Spring Career Guide: January 28, 2014

JANUARY 28, 2014

THE DAILY ILLINI

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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7 tips to make your cover letter stand out

BY REEMA ABI-AKAR STAFF WRITER

Writing cover letters may not be everyone’s favorite task, but they can make or break an internship or job application.

Instead of just being a chore, a cover letter can serve as a snapshot of a student’s skills and personality — valuable assets that a company is looking for.

Michele Plante, career services coordinator for FAA, weighed in on these seven tips for writing a memorable cover letter.

1. Customize your cover letter based on the job “The most important thing is to write a different letter for each application,” she said.

Companies can tell if an applicant is using a standard cover letter instead of one written for a certain job. It is important to highlight the skills that are most relevant to the position at hand.

2. Do research on the company Anyone applying for a position should be well-versed about what the organization or company does, what the work environment is like and other major details.

It is necessary for a student to know what he or she is applying to and be knowledgeable about the company during an interview.

3. Make sure to respond to the specific job listing “You want to make it clear to (the company) that you are replying to the ad and that you’re really delivering to them what they need,” Plante said.

She recommends making a check list of the job qualifi cations and tasks, and checking them off while writing the cover letter.

4. Do not just create a carbon copy of your resume “Some people make the mistake of just repeating their resume — you’re basically handing in two copies of your resume,” she said. “It also says that you’re not a good communicator.” So instead of just saying “I have great communication skills,” make sure to demonstrate those skills by describing your experiences and accomplishments.

5. Think about it as a conversation Talk about yourself by using stories and giving specific examples of your experiences.

For example, if the job ad asks for experience in research and communication, describe a research project you did in class and talk about how you

presented it. These stories show your personality and may single you out from several other qualified candidates.

6. Talk up the organization “Tell them how much you like their company and why. Don’t tell them what their company is; they are familiar with their company already. Instead, emphasize what you both have in common,” Plante said.

Explain what led you to apply there and why you believe their company stands out from the rest. This shows that you have done research and that you are enthusiastic about the position.

7. All work experience can be applicable “I’ve had a lot of students tell me that in their job interviews, interviewers have said they like to see experience with sales or waiting tables, because it shows the student has dealt with customers before, which can translate to client experience later in their career,” Plante added.

So don’t dismiss a job in a restaurant or in retail just because you believe it is irrelevant.

Reema can be reached at abiakar2@dailyillini.com.

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Experience outside classroom helpful in professional world

BY JED LACY STAFF WRITER

While still in college, students can work tirelessly in preparation for the day they fi nally enter the “real world” and begin their careers.

Fortunately for University students, Illinois is known as one of the top academic institutions in the country and serves as an ideal training ground for students to learn the skills necessary for success in their prospective professions. However, despite the University’s efforts to prepare its students as best as it can, even higher education has its limitations.

As a result of the complex

nature of the job market, there is no way for universities to teach students everything they will need to know for their future careers. The reason for this is simple: There is no substitution for fi rsthand experience, and that can’t be taught in a classroom.

This is precisely what Chessa Kilby found out when she graduated from the University in 2012 with a degree in MCB and began her fi rst job as a neuroscience technician at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology.

“There was defi nitely a learning curve at fi rst. I had a lot more responsibilities than I

ever had in undergrad,” she said. “During college, my main focus was to just complete my coursework, but at Beckman, I was required to be in charge and manage people.”

Kilby’s experience at Beckman reflects the importance of human interaction in the workplace and, in particular, the responsibilities that go with leadership. While it is possible to improve one’s teamwork skills by participating in extracurricular activities or organizations, at the end of the day there is no substitute for learning how to interact and lead your fellow co-workers in a professional environment.

Perhaps the closest alternative to gaining real work experience before beginning a career comes in the form of an internship. One way to think about an internship is to liken it to a fi rst date. While the internship may not be the exact job a student wants to stick with forever, it serves as a valuable learning experience to better understand what works for him and what does not. For Patrick Schultz, junior in LAS, it was love at fi rst sight when he began working as an intern for the health informatics company Intelligent Medical Objects this past summer.

