Your guide to jobs, internships , and graduate school

A Supplement

Office of the Vice-President for Undergraduate EducationPresented by Career Services...Your Link to the Future

In This Issue

New Jersey Collegiate Career DayAttracts ThousandsWhere RU Headed?

From the Director’s DeskJob Search In Today’s Job MarketCareer Day AD

Navigating Your Internship SearchCareer Services InboxServices For Students

Internship SpotlightInternship SpotlightAlumni Career Network ADLiving And Working Overseas AD

Altria AD

Career Tip of the MonthStaff DirectoryFebruary Panels ADFollow Career Services AD

Internships Can Give You an EdgeAsk the DirectorAlternative Route to Teaching AD

Spring 2010 Events

Heather Drugos ‘10

Ryan Metz ’09 Joshua Clark ‘10

Smriti Mishra ’11Curt Villarosa ’12

“Career Services has helped me decidewhat alternative pathways for teachingcan be taken after graduation. I decided Iwould like to attend Georgian CourtUniversity for my Masters in Education.”

“I’ve recently returned to my alma materto search for networking opportunitiesthat Career Services can provide for acareer in Ecology.”

“Career Services has helped me really prepare formy future. All the career panels, information ses-sions, and drop-in hours are preparing me forthe internship and employment process. Theresources Career Services provides helped meimprove my resume over winter break."

“The career days that Career Services hostsare excellent. I attended the NJ CollegiateCareer Day in January and gained exten-sive knowledge of my career path inresearch psychology.”

“I’ve utilized Career Services’ CareerKnightsystem which is a great tool to search forjobs and internships.”

“Career Services has helped me since myfreshman year. They helped me pick a majorand critique my resume. They are very usefuland everyone should take the time to go andsee what they have to offer.”

Helping you find your direction is what Career Services is all about! Career Services offers a wide range of assistance for all students from firstyear through graduate school. This month, Career Services Intern, Kimberly Gray, asked Rutgers students: “How has Career Services helped youpursue your career goals?” Here’s a sample of how some students responded:

WHERE RU HEADED?

Mona Dalia ’11History

Ecology

Communication

Psychology/Criminology

Economics

Psychology

February 2, 2010 Volume 36 #1

1

1

222

333

4444

5

6666

777

8

NEW JERSEY COLLEGIATE CAREER DAY ATTRACTS THOUSANDSBy Richard White

At most colleges and universities, the first week ofJanuary is a quiet time with students and faculty stillon winter break. Not so at Rutgers! On January 7thCareer Services hosted its largest career fair of theyear—the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day. Some3,800 job seekers attended the event, seeking jobs andinternships from 163 participating employers.

About half the job seekers were Rutgers stu-dents and alumni, but the event was open to stu-dents and graduates of any college or university.Janet Bernardin, manager of special programs,explained the philosophy behind the event.“Historically, over 50% of New Jersey high schoolgraduates attend colleges outside the state. Thisevent, which we have been of fering every Januaryand May since 1987, gives New Jersey employersand New Jersey residents a chance to connect.”

Par ticipating employers represented a widerange of industries and positions. Many organi-zations were household names: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Prudential, and Target. The federal gov-ernment—America’s largest employer with some1.8 million employees--was also ver y visible withrepresentatives from the DEA, EPA, FBI, FDA,and IRS.

Employers were very pleased with the qualityand quantity of candidates. Many said that thiswas the best fair they have attended and they wereparticularly impressed with the students who haddone research on the employers in advancethrough the Career Services website.

Although the recruiters have left campus andBrower is back in the business of serving meals,the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day is the eventthat “keeps on giving.” Students who registeredfor the career day are part of a database that par-ticipating employers will continue to utilize thisspring.

Late May will be another quiet time during the academ-ic cycle. But once again on May 26 Brower Commons andthe Rutgers Student Center will come alive with the soundsof employers and students making connections.

Dr. Richard White is the New Brunswick-wide director ofCareer Services at 56 College Avenue

This issue sponsored by

PAGE C2 THE DAILY TARGUM CAREERS FEBRUARY 2, 2010

by Richard L. White

This issue of "Careers" has something foreveryone. For juniors, sophomores, and

first-year students, ourarticle, "ABC’s ofInternships," lists a num-ber of resources for you toconsider as you plan yoursearch for a paid or unpaidpre-professional experi-ence. Juniors seeking asummer internship shouldregister for CareerKnightand submit resumes toemployers that will be

interviewing intern candidates on campus inFebruary and March. CareerKnight is alsoyour source for online internship postings.Seniors should also utilize CareerKnight foron-campus interviews and online job openings.

