Your Success Story Starts Now

Ssuccess STORY

your

starts now

Your career-planning guide to Summer 2015

CAREERLINK Use this WUSTL web-based recruiting platform to search for internships, jobs, and other opportunities. You can search by industry, state, and zip code radius. By setting up auto search agents, you can receive

emails from CAREERlink when

5,000+internship and post-grad postions posted each year

positions of interest are posted, such as graphic design internships in Los Angeles or consulting post-graduate positions in New York—it’s up to you!

Searching for your internship is an exciting opportunity to put your skills and education to work. Maximizing available resources will help you be successful. Take a varied approach!

offer an individual approach to helping you explore, discover, and develop your role in the professional world. We also offer self assessment tools, including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsQuest, and Strong Interest Inventory, to help you explore your interests.

20+

Whether you are considering applying to graduate/professional school or hoping to enter the workforce, now is the time to start gaining the experience and skills you will need for your future. The Career Center can help you discover all your options.

EXPERIENCED ADVISORS

ROAD SHOWS Meet with organizations across the country. The trips focus on a city and an industry, span across two days, and include meetings with select organizations. Each year, students visit over 30 organizations, such as the American Enterprise Institute, Boston Scientific, The Huffington Post, Square, and Viacom.

WORK GROUPS Meet weekly to learn about specific industries, how to target organizations, gain expert advice, and optimize the time you spend on your

search. Through a Work Group, you’ll connect with professionals in the field, including Washington University alumni, to gain advice and draw from their expertise.

5

EMPLOYER INFORMATION SESSIONS

Learn about a company’s culture, open positions, and the characteristics they desire in applicants. Info sessions allow you to get your foot in the door and introduce yourself to the recruiter. *info sessions held on-campus in 2013-14. We are always updating CAREERlink with new sessions.

203*

GETTING STARTEDCollege is an opportunity to explore your interests,

ask questions, and make new discoveries about

yourself and your career options. The Career Center

is committed to supporting you throughout your

search process – from your initial brainstorming to

your internship experiences, and finally your

post-graduation plans.

To start and continue to build your Success

Story, we encourage you to complete multiple

meaningful internship or research experiences

before graduation. Students with experience have

better success with their post-graduate job search

or graduate/professional school application process.

Start early, spend time researching opportunities,

and utilize the tools and advice the Career Center

has to offer.

Considering your options after graduation can be both exciting and nerve-racking.

DISCOVERSEARCH

LINKEDIN With over 259 million members, LinkedIn is a great networking tool. If you haven’t already, create an account and join the WUSTL Alumni Association Group to broaden your network.

in 20,000members in WUSTL alumni group

Road Shows in 2013 - 2014

8

LEVERAGE THE WUSTL NETWORK Ask anyone and you’ll see just how many people have landed a job through networking, which is nothing more than having a conversation with people to gain information and ideas. Reaching out to other WUSTL students, conducting informational interviews with alumni, and attending Career Center networking events are great ways to start!

10Career Center

sponsored networking

events hosted

across the country in

2013-14

80% of jobs are found via

networking

Recruiters read a lot of applications each year, so yours must be tailored and well-written to garner serious consideration. Research and brainstorm to prepare your application materials in order to secure an interview slot. The Career Center is here to help.

PORTFOLIOS AND TECHNICAL RESUMES Two satellite offices offer individual attention, support, and advice for assembling your Art or Architecture design portfolio or proofing your technical resume for an engineering opportunity.

WALK-IN HOURS TO REVIEWThe Career Center holds walk-in hours (no appointment needed) for you to come in and have your resumes and/or cover letters reviewed or discuss an upcoming interview. Feedback will ensure that your materials are focused, concise, and visually appealing. Stop by during our Quick Questions walk-in hours:

FOLLOW-UPAFTER APPLYING Once you’ve applied for a position, keep following up on the status of your application. There’s plenty you can do after applying to increase your chances of getting an interview, but following up in the right manner is crucial. We’re here to help with ideas and tips for landing that interview.

extensively-trained Career Peers to help with resumes, cover letters, & interview tips

days after applying, follow up with the hiring manager to ensure receipt of your materials

4-8

The amount of time employers or recruiters spend looking at your resume

seconds6

20

2 satellite offices serve art,

architecture, & engineering students

YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTERThese documents represent your first opportunity to brand yourself as a great fit for a potential employer. A resume and cover letter highlight the key experiences and skills you have to offer an organization. Stop by the Career Center for help with drafting and proofing your resume and cover letters.

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 10 AM - 5 PM

Lopata 303

Steinberg 005

DUC 110

Lopata 303

Steinberg 005

DUC 110

Lopata 303

Steinberg 005

DUC 110

START YOUR SUCCESS STORY.