“Everyone I worked with

at my internship was great. I would tell them about what I had learned about in school and how it applied to the work we were doing, and they would just sit there and smile at me,” Schultz said. “They were extremely helpful and did a wonderful job of making me feel welcome as a newcomer.”

Aside from internships, undergraduates can increase their chances of being hired by cultivating skills that are beneficial to have, no matter an individual’s academic discipline. According to The Career Center’s Associate Director for Assessment and Research Julia Makela, the skills employers are

really looking for are not necessarily skills specific to a particular major, but rather general skills that all members of the workforce should have.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from on campus.

There are certain skills that are important to employers across all disciplines,” Makela said.

“Some of these general skills include being able to actively engage in problem solving, communicating effectively with coworkers, having strong technological skills and being able to work well in a team.”

Jed can be reached at jedlacy2@dailyillini.com.

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

FOLLOW IN SUIT Knowing how to wear a suit is key to a job interview or the first day of work

BY DECLAN HARTY STAFF WRITER

F

rom the Rat Pack and James Bond to Barney Stinson and Don Draper, the suit has been the trademark of the professional man in both pop culture and everyday life. After four years of wearing jeans and sweatpants to class, a suit can be vital to transition into the professional world for college students. But it is the finer details that can make or break a suit.

Though owning a suit is a rarity on a college campus, it is a necessity. Jason Swenson, a first-year graduate student in Engineering, said his black and thinly grey striped suit is an essential asset for approaching the job market.

“It brings a certain level of confidence to an individual when they apply for a job,” Swenson said. “Obviously, the point of college, in the end, is to get that job, so if you have the suit, you have the swag.”

Swenson said that he believes first impressions are vital to the level of success in a job interview, which can be led by one’s confidence in his suit.

Brian Neighbors, a senior assistant director for employer development with The

Career Center, said he believes the expectations for owning a suit on campus differ by the department and the job one is applying for.

“Any job interview you are going to go for that (is) a business — it is a brick-andmortar building, there are offices, and it is a formalized business — that is when the suit is going to come into play,” Neighbors said. “If you are a certain type of engineer … and your interview is going to be on sight at a construction yard, if you show up in a suit there, you will get mixed emotions when everyone else is in jeans, work boots and a hard hat.”

Neighbors said that for most students, there is one rule to always abide by in a professional setting.

“The rule of thumb is that you want to dress one level up from what everybody else is doing,” Neighbors said.

Even the students who do own a suit may not realize the untold success in wearing one right. These tips can help students perfect the look that has been mastered for years.

TIES Know how to tie a knot

According to Doug Conant, assistant manager at Men’s Warehouse in Champaign, the knot of the tie, particularly a half or a full Windsor knot, is dependent on the width of the collar.

Pick the right tie size

The size of the tie should always match the width of the jacket’s lapel, meaning that a thinner tie should join a thin lapel and a wider tie should be used with a thicker lapel. The width of a lapel is a preference selection, according to Conant; however, most men determine their lapel width by their age. The younger men wear a thin lapel with a thin tie and older men wear a wider lapel and a wider tie. The wider tie and lapel is a look that is commonly associated with the suits of the 1900s, whereas the thinner approach is more modern. On the other side of the tie, the very tip of the tie should always aim to hit the belt buckle.

Color match

Unless the colors of the shirt and tie contrast, the color of a tie should always be darker than the shirt’s color, according to Conant.

JACKETS AND SHIRTS Buying a jacket off the rack

As one of the more difficult choices to master, an off-the-rack suit can either hinder or be a lucky charm for some men.

If you can’t find a well-fitting suit, don’t force it.

“I don’t think it has to be tailored like Barney on ‘How I Met Your Mother,’” Neighbors said. “I think that something you can buy cheaply off the rack is fine. ...

Instead of wearing a frumpy suit or something that is oversized, if you have slacks, a button-up and a tie that fit you well, … I would recommend you go with that.”

Button up

The middle button, for a three-button jacket, and the top button of a jacket should be equal to a man’s navel ideally; however, it can be above the navel as well.

