Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Nov. 23, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Nov. 16, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Nov. 9, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Nov. 2, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Oct. 26, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Princeternship stories: Jessica Quinter ’18, Maryland Disability Law Center

This post was written by Jessica Quinter ’18 after her Princeternship. For more information on the Princeternship program, visit our site.  

Though I did a fair amount of research before attending my Princeternship, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I kind of assumed it would be an average day in the life of any lawyer; some paperwork, some case research, maybe a few phone calls with clients. But the eye-opening, incredible experience I had exceeded any and all of my expectations.

The first thing I was struck by upon arriving at Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) was the warmth and friendliness of the atmosphere. It takes a certain kind of person to work there, someone dedicated and kind to the nth degree, and that sentiment was palpable. I was first able to speak with a few other professionals working at MDLC, whose jobs were somewhat different from my host (the Managing Attorney). I was allowed to listen in on intake calls, which was an incredibly valuable experience. It gave me a real understanding of the value of the work that MDLC does. I saw how vital and how heartbreaking it all was. I was also able to speak with another person, who worked specifically on promoting inclusion in after-school programs for disabled children. In everyone I spoke with, the definite common denominator was his or her passion and kindness. No one better embodied that than my host, Mrs. Leslie Margolis ’82.

Mrs. Margolis focuses in special education. I was able to attend a meeting with Mrs. Margolis with a parent she was representing (for her child) and the school special education staff, about the child’s school placement. Emotions ran high, and it was rather heartbreaking to watch this child be debated upon. But more than anything, I was struck by how completely dedicated Mrs. Margolis was to advocating for the parent and child, and promoting the student’s best interests above all other possible considerations. It was really illuminating to me, in illustrating just how vital the work of Mrs. Margolis and the MDLC as a whole is. These children, and also disabled adults, though I didn’t see much about that specifically, sometimes have no one to advocate for them. They may fall to the wayside, or suffer abuse. Parents, or other caregivers, may not know where to turn. Some private firms may sometimes seem to hold ulterior motives. Others cannot afford a private attorney, but just surpass the threshold to qualify for pro bono. The help of the MDLC, then, is incredibly important, and that was very clearly demonstrated to me.

My day shadowing Mrs. Margolis at MLDC was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had. It opened my eyes to a kind of law practice that I hadn’t really considered before, which I now see as very rewarding, worthwhile, and important. For myself, I’ve always wanted to go to law school, but been wary of simply joining a private firm. I’ve always been passionate about social justice and civil liberties. I’ve worked as the political intern at the Human Rights Campaign in the Government Affairs Department, which I loved. I’ve always imagined that a path like that would be best for me; being able to lobby for policy for issues I am so passionate about. And perhaps I will still end up somewhere like that, I would still love to. But my day at MDLC showed me another possible path—being a lawyer doesn’t necessarily have to entail private corporate work. There are places like MDLC, where passionate lawyers can also advocate for social justice. Mrs. Margolis also informed me that she was able to do policy work as well, which I hadn’t know or considered. My Princeternship opened my mind to another realm of possible careers in a way that I hadn’t expected.

Shadowing Mrs. Margolis was also incredibly rewarding in that she gave me so much valuable advice. She told me a lot about her own career path, and was incredibly open and receptive to any questions I had. She gave me a lot of meaningful advice, in a way that was very relatable. I really enjoyed my experience shadowing Mrs. Margolis at MDLC, and I would recommend to any student to do the program. Thank you so much, Mrs. Margolis, for the incredible experience!!

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Oct. 19, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Oct. 12, 2016

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in the Handshake and UCAN* systems for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni. Here are our picks for this week:

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships:

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to HireTigers, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Apply for a Princeternship

Looking for a great way to spend a few days of winter break? Want to meet alumni and get an inside look at career fields that interest you? Apply for a Princeternship, which matches undergraduate students with alumni for job shadowing and project experience over one to five days. Applications for the winter Princeternship sessions open Oct. 11 and will close Nov. 8. Undergraduate students of all years can apply in Handshake.

