrative tasks. Graduate assistant positions and other on-campus positions are posted on the main employment website of the college/university. However, many positions may not be posted, which is why networking is so important.
Step 5: Evaluate your financial situation. Estimate the amount you will need for your first year, adding up tuition, university and student fees, health insurance, textbooks, living expenses, transportation expenses, and bills that you expect to pay. From there, round up the number to include spending money and emergency funds. Then, evaluate the amount you expect to receive from financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) and your job. Calculating an amount needed will help in making decisions about how much to accept in financial aid or loans and in planning hours needed to work each week.
Contributor: Maureen Mahoney, Graduate Intern, 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.
------------------------
HOURS
8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday
(Daily Drop-ins between 2 to 4 PM)
-----------------------
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
|
Counselor's Corner
 HANDLING MULTIPLE JOB OFFERS
It is a pleasure to work with students facing the “dilemma” of multiple job offers. This means a student has concluded a successful job search and more than one organization is interested in hiring a promising new employee. The student is responsible for this outcome, by virtue of their hard work and innate talent and skills, and it's a gratifying and motivating outcome. Students, however, do not find this process to be quite as much fun when faced with deciding between two or more job offers.
Should you find yourself in this enviable position it helps to have a framework through which to look at practical as well as ethical considerations.
What can you do to optimize the outcome if faced with this situation?
• Don't feel obligated to accept a job offer on the spot. It's advisable to express appreciation and enthusiasm when an offer is made. Beyond that, you can and should, say “Thank you so much. I would like to have time to think about this.” If you're in a job search with multiple potential decisions pending, ask for time to decide. Again, this should be done with a liberal emphasis on how interested you are in their offer, even if in reality you're ambivalent about it.
• What does an optimal position look like for you? Considered salary, benefits, promotional opportunities, geographic location, graduate school tuition assistance, and most critical -- the actual job description. If your first offer doesn't meet your standards in a number of these categories, perhaps you should reconsider.
• Don't avoid the situation. It won't go away or solve itself. Especially not if you want to want to negotiate as a balanced and professional candidate.
• Speak with a neutral part – CDC staff for example! You can gain insight and perspective, which is critical when facing a complicated decision.
• Negotiating skills are key, and we will cover this topic in the next edition of CareerStreets.
Contributor: Mary Emanuelson, Assistant Director , CDC
Senior S.L.A.M.
(Seeking Life After Macalester)
SENIORS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR THE CDC TROPICAL BASH: ALL DAY DROP-INS WITH A TROPICAL VIBE. GET EXCELLENT CAREER ADVICE AND TROPICAL BEVERAGES TO MATCH!!!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
10 AM-4 PM
CDC,
Kagin Commons 1st Fl.
Watch for details in the next issue of CareerStreets on May 5th .
SURVEY RESULTS DETAIL WHAT TOP ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYERS WANT MOST: CollegeGrad.com Releases Top Hiring Criteria for College Grads
STATE COLLEGE, PA--(HR Marketer)--March 27, 2008--CollegeGrad.com, the #1 Entry Level Job Site, today released the results of its survey on what employers want most in hiring new college grads. What is most important to entry level employers – the college you graduated from? Your GPA? Or what you majored in? According to the survey results, the answer may surprise you.
The criteria that the employers ranked as most important are as follows:
-
The student's major (44%)
-
The student's interviewing skills (18%)
-
The student's internship/experience (17%)
-
The college the student graduated from (10%)
-
Other miscellaneous qualifications (5%)
-
The student's GPA (4%)
-
The student's personal appearance (1%)
-
The student's computer skills (1%)
The survey results indicate that 44% of employer respondents ranked a student's major as the top priority for hiring consideration. This is up slightly from 42% in 2007. Interviewing skills and a student's internships and experience ranked second and third.
The fourth place ranking was a surprise to this year's results - the college that the student graduated from was ranked as the top criterion for hiring consideration by 10% of employer respondents. This is up from just 1% and last place in 2007.
What does it mean that employers first look at a candidate's major? In initial hiring consideration, employers are first concerned with finding candidates who have a specific skill-set necessary for success in a particular field.
"Employers are looking for candidates with industry knowledge and the ability to learn," said Linda Ickes, Director of the Career Center at Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. "A student's degree and GPA provide evidence of this ability."
Beyond having the right major, employers repeatedly express the importance for candidates to set themselves apart from others with the same major. "The war for talent still exists, but hiring managers are going to be more picky about who they hire," said Steven Jungman, Division Manager for ChaseSource, LP . "Anything that a job seeker can do to set themselves apart from the crowd will be a benefit."
