The Wackerle Corner:
Holiday Checklist

By: Andrea Emery
News Editor

As everyone looks forward to a relaxing in the next month away from Monmouth College, don’t forget why you originally decided to come to college. Whether it was to nail a great job after graduation, play sports, meet new people or all of the above, it is important to remember this holiday season to stay on track in developing your career.

Seniors - There are many important areas to explore while on break this winter. If you haven’t started already, it is time to think about what you will do when you leave school in May. Will you try to find a job? If your answer is yes, then the search should begin soon.

If you haven’t already registered with WACKERLETRACK, Monmouth College’s new job search website, now the time to do so. Besides having hundreds of jobs to browse, there is an event calendar which lists upcoming career fairs. You can set up a job agent to conduct your job search for you. There is even a place to upload your resume so potential employers can recruit you for a position with their organization.

Before you apply for jobs though, you need an effective resume. Some of you created a resume in your freshman year, while others still haven’t given it a thought. Whatever your circumstance may be, keep in mind that now is the time to be putting the finishing touches on it.

If you need some help getting started on a resume, visit the Document Library on WackerleTrack. Here, you will find resume writing tips and samples.

Juniors - Begin your break by registering for WACKERLETRACK. The services WACKERLETRACK provides can be beneficial for you as well. This is where you can begin your search for internships and summer jobs. Many major studies require an internship to graduate. Others might highly recommend internships because of the great experience they often provide. Whether an internship is required for your major or not, you will find a number of listings to browse. If an internship is not for you, securing a job for the summer is never a bad idea.

Remember that most internships require a resume for application purposes. So you, too, should be spending some time fine tuning your resume. Don’t wait until your senior year to start.

If graduate school is where you know you will be heading following Monmouth College, begin exploring. You can start by using the Document Library on WACKERLETRACK. Here you will find a links to Peterson’s Graduate School Guide and gradschools.com. These resources help you to begin looking for schools, preparing for graduate school tests and exploring financial aid.

Sophomores - Take the time to expand your network. Identify some organizations or associations in your field of interest, and make contact. This is an assertive way to strengthen your existing network with professionals in your field.

Winter break is a great time to get to know more about a given field through informational interviews and job shadowing experiences. Since you do not have a tight class schedule that dominates all your time, you can spend some time with a professional from your network. By conducting an informational interview, you can find out many details about the profession or field you are considering entering. Informational interviews also give you a chance to gain valuable advice from someone who has been in your shoes.

Job shadowing allows you to see the work first hand. Through a job shadowing experience, you are likely to follow a professional for a day or part of a day to see what the occupation entails. Job shadowing can be quite valuable in helping you decide if a certain type of work or field is right for you. Many organizations and professionals are open to allowing a student to shadow; just ask.

Freshmen - You may feel like your journey has just begun, and it has. It isn’t time to start looking for a job or a grad school to attend, right? Well, not necessarily. It is important to begin your search early and at the beginning. Many freshmen may not have a clue about what they want to do. Now is the time to explore your interests, abilities and skills. Take some time to reflect upon these things while you have some time off. This is also the time when you should begin developing your network by making connections with as many people as you can.

So take some time to relax during winter break and reflect upon your future. You have so much to look forward to, and you want to be prepared. Stay on track to developing the career ahead of you, and make the most of your winter break.