The NYTimes has an article up that gives voice to the frustrations that many job seekers today face: submitting an application online and never hearing back from the employer!

There is obviously a bigger pool of applicants applying for the same job- a prospect that makes it even more important that you work to make your presence known!

Some tips that the article gives are:

• Work hard to find a contact at the company who can be your advocate- or at least a conduit to the hiring manager.
• Leave the online world behind and make an old-fashioned direct phone call.
• Work on a multi-faceted approach!

Read the article for the full scoop!!

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?

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is looking for you!

NREL is actually hiring people instead of firing and have many open positions, including some for students and recent grads.  The company is based in Colorado, so if you want to make a difference with clean energy technology and don’t mind exploring our nation some, you may want to consider NREL.

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!

I’ve just ordered the second batch of books for the Careers Collection here @ Hagerty Library.  Here is what you have to look forward to:

• Graduate Admission Essays: Write your way into the graduate school of your choice- Great information on how to manage  your grad school applications, but of course with a heavy emphasis on writing that essay! Has tons of sample essays and even recommendation letters.
• Fashion Careers: The Complete Job Search Workbook- Co-written by Drexel’s very own Beth Phillips, a faculty member at Westphal, this a great workbook with interactive worksheets for your job search.
• College Board CLEP: Official Study Guide 2009- Did you know that you can receive college credit for learning outside of the classroom?  Drexel accepts CLEP exams and also serves as a CLEP test center.  Get more information here.
• Career Development in Bioengineering and Biotechnology- Are you a biomedical engineering major who would like to explore career options?  This book has a wealth of information, from information on more traditional career paths such as medical device technologies to alternative careers paths such as writing non-fiction books!
• Career Opportunities in Forensic Science- This book features 82 job profiles within the field of forensic science with descriptions, tips, etc. for each.  Who knew there were that many occupations within the field of forensic science!?
• The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference- All you ever need to know about the nonprofit sector and how to land a job within it.  This book also features “spotlights” and Q&A’s with people in the field.
• The Everything Guide to Becoming an Event Planner- If you’re thinking of becoming an event planner, this is essential reading for you.  Learn how to get started and break into the business, but more importantly, learn the ins and outs of actually putting an event together.
• Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology- Learn what it takes to succeed as a woman in the male-dominated fields of engineering, science, and technology.  From job hunting to time management, this book outlines the kinds of issues women face as students, career women, faculty members, deans/heads, and managers in the fields of science and technology.
• The Rough Guide to Crete- Thinking of participating in the Cretan Scholars Program and doing your co-op abroad on the island of Crete?  Find out more about Crete with this travel guide.

New books have been added to our Careers Collection!!

• Wiley CPA Exam Review 2008-2009- Aspiring accountants, rejoice!!  This two volume set will prepare you for your CPA exam in no time.
• How to Write Winning Letters of Recommendation- If you’re struggling to eke out that letter of recommendation, this book is for you.  It offers guidelines and plenty of samples and templates for employment, college-related, and general recommendation letters; employment, college, character, and general reference letters; commendation letters; performance evaluation letters; and college admission essays.
• Opportunities in Petroleum Careers- Explore career opportunities within the petroleum industry.
• America’s Best Graduate Schools, 2009 Edition- U.S. News & World Reports has come out with their newest rankings for graduate schools!
• Careers in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality- Explore careers within the travel and hospitality industry.
• 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs- With the current economic landscape, it would be wise to use this book to begin planning your career.
• Interview Answers in a Flash- Practice your interviewing skills by using this book of more than 200 flash card-style questions!
• The Ultimate Interview Book- This book is great because it tells you the key questions to expect in an interview for your kind of job- whether it is a sales & marketing job, a management position, a creative job, or more.
• Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada- This book is the ultimate source for international students.  It tells you everything you should expect and need to know from the standpoint of an international student: from how to succeed in university to earn and manage your money.
• How to Pass Numerical Reasoning Tests- Many employers, especially overseas, will have potential employees take a numerical reasoning test to weed applicants how.  Use this step-by-step guide to learn all the basic skills you need!
• Escape the Mid-Career Doldrums- If you’re bored, burned out, retired, or just got fired, this book will help you get onto a new career track.
• Delaying the Real World- If starting a career immediately after graduation doesn’t appeal to you, why don’t you try traveling and trying to make the world a better place?  This book will tell you how.

My name is Daisy and I am the new Career Services Library Assistant.  You can come to me with any questions about using library resources for conducting an independent job search, writing your resume & cover letter, honing your interview skills, finding company directories, etc etc etc!

Our Careers Collection is located right outside my office (Room 136) in Hagerty Library and has TONS of resources for you to use.  Please stop on by and peruse.  Additionally, our Careers Research Guides list great resources (electronic, print, & web) on a variety of career-related topics, including some by career interest.

I am available for individual consultations for students and alumni, and also teach workshops on conducting an independent job/co-op search.  You can contact me by phone at 215-895-6843 or by email at dl423@drexel.edu.

There’s good news for folks who’d like to visit the Career Library, but can’t get there during the day. During the Spring Term, the Career Library will be open every Tuesday evening until 7 pm. For the complete Career Library schedule for Spring Term visit: http://www.library.drexel.edu/about/careerlibrary.html.

Stop by the Career Library at 3201 Arch St., Suite 222 to check out career-related books or email Jenny Roberts at jroberts@drexel.edu to make an appointment for an overview of job search resources.

The Career Library will have reduced hours during the term break.

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