We’re excited to start featuring all the wonderful people and opportunities that pass through our office- but first, let’s introduce ourselves… We’ve asked Career Center staff members to weigh in with some helpful career tips, plus their favorite Career Center candy.
Stay tuned next week for more tips and favorite treats from the Career Center- plus more staff bios!
Brad Kmoch, Program Director for Internships and Experiential Learning:
Tip: Maps are a wonderful metaphor for your career search. Feel free to come in and talk with me about why.
Candy: Hershey nuggets with almonds
Andrea Kubinski, Administrative Assistant:
Tip: My famous tip actually comes from the founder of Rainforest Cafe, Steven Schussler. At an event, when I went to shake his hand, he told me that you should ALWAYS wear your nametag on the right side of your chest because when you shake that persons hand, your eye will follow up the arm, and you can read the nametag and then make eye contact with that person.
Candy: Andes Mints or Bit-O-Honey!
Brian Murphy, Program Director for Internships and Experiential Learning:
Tip: My favorite tip for Carls, and especially to first and second-year Carls, is to remember that decisions about work, career, vocation, etc. are rarely made once-and-for-all. A few people have either known all along what they want to do, or they have an “A-Ha” moment where the light bulb lights up, and they know for sure that they want to spend their lives working as a pediatrician, a legal aide attorney, a sculptor, a high school athletic coach, a teacher, etc. For the majority of folks it’s an ongoing process of doing something for a while, then maybe doing something else, and so on. So, to focus on the amazing skills one has developed and continues to develop, and to think about all the wonderful things a person can do with those skills can help make the process a little more like an adventure. The possibilities open up more and one may find their way into something that they never imagined they would end up doing.
Candy: Three Musketeers (delicious, but dangerous to my waistline)
Deb Olien, Career Specialist:
Tip: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help”. Many parts of the career process can seem strange, difficult and/or counter-intuitive at first–so be sure to use the staff and peer leaders for help with figuring out what you want, writing effective cover letters and résumés, and networking gracefully, and finding jobs, internships and other experiences that interest you.
Candy: anything chocolate!
Sarah Rechtzigel, Assistant to Director & Assistant to Fellowships Advisor
Tip: You don’t have to know what you want to do or be when you leave Carleton. Try many things, have different jobs and experiences. There are many people that don’t find their true calling until much later in life. Just experience it and go with what you really want to do.
Candy: Gumballs