To compete most effectively, CollegeGrad.com recommends that job seekers note the specific success factors necessary for their desired job, and then cater their career preparation toward those factors. Those who can communicate these skills through past experiences in an interview setting will stand out from the crowd.
And while core competencies vary greatly depending on the industry, employers across the board agree that the ability to demonstrate foundational work habits is critical for success in a new job.
"It is crucial that new college grads entering the workforce are disciplined and goal-oriented," said Adam Nebel, Training & Recruiting Manager for Summit Commercial Finance . "Establishing great work habits and a perspective based on long term attainable goals enables new college grads to work through new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities."
CollegeGrad.com reminds college students and grads that it's never too early to start building a strong work ethic and great work habits. Start early, start now.
The information was gathered while compiling the list of more than 500 Top Entry Level Employers for 2008. Employers were asked to rank criteria in order of importance for hiring consideration. The full survey is available at: www.collegegrad.com/surveys
/topemployers/.
(Source: About CollegeGrad.com:
CollegeGrad.com is the #1 entry level job site on the Internet and is the leader in the field of entry level job search. Established in 1995, CollegeGrad.com has been conducting the Top Entry Level Employers Survey since 1997.
Contributor: Mary Emanuelson, Assistant Director, CDC
Junior Jumpstart
STILL SEARCHING FOR A PLACE TO BELONG
You were motivated and applied to several internships. But to no avail, you have experienced one rejection after the other.
How many options do you have in the middle of April? Plenty.
If you are an international student, securing a position can be difficult. Consider volunteering or working on campus. If you are going home for the summer, investigate possibilities to work part-time or within a program. Temp work may also be an option in your home country. Identify your internal networks and plan to do some outreach. International listings in your home country can also be found on idealist.org and http://online.goinglobal.com
/default.aspx .
If you are a domestic student consider a part-time job in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. A position at Cheapo Records Store would still garner you transferable skills in product research, retail, and customer service. Alternate options are working through a temp service related to your field or volunteering. Finally, networking within your family and alumni base may also be of some service in locating an internship.
Whether you are an international student or domestic student, be open to unpaid opportunities if possible. Paid opportunities are always desired, but if you have your basic needs filled, an unpaid opportunity can be equally rewarding.
For a list of temp agencies, stop by the Career Development Center and ask speak to our supportive student staff. The CDC also has current postings hanging in the Kagin lobby and an expansive online resource, http://macalester.erecruiting.com
/er/security/login.jsp.
Stay positive and be open to all of your options.
Contributor: Christina Cowens Gholson, Career Counselor, CDC
Sophomore Syllabus
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INTERVIEW
It takes a lot of work to get an interview. You probably spent time working on your resume, networking with people in the field, and possibly had informational meetings that led to this interview. Even though you may think you have done all the right things and met with all the right people and received all the constructive feedback you can take, here are some additional tips to make your interview a success.
Do's
- Be prepared, it's the best stress reducer.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early. (there may be additional paperwork to fill out)
- Try to anticipate commonly asked questions, such as: strengths, weaknesses, biggest accomplishments, why Mac/major/their organization etc.
- Give specific examples in your answers.
- Be positive in describing your previous work/school experiences.
- Always send thank you cards/emails.
- Keep a list of the organizations/positions you have interviewed with so you can quickly see the status of each and determine if you need to follow-up.
Don'ts
- Have your cell phone on during the interview. More points off if you answer it!
- Ask how many people are interviewing for the position.
- Unable to articulate why you are interested in the position/organization.
- Dress too informally; always better to dress conservatively in an interview.
- Not having questions for the interviewer. Remember, you are interviewing them as well.
- Get discouraged over a poor start. Many great interviews start out slow.
- Ask about salary too early in the process. I would recommend not bringing it up in a first interview.
Types of interviews - Depending on the organization, you may encounter a variety of interview formats including:
- Individual or Panel - You may meet with one person at a time or several. Don't be overwhelmed if it is a panel interview, and make sure you keep eye contact with all members of the panel, not just the one who asked the question.
- Behavioral - Questions are structured to get a response that is a specific example.
- Case - Less common, but has a framework that asks you to detail the steps you would take to solve a particular problem or issue that the interviewer will describe. Mainly used for consulting positions.
Common Pitfalls - When I worked in Human Resources, candidates that struggled usually fell into one of the categories listed below:
- Rambler - Can't stop talking. Hard to follow their thought process.
