I stumbled across this article today on Philly.com on how to write a cover letter.  Sometimes job seekers forget how important a cover letter is!!  I think it gives some really great insight, such as:

“Just like planning for an academic paper, you need to do adequate research before you start.”

“Expect to revise, and you won’t be frozen by the feeling that you have to get it exactly right the first time.”

“Opening lines are key.”

Check out the article for more great tips!!

Check out this very helpful advice from Jobweb.com.

Do you have any advice to add?

Two summer internship opportunities have been brought to my attention, and both have application due dates in April!!

One is Google’s Annual Summer of Code, where students apply to work with Google and a team of mentors on developing open source projects.  Students receive a stipend, and applications are due by April 3rd.

The other is a summer internship position as a Database Developer/Analyst with Crosslink International in Falls Church, VA.  Intern will work 35-40 hours a week for 8-10 between May 18-August 14.  They will be accepting applications until April 10th.  For more information see the following document: Summer Internship at Crosslink International

Take some advice from this recent graduate, who conducted a futile job search until he realized the key to success: “customizing his cover letter and paying attention to the specifics of each opening”.  Read the article for more!

With employers expected to hire 22% less graduates this year than last, you’ll definitely want to set yourself apart from the competition with an excellent cover letter and thorough preparation before an interview.

Did you find a job or a co-op/internship recently?  What did you do that you feel were instrumental to your success?

You may have noticed that the library website looks a teeny bit different.  We switched over to a new IM service for our “IM a librarian” feature, so the widget looks different.  It’s got some great features though!  One of the coolest things is that the widget “follows” you, so you don’t have to worry about losing the connection while you click away!

Something else to celebrate about: I now have my own IM widget!  So you can contact me directly via IM with all of your Careers Collection questions.  The Careers IM widget is currently located on the right hand side of this blog, as well as on of all my research guides.  So chat away!

Professional association websites are excellent places to find career information in your field of interest. Most professional associations maintain websites and many of these sites contain career-related and graduate study information as well as job boards that post opportunities nation-wide.

To identify professional organizations in your field use the Encyclopedia of Associations . This resource is available in print and online through the library catalog.

Consider becoming a student member of a professional organization in your field! Socialize with folks who share the same passions as you and establish connections that can aide you along your career path. Search the websites of professional organizations in your field for membership information.

Need help using the Encyclopedia of Associations? Questions about professional associations? Just call or email me at 215-895-6843 or jroberts@drexel.edu.