Princeternships provide a “day in the life” in the workplace, with students often participating in board, client or patient meetings; office tours; seminars; case studies and projects. During a winter Princeternship, students have the opportunity to:

  • Explore a career field of interest, without the commitment of an internship

  • Gain first-hand knowledge of a real work environment and on-the-job etiquette

  • Uncover possible internships and options for future careers

  • Connect directly with an alum host, who can serve as an excellent resource for career, job and internship advice

  • Learn about the job application process by submitting a resume and interviewing for a position

There are more than 70 positions available with 38 different organizations during this session, including opportunities in arts and entertainment, communications, business, consulting, entrepreneurship, education, government, healthcare, law, nonprofit and STEM. To learn more about the program and get a firsthand look at past experiences through student blogs, visit our Princeternship page.

Questions? Come to our walk-in hours or email Rachel Jimenez, associate director, internships & experiential education.

Class of 2016: Searching for meaningful work

Written by Eva Kubu, director, Career Services at Princeton University

In my last blog post I shared some back-to-school-themed tips on how you can reboot your job search this fall. This week, let’s focus on the deeper questions concerning what really matters most to you and why. Remember: When you’re searching for opportunities, you are not just looking for any job—you are looking for a job that will be the right fit for you!

Recently, I read an article written by Eric Barker about a very important topic for job seekers: Finding meaningful work. Barker summarized scientific research regarding the factors that lead to long-term career satisfaction and fulfillment. Essentially, this process begins with self-reflection and determining which opportunities will align well with your core values, strengths and interests. Here’s some advice based on the article about what you should consider when looking for work that will be personally fulfilling:

Money or reward? Salary is an important factor to consider, but money may not be what makes a job truly rewarding. In fact, Harvard Business Review cites the number one career regret people have is taking a job solely for the money. In terms of your job search, if you are singularly focused on looking at high-paying opportunities, you may be overlooking other potential rewards. Alumna Kate Grant *94, CEO of the Fistula Foundation, spoke about this topic in a recent interview with us.

Status or personal brand? Once on the job, studies show that we do not get a sense of meaning or purpose from the status associated with working at a prestigious organization or having a lofty job title. What does seem to matter most to us is being respected, appreciated and admired for our work and our personal brand. In his book, “How to Find Fulfilling Work, ” author Roman Krznaric asserts, “While most of us wish to enjoy a dose of social status, the feeling that we are respected by others for what we do and how we do it is one of the keys to having a meaningful career.” When searching for opportunities, consider whether you are applying mostly to large, well-known organizations or are drawn only to job titles that seem impressive. If so, you might be overlooking great opportunities that could be more valuable in helping you establish a personal brand and gain experience

Impact and making a difference. Barker cites research showing that the people who report the highest levels of job satisfaction are those who feel like their work helps society. Service has always been a central theme at Princeton and there are many examples of alumni who pursue careers in service. There are many avenues you can explore to uncover meaningful opportunities where you can have an impact and make a difference. Begin by researching how a particular role or the organization itself contributes to the social good or community.

Using your talents or strengths. In his book, “Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment” alumnus Martin Seligman ’64 asserts that people who use their “signature strengths” are happier at work. A recent Gallup poll cited in the article also found that people who use their strengths are more likely to report feeling more energetic, happy, respected and like they were learning something interesting on the job. Identifying and understanding how your core talents relate to specific opportunities is an essential part of finding meaningful work. As you search for opportunities, pay close attention to the job description for clues as to whether you’ll have the opportunity to use your signature strengths, and if they’ll be valued in the organization.

Pursuing your passion. There are probably many different types of jobs that you may find meaningful and rewarding. Don’t know if you have a true passion yet? Don’t worry about it. Passion isn’t something that you are born with or something that just hits you like a lightning bolt—it is generally something that you discover through experiences and self-reflection. In his recent LinkedIn blog, “Just. Do. You.” Paul Riley, a member of the Class of 2015, shares his perspective on why breaking through other’s expectations and our own limiting beliefs helps us find our passions and the courage and conviction to go after them.

Want to invest time in self-reflection that will help you gain traction in your search for meaningful work? Alumnus Doug Stuart ’14 recently shared how our Career & Life Vision workshop inspired him to redirect his job search and successfully pursue his passion. If you didn’t have a chance to attend this workshop while you were in school, I invite you to check out our event calendar for a full schedule of upcoming programs. For more inspiration, check out these recent interviews with alumni who share their career and life lessons.

Even if there really isn’t a fairy job mother who can magically connect you to your perfect job, if you devote time every day to self-reflection and actively searching, you will be well on your way to finding fulfilling work!