- Shotgun - Similar to Rambler, but they will keep talking until they say something they think you like.
- Cotton Candy - Looks great on the outside. They seem interesting and substantive, but dissolve as the interview progresses and have no substance.
- Mile High - Everything is at 30,000 feet. No details.
- Why am I here? – Can't articulate why they are interested in the position/organization.
Preparing for an interview can help you avoid these pitfalls. Mock interviews can be a great way to get the practice you need before the interview that counts! Take advantage of all the resources available to you. The career counselors at the CDC are always available to help you make the best impression possible during the interview. Call x6384 to set up an appointment or stop by during drop in hours 2-4pm Monday – Friday.
Contributor: John Mountain, Associate Director, CDC
First Year Focus
STILL THINKING ABOUT YOUR MAJOR DECISION
The sun is shining and birds are starting to chirp outside your window, but the world doesn't seem quite right.
Your parents and friends are asking what your major will be which incites a look of petrification. As a result, you may feel avoidance or resignation to declaring a major.
There are solutions.
- Consider having an personality assessment completed. There are three options in the Career Development Center. We typically use the Strong Assessment, which deduces, not tests, your occupational matches based on your responses (it takes about 25 minutes to complete). After you complete the assessment, a career counselor will review the results with you.
- Volunteer, internship, or secure a part-time job in the summer in your field of interest. At the very least you will identify what work you do not have an interest in if the position does not meet your expectations. In addition, you can add the experience to your growing resume.
- Become more involved in a student organization. If you have participated in an organization during the year, take part in some of the summer planning to develop your skills and possible interest in the organizational mission.
- Make an appointment to speak with a career counselor to identify your needs, wants, and values as they pertain to work. Sometimes just having someone's undivided attention and hearing yourself aloud can cement your career passions.
To make an appointment, call the CDC at x6384, or stop by Kagin Commons.
Best Wishes!
Contributor: Christina Cowens Gholson, Career Counselor, CDC
|
Macalester at Work
Megan Odell
Macalester Class of 1995
Macalester alum, Megan Odell, Dramatic Arts major and founder of Live Action Set in 2003, is currently directing the new show "Piano Tuner," opened her own private acupuncture and Asian medicine clinic in January, and is a new Mom to a 5-month old baby. Megan talks with the CDC about her Macalester experience and offers advice to students who would like to pursue theater as a career.
CDC: You received your undergraduate degree in Dramatic Arts at Macalester. How did you first become involved in theater?
MO: At Macalester! I was a dancer when I arrived at Mac, so I loved performing but I had never done “theater” per se. That said, I have to admit that I'd regularly practiced my Oscar acceptance speech in my mirror as a kid, so there was definitely an allure there. So, once at Mac, I took an Introduction To Acting class with Carolyn Levy and got cast as Mother Courage in a directing project (I was horrible, by the way), so I was hooked.
CDC: What decisions did you have to make regarding your career upon graduating, and where did you go for help with those decisions?
MO: I really didn't see art as a viable option-- I think because I didn't really have a role model for that in my family of engineers, computer people and attorneys. But I also didn't really want to do anything other than travel and perform, so I procrastinated on making any plans before graduation. After graduation, I knew I had to make some money, so I ended up applying to every shop on Grand Avenue and ended up working at Bibelot. I guess I didn't really make a decision… I just found what I could!
CDC: How did you spend the first year after Macalester?
MO: I knew I wanted to go to London after graduation, so I worked at the Bibelot shops to make some money until December and then flew to London. I lived in London as part of the BUNAC program (does that still exist?) for six months and worked as an “Office Angel.” That was a temp agency… I ended up being very busy with work because people would actually call and ask for someone “exotic” – and I guess my accent made me exotic (not an exotic dancer, mind you). But my main focus while there was taking dance classes and seeing as much work as I possibly could. I saw probably 3-4 shows every week and those months really shaped the type of work I wanted to do.
CDC: Describe the type of work you did in your positions at Accenture and Dahlen, Berg & Co.