BROWSESearch through thousands of research, co-op, and internship experiences by major, industry, organization, geographic location, or keyword.

CONNECT Reach out to classmates for insider advice and connections; leverage the WUSTL network!

SHAREHelp other WUSTL students by adding your internship, research, or volunteer experiences to Success Stories.

In the following pages, you’ll read about several students’ internship experiences to get you inspired to start your Success Story now.

Network with and learn from other WUSTL students through Success Stories – an interactive database where you can search for examples of internship and research experiences held by students.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESEARCH Employers consider knowledge of the organization a critical factor when they evaluate applicants. This element is completely in your control: research the organization’s website and study the position description so you can give confident and customized examples of your qualifications.

MOCK INTERVIEWS The only way to become a stronger interviewer is to practice. Sign up for a mock interview with a member of our staff to increase your confidence before the real thing.

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS Many employers choose to interview students on campus. These are either open to all applicants or those who have been pre-screened by the employer. Interviews typically take place at the Career Center.

394positions had

on-campus interviews

last year

FOLLOW-UP Send an immediate email to the main contact and, if appropriate, to others who participated in the interview. Follow-up that email with a more thoughtful and error-free, handwritten thank you note a day or so later. Don’t delay!

Send your follow-up note one day later

Interviewing for an internship, medical school, or a job can feel like a daunting task. The Career Center offers a variety of resources to help you prepare for (and ace) your interview.

minutes is the average length of

an interview - make sure you’re prepared!

40

INTERVIEWAPPLY

20,000

1

ENGINEERINGARTS & SCIENCES ARTARCHITECTURE

+

BUSINESS SERVICES SUCCESS STORIES The Nielsen Company

Procter & Gamble

General Mills

Miller PR

ZS Associates

Also in Success Stories

ARTS & SCIENCES

What did you do as an intern at your organization?“Under one of Young & Rubicam’s main accounts, I communicated with Y&R offices and TV commercial producers in Latin America, attaining financial documents for Y&R’s processes. Additionally, I participated in an intern project with my team of seven others in creating a multichannel campaign for a pharmaceutical vaccine to present to Y&R senior executives. The project made for a thrilling, challenging, and fulfilling experience, allowing me to connect with team members and realize my potential as a worker and thinker.”

What was challenging about your internship? “I had very minimal experience in production to begin my internship, so the first few weeks posed a steep learning curve. As time went on, though, I arrived at a thorough understanding of the department and felt like I had truly expanded my mind and charted bravely outside of my comfort zone. Ultimately, my greatest challenge resulted in many rewards.”

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/camil

CAMIL SANCHEZ-PALUMBOClass of 2015Major: International and Area Studies

Young & RubicamNew York, NY

visit careercenter.wustl.edu/successCAREER TIP:Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start with family, friends, and alumni. Utilize this network that already knows you and with whom you share a connection.

INTERNATIONAL & AREA STUDIES MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES Sierra Club

Federal Reserve System

DHR International

NASA

World Affairs Council

NEW YORK SUCCESS STORIES Brooklyn Nets

CBS Television

Staten Island Zoo

Nickelodeon

New York City Council

visit careercenter.wustl.edu/success

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS STORIES

Intel

Accenture

Google

Capital One

Zappos

COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES

Citibank

Answers

Garmin International

The Motley Fool

MasterCard International

SEATTLE SUCCESS STORIES

Amazon

Boeing

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Gensler

Epic Seats


ENGINEERINGWILL RALLSClass of 2015Major: Computer Science Engineering

Microsoft Seattle, WA


Would you recommend your internship to other students?“Yes. I would highly recommend Microsoft’s internship program because they offer their interns hands-on, meaningful work. The company has a lot of confidence in their interns and they want to see you succeed.”

What steps did you take to land your internship?“I attended a hackathon sponsored by Microsoft on WUSTL’s campus. I met one of their recruiters there and he encouraged me to apply to the ‘Experience Microsoft’ weekend as a freshman. Attending that event helped me get my resume to the right people. I later interviewed with Microsoft on campus the next year and interned there the following two summers. To summarize, I was persistent in following up with my interest in the company and its opportunities.”

What did you do as an intern at your organization?“I was assigned a project in which I had to redesign a mobile application that Microsoft had been working on for a year. One of the aspects of the redesign was figuring out how to display text on the screen in a different, more user-friendly way. I also was asked to build a prototype for a new product.”

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/will

CAREER TIP:Freshmen and sophomores: Don’t be afraid to reach out for summer opportunities. It is never too early to gain experience!

