Study Abroad: More than a Vacation

I studied abroad in Spain this past summer with the notion that there would be no homework. Why I thought this, I don't know. I was on summer mode, and I have never once taken a class, let alone done homework, in summer. Also, I didn't think of myself as really being in school. I was in a foreign country, making new friends, and everything was new. There was too much to see and too little time to think about academics. But after I started developing relationships with my peers, the professors, and the coordinators of my study abroad program, I realized that I was establishing contacts with people that might be useful in my career. Then I started focusing a little more on my purpose for studying abroad.

Even though many people think of "studying" abroad as nothing more than travelling, I have to admit that studying abroad was not a vacation. Many people have internships abroad, or study another language with professors that don't speak the students' native language. Don't get me wrong, this experience was challenging in a completely beneficial and fulfilling way, but I think students need to know that most study abroad programs are not a cake walk. You have to attend classes regularly, as most of your grade depends on class participation, and since, in my opinion, temptation to not go to class and not do homework is a bit more prominent while studying abroad, you really have to prioritize.

My Spanish professor did not speak any English. Yes, that was extremely intimidating at the beginning of my program, but I knew I needed to delve in. No professor in any country teaching any language expects the study abroad students to be perfect. Why would students be studying if they already had the subject, language, and culture down pat? Conversations you can have with professors and program directors about the language, culture, and prospective career opportunities will really help you develop contacts within that country if you potentially choose to work there.

And then there is the "vacation" part of studying abroad, which I think is the travelling aspect of it. I studied in Spain, but I travelled to many different countries and met many different people last summer. I made a friend in my study abroad program who travelled with me, and so not only did I make contacts with people I interacted with in other countries, but people who live not far from me in the U.S. No matter what your focus is when you study abroad, you're only benefitting yourself! You make friends, learn about different cultures, and boost your resume potential by having this experience. Even though you still need to work hard, and you should to get the most out of your time abroad, it is a fun opportunity in a challenging way. Yes, studying abroad is more than a vacation, but if you do it right, you'll learn a lot about yourself!

First-Year Open House

The First-Year Open House is approaching fast and it is vital that all first-years do not miss out on this great opportunity to get acquainted with Career Services. The event will take place November 18^th at 11 a.m. in Career Services located in Bonds. I actually attended this event my first-year in college and it was definitely an experience. It was informative, as well as, engaging. I learned a lot about the different aspects of Career Services and what they could offer me as a student. I enjoyed this event so much; I began to also take advantage of other programs that I would have not known existed otherwise. The First-Year Open House also offers free pizza and a chance at winning Chipotle gift cards. I would strongly recommend this event to all first-years because not only does it reward free pizza and potentially chipotle gift cards; it is very essential to YOUR success moving forward. Come and check us out!  

Taking the Discover test and making a 4-year action plan

One of the first things every freshman student should do when coming to college is take the Discover test! The discover test is composed of several questions to help find out what someone is interested in and then helps to find an area of study based on what is most interesting to that student. I took the Discover test my second semester of my freshman year. After taking a few classes I quickly realized that Business Administration was not for me! I made an appointment with a Career Services advisor and together we went over my results and came up with an idea of what major would go along with what I was interested in. I always thought I would be a business major but after I took the test I realized I am more of a hands on person. Working with things such as financial statements did not seem as appealing to me after all. After I completed my Discover test and found a new major I began to make my four year action plan. Every student should have a four year action plan because it allows the student to see what they have already done and what needs to get done. Along with that, it comes in handy when scheduling classes. If you have your four year action plan completed then while you are registering for classes you are able to see exactly what classes you need to complete your core as well as your major and minor requirements. Jumpstart your college years by taking the discover test and making your own four year action plan!

Tips for writing a resume and cover letter

Now that I am a junior in college, I can see that two important documents that every student must have are a resume and cover letter. A resume and cover letter are like your golden ticket to your dream job or internship. I learned that lesson in high school. When I was a senior, I had a hard time finding a summer job. At first, I just completed the required applications but after a week of searching with no interest from employers, I began to hand out my resume with the application even though most of the places I was applying to did not require one. Sure enough, I received a phone call saying I was hired and one of the reasons why was because of my resume.


