For any college student the last few weeks of the semester are always stressful, between school work, wrapping up loose ends, and cramming for finals. But if you’re a senior, the pressure doubles, with the added stress of looking for a “real” job.
Many seniors tirelessly send out resumes, hoping to even get an interview. We all know that the economy is tough right now, and that entry level positions are few and far between.
However, these three students are all beating the statistics, and have surmounted the daunting task of finding a post-college job. Their paths to their jobs were all very different. Seniors can learn from these Campus Celebrites, and try and pick up some tips on starting a career after college.
Kathryn Card, Peace Corps
Kathryn Card of South Portland will be working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania, as a Secondary Education English Teacher. Her responsibilities include teaching English to 45 students. She got the job after a year long application process, which she described as extremely long.
“First you have to fill out a application online which includes essays and your resume. You then are given a interview with a recruiter, mine was Stacey Ferguson, and it was up to her if she thought I was a good fit or not for the Peace Corps,” Card said. “Next step is the Medical Clearance, which is lots of blood work and follow up questions. Most people do not pass medical. Once medical has cleared you a placement officer who calls and has a second interview with you. It is up to the placement officer what country they feel best fits you.” Card said.
Card also interned at the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington DC from May through August 2010, as a Programming Assistant, which she said helped her get her job.
Card said she did not apply for any other jobs besides the Peace Corps. She leaves for Tanzania June 13th.
If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps too, visit http://www.peacecorps.gov/.
Kristin Orr, TD Bank
Senior Kristin Orr will be staying in Maine and working as a Cot Accountant for TD Bank in South Portland.
Her responsibilities will include traveling throughout the TD Bank U.S. footprint, Maine to Florida, to conduct and redesign costing studies by completing time surveys of the different business areas in the company. Or for us right-brained people, Orr will be evaluating how efficiently TD Bank employees are using their time, and how long it takes them to complete tasks.
Orr interned with TD Bank over the summer and stayed in touch her with her boss, and HR representatives, and was thus able to give them her resume for a few different positions. Her internship was with the Project Implementation Office at TD Bank.
“My connections through this internship helped greatly in securing my new job,” Orr said.
Besides positions at TD Bank, Orr applied for a few entry-level positions at public accounting firms.
“I was very worried I might not get a job, but a lot of my classmates have been unable to find jobs,” Orr said. “Because I have been so busy with finals and extra curricular it is really nice to not have to worry about what I will be doing after graduation!”
Tony Patane, Professional Baseball
Tony Patane, from New Milford, Connecticut, is taking a slightly different post-college path than the average UMaine senior. He recently signed a professional baseball contract to spend the summer playing in Massachusetts for the Worcester Tornadoes.
“I was invited to a Red Sox workout last year and did well,” Patane said. “The northeast scout talked to a couple guys and I got a phone call from the head of player personal offering me the contract.
Patane acknowledges that his career path is pretty different than other student’s.
“I think I differ from the average college senior greatly simply because I am following a path many students don’t. Rather than trying to find a job right now, I am fortunate enough to follow a childhood dream.”
He said if he didn’t have his job secured and was still on the job-search grind like his classmates, he wouldn’t be too stressed out, because playing a sport has helped him network and meet potential employers.
Where does he see himself in five years?
“If not playing ball still, I see myself using pro ball as a resume booster and hopefully landing a solid coaching job or an opportunity to work at the minor/big league level instructing.”