Also note our upcoming Internship CareerDay on February 5 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PMat the Rutgers Student Center. Over 50employers will be at the event to discuss sum-mer opportunities with you.

Did you know that if you secure an intern-ship or co-op position next summer or fall, youcan gain three or six credits from the School

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

of Arts & Sciences? Check out the RutgersInternship and Co-op Program, co-sponsoredby SAS and Career Services. Log on tocareerservices.rutgers.edu and look for thelink under “Hot Topics.” You do not need tobe an SAS student to participate in the pro-gram.

We encourage first and second-yearstudents to read about our programs andservices specifically geared to these stu-dents. We invite all students to attend ourNew Jersey Diversity Career Day onFebruary 19 in the Rutgers Student Center,and students focusing on careers in educa-tion to attend our Education Career Day onFebruary 26 in the Rutgers Student Center.

In this issue we are continuing our threeseries: “Ask the Director,” which includes aselection from our online Q&A service;“Career Tip of the Month,” which focuses onvolunteer internships; and “Career ServicesInbox,” which provides a glimpse of a stu-dent benefiting from involvement withCareer Services.

Best wishes for a successful spring semester.

Dr. Richard L. White is New Brunswick-widedirector of Career Services

Dr. Richard L. White

Director of Career Services

JOB SEARCH TIPS INTODAY’S JOB MARKET

By Dorothy Kerr

Despite the current economy, with a game plan, a goal,and some hard work, there is a good chance that you willfind a position. The entry-level job market has not been hitas hard as mid-and-upper level jobs. Here are several tipsfor today’s tough job market, whether you’re seeking a full-time job or internship:

1. CareerKnight—This is the Rutgers on-campus interview-ing and job posting program. We expect over 150 companiesto visit campus to recruit this year, representing a range ofindustries. You can conduct all aspects of the pre-interviewprocess from your computer, including reading job descrip-tions, submitting resumes, finding out if you have beenselected for an interview, and scheduling your interviews.CareerKnight posted over 3,000 jobs and internships fromover 1,000 employers last year, and you can even access theMonstertrak site from CareerKnight for additional job post-ings. We receive an average of 20 new jobs every businessday. It’s a great source for full-time jobs, co-ops, internships,and part-time jobs.

Action Step: Visit the Career Services website athttp://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “Student Loginto CareerKnight” at least once a week.

2. Career Days—Attend the NJ Diversity Career Day on Friday,February 19 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the RSC. Login to“CareerKnight” from our website two weeks in advance to seewho’s coming. This event is open to all students.

Action Step: Review the list of participating employers twoweeks prior to the event, and research them through theirwebsite. Come early on February 19 to get an edge on thecompetition. Dress professionally and bring your resume.

3. Employer Information Sessions and Open Houses—Makepersonal contact with recruiters on campus and begin tobuild key relationships with hiring organizations. Most ses-sions are in the Busch Campus Center or Rutgers StudentCenter in late afternoon or early evening.

Action Step: Visit the Career Services website athttp://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “Student Loginto CareerKnight.” Click on “Career Events.”

4. Networking—A must! Tap into your own personal networkand the online Rutgers network. Personal Network--Make alist of 10 people with full-time jobs whom you know well. Theymight be relatives, neighbors, local merchants, former super-visors, professors, etc. Include phone numbers and emailaddresses. Alumni Career Network--Utilize this databasewhich lists Rutgers alumni by their major and career field. Logon to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu; click on “AlumniCareer Network.” All members have expressed interest inproviding career information and advice.

Action Step: Call or email your contacts. Ask them how theygot their jobs, what they like and dislike about their jobs, andhow you should conduct your job search.

A final note: Stay flexible and remain open to different pos-sibilities. Think about part-time jobs or volunteer assignmentsto get your foot in the door.

Good luck with your job search. Let us know how we canassist you.

Dorothy Kerr is Career Services’ executive manager ofemployer services at 56 College Avenue.

Did You Know?

We offer a FREE resume writing soft-

ware on our website called Optimal

Resume. This product also has a new

Optimal Interview module. Practice

your interview skills and get feed-

back, all from the comfort of your

own computer!