MO: I started out at Accenture as a temp for the recruiting department, doing data entry at first. My supervisor was pretty amazing. Within that first week I advanced to planning a large recruiting event in Boston. Then she decided that I had to actually go to Boston to run the event, so within a few weeks of starting I was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Boston! All as a temp. The same supervisor started sending me to Accenture recruiting training on the sly, so then when a full-time recruiting position opened up, I was the most qualified person for the job. I became a college recruiter for them, doing initial interviews, planning office visits, going to job fairs. I switched to doing eCommerce recruiting during the tech boom and was responsible for hiring people nationwide to the firm. That was a lot of fun because we had free rein. We just did whatever we could to bring people on board. After the tech boom bubble burst, I was laid off with the rest of the recruiting staff, but got hired fairly quickly by Dahlen, Berg & Co. to design and implement a college recruiting program for them. This involved figuring out where we would recruit, what the process would be, what the forms would look like, how the interviewers would be trained… everything. Then I did the same thing for the rest of their recruiting needs. After doubling the size of the company, it was time for a proper HR department and I headed up that group. That job included managing a team of three other people who were responsible for recruiting, training, orientation, all benefits, employee relations, etc. etc. etc.
CDC: Do you think a liberal arts education, or your major in particular, have helped you in the work force?
MO: Absolutely. The cliché we all know is that a liberal arts education teaches you how to think, and that is right on target. I have worked in so many different areas and frankly, my brain is able to work better and more efficiently in those situations because of the diverse experiences I had in studying liberal arts. As for my theater major, it really goes without saying that it has helped me in my theater work! Is that really a “work force,” though? It's funny to think of that word as applying to the arts.
CDC: You have a Master's degree in Chinese Medicine and recently opened a private acupuncture and Asian medicine clinic. What influenced your decision to pursue this field?
MO: Well, I wanted a day job that would complement my work in the arts better than the corporate world. Even though I was fairly good at the corporate gigs, I always had a hard time switching back and forth between daytime corporate world and my nighttime art world. I wanted to find something that worked together better. I ended up doing an exercise I'd read in a career book (I don't remember which one) that said to think about what you wanted to be “when you grow up” as a child and then analyze what it was about those careers that appealed to you. I remembered wanting to be a farmer, an ichthyologist, and a movie star. The common denominators among all of those were: working alone, having freedom, and having a certain amount of exoticism to it. Funny, huh? And then I landed on opening my own acupuncture practice as fitting all of those things!
CDC: In 2003, you founded Live Action Set and are currently directing the next show, “The Piano Tuner.” What does a typical day on the job look like for you?
MO: There is no typical day. Prior to this week (our tech week), I would do random show and company-related emails in the morning while taking care of my baby. Then I would rehearse for four hours in the afternoon. And then the evenings would be planning for the next day and doing more emails, if I could find the time with the baby. We also had production meetings (where I meet with all of the designers) once each week. This week has changed all of that. Since Saturday I have been going nonstop with production-related work: previews for our Board members, loading the set into the theater, helping to build the set, tracking down a large chandelier at the last minute for the set, picking up a large set piece from Macalester, doing an interview with MPR in the dressing room (hear Megan talk about the show on MPR Thursday morning's Morning Edition), and then running a rehearsal for four hours last night. Today is more emails, another interview, a rehearsal to teach people the rigging to suspend a grand piano in the air, and then we set all the lights for the show until 10 pm. Tomorrow is rehearsal for the whole afternoon, a photo call, and the two dress rehearsals till 10pm. Then we open the show on Thursday night! It's nutty, to say the least.
CDC: As a new Mom, how do you find balance between your professional and personal life?
MO: I don't. Honestly, I am pretty bad at this so far but hopefully I will improve with time! I couldn't do it without a supportive husband (who is also in theater, so that adds its own challenges) and a grandma who is willing to step in at a moment's notice. Thomas is also an incredibly flexible kid and goes to most of my meetings with me. The cast is used to the sounds of a breast pump during our breaks!!! Ahhhh…the joys of motherhood.
CDC: If you were to do anything different in your past, what would that be?
MO: Hmm…nothing? Am I allowed to say that? There have been some difficult times, but they've all brought me to where I am now and I am a pretty happy camper right now. Yeah, nothing.
CDC: Do you have any advice for Macalester seniors who would like to pursue theater as a career?
MO: Call me. There's a lot to talk about! Seriously, once this show opens, I am happy to talk to anyone.
Featured Article
BUMMING IT
Are you ready for a change? About to burn out on school or your current job? It could be time for you to consider bumming around for a bit. No, that's not sitting around on your bum all day – it's getting a seasonal job and a welcome change from the daily grind of typical jobs. Try something new, pursue a passion and build your resume. You could: Serve beach-lounging visitors, instruct newbies in the art of riding the snowy slopes, rent skis and snowboards at a mountain ski shop, teach swimming lessons at a summer camp.