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Where to find affordable clothing Suits can be costly, but inexpensive options exist

BY ALICE SMELYANSKY STAFF WRITER

It’s that dreadful moment you thought would never creep up on you again. You look in to an over-stuffed closet and find nothing to wear. It’s the day of your potentially life-changing interview, and you are about to leave your room wearing fuzzy slippers and a bathrobe because that’s less stressful than finding an outfit.

Don’t let yourself time-travel back to a teenage-angst phase.

With just a few simple pieces, you can stock up your closet in time for internships, resume reviews and other career “make-orbreak” moments. Here are some options on and near campus to help you find just the right business-appropriate clothing without spending that precious bar cover money:

Salvation Army

2212 N. Market St., Champaign If you don’t want to break the bank, then thrifting will allow you to still dress the part. At the Salvation Army on Market Street, you’ll find more than the essentials from your grandmother’s closet. A woman’s suit is $5.75 on average, according to Store Manager Tammie Williams, and if you’re willing to go through the racks, you could combine a few items to create multiple looks.

“Here you could get an entire business suit for less than $10, right down to the shoes,” Williams said.

ModDeals.com Walking down aisles in search of the cutest clothing is a hobby and addiction for some. But if you would rather find your go-to interview outfit from the convenience of your home, then typing ModDeals.com into your search bar might be the better choice for you. Many of the tops are $10 on average, and the clothing categorized under “Work Clothing” on the site is all $18 and under.

Kohl’s

Link your cuffs

109 Convenience Center Rd., Champaign

PANTS AND SHOES

Whether you are looking for a suit, dress, button-down shirt or blazer, the woman’s department at Kohl’s contains a huge assortment of business clothing.

Online, you can find suits from Tahari-Levine Co. ranging from $40 to $80 per piece, as well as Apt. 9 button-down shirts from $20 to $30.

“They have a wide variety of reasonably-priced business clothing,” said Elissa Hadro, assistant store manager at Kohl’s location on 109 Convenience Center Rd. “Personally, I usually just go for business slacks with a blazer and nice shirt underneath. I would recommend Apt. 9, ELLE, Daisy Fuentes and Lauren Conrad.”

For a French-cuffed shirt, the sleeve cuff is a place for personalization with the cuff links. Everything from functioning watch cuff links to sports team’s logos, the sleeve cuff is a place for a man’s personal mark. Optimally, the cuff of a sleeve, French cuff or not, should be exposed a half an inch from the jacket sleeve.

Find the right length

The pants of the suit are one of the more difficult parts to get perfect. For all suits, the pants hem should have one break in them when the pants hit the top of the shoes. Another difficult aspect is the length when sitting, as a man’s leg should never be exposed. Therefore, this creates another area of personalization: socks. Dress socks can be found in a variety of colors and patterns, which allow some personal options for the man.

Shoes should compliment the suit

The pairing of a suit and the corresponding shoe color can make or break the final look. For black shoes, one should be wearing a black, light grey, navy or charcoal suit, but for brown shoes one should be wearing either a brown, navy or light grey suit. But one must always remember to have their shoes and belt match.

Fira Boutique

700 S. Gregory St., Suite E., Urbana For those who don’t want to sacrifice fashion sense for the office place, Fira, a new fashion boutique on campus, can help you out. Storeowner Anne Ragle brings in the latest trends from L.A., including Jack by BB Dakota.

“We have a tweed crop jacket with a high-waisted pencil skirt look that could work,” Ragle said. “Or you could do a crop pant and include a pop of color underneath a ruched sleeve blazer. People like to get something versatile, for work and play.”

Ragle recommended saving money by shopping for tops that one could easily wear to the bar at night, and pair with a blazer or cardigan the next day for work.

Alice can be reached at smelyan2@dailyillini.com.

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Keep your child-like dreams

The aspirations we held as kids should stay the same BRIDGET HYNES Staff writer

I

think every child has had at least one ridiculous dream of what he or she aspired to be as a grownup.