February 2, 2010 CAREERS THE DAILY TARGUM PAGE C3

You have probably heard about the benefits of internships andco-ops—career exploration, work experience, skills develop-ment, a foot in the door with an employer, building yourresume, and generating income. But what do you need to doto land an internship or co-op?

Let’s start with some basic definitions. An internship is apart-time or full-time work experience, typically lasting oneto two semesters or the summer. It may or may not relate toyour major. Internships are paid or unpaid, for credit or notfor credit. A co-op is a full-time, six-month experience, whichtypically requires that students take a semester off from col-lege. Co-ops are always paid and may be for credit.

GETTING STARTED

Career Services is a good place to start. Stop by or call ourcareer centers at 46 College Avenue (732-932-7997) or theBusch Campus Center (732-445-6127 Ext. 0) to set up anappointment with a career counselor to discuss your interests,skills, and values within the context of your major or potentialmajor. Write a draft of a one-page resume and have it critiquedduring “drop-in hours” at 46 College Avenue (Tue. and Thu.,1:00-3:30) or the BCC (Mon. and Wed., 1:00-3:30). Check out“Optimal Resume,” a resume builder under “Quick Links” onthe Career Services homepage.

RUTGERS INTERNSHIP AND CO-OP PROGRAMS

Rutgers Internship and Co-op Program

• Earn 3 credits (internship) and 6 credits (co-op) from theSchool of Arts and Sciences:• Internships require a minimum of 180 hours of work • Co-ops require 6 months of full-time work • You must complete an online course consisting of weeklyjournals, a final paper, and a learning agreement• Some internships are paid; all co-ops are paid• You must have completed 30 credits and have a 2.75 GPA(and a minimum of 12 credits if a transfer student)• You do not have to be an SAS student to participate• To apply, log on to careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on“Students” and “Internships & Co-op”Engineering Co-op Program

• Earn 6 credits from the School of Engineering• Work assignments are full-time for 6 months

• All positions are paid• You must have completed 90 credits and have a 2.5 GPASchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS):

Student to Profession Internship Network (SPIN)

• Earn 3 credits (internship) or 6 credits (co-op)• Work assignments are 160 hours for internships and 6months full-time for co-ops• Internships are paid or unpaid; co-ops are paid• You must have completed 24 credits, including at least 12at SEBS and 6 the previous semester, and have a 2.0 GPA• To apply, log on to sebsspin.rutgers.eduSchool of Arts and Sciences

• Select the 1 credit option• To apply, log on to sasunder-grad.rutgers.edu/academics/forms/internship.htmlRutgers Business School

• Select the ½ credit option• To apply, log on to business.rutgers.eduAcademic Department Programs

• You may be able to obtain credit through your academicdepartment• Ask about internship, research, and independent studyoptions

HOW TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP

First Steps

Meet one-on-one with a career counselor to develop yourinternship search strategy. Have your resume critiqued duringdrop-in hours. Register with CareerKnight to view intern-ships posted for Rutgers students.Career Days

Attend career days throughout the year; ask employers aboutinternships and co-ops. Attend the Internship Career Day onFriday, February 5.Internship Seminars

Check out our events calendar for seminars on finding andapplying for internships. Research

Explore research options at Rutgers: Go to rutgers.edu andclick on “research.” Log on to careerservices.rutgers.edu andclick on “internships” for information and advice. VisitCareer Services at 46 College Ave. and the Busch CampusCenter and research internship guidebooks. Check out the

NAVIGATING YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH“Career Collection” in the Kilmer Library on the LivingstonCampus. Also, check out these websites:Jerseyintern.com, Internships.com, Biospace.com/jobs, Usa-internships.com, Vault.com, WetFeet.com, CareerShift.com.Networking

Check with your academic department for leads. Developyour personal and professional network of friends, par-ents of friends, relatives, recent graduates, neighbors,professors, Rutgers staff, high school teachers, local mer-chants, and ask them for leads (not a job) and watch yournetwork grow! Utilize the Rutgers Alumni CareerNetwork with over 1,700 potential mentors are searchableby major and career field. Find Career Services onFacebook and Twitter.On-Campus Interviews

Practice your interviewing skills using Optimal Interview;log on to http://careerservices.rutgers.edu and click on“Optimal Interview” under “Featured Services.” Review thelist of employers coming to campus to interview students forinternships; submit your resume via CareerKnight; if selected,schedule your campus interview.