NEW YORK SUCCESS STORIES Brooklyn Nets

CBS Television

Staten Island Zoo

Nickelodeon

New York City Council

HEALTHCARESUCCESS STORIES

Epic

St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Partners in Health

Cleveland Clinic

Planned Parenthood

BIOLOGY MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES

MD Anderson Cancer Center

The Mayo Clinic

Boston Biomedical Consultants

National Institutes of Health

Washington University in St. Louis

BOSTON SUCCESS STORIES

The Boston Foundation

Boston Red Sox

Fidelity Investments

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Janji


ARTS & SCIENCES

What steps did you take to land your internship?“It should be no surprise that physicians and other healthcare professionals are extremely busy. After emailing countless physicians whose fields of work interested me, and having only a handful of those physicians reply back, I thought to contact medical school students, residents, and fellows instead. After getting in touch with an orthopedic fellow at Children’s Hospital in Boston, I was able to define my role as an intern in a way that both helped complete the research projects the orthopedic fellow had undertaken while exposing me to the medical field in a novel manner.”

What did you enjoy about your internship?“Working at Children’s gave me a unique perspective into the field of medicine. Throughout the summer, I was able to follow patients from their initial diagnosis to their final outpatient visit. Seeing each patients’ treatment, recovery, and the amount of collaboration that is inherent in the patient process was invaluable to me as a pre-med student.”

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/herman

HERMAN LUTHERClass of 2015Major: Biology

Boston Children’s Hospital Boston, MA

visit careercenter.wustl.edu/successCAREER TIP:Shadowing is a great way to explore an industry. Consider reaching out to an alum or participating in the Alumni Career Externship (ACE) Program over spring break.

ENTERTAINMENT SUCCESS STORIES

Lionsgate

Sony Pictures Entertainment

CBS Television

20th Century Fox

Viacom

COMMUNICATION DESIGN SUCCESS STORIES

IBM

Trip Advisor

Martha Stewart Living

ALIVE Magazine

Illume Communications

CALIFORNIA SUCCESS STORIES

LeadDog Marketing Group

Yelp

Cisco Systems, Inc.

City Year

San Diego Zoo

Also in Success StoriesCAREER TIP:Fall and spring semester Pro Practices seminars provide a foundation for art students to confidently pursue professional, transitional, and further academic opportunities.


ART

What steps did you take to land your internship?“I talked to Career Adivsor Jen Meyer and asked her for help with my resume, cover letters, reaching out to alumni, etc. I specifically reached out to alumni who have worked in places that I was interested in, and contacted them, asking about their experience and what steps I had to take to secure similar positions within those companies.”

What did you do as an intern?“I created infographics and designed presentations for Disney ABC Television’s Research Department. They used my finished product in meetings with executives to report daytime television ratings and analytics.”

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/alex

ALEX CHIUClass of 2015Major: Communication Design

Disney ABC Television Los Angeles, CA

NONPROFIT SUCCESS STORIES American Red Cross

College Bound

Sierra Club

Prevent Child Abuse America

Autism Speaks

WASHINGTON, D.C. SUCCESS STORIES U.S. Department of the Treasury

The Washington Post

The White House

World Affairs Council

The Public Health Foundation


ARTS & SCIENCES

What did you enjoy about your internship?“I enjoyed being able to directly contribute to the organizations fundraising efforts. In my position, I wrote letters of inquiry and assisted in the editing process for multiple grant proposals. My contributions were valued even as an intern, and I believe that being able to work closely with my supervisor allowed her to see my dedication to my work. I also liked working with a small group of interns and learning from their experiences after graduating from college. Being able to discuss post-graduate plans with those who are in graduate school and looking for work was incredibly valuable.”

What advice do you have for other students based on your experience?“Start early! Before you send in your application materials, make sure that you tailor your responses to best fit the organization you are applying to. Highlight important leadership positions and experiences on campus that reflect your interest in the organization’s objectives and causes.”

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/anisha

ANISHA GLANTONClass of 2016Major: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

World Food Program USAWashington, D.C.


WOMEN, GENDER, & SEXUALITY STUDIES MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES National Network to End Domestic Violence

U.S. Senate

Saint Louis Magazine

Lydia’s House

Planned Parenthood

CAREER TIP:Join a Work Group, like Government & Public Policy, Public Health, or Business. Meet weekly and join anytime to keep your internship or job search on track.

What was challenging about your internship search process?“I applied to several places other than SCDA simultaneously. The most challenging part of applying to architecture firms comes from the varying application requirements at each firm. For example one might want a two page work sample while another is asking for 3-4 pages or a whole portfolio.”

Would you recommend your internship to other students?“I would definitely recommend this internship to other students. You are expected to do a lot of work, but the office’s confidence in the interns’ capabilities is great.”

