8 Career Tips to Maximize Your Winter Break from the CDO

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Feeling overwhelmed? Not sure where to start when it comes to majors, internships, jobs, and this thing called a “career”? The CDO is here to help every step of the way. Check-out tips below for getting started and using winter break to your advantage-take one step at a time. No matter your year or major, it’s never too early to get started.

Learn more about yourself and careers, build your network, start your summer internship search, or begin your post-Goucher job search.

  1. Build Your Network! (breaks are a great time to connect)
  • Start to talk about jobs and careers with people you already know – when meeting friends, family, mentors, co-workers, community members, teachers and, really, anyone you come across over the winter break, start to ask questions about jobs, careers, their experiences and who else they might connect you with. Focus on gathering information, paying attention to career clues, and expanding your circle.
  • Conduct informational interviews – this is an excellent opportunity to explore career fields and jobs, connect with professionals in your field(s) of interest, develop an understanding of those fields. Through this process you will often gain advice, and learn about internship/job opportunities without specifically asking for the job.
  • Reach-out to Goucher Alumni Career Coaches – nearly 200 alumni who have volunteered to connect with you, current Goucher students, for career and major advice, industry insights, and job market opportunities. Use the Alumni Career Coaches tab in Goucher Recruit to search and message alumni.
  • Create (or update) a LinkedIn profile – begin to build a network of contacts and showcase your interests, experiences, skills and education. Connect with alumni, faculty, staff, peers, and family to get started.
  1. If unsure about a career direction, complete the quick Traitify assessment for personality insights and recommended job titles, available on the CDO homepage.
  2. Spend time identifying (or reviewing) your career/work values, interests and motivated skills. Stop by or contact the CDO for an appointment to further explore YOU.
  3. Update your resume to include community service, academic projects, on-campus jobs, and other relevant experiences. Utilize the CDO’s Resume Check service through Goucher Recruit to have your resume reviewed by a professional.
  4. Check for on-campus jobs, internships, and off-campus openings on Goucher Recruit and through other websites (e.g. LinkedIn, Baltimore Collegetown Network, Indeed, Idealist), professional associations, and personal contacts.
  5. Develop a prospect list of organizations in which you are interested or want to learn more about. Review their websites for opportunities and checkout LinkedIn and Goucher Alumni Career Coaches (in Goucher Recruit) for potential contacts working at those organizations.
  6. Draft a cover letter that is targeted to a specific job or internship.
  7. Pursue an internship experience (ideally multiple across your Goucher experience)! Learn about (or review) the Internship Learning Agreement, available on the CDO website, if you intend to apply for academic credit. And, remember that Goucher Intern Fellowship funds are available to support summer internships (with an application deadline in late April).

And don’t forget, the CDO is here to help and we look forward to connecting with you. We meet with students year round, even over breaks, through scheduled appointments (email us at career@goucher.edu or call us at 410-337-6191) and drop-ins from 2pm-4pm Monday-Friday (just stop by!). We also host events and programs throughout the year to help you to become career ready! Follow us on social media @GoucherCollegeCDO to keep up with all that’s happening at the CDO or visit our website for more resources.

BY JENN LEARD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CAREER ADVISING AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

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