10 HELPFUL HINTS

Good luck with your internship or co-op search. Here are somehelpful hints to ensure your success in the interview and on the job:1. Maintain your professionalism at every step of the

process2. Dress for the interview in business attire3. Arrive 15 minutes prior to the interview4. Follow up your interview with a thank-you email or let

ter—the same day5. When you arrive on the job, focus on both learning and

contributing to the organization 6. Always ask what you can do and how you can help 7. Bring a positive attitude to your work, even if it is not

exactly what you expected8. Demonstrate your value to the organization, and this may

lead to greater responsibilities and possibly a full-time offer9. Network with supervisors, colleagues, managers, and

other interns to learn about career paths in your field10. After your work assignment concludes, stay in touch

with your supervisor and colleagues to keep the door open for future opportunities

Career Services InboxMs. Chrystal McArthurDirector, Career Center at 46 College Avenue

Dear Ms. McArthur

Thanks for the wonderful support you and your staff at46 College Avenue have given me. In my mind, the "ATeam" consists of you, Tina Knight, and Monica Bryant.

Tina and you are outstanding women. I have been for-tunate enough to attend your two job-hunting semi-nars at the East Brunswick Library. These presenta-tions were outstanding on many levels. You both havea deep compassion for people. These seminars wereattended by 50-75 people, who were unemployed orsoon to be unemployed. These people were lost andscared. Tina and you calmed everyone's nervousnessabout losing jobs and changing careers by answeringall of their questions in a clear and calm manner. Mostimportant, you provided a step-by-step approach tofinding a job. Your PowerPoint presentation was pro-fessional, well written, well organized, and filled withpertinent information. Finally, you answered questionsuntil well past 9:00.

As a result of working with Monica, I now have a top-notch resume, a plan, and the resources to find mydream job. She is the ultimate professional with anunlimited number of ideas. She has been able toanswer every question that I have asked. I cannotstump this woman. She has been extremely generouswith her time and has been very patient with me. Iwould not be this far along in my job search if it hadnot been for Monica.

You have an exceptional team at 46 College Avenue.They all have a genuine desire to help people and havethe knowledge and willingness to do so. It is not everyday that you find this rare combination in people.

Sincerely,

Sharon RogersEast Brunswick, NJRutgers MBA ‘91

Did You Know? During the fall semester, 115 employers conducted 763 interviews on campus.

PAGE C4 THE DAILY TARGUM CAREERS FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Unit Manager, Altria

What skills does Altria seekin new hires for full-time orinternship opportunities?Altria looks for self-motivatedstudent leaders. We recruitcandidates that display strongverbal and written communi-cation skills, analytical andplanning abilities, and demon-

strate the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

What is special about working for Altria?At Altria we provide continuous leadership train-ing throughout your career. This keeps ouremployees motivated, challenged, and continu-ously builds their skill set in our competitive,ever-changing industry.

What is Altria’s training philosophy?We train our employees using the model of expla-nation, demonstration, trial and feedback. Tobegin, we provide rationale and background infor-mation so the employee understands the goal orstrategy behind the program they are selling. If it isa product, we review the features and benefits anddemographic information that would help theemployee educate the retail community about ournew product. Next, the manager or trainer woulddemonstrate how to walk through the selling con-versation, and then the employee has the opportu-nity to try independently. We always provide bal-anced feedback on what went well and what aspectsof the selling conversation could be improved, soour employees’ skills consistently improve.

What can a student expect to learn duringan internship at Altria? Will Altria be backon campus?During our summer internship a student can expectto learn about the tobacco industry, our CompanyMission and Values and their practical application, therole and responsibilities of our entry level TerritorySales Managers, and the principals of marketing ourproducts. Yes, Altria has been and will continue to bepresent on campus recruiting for full time and intern-ship positions.

Does Altria value the work/life balance for itsemployees?Yes, the autonomy of our sales positions allows forflexibility. With good time management and plan-ning skills you can achieve a great work/life balance.

What type of questions can a student expectduring an interview with Altria? Are theybehavior-based?We interview by asking behavior-based questionsthat allow us to identify whether the student hascritical thinking and analytical skills, planning andprioritization skills, leadership skills, and canwork well with a team to achieve a goal. The stu-dent will be more successful if he or she can struc-ture their answers using the STAR model (situa-tion, task, action, result).

What is the best way to find out more about Altria?Come meet us at the next on-campus event, or visitour website:

Kelly Burckhardt

Altria Unit Manager

Communication ‘1 0Altria Sales &Distribution SummerInternship

Where did you workthis past summer?