No matter how outstanding your accomplishments may be no one will ever know about them if you don’t promote them effectively in a cover letter and resume. Even if you are not the most qualified applicant for a job or internship, the simple fact that you have a well written resume and cover letter may make the difference between you getting the job or not.

Below are some basic tips for resumes and cover letters:

• Limit your resume to one or two pages

• Limit the length of your cover letter to one page approximately 3-5 paragraphs

• Include specific examples in your cover letter to illustrate your skills and background

Career Services is the perfect place to go to clean up your resume and cover letter!

• Come to a Resume Writing Clinic to learn the details of building an effective resume

• Call or stop by to make a 30 minute appointment with one of our Career Advisors

• Come to Express lanes for a quick 15 minute review of your resume or cover letter

Exploring Internships

INTERNSHIPS…Although sometimes it is hard to find an internship that fits...It is worth the time it takes applying, and searching. There are many places to find internships, here are two I use:

1. The Baldwin-Wallace College Career Network, here you can find a listing of internships, a brief description of the company, requirements such as major or experience.

2. Clevelandintern.net is similar to the BWCN but the job posting are not postings called directly to our office, but they include a lot of Cleveland Area companies that have available positions.

I created an account with Clevelandintern.net three years ago, I forgot I had an account with Clevelandintern.net, but this past summer 2010 I got a call from a company who reviewed my resume and called me for an interview. Unfortunately their schedule conflicted with mine because I was taking classes in the summer, but the point is I got an interview without even applying to the job. This is a great tool because many companies in the Cleveland Area are searching this database looking for candidates and resumes and setting up interviews.

To me…Internships are important…not only because they are a resume booster…You can gain hands on experience…apply in classroom learning…test drive to see if you like the career path… and learn from a professional environment...

If you leave a positive, lasting impression on your supervisor it can sometimes lead to a full-time position, or can provide great recommendations.

If you need a little more direction in seeking internships you can attend an Exploring Internship Workshop which will help you learn strategies for searching, applying and securing an internship.

Exploring Internship Workshop:

· September 30, 2010 11:45-12:45 p.m. Kamm 106

· November 11, 2010 11:45-12:45 p.m. Sandstone I

Grad School Fair and Grad School

When I was starting out at B-W, I was a Business Administration major. After much thought, I decided I needed to be more specific in what I wanted my career to be and I chose Accounting. I chose Accounting for several reasons: I was interested in the 3/2 Program which allows me to get my Bachelor’s and Master’s in 5 years and also obtain 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA Exam. I actually apply this spring for the 3/2 program and am doing it because:


1. Grad school is a great for me to further my education;
a. I sometimes say… “Well, I have to go through more school, but essentially it is a 1-2 year investment with a high return.”

2. Grad school will help me increase my earning power once I enter the workforce
a. I can’t say no to that!

3. Grad school will increase my knowledge of my career field
a. Once I get out into the workforce I will want to perform at a high level and understanding my career field in-depth is a fast way to excel amongst my peers.

So now begins the process of applying…wish me luck!

On-Campus Recruitment in Career Services

As an English and Spanish major, I know that I will not be partaking in much on-campus recruiting in Career Services. By working here for over a year, however, I have observed several things from students during on-campus recruitment that I would like to share with those of you who may participate in the recruitment process.

I have noticed that it's always important for students to arrive early. The employers and recruiters always are! I remember one student who arrived only about five minutes early, and everyone in Career Services was panicking because he had to fill out paperwork beforehand. It just looks like you're really excited about the position if you arrive early and prepared!

It also looks like you're ready for a career when you dress up for on-campus recruiters. Although recruiting on-campus may seem more informal than having an interview in an employer's office, you should always dress for the job you want. Seeing students dress casually around campus and then seeing students dress in the most professional clothing is quite a contrast and sometimes it's hard to believe it's the same person I saw wearing sweatpants the day before!

All in all, on-campus recruitment is a convenient way for students to proactively seek the job they want. And although it's conveniently located right in our office, it should still be approached with the same professionalism as an off-campus interview.