A Job-Search Timeline

Throughout the past couple months, I have been wondering whether or not I was on schedule with the job search process and if I was sending out resumes and cover letters to hopeful employers at the right time. This past Friday I had a phone interview with University of Dreams for a spot on their summer staff in Manhattan for the summer. After reading an article that was posted on FastWeb, I realized that I am on track for landing a job by the time summer approaches. At least that's the plan. Here is the timeline by Peter Vogt that was posted, to help with certain deadlines and to help keep you focused. Within each list of criteria, there are links with further advice from Peter's post.

February and March

In these two months, you should be determining which type of summer job you would like. You should list certain criteria to help with your search:

Where you want or need to get a job.
How much money you'd like to make.
Key skills to build.
Areas of interest and/or organizations to explore.
Assess your current skill set, either by yourself or with a counselor at your school's career center, to determine which key skills an employer might need this summer.
With guidance from a campus career counselor, develop a basic resume and cover letter to apply for summer positions.
Begin looking for specific job opportunities using:
Online resources like MonsterTRAK and Monster.
Friends, family members, relatives, professors and others who can direct you toward job possibilities.
City-specific resources.

April

Continue looking for job opportunities.
Start applying for jobs, being sure to follow the employer's directions. Some companies require a resume and cover letter. Others want you to fill out a company application.
Ask professors, previous coworkers and supervisors, and others who know you professionally if they'll serve as references. If possible, have each person write you a one-page letter of recommendation to give prospective employers.
Follow up with companies you've applied to. Make sure your materials have been received and that each company has everything it needs to consider you.
If possible, schedule interviews with companies of interest.
Start researching housing options for summer if applicable.

May

Practice answering summer job interview questions, either with a friend or a career center counselor at your school. Research companies and jobs before the interview.
Finalize summer living arrangements.
Schedule job interviews.
Go on job interviews, and follow up with thank-you notes.
If the right job is offered, accept it.
If you don't have a solid line on a job, get some help from your school's career center -- preferably before spring semester ends if your summer plans will take you away from campus. You can also step up your networking efforts. Ask your parents, friends, professors and others if they know of available summer jobs.

June

Show up for your first day on time and prepared.
Talk to your new supervisor about the skills you'd like to further develop.
Go beyond the minimum to make a good, lasting impression on your supervisor and coworkers.

And lastly, if you are looking for another place to send out a resume, here's a video that gives an inside look into Google, in which Fortune Magazine describes as the best company to work for in America. Talk about a fun work day!

Managing Stress

I'm back from Spring break and I've come to the conclusion that I need another week to relax from the events of the break. I was definitely not ready to go to my 10 a.m. class this morning and I'm definitely not ready to continue the "sending out resume slash job hunt" process. There are only about six weeks of classes left and with end of the semester projects and tests for classes, graduation details, and the real world job search, I don't know about all of you, but I'm a little stressed, actually A LOT stressed! I found some tips on the University of Pittsburgh's health education website that can help you manage those stressful moments and to make the next couple months go smoother.

TIPS TO MANAGE STRESS

1. Manage Your Time Effectively: Making to-do lists and using a daily planner can allow you to map out all your class assignments, work hours, meetings, and of course time for yourself. You should prioritize the most important activities and do them first.

2. Exercise: Physical activity is one of the best ways when it comes to dealing with stress. While releasing endorphines, it is able to give you a natural "high."

3. Avoid Using Drugs or Alcohol: Drugs and alcohol will only mask the symptoms of stress and once you stop using them, the stress will return.

4. Take a Break: During the day, you should schedule time for short breaks to help minimize your stress. Stretch, visit a friend, or go for a walk. These short breaks will help you work more efficiently.

5. Minimize Interruptions: When you have something really important that you need to get done, make sure to block off a time so that you will not be disturbed or have any distractions. Go to a place where no one can find you and turn your phone to silent.

6. Eat Healthy Foods: Make sure to pack healthy foods if you are going to be gone all day and avoid food that is high in sugar, fat, and sodium. Make sure not to skip meals because that will make you have less energy.

7. Think Positive and Learn to Control Worry: Instead of focusing on the negative thoughts, focus on the positive things in your life and say at least one positive thing about yourself and your life everyday. Worrying about things you can't change or always expecting the worst is a waste of time.

8. Know When You Need Help and Get It: Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. There are many resources, especially at universities, available to students to help deal with stress and other problems.

9. Learn to Say NO: Don't feel guilty when you have to tell others no. If you take on additional projects or work for others when you are already busy will cause more stress that you don't need.

10: Put Stressful Situations in Perspective: You should think to yourself, "Will this really matter in a month or a year from now?"

11. Get Enough Sleep: Most people need around 6-9 hours of sleep per night, but if you're under a lot of stress, many people will just forget about sleep when they have to finish work. Don't let this happen.

To read more about dealing with stress from the University of Pittsburgh's health education website, click here .

How To Dress

So before I leave for Spring Break, I have a few tips for those of you who have been called back for an interview. Appearance is very important and so are first impressions. According to Allison Doyle, here is a little appearance advice on how to dress for your interview. And although, each work place may be different when it comes to the specific attire, but you should introduce yourself with a sharp appearance and a good first impression.