I worked for AltriaSales & Distribution(ALS&D) in Bedminster,NJ. The internship was

set up to have classroom learning at the officeevery other Monday and in the field trainingon the other days. I visited retail stores thatheld our products (Marlboro, Parliament,Virginia Slims, SKOAL, Copenhagen, andBlack and Mild to name a few) with full-timeemployees showing me the ins and outs of thebusiness. I worked everywhere from the NJShore to Brooklyn. After a couple outings Iwas given my own mini-territory to go out onmy own and apply my training.

How did you get your internship? An alumnus from my fraternity (Sigma

Chi) is a full time employee and told me toapply online. After completing that process, Iattended a career day where the companywas present. I talked to representatives andreceived an interview. I progressed throughthe three-part interview process. The firstround interview was at Busch CampusCenter, followed by a panel interview, andlastly a day in the field to see what the job wasall about.

What were your main responsibilities? The first responsibility was to learn

about the Territory Sales Manager posi-tion and how to manage such a large cate-gory. The management of my 15 storemini-territory was my practice. I was theretailer’s resource for the brands ALS&Downs. I needed to make sure that thesestores were updated on all initiatives, fullystocked, and had the products and pricesvisible in a responsible way.

The next responsibility was to create a 20-minute power point presentation with twoother interns on a real problem/businessopportunity the company was facing. Mytopic dealt with Black and Milds. This was themost exciting presentation I have ever givenbecause it was not a hypothetical topic; thecompany wanted our input and fresh ideas.

What did you like best about yourinternship?

The part that I liked the most was thateverything was real. I was not given fakecustomers to sell to, or a hypotheticalproblem to solve. I gained tons of realworld experience, which I will be able touse for the rest of my professional life.

Would you recommend your employ-er to Rutgers students?

Yes, I would fully recommend ALS&Dto any student at Rutgers. I have neverbeen able to say before that I was excitedfor work every day. You are constantly

faced with new challenges and alwayskept on your toes. If you are looking for achallenging yet rewarding summer expe-rience, go sign up!

How relevant was your work to youracademic program at Rutgers?

My schoolwork was very relevant towhat I did over the summer. I was ableto use my communication skills, timemanagement aptitude, public speakingknowledge, and analytical problem solv-ing ability when I talked to retail own-ers, and when it came time for me to getup in front of an audience for my pres-entation, I felt at home. This internshipalso helped me develop skills that Ilacked too. I always felt comfortabletalking to people, but I can now con-cisely and clearly express what I am try-ing to convey.

What were the most valuable thingsyou gained from your internship?

I gained two incredibly valuablelife lessons. The first area was realworld experience. Coming into yoursenior year in college is a stressfultime. You are unsure what you wantto do after college, and if you doknow, you might not know what toexpect. I feel I have a much bettergrasp on life after college from thisinternship. I have a clear path I wantto follow, and I know how to succeed.

The next valuable part of my life thathas improved was my communicationability. I can now clearly articulate mythoughts and influence action. Thisapplies to phone calls, emails, and faceto face contact. Before this job I hadthe confidence, but I needed thefinesse in knowing when to talk andwhen to listen.

What are your career goals? My first goal is to successfully com-

plete my student ambassadorship. I amcurrently attending meetings whereALS&D is present, and I am in chargeof organizing and facilitating meetingswith student organizations on campus.All of this hard work will hopefully leadto a full time position with ALS&D’ssales force. Within ALS&D there is alot of opportunity for promotion towork in cross-functional departments.The sales department fits my personal-ity perfectly and would be a great startfor me.

What is your job-search strategy forthis year?

I plan to stay active with CareerServices and attend as many career fairsas possible. I feel these fairs are a greatway to meet many companies and askquestions of real employees. CareerServices is a great resource for careerfairs and other employment opportunities.

Derek Kornbluth

Altria Intern

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT Derek Kornbluth

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT Kelly Burckhardt

FEBRUARY 2, 2010 CAREERS THE DAILY TARGUM PAGE C5

PAGE C6 THE DAILY TARGUM CAREERS FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Real World Experience

A recurring theme in entry level jobsearch is the lack of experience factor."Where do I get experience if no one iswilling to hire me?" Army, Navy, Air Force,Marines? Possibly for some, but there areother alternatives.