In kindergarten, when teachers would hand out those worksheets titled, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” we casually and confidently wrote down answers such as “a rockstar,” “my dad,” “Michael Jordan” or “a NASCAR driver.”

If you are still reading this and you didn’t answer anything of a similar caliber, you were probably that one boring kid who has wanted to be an accountant since the age of 5. Kudos to you, Jimmy.

Either way, at that age the career possibilities were endless and our parents were ever supportive, no matter how crazy our career goals may have been.

While I had many career goals as a child, my most memorable and most ridiculous was my dream of one day simultaneously being the fi rst woman president and the fi rst woman priest in the Roman Catholic

Church. Yes, you heard that right. At the tender age of five, I could not foresee the struggle this dual-career would pose: the juggling of church and state. I attribute this double aspiration to two things that dominated my childhood: listening to NPR from my car seat while my parents ran errands, and having to sit through some bad homilies at church. I figured I could do a decent job — maybe even better than the Clinton guy they were always talking about on the radio or those priests whom I never could seem to understand.

Obviously, some time passed and I moved on to more reasonable careers of “ballerina,” “artist” and “singer.” Then more time passed and I realized that maybe I should look into other careers. I’m still in the process of figuring out what I want to do.

Stephanie Fessler, senior in Social Work , attributes this “moving on” phase to an increased awareness of the world.

“As a kid, you have this list of jobs people can be in your head. You know there is a job called fi reman, singer, artist; no one grows up saying they want to be an electrical engi-

neer,” Fessler said.

She said that she has wanted to be a variety of things, including a brief stint when she wanted to be president of PETA after she witnessed calves being lassoed at the rodeo when she was 5.

“The calf was not hurt at all in this process, but as a five-year-old, I freaked out that this was animal abuse.

And so I’m screaming hysterically at the rodeo about how I was going to write a letter to the president to stop the rodeo from ever happening again,” Fessler said.

Since that day, she has moved on from her dream of being the president of PETA, and now instead of having a career in animal rights, she said she wants to be involved in the rights of children — as a child welfare specialist.

Figuring out what you want to do with your life careerwise can be frustrating, but I think it’s important to remember that fi nding a profession you love is a process of trialand-error. Even if our childhood career dreams haven’t quite panned out as we wanted them to — for example, I am not in the seminary nor do I have any major political aspirations — I think we should still hold on to that feeling of confidence and invincibility we had as kids. We truly believed we could be anything we wanted, and our own happiness was at the forefront of that decision.

Danielle Moyer, freshman in Media, is a perfect example. She said she wanted to be a farmer and live on a farm with just dogs.

“My dad’s family is from Nebraska. I always visited there growing up, and I thought it was a really glamorous place for some reason,” Moyer said. “It quickly faded when I realized that would be a very lonely lifestyle.”

Vikram Reddy, junior in Engineering, also saw glamour in the mundane. He wanted to be a garbage man as a kindergartener mainly because he liked their trucks and uniforms, which were both blue, his favorite color.

“As a kid, it looked exciting.

You got to hop on and off the truck,” Reddy said. He would wait every morning by the window to watch for the garbage man to pull up.

Like most of us, Reddy eventually decided not to pursue his childhood dream career, and now wants to go into business consulting.

To those of you who really did pursue your childhood dream, I am impressed and inspired. For the rest of us, no need to worry, we have not grown up yet. As kids, we set our goals high and planned to do what made us happiest.

Why should that be any different now?

Bridget is a freshman in Media. She can be reached at bhynes2@dailyillini.com.

DRAWINGS COURTESY OF BRIDGET HYNES

Practicing professionalism in college pays off in the future ANNA HECHT Staff writer

T

ackling college and maintaining a professional reputation may be a struggle for some University students. While working to create a positive first impression on professors and potential employers, college students are simultaneously facing enormous amounts of stress, deadlines, exams and homework.

When under incredible amounts of pressure, the anxiety of college can make appearing professional on a daily basis seem altogether impossible. Below is a list of tips for appearing and acting professional every day.

