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JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR ARTS & SCIENCES STUDENTS
How to Find a Job: Special Concerns for Arts and Sciences Students
Job Search Articles provided by WetFeet.com
Cornell Career Services Jobs, Internships and On-Campus Recruiting
How to find a job: Special Concerns for A&S Students
Introduction Knowing what you want to do - or at least having an idea of one or two career fields that interest you--is the first (and often most difficult) step in finding a job. If you don't have a clue about what you want to do, start with Considering Career Options: Getting a Life after College. Once you've narrowed your focus, several Cornell Career Services sites will help with job search strategies and job listings.
In Spring 2005, Kiplinger's on-line magazine published a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the job market for new college graduates, along with recent trends effecting job seekers. Check out the Ten Job Hunting Myths by Erin Burt.
As an Arts and Sciences student, often your most difficult task is demonstrating that you're a good match for a job even without relevant coursework or directly related experience. Find out what skills employers are seeking.
How can you show that you're the best person for a job?
Put yourself in the employer's place - what job needs to be done? What problem needs to be solved?
Read up on the field and talk to people working in jobs that interest you to find out what skills are important to them every day.
Make a list of your skills that are relevant to the job.
Be able to describe where you used these skills. Your examples do not have to be directly related to the particular career field; they only have to demonstrate that you have the relevant skill. See how students in the past have convinced employers they're a good match for a job in cover letter examples and alumni advice below.
This may seem like a lot of work, but these steps are crucial to developing an effective resume and cover letter.
Cover letter examples
A biology major applying for a management training program with an insurance company:
During my undergraduate years, I have acquired considerable managerial and supervisory experience. While an Administrative Intern at a nursing home, I made significant contributions to the efficiency of the organization by analyzing the functions of seven departments and developing administrative systems to coordinate the efforts of forty-eight staff members. As Program Assistant in a Cornell residence hall, I supervise six Resident Advisors who, in turn, have responsibility for 200 students. In my role as volunteer coordinator for the Catholic Church, I created and oversee a corps of 50 adult and adolescent parishioners who plan social and educational activities for a parish of 1,000 members.
Furthermore, I have learned how to motivate others as a volunteer basketball coach. As a coach, the most important qualities I teach are tenacity and perseverance. These same qualities helped me to make the Cornell varsity football team as a walk-on. I have carried a full academic load and volunteer schedule while working twenty-five hours a week to finance my education.
I believe that the analytical skills I have gained as a biology major, as well as my practical managerial experience in a variety of positions, would make me a valuable addition to your organization.
A women's studies major applying for a position with a nonprofit AIDS organization:
My experience as a leader in political activism ranges from organizing and initiating programs on campus to coordinating events in a statewide campaign. At Cornell, I established the first Rock for Choice concert to benefit Planned Parenthood, and frequently speak at events such as the Cornell Labor Conference. In California last summer, I was a grassroots organizer on the Stop Prop. 209 Campaign. This experience culminated in a presentation to the Mayor and City Council of Santa Monica, which proved instrumental in influencing the Council's vote to support the Stop Prop 209 effort.
I have worked directly with HIV-infected patients in a specialized treatment facility, as well as with the elderly in a nursing home setting. My commitment to AIDS-related issues developed when I interned at the Long Island Jewish Hospital Hemophilia Treatment Center and witnessed how the great physical and emotional pain patients suffer is compounded by a lack of personal and programmatic support. I realized I could address the need for increased services and protection of the rights and dignity of those affected with HIV by drawing on my skills as an activist.
Alumni Advice
I had no background in business; I had been a receptionist for a law firm and a camp counselor. The experience which turned out to be the best preparation for my job was an independent research project for a course in which I sifted through conflicting data and argued my hypotheses with the professor. Now that's what I do all day: sift through conflicting data and determine what is relevant to the problem I'm analyzing. Any kind of team activity is useful, as well as activities that force you to be resourceful, go out and get information, make a decision, and carry it through.
Government '87, Management Consultant
I found that I had two very important skills that made me marketable to employers. First, my communications skills, honed at Cornell, enabled me to express myself well in interviews, reports, and meetings. Second, I had an ability to learn new things very quickly, and to adapt to new environments very quickly. This ability to multi-task, learn very quickly, and adapt to change was exactly what my employer was looking for in a trader.
English '82, Principal Trader
I have to be articulate. Nine-tenths of my current job is communication. Whether I'm soliciting new accounts or helping a customer decide which services to use, I have to communicate clearly. Good writing skills are also important, because when I'm writing letters and reports, I represent the company. Without the liberal arts background I received at Cornell, I wouldn't have made it this far.
English '81, Manager of Branch Bank
Don't worry if your qualifications do not match exactly with the job description. For the job I have now, they wanted someone with a degree in English, communication, or journalism. In my cover letter, I wrote that while I didn't major in any of those fields, I took several English and communication courses, and wrote for the school newspaper. Having a positive attitude helps.
Biology and Society '93, Caption Editor
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