Job Search Boot Camp

Hope you enjoyed your Halloweekend!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so I definitely made sure to have both merriment and candy. Besides that, I managed to start off the weekend with something productive -- a Job Search Boot Camp!

Halloween + Jobs = Skeleton Taxi Driver?
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This half-day Boot Camp held by the Career Center was meant to give seniors a hands-on, intensive lesson in job search skills. The day consisted of various workshops on everything from cover letters to resumes to interviewing. Workshops are a really great opportunity for anyone who is trying to navigate the often intimidating job search.

I started this blog post before the boot camp, but by the time this is posted I will have attended and added my thoughts on the experience.

PRE-BOOT CAMP THOUGHTS

I'm looking forward to the resume critique, since every time I update my resume I find things that could change. Writing a perfect resume is definitely an art form, and it often takes another set of eyes to fully gauge all the improvements that could be made. (If you couldn't make the boot camp, you can schedule an appointment with the Career Center and have someone critique your resume any time.)

The one thing I'm most nervous about is the mock interview. As I'm sure you all know, interviews can be quite nerve-wrecking. I'm always worried about portraying myself calmly and eloquently, all while having good posture and maintaining eye contact. However, I know that this is just practice! The purpose of the boot camp is to train us on interviewing skills, so if I don't do perfectly it'll be a learning experience.

This is especially true since the mock interview will be in a small group rather than one-on-one. I've never done a group interview in real life, so I have a lot to learn.

Overall, I'm excited to see what this boot camp has to offer!

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POST-BOOT CAMP THOUGHTS

The Job Search Boot Camp was a total success! I had a great time learning about all the different steps involved in the job search. Though the program was several hours long, time flew by. We were learning so much at such a rapid pace that it felt like we were done in no time. Kudos to the Career Center for a well-organized day.

Some of the highlights included networking practice, resume critiques, a guide to online resources, and the mock interview. Every part of the program was really informative, and they all lent themselves to a different facet of the job search. One of my favorite portions was the guide to web resources, since the Career Center site is filled to the brim with awesome links. It's a lot more efficient than aimlessly googling. A great place to start is Career A-Z, which organizes job resources by profession.

The interview ended up being a lot less scary than I thought it would be. Chris, the Career Counselor assigned to our group of three interviewees, gave us a lot of great advice and let us critique each other. One thing he emphasized was the importance of telling a story during an interview. A good story can be the difference between making an impression and being forgotten the moment you walk out of the room. Always brainstorm a few stories before any interview, so you have an arsenal to choose from.

All the information packed into the boot camp was a lot to take in, but it was also comforting to come away with a "toolbox" of sorts. I learned so much that I'm actually excited to pass on tips to my senior friends. Thanks to the boot camp, I feel like I have all the knowledge I need to tackle the job search and finally figure my life out (or just the first part, at least).

If you think you're missing that toolbox, make an appointment with a Career Counselor! They'll help you find your way.

Signing off,

Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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The Transition: "Pre-Season to In-Season"

November is here. I repeat November is here. For many of you this month may not have that much significance, but for NESCAC winter athletes, November 1^st is the day that we can finally begin official practices for our respective seasons. The transition from out of season to in season is a big jump, especially since November 1^st occurs right after midterms. Being in season can alter your entire schedule. For winter athletes, practices and games spill over from the fall semester into spring semester, limiting the classes we can take and when we can take them. Hello, 8 am classes - how I have not missed you!

"Early morning classes, after morning practice"
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This post will focus on the skills required to survive this transition, self-care tips like in Kelly’s upcoming post, and resources available to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Registering for Classes

For winter athletes, scheduling is a major concern as the winter season spans both fall and spring semester. This can be a source of stress for many, as availability for classes is narrow. Sometimes athletes are unable to take classes they need for their major, due to the timing of the class or it’s popularity coinciding with an unlucky registration window. For those struggling with scheduling for next semester don’t be afraid to schedule more meetings with your major/premajor advisor, career advisor, or even your assigned academic advising dean (don't know who your advising dean is?  check it out here). I have found speaking to my academic dean to be particularly de-stressing.  My dean is a great person to talk to - she has great insight into how to help students with time-constraints and course selection. If there is a conflict don’t be afraid to talk with your coach. The beauty of the NESCAC is that it's a Division III league aiming to be significantly focused on academic success. After going through the process I’ve also learned about which classes work for me within season. Whether it’s morning classes in the spring or harder classes in the fall, finding out what’s best for you is key towards success both in the game and in the classroom.

Time Management

As I mentioned in an earlier post on the advantages of being a student athlete, good time management is key maintaining sanity during the season. Since the new shift in time constraints can be a source of particular stress it is important to plan ahead in order to have a smooth transition. I know this will sound old school but planners and calendars really do help. Especially if you use a tool like iCal, you can sync your school calendar with your game and practice calendar, both on your phone and computer. This ensures you never “double book” yourself, and you know what’s coming up - team commitments, work, study time, papers, exams - it's easier to plan when you can see everything that's coming up. According to Positivity Blog, the act of writing down all your upcoming events makes you more likely to remember them. So plan ahead now!

Travel

Another large shift during in-season is the travel. Location, location, location. Traveling can take a toll, not only on your body, but on your mind. Look for the best places to study at Tufts as well as places to study when you are on the road. I’ve found some places that are ideal for prime studying. Whether on the bus or in a hotel, you have to get crafty in finding spots suitable for studying and completing homework. Let’s beat procrastination together!

"A lot of travel time"
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Communication

Make sure that you are on the same page with your professors. Identifying yourself as an in-season athlete and let professors know about your time constraints and travel commitments. And communicating this earlier, rather than later, will make it easier to reschedule exams and papers.

Careers & Internships

While the time available for updating your resume, finishing applications and preparing for interviews may seem limited, there are still opportunities for athletes to take advantage of career resources while in-season. For winter athletes who come back to campus during winter break, the Career Center is open regular hours! Winter break is a great time to schedule a career advising appointment  - fewer students schedule appointments during this time, so you'll have a career advisor all to yourself! The Career Center is also open during spring and summer breaks (Who would have thought?). Make sure you take advantage of these valuable resources.

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As we come to the end of these tips for the in-season transition I have to reiterate the importance of time management and self care.  It is important to make sure your body and mind are in sync and healthy in order to be successful (For more on this, stay tuned for Kelly's post). If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to. Being a student-athlete can feel like working two jobs, so making sure that you are healthy in both mind and body is very important. Don’t forget to “Treat yo self”

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks

Class of 2016

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