1. Allow yourself time to de-stress and relax at least once a day Whatever it is that you enjoy, make time for it — even if it’s only for a few minutes. Whether it’s going to the gym, taking a walk, cooking a nice meal or reading a few inspirational quotes, do it. The rest of your day will feel less forced once you have collected your thoughts. And you will look and feel less frazzled as you go about your day.

2. Plan out your days To appear punctual and organized, be sure to first consider how long it takes for you to get from point A to point B in the morning and in between class-

es. By arriving a few minutes early to class, you’ll have time to get organized and take a deep breath. Not to mention, your professors will notice and appreciate your timeliness and dedication to the course, especially as those last few straggler students are still slipping through the door after the start of class. In the end, punctuality goes hand in hand with professionalism.

3. Participate in class Once you’ve proven yourself to be a punctual and puttogether student, your professors will likely be your greatest resource when in need of recommendations for internship and job applications. But being on time to class isn’t always enough to guarantee a five-star

letter of recommendation from the professor of your choice. As irritating as some students may fi nd classroom participation, it’s important to ask questions and share your opinions about the subject matter. Bottom line: An “A for effort” really does go a long way in college.

One good rule of thumb is to think of yourself as your potential employer and let that be your Facebook fi lter.

If you wouldn’t hire yourself based on your social media presence, then your potential employer probably wouldn’t, either.

4. Keep your social media professional

5. Dress your best for interviews

When outside the classroom, it’s important to keep a handle on your Twitter handle, as well as all other social media outlets.

In other words, the less “selfies,” bikini shots and drunk party pics out there, the better. If you are having trouble deciding whether to post an entire album of last night’s shenanigans, it’s probably best to hold off.

Finally, an interview is the ultimate time to appear professional. For your interview to go well, it’s important to take pride in yourself and your appearance and to act confidently. Unfortunately, many people will not get the job of their dreams. And it may not be because they didn’t have the necessary skill

WE WANT TENACIOUS THE

ONES,

set; it’s because they didn’t show the interviewer that they were the best fit for the job.

An interview is your chance to sell yourself, and to prove that you are the best candidate, not just an adequate candidate.

When prepping for an interview, pick out your best business professional attire and update your resume to highlight the experiences that relate most to the job for which you are applying. As the interview proceeds, be confi dent in speaking about your accomplishments because your hard work deserves to be recognized.

Anna is a junior in Media.

She can be reached at features@dailyillini.com.

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Notable University alumni find success after college

BY STEPHANIE KIM STAFF WRITER

In need of inspiration?

Take note of Illinois alumni who have found success after graduation. The featured individuals do not encompass the success of Illinois alumni in their entirety; however, their accomplishments serve to picture the diversity and level of influence alumni have made. From Pulitzer Prize winners to notable business entrepreneurs, these alumni have a defi ning characteristic: the ability to make an impact through their innovation and achievements.

Stephanie can be reached at skim108@dailyillini.com.

Carl Van Doren

Max Abramovitz

Roger Ebert

Bachelor’s degree in College of LAS (1907), deceased

Bachelor’s degree in College of FAA (1929), deceased

Bachelor’s degree in College of Communications (now called College of Media) (1964), deceased

Max Abramovitz was part of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, the Pierrots drama club, and the Architectural Society while he studied at the University. Years later, he eventually designed the Krannert Center for Performing Arts and the State Farm Center, which was one of the first edge-supported domes in the world. He is best known for his work on the Avery Fisher Hall (formerly known as the Philharmonic Hall) and the United Nations complex in New York City, as well the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Va. JAPAN HOUSE

Nick Offerman Bachelor’s degree in College of FAA (1993)

Betsy Brandt

Bachelor’s degree in College of FAA (1996)

Mark Van Doren

Bachelor’s degree in College of LAS (1914), Master of Arts in College of LAS (1915), deceased Born in Hope, Ill., the Doren brothers found similar success throughout their lives. While they attended the University, they actively served in different clubs and class committees and held staff positions at the Illio Yearbook and Illinois Magazine. In 1915, Mark Van Doren was voted “The Most Respected Man” in an Illio contest.