Men's Interview Attire
Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
Belt
Tie
Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
Little or no jewelry
Neat, professional hairstyle
Limit the aftershave
Neatly trimmed nails
Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire
Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
Coordinated blouse
Conservative shoes
Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
Professional hairstyle
Neutral pantyhose
Light make-up and perfume
Neatly manicured clean nails
Portfolio or briefcase

What Not to Bring to the Interview
Gum
Cell phone
Ipod
Coffee or soda
If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
Cover tattoos

Interview Attire Tips
Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.
Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.
Polish your shoes.
Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

So keep Allison's information in mind when you begin shopping for interview clothes and make that first impression stick in your hopefully future employer's mind.

For more information about dressing for interviews, visit, Tips from Allison and others

University of Dreams

I know that I've talked about my summer with University of Dreams a lot, and I swear this is the last time I'm going to, it'll be hard not to, but I'll try my hardest, I just might break a promise, sorry. But since I had such a fantastic summer with this internship program and the deadline to apply is getting close, I thought that I'd spend this blog promoting the program for those of you who are looking for an internship during the summer to help with gaining experience in the field that you're intereseted in.

University of Dreams is an all-inclusive summer internship program for college students. You spend two months in one of the following cities: Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Barcelona. You are able to choose your own internship and meet many different people from not only the United States, but throughout the world. Within the program, you get a professionally revised resume and interview coaching with the help of a placement agent, housing, your meals provided, academic course credit, transportation to and from work, weekly seminars from inspirational speakers, weekend activities, and a summer of a lifetime.

University of Dreams offers internships in many industries, including: Advertising, Fashion, Marketing, Finance, Theatre/Arts, Hospitality & Tourism, Non-Profit, Real Estate, Legal, Photography, Publishing, Technology, Event Planning, Public RelationsTelevision and Broadcasting, and Music Radio.

This is a guaranteed internship program, which means, you are guaranteed an internship in the city of your choice, and if not, you are given your money back. But the chances of not being placed are extremely unlikely. According to the program's website, in the six years that they have been running their summer internship programs, they have successfully placed over 99% of enrolled participants. Not a bad deal right. To be eligible for the progam, you must be a full-time college student at a four-year university or have graduated with a Bachelor's or Master's Degree, but you must be within the age of 18-26. Your GPA should be 2.5 or higher and all majors are welcome.

The cost of the program differs according to which city you choose to live in.

New York: $7,499

Chicago: $6,499

San Francisco: $6,499

Los Angeles: $7,499

London: $8,999

Barcelona: $7,999

The dates of the program also differs according to which city you live in:

New York Session 1: 5/27 - 7/21

New York Session 2: 6/10 - 8/4

Chicago: 6/17 - 8/11

San Francisco: 6/10 - 8/4

Los Angeles: 6/24 - 8/18

London: 6/11 - 8/4

Barcelona: 6/24 - 8/18

The application deadline for San Francisco, Chicago, Barcelona, Los Angeles, and London is May 1, and the deadline for both sessions of New York is April 1.

My experience in New York City was the best experience I have ever had. Throughout the summer, I interned at BlackBook Magazine in NoHo, (BlackBook's office on Broadway seen below) in the advertising section. I loved every second of it. I took the subway to work everyday, ate lunch in little cafes on cobblestone sidewalks, delivered packages throughout the whole city, attended parties at VIP clubs in which the magazine hosted, and was able to sell ads for the magazine's 10th Anniversary Issue.

I lived in one of NYU's dorms, located in Union Square, was provided with dinner everynight and a little extra money on my I.D. card for groceries in the dining hall and the Dunkin Donut's next door. I lived in an apartment style dorm with three other roommates from different schools, who I am still in contact with now. I attended weekly seminars every Wednesday night, with guest speakers such as Patrick Combs, who inspired us to break a 1-inch board in half with our hand, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a Ghanaian who overcame a disability to achieve his dreams, and Eric Lochtefeld, the company's founder.

Throughout the summer I was able to go on a double-decker bus tour through Manhattan and into Brooklyn, see the Broadway play "Rent," attend a Yankee's game against the Chicago White Sox, travel to Atlantic City for the fourth of July weekend, hop aboard a sunset cruise around NYC's harbor, and party at a VIP club the progam rented out just for the dreamers.

On my day's off, I found myself shopping at Bloomingdale's, constantly visiting the Today Show until I finally was able to meet Matt Lauer (seen below signing his autograph for me), walking through museums, sitting on the beach at Coney Island, and walking around Greenwich Village.

I have nothing but great things to say about University of Dreams. The program and the staff were so organized and for me, it was probably the biggest and scariest thing I had ever gotten myself into, and each member of the staff was so helpful and made it so easy for me to make the transition from a small town to a big city. It really was the summer of a lifetime. I met so many great new friends and made so many memories that will last forever.

If you would like to hear former dreamer's speak about the program and their experience, you can watch this video. Apply now and have the summer of dreams!