Many students focus exclusively on seek-ing paid work experience as their onlyalternative. Be careful not to box yourselfinto this limited focus. As a HiringManager, I look at any and all experienceyou may have accumulated to date,whether full-time or part-time, paid orunpaid.

Work experience makes you more mar-ketable as a job candidate; it also gives youthe opportunity to gain greater under-standing about your chosen field. You willbe able to find out in advance what many ofthe positives and negatives are, then trulyenter your field with your eyes open. Orstep back early from what could have beena major career mistake.

So as you approach the task of gaining realworld experience, do it from a "sponge"perspective--be ready to soak up every bitof information that comes your way. Full-time or part-time. Paid or unpaid. Workeror observer.

An internship is often considered to be nir-vana for the college student seeking workexperience. The original "co-op" idea--com-bining classroom study with practical workexperience--has evolved into a universallyaccepted program for gaining work experi-ence. The experience gained in an intern-ship/co-op has become the key differen-

tiator for many new college grads. Makeno mistake--a successful internship can beyour ticket to locking down a job offer (orseveral job offers) early in your final year.But it can come at a price.

Most schools offer credit for formalinternships during the school year. But itis usually only six to nine credit hours, notthe standard fifteen per semester to grad-uate on a "normal" schedule. In addition tostandard work hours, you may be requiredto write term papers to report on yourexperience. The net effect of the lowercredits earned while school is in sessionmay require some interns to go an extrasemester or summer session to make upfor the lost credit hours.

Another adaptation of the "internship"term is to refer to summer employment asan "internship." This experience in thefield also plays well in your job search,although you should not be concernedwith finding work that is specifically listedas an internship. If you ask an employer ifthey offer summer internships, the answerwill often be "No." However, if you ask theemployer if they offer summer jobs in yourfield, the answer may be "Yes." Why thedifference? Because most employers con-sider internships to be formal training pro-grams in preparation for real work, whilesummer jobs are simply doing the realwork. Which would you rather do? Thereal work is always the best experience.

Content written by Brian Krueger,President, CollegeGrad.com, Inc. CopyrightCollege Grad.com, Inc. Used by permissionof the author and publisher. Additionalentry-level career information is availableat www.CollegeGrad.com.

CAREER TIP OF THE MONTH

Career and Interview CenterBusch Campus Center732-445-6127Janet Jones, Senior Associate DirectorGreg Sobol, Assistant DirectorJennifer Broyles, Assistant DirectorJoe Scott, Assistant DirectorSue Pye, Assistant DirectorTammy Samuels, Assistant DirectorToi Tyson, Assistant DirectorMarcia Milgrom, Career CounselorBarbra Bonifield, Career Services CoordinatorToni Berlingieri, Career Services Coordinator

Career Center at 46 College Avenue732-932-7997Chrystal McArthur, Associate DirectorDavid Bills, Assistant DirectorLarry Jacobs, Assistant Director (and Buddy)Monica Bryant, Assistant DirectorSylvia Cordero, Assistant DirectorTina Vance Knight, Assistant DirectorDoug Ricci, Career CounselorScott Borden, Career CounselorLinda Bagen, Career Services AssistantMark Kerr, Career Services Assistant/Special Projects

Administrative Office56 College Avenue732-932-7287Richard L. White, DirectorDorothy Kerr, Executive Manager, Employer ServicesJanet Bernardin, Manager, Special ProgramsBarbara Melamed, Website Project ManagerAlison Koo, Budget and Technical CoordinatorLarissa Keller, Employer Services CoordinatorLisa Goddard, Employer Services CoordinatorMary Beth Kimberlin, Employer Services Assistant

STAFF DIRECTORY

FEBRUARY 2, 2010 CAREERS THE DAILY TARGUM PAGE C7

by Peter VogtMonsterTRAK Career Coach

If you've ever wondered if you should do aninternship while you're in college, here is aclear message for you that will help you makeup your mind.

"As an employer, hiring someone right out ofschool can be somewhat daunting," saysMelissa Kinsey, senior account executive forJackson-Dawson Integrated MarketingCommunications in Greenville, SouthCarolina. "However, hiring someone rightout of school who has had an internship canmake the task a little easier."

Why? Because employers can draw sever-al impor tant conclusions about you ifyou've participated in at least one intern-ship or co-op.

You Probably Have the Right Stuff

Donn Pearlman was an award-winningnews anchor and reporter at WBBM/CBSRadio in Chicago for 25 years. He saysthere's no comparison between a new col-lege grad who has interned for a commer-cial radio station and one who has volun-teered for a college station.