After graduating, they both earned a doctorate degree from Columbia University in New York City, where they worked as professors for more than 20 years. In 1939, Carl Van Doren received the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for “Benjamin Franklin.” One year later, Mark Van Doren received the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for “Collected Poems 1922–1938.”

Steven Chen

Attended through 1999 in College of Engineering

Remembered as one of the country’s greatest film critics, Roger Ebert revolutionized the art of film review. When attending the University, he was the editor-in-chief of The Daily Illini, belonged to various honors societies, and participated in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Illini Forensic Association.

He became the fi rst fi lm critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism and created the iconic thumbs-up, thumbs-down rating system. In 1999, he founded the Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival in Champaign-Urbana to honor fi lmmakers, fi lms and actors who didn’t receive “deserved” recognition the first time around.

Bachelor’s degree in College of Engineering (2004)

These alumni have offered their talents to popular TV shows. Nick Offerman plays the role of Ron Swanson in the comedy television series, “Parks and Recreation,” which NBC recently renewed for a seventh season. He also appeared in films such as “We’re the Millers” and “21 Jump Street.” Betsy Brandt is best known for her role as Marie Schrader in the American crime series “Breaking Bad” and currently appears on “The Michael J. Fox Show” as Annie Henry, the wife of Mike Henry, who is played by Michael J. Fox.

Francine Patterson Bachelor’s degree in College of LAS (1970) For 30 years, Francine Patterson has been teaching Koko the gorilla how to communicate through sign language, using 1,000 gestural words. This is the longest interspecies communication study, and it has yielded the greatest results with a nonhuman. She also established the Gorilla Foundation to help and raise awareness about gorillas living in captivity and those living in the African rainforest.

Ang Lee Bachelor’s degree in College of FAA (1980) Filmmaker Ang Lee has received awards from the Oscars, Golden Globes and the Academy Awards for directing fi lms such as “Crouching Tiger,” “Hidden Dragon,” “BrokeBack Mountain” and “Life of Pi.” He also won the Directors Guild of America Award multiple times.

Jawed Karim

After leaving PayPal, Steven Chen and Jawed Karim created a successful video-sharing website with former colleague Chad Hurley: YouTube. One year later, Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.

Apart from YouTube, Chen and Karim have continued to gain success. Karim became the University’s 136th commencement speaker in 2007, and Chen co-founded AVOS Systems with Hurley and recently donated $1 million to the Illinois Math and Science Academy in November 2013.

RON COHEN (BS ‘65, MS ‘67 PZOOLOGY; PHD ‘71 BIOLOGY) AND THE GORILLA FOUNDATION.

Jeremy Stoppelman Bachelor’s degree in College of Engineering (1999)

Dave Eggers Bachelor’s degree in College of Communications (now called College of Media) (2002) From the late 1980s to the early 90s, Dave Eggers attended the University but did not receive his bachelor’s degree in journalism until 2002. During his attendance, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and worked for the Daily Illini as an editor for various sections. Since then, he has become a best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize-finalist, and impacting philanthropist.

His most acclaimed works include “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” and “Zeitoun.” Additionally, Eggers founded the publishing company McSweeney’s and launched the nonprofit organization 826 National, which provides educational opportunities for students. He was inducted in the Illini Media Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the TED Prize in 2008, which is awarded to those who have potential to change the world.

In 2004, Jeremy Stoppelman founded the popular reviewing website “Yelp” with Russel Simmons, creating a company that serves to help users find reliable businesses. Earlier in his life, Stoppelman was the vice president of engineering at PayPal and attended Harvard Business School for one year.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ILLIO

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Don’t rush to declare a major early on

BY ABBY GLICKMAN STAFF WRITER

Many graduates say that college goes by in the blink of an eye. One minute, you’re an eager freshman, and the next, you’re graduating and thrown into the real world.

Because of the seemingly short time spent at the University, the need for a speedy answer to the questions “What should my major be?” and “What can I do with that degree?” may creep up on you.

Experts say that while there is no need to rush into picking a major or career path, students can start thinking about it as early as freshman year.