ARCHITECTURE

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/taylor

TAYLOR HALAMKAClass of 2015Major: Architecture

SCDA ArchitectsSingapore

ARCHITECTURE SUCCESS STORIES

CookFox Architects

Kaza Architecture

Kinsley Institute

Albert & Associates Architecture

Studio Durham Architects

ARCHITECTURE MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES

Beyond Housing

HNTB Corporation

Robert & Anderson Design

Habitat For Humanity

Parsons School of Design

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES

U.S. Department of State

Ernst & Young

Amnesty International

Deloitte Consulting LLP

Johnson & Johnson

Also in Success Storiesvisit careercenter.wustl.edu/success

CAREER TIP:Apply to attend a Road Show: a two-day trip that focuses on a city and a specific industry. You’ll tour office spaces, hear from employees, and gain valuable insight.

ENGINEERING

What did you do as an intern at your organization?“This summer I did research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on a process to make bio-fuel from wood and agricultural waste. My specific project focused on improving catalyst design in order to make the process more efficient.”

What did you enjoy about this internship?“I enjoyed being able to work in an environment where everyone is passionate about advancing green energy. I also enjoyed having the opportunity to perform significant research as an undergraduate.“

What did you learn/take away from your internship?“I learned about all the different types of research areas I could pursue and still be able to follow my passion for making humanity more sustainable.“

TIM BARTHOLOMEWClass of 2015Major: Chemical Engineering

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO

Read more at careercenter.wustl.edu/tim

ENGINEERING / ENERGY SUCCESS STORIES

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Open Source Ecology

Ameren

CleanEdison

Abengoa Bioenergy

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES

L’Oreal USA, Inc.

Emerson

ExxonMobil Corporation

Procter & Gamble

Honeywell International, Inc.

COLORADO SUCCESS STORIES

Denver Health

Boulder Weekly

U.S. Forest Service

Rocky Mountain PBS

Backpacker Magazine

CAREER TIP:Meeting regularly with a Career Advisor can keep you on track, whether you are looking for an internship or applying to graduate or professional school.

Also in Success Storiesvisit careercenter.wustl.edu/success

RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS

MAKE A PLAN TO SHINE

The Career Center offers a comprehensive variety of resources to help you develop a strategy to meet your goals. Below are go-to resources to start with as you create your own Success Story.

CONTACT US

To start and continue to build your Success Story, the Career Center encourages you to complete multiple meaningful internship or research experiences before graduation. Start early, spend time researching opportunities, and utilize the tools and advice we offer. Check off each item below as you make your way toward reaching your goal:

Identify your interests. Begin thinking about how your education and interests fit into life after college. Meet with a Career Advisor to discuss your academic and career preferences and how to test options through on- and off-campus experiences.

Explore different possibilities. Join a Work Group—industry-focused, educational skill-building groups that can help you learn about various career options. Also, attend employers’ on-campus info sessions and career fairs to see what’s available.

Build a target list. Research and create a target list of employers that are of interest to you. Speak with a Career Advisor about recruiting timelines for those industries and strategizing how to connect to individuals who share your interests.

Search and apply for opportunities. Carve out time on a regular basis to devote to the process. Monitor CAREERlink daily for new job postings, employers’ info sessions, and events. Reach out to people in your network to access the “hidden job market.”

Prepare for interviews. Polish your resume and integrate past study abroad and summer experiences, if applicable. Strengthen your interviewing techniques through mock interviews with the Career Center.

Maximize your internship experience. Remember, an internship can act as a 10-week interview for a post-graduate job opportunity. Reflect on your goals before you begin your internship. Make the time count!

PHONE314.935.5930

[email protected]

MAIN OFFICE LOCATIONDanforth University Center, Suite 110

HOURS M-F: 8:30 am - 5 pm

Quick Questions (walk-ins)M-F: 10 am - 5 pm

careercenter.wustl.edu/interviewMOCK INTERVIEWS

careercenter.wustl.edu/resumeRESUME AND COVER LETTER REVIEWS

careercenter.wustl.edu/successSUCCESS STORIES

careercenter.wustl.edu/careerlink CAREERLINK

The Career Center is open year-round, including winter and summer breaks. Stop by and talk to us about creating your Success Story. WEBSITE

careercenter.wustl.edu

ACTION STEPS

Meet with a Career Advisor. Browse Success Stories and CAREERlink.

Apply and follow up.

Get started: S your

careercenter.wustl.edu/success

1.

2.

3.

Career CenterCampus Box 1091One Brookings DriveSt. Louis, Missouri 63130

Documents

Your Success Story Starts Now