"Almost anyone can get a position of somekind at a college station," says Pearlman,senior managing director for ITQ-Minkus& Dunne Communications in Chicago."After all, the station is there as an educa-tional tool to help teach students aboutbroadcasting. However, competition forjobs, even internships, at commercial sta-tions is considerably tougher. So a resumethat includes an internship at a commercial

station may be one indicator to an employerthat this candidate has the right stuff."

You're Truly Committed to Your Chosen Field

For all a prospective employer knows, you -- anew grad applying for a job -- might simply betesting the waters of a particular career field.Sure, you're trying for the job, but how doesthe employer ensure you really want to workin the industry?

One way the employer can gauge your com-mitment is to see if you've done an intern-

ship in your field. "Employers who hire peo-ple with internship experience can be moresure they're hiring people who know theywant to be in the particular profession,"says Stephanie Specchio, director of com-munications at Elmira College in Elmira,New York. "Internship veterans aren't try-ing to find the perfect fit. They've alreadydone that as interns."

"Usually, former interns have a better handleon what they'd really like to do," addsRosemary Reed, president of Double RProductions, a Washington, DC-based televi-sion production company. "I don't want to

spend a lot of time training an employee onlyto find out they now want to travel the worldwith a rock band."

You Won't Need Much Training andHand-Holding

If you've got internship experience, you'vealready received some basic training in yourfield and thus have less of a learning curvefacing you as a new full-time employee, saysMissy Acosta, media relations manager forAckermann PR in Knoxville, Tennessee.

"In this age of fast-paced business environments,we want everyone to get up to speed as rapidly aspossible," stresses Acosta, who is also Ackermann'sinternship manager. "That ramp is acceleratedwhen someone is already experienced."

From an employer's perspective, when twonew college graduates are competing for thesame job, the one who has internship expe-rience will almost always have an advantage.So if you're wavering about whether to pur-sue an internship, do yourself a favor: Takethe internship path to give yourself a com-petitive edge in the job market.

"Measuring an internship-exposed studentagainst a non-internship-exposed studentcan best be compared to the differencebetween a roll of film and a photograph,"says Errica Rivera, director of college rela-tions at Nationwide, a Fortune 500 insurancecompany in Columbus, Ohio. "Both startedout the same way -- with potential. The dif-ference is in the development."

Reprinted with permission fromMonsterTRAK’s Career Guide.

Internships Can Give You an Edge

“In this age of fast-paced busi-ness environments, we want

everyone to get up to speed asrapidly as possible.”

MISSY ACOSTAMedia Relations Manager for Ackerman PR

Ask theDirectorDear Director:

I recently graduated fromRutgers with a doublemajor in economics andcriminal justice. I am seri-ously thinking aboutbecoming a teacher. Whatare my options? Do I needto get certified? If so, how?Thanks for your help.

--Future Teacher

Dear F.T.:

Thanks for your inquiry.

There are three avenuesthat you can pursue tobecome a teacher:

(1) Private School--Youcan apply directly to a pri-vate school with a bache-lor's degree. No additionalcourses, credits, or certifi-cation is necessary.

(2) Master's in Education--Apply to the GraduateSchool of Education atRutgers or other educationschools. This is a two-yearprogram, which involvescourses, a practice teach-ing assignment, certifica-tion, and a virtual guaran-tee that you will land a job.For more information forthe Rutgers GSE, log on tohttp://www.gse.rutgers.edu.

(3) Alternate Route--This issponsored by the NewJersey Department ofEducation. It enables youto get a job first with a pub-lic school in New Jersey,and then gain your certifi-cation evenings and week-ends while you work. Formore information:Alternate Route informa-tion:http://www.nj.gov/njded/educators/license/New Jersey recruitmentresources for current andprospective teachers:http://www.state.nj.us/njded/clear/teach/recteachers

If you want to consult witha member of our staff, con-tact Tina Knight, our educa-tion liaison, attvknight@rci.rutgers.edu or732-932-7997.

I hope this is helpful. Goodluck with your academicand career planning.

--Dr. Richard WhiteDirector, Career ServicesRutgers "Career Knight"56 College Avenue

Did You Know?Career Services offered

nearly 200 career-relatedprograms during the fallsemester, and we have

even more planned for thisspring.

PAGE C8 THE DAILY TARGUM CAREERS FEBRUARY 2, 2010