“We try to encourage students to keep an open mind while choosing and exploring careers and utilize a variety of people and resources in order to make this decision,” said Zelda Gardner, senior assistant director at the Career Center. “They should get excited and motivated.”

Gardner said that while there is no specific time when students should choose their major, they should start exploring their options as soon as possible. She recommended that students meet with their academic advisers and career counselors at the Career Center starting freshman year.

“As you identify with your interests, it helps to compile a

list of professional opportunities which can help you make a plan of attack,” she said. “Having conversations with people (about your interests) can help you think of options to consider.”

Gardner also recommended getting involved in clubs and volunteering opportunities on campus, as well as part-time jobs and internships, to gain experience and market themselves to future employers.

“Students should get out there and be exposed to as many things as they’re interested in,” Gardner said. “They should see how they feel in different environments.”

Terry Cole, Jr., Office of Minority Student Affairs grad-

uate mentor for DGS, starts helping students pick their majors by asking them what they are passionate about outside of school, with questions as personal as what kind of movies they like to watch.

“That’s what will help them to get the most out of their college experience,” he said. “I push kids to pick a major or classes to line up with what they’re interested in and enjoy doing.”

Cole, Jr. thinks that the time to focus on a career path depends on the student, since each student has unique interests.

“It’s always important for students to keep in mind that one of the reasons to go to college is

to find a career that’s not work,” he said.

He urges students to steer clear of saying, “I know exactly what I want to do when I graduate.” He said that he doesn’t think it’s fair for a 18- or 19-yearold student to have to decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives yet because they haven’t had enough experience. However, he said that they should have an idea for the future somewhere in their minds.

According to the U.S. News and World Report’s article “5 Ways to Pick the Right College,” it is advised to wait until college to pick a major. The article

suggests that students try taking diverse classes during their freshman and sophomore year before officially declaring their major. By junior year, students will likely have a better idea of their interests and what they are most passionate about.

Some students know their major from the moment they start college, but for some, it takes awhile to decide. If you’re still undecided, there are many opportunities at this University and plenty of time to explore.

“Start as early as you can, but it’s never too late,” Gardner said.

Abby can be reached at glickmn2@dailyillini.com.

Choose major outside prospective job outcome Personal interests, networking growth shape career, too

BY VICTORIA PAI STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK

A common follow-up to the “What’s your major?” question is the dreaded “What can you do with that?” And while the questioner may be well-intentioned, the implication remains: Majors should be chosen for their intended job outcome.

However, Rebecca Diaz, assistant director at The Career Center, takes a different approach when advising students. The Career Center focuses on interests first, then choice of major

and then the work experiences students gain in the course of their college careers. Diaz believes using interests first to find a career is better than to simply enter into a field because it is the path most common.

“What you major in today may not have anything to do with your career in five years,” Diaz said.

“It’s not linear. Just because you major in one particular major doesn’t mean you have to go into one career path.”

Much like one’s own interests, careers evolve over time and are not limited by one’s degree.

While it can be daunting to think about the job market competition, networking is one way to get ahead, no matter the job. Kara Porter, specialist for international projects at the Study Abroad

Office, found that she was able to attain a job directly after she graduated when she focused on networking the year leading up to graduation.

“Instead of using my major to decide my career, I used my job,” Porter said.

Porter suggested that students make as many connections in college as possible, even if they are irrelevant to one’s major.

While some majors are specifically catered to a job market, many are too broad to have a clear path. Students may think being in a broad major is risky and challenging, because instead of having an expected traditional way paved for them, they are tailoring their own education to their interests.

Professor Kate Grim-Feinberg,

academic adviser in LAS, said she believes broad majors actually have many advantages.

“In a broad major, you can develop your skills and knowledge in a specific way rather than in the same way as everyone else,” Grim-Feinberg said.

“Throughout your college career, choose courses that will help you develop skills that will lead to jobs you’re interested in.”

Deciding on a future career is a goal that seems to have no beginning and no end. But keeping the focus on personal interests and networking growth can allow more confidence and ultimate success, no matter one’s choice of major.

Victoria can be reached at vpai2@dailyillini.com.

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