Seasonal jobs are positions that aren't available year-round. There's no commitment to return, and you can enjoy hobbies, sports, or just the scenery in your free time – sometimes even while you work. Be a seasonal bum like a pro by making ends meet and getting valuable experience, all while enjoying a temporary hiatus from the “real world.”
Get a gig
- Apply months in advance for highly sought after jobs to beat the rush.
- Check out the bum links below to start searching.
- Customize your resume for the specific position you're interested in.
- Network your way in. Maybe you know a friend, who knows a guy, and so on.
- Talk to anyone you know who has worked in or visited the area you are interested in.
- Consider short-term administration or promotional jobs if you're not qualified for some of the outdoor jobs.
- Be professional. Just because it's the coolest job you've ever applied for doesn't mean you can approach it casually.
Find a place to crash
- Short-term apartment leases might work well during your job. Check craigslist.com, the Facebook Marketplace, or a local newspaper for listings.
- Living accommodations might be provided by your employer. If not, ask current employees if there's a place that seasonal employees often stay.
Budget like a bum
- Bike, walk, skateboard, or carpool to get around and save on fuel.
- Explore the perks of the job before accepting--if you know you want to snowboard, make sure your job on the mountain comes with a free pass.
Seasonal jobs abound for any skill set. Here are tips to hit the surf or snow for the season:
Beach Bum
If working on your tan or your surf skills interests you, look toward the coasts. It's never too early to plan for a summer gig – beach resorts can offer anything from waiting tables and housekeeping to life-guarding. Check out opportunities down by the docks with fisherman or commercial day cruises. When looking for the sand, don't leave out lakeside activities at summer camps and vacation spots. Rivers may not have many beachfronts, but they can offer plenty of opportunities for river guides.
Snow Bum
If fresh powder and backcountry are more your style, consider heading toward the mountains. Like the beach, you'll find retail and resort jobs, but working as a ski or snowboard instructor, lift operator, or with ski patrol gets you closer to the slopes all day. Love snow so much you want to make it? There's a job for that too! Check out resorts in these major areas for employment and housing info:
The Bum In Between
If sand and snow aren't your forte, here are some other options.
- Cruise Lines: Cruise ships have everything from general resort jobs to ballroom dance and yoga instructing positions.
- Hostels: Book rooms, perform general maintenance, shuttle travelers from the airport, and meet people from all over the world. Oh yeah, and you might get a room to live in.
- Custom Harvesting: Move across the country harvesting wheat, corn and other crops. It's hard work, but an escape from the city.
- Ranches: Got some experience with animals or want to enjoy ranch life? Due or guest ranches may hire for food service, housekeeping, maintenance, animal care, trail guide or wrangling positions.
The Bottom Line
There are more than 95,000 miles of shoreline in the U.S. and were 485 ski areas during the 2006-07 season. There's something out there for everyone looking to enjoy a new job for a season. Just keep it professional--no one wants to hire a lazy bum.
Bum Links
jobmonkey.com | resortjobs.com | seasonworkers.com
kareeve.com | coolworks.com | backdoorjobs.com
(Author: Catherine Seiwert, Garden Plain, KS - Sources: brassmagazine.com; jobmonkey.com; csc.noaa.gov; nsaa.org; internjobs.com; resortjobs.com; coolworks.com)
The Bookshelf
 DITCH THE FLIP-FLOPS: Ace Your Job Interview Fresh Out of College - Author Sylvia I. Landy. Keystone Three LLC, Winnetka, IL, 2007.
Ditch the Flip-Flops equips soon-to-be degree holders and recent college grads with the skills to ace their toughest test yet: the job interview. Nothing in school has prepared you for the scrutiny of HR managers, nor the fierce competition you will encounter while trying to leverage a costly education and land your dream job.
This book maps out interviewing strategies as a manageable three-step process, and includes insider tips from seasoned HR heads and reveals interviewing's down and dirty details from recently hired college grads.
Ditch the Flip-Flops expertly arms interviewees with essential fundamentals and cutting-edge tools that are applicable to a majority of job interviewing situations. Included are innovative PR strategies to get you noticed, a fail-safe formula for answering both predictable and curve ball questions, and timely cyberspace shortcuts and showstoppers. Author, Sylvia Landy, also equips you to put your best foot forward when interviews take an uncomfortable turn. A round of rapid-fire interrogation from a roomful of non-nonsense head honchos, an eleventh-hour attack of nerves, or an illicit line of questioning are all nail-biters you can master.
This book can be found in the Job Search-Interviewing section in the CDC resource Library.
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