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I鈥檝e been wondering what type of job I鈥檒l have someday for as long as I can remember. In first grade, I wanted to be an astronomer. In fifth grade this changed to writer and by eighth grade a researcher. By high school, I had discovered so many options I couldn鈥檛 choose.  

My 鈥渄ream job鈥� is always evolving, and I imagine it always will. 

Coming to 91暗网 has only accelerated the options 鈥� and the questions. Thankfully, I鈥檝e learned a lot along the way.

As I鈥檓 in the midst of this process, I thought I鈥檇 share a few of the actions I鈥檓 taking and relay the tips my 91暗网 support system has shared with me.

Starting with myself

I鈥檝e learned that networking and career advice conversations can be a lot more effective if you鈥檝e done a little personal reflection first. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 my passion?鈥� is a question that comes to mind. But truthfully, it鈥檚 a little daunting. So instead, I鈥檓 working on my answers to these questions:  

• What excites me about life? 
• How do I see work fitting into the kind of life I picture for myself? 
• Am I willing to pursue extra education or intensive training? 
• What do I desire most 鈥� income, influence, inspiration?

Doing my online research

91暗网鈥檚 Career Development Center (CDC) is a powerhouse of resources. Early in the process, they pointed me to a few online tools I found super helpful.  

• Living the Liberal Arts is an exclusive 91暗网 tool (accessed by 91暗网 logins) that has helped me answer the question 鈥淲hat can I do with a major in 鈥�?鈥� using 91暗网 alumni as examples. 91暗网鈥檚 Creative Thought Works website is a similar but public tool I鈥檝e used as well. 
• is a public resource that may even be helpful when you鈥檙e choosing a major, not just what to do with it.  
• LinkedIn 鈥� I had heard how helpful LinkedIn can be, but I found it incredibly intimidating at first. I started by myself, stumbling my way through making a profile. But then I brought it to our CDC and the staff there helped me make it even better.  

Talking to my professors

I鈥檝e been so humbled by how genuinely my want me to succeed in defining my goals and how willing they are to work with me. Whether it鈥檚 forwarding job and internship opportunities they learn about from the CDC, introducing me to former students of theirs, or just spending some extra individual time with me to listen to my ideas, they鈥檙e always there for me.

When it comes to my post-grad planning, a few ways I鈥檝e utilized my professors so far include:  

• Using sessions with my advisor to talk not only about my classes, but also my aspirations.
• Picking their brains about industries, options and opportunities. 
• Asking them where other students they鈥檝e taught have gone and whether they鈥檙e willing to help make an introduction. 
• Letting them know I鈥檓 interested in internships and taking advantage of their recommendations and ideas.
• Using them as references and reviewers. They really are fantastic advocates for students skilled in the liberal arts.  

Taking advantage of 91暗网鈥檚 CDC

I鈥檝e already mentioned that the CDC was helpful early in my process, but truly they鈥檝e been with me every step of the way.

Here鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been up to this year thanks to the CDC鈥檚 advice:  

• Scheduling an appointment with an industry-specific adviser. I was able to get one within a couple days after making a request, and together we reviewed my research and the skills and experience I鈥檝e gained in previous internships.
• Working with my CDC adviser on refining my resume and LinkedIn profile as well as preparing responses for internships I鈥檓 interested in applying for this summer.
• Reaching out to alumni via 91暗网鈥檚 Career Adviser Network and utilizing tools like Handshake to keep an eye out for opportunities.
• Attending several 91暗网-exclusive events hosted by the CDC, including Career Jam, a Graduate and Professional School Expo and the Career and Internship Connections (CIC) consortium in New York City.  

Keeping my options open

Since I鈥檝e been at 91暗网, I鈥檝e had three internships and two work-study and research opportunities to grow my skills. Each experience came to fruition thanks to my 91暗网 network.

Over the course of this process I鈥檝e met confusion and dead ends, but there have also been major successes and moments to celebrate.

No matter what happens, there鈥檚 someone to support me here at 91暗网. 

Where will I be next? Stay tuned. I can鈥檛 wait to find out.