The Columbia College Student Experience: Got a career question? Christie’s got (almost) all the answers. And she likes to share.

the economy hasn't changed my decision of going to college. it did however, change my decision about what to major in. i was in vocal performance, and decided it might be a wiser idea to change to graphic design where there might be more available jobs for me.

Dear Student Life

I am a Theatre sophmore 2nd semster who has studied abroad and is currently looking for a internship for this summer after hopefully studying abroad again but scholarships elude me. I don't have a place to apply Columbia 's schedule for scholarships screwed me over. Jan 26th we return then scholarships are due feb 13th ?????????
..which was not in the hand out book. i am tired of fastweb where do I look. Is there scholarships for actors beside school subsides ones.

I am a Marketing Communications, concentration PR major. I want to feel optimistic, knowing we have a very competent president in the office. Hell yeah Obama. I am in fear because all I want is to succeed and not failt. It is Our economy that has a lot to do with my success, upon finding a job post grad. There's will be hope in my future, only if our present understandings about society and life change. Although, that's why I came to Columbia in the first place, to create change...

Hi Alexandria,

Great questions. Are you interested in getting academic credit for your internship? If so, a good first step would be checking in with the Internship Coordinator in your dept- Caroline Latta. She can help make sure you are meeting all of the appropriate requirements and may be able to share internships she is familiar with. Other ways of searching for internships include:

ColumbiaWorks (colum.edu/columbiaworks)- this online job and internship database for Columbia students is a good place to start.

Identify theaters of interest. Some organizations do not post internships and jobs outside of their own websites. If you have certain organizations in mind to work for, start with their website or call to inquire.

Use your network. Right now, that may mean talking to your theater professors or advisor about what they recommend, or to see where they might have connections to help you get a foot in the door.

Regarding management internships, some of the positions you listed will be available to you with a management minor- others will not. Your odds of getting into a large accounting firm are low given the relatively small number of accounting classes you will have as a minor. But, there are other places you could get related experience if that is something of interest to you.

You will find more paid internships in business than in theater, but I recommend (if you can) staying open to unpaid positions so you can find something that best fits your career interests.

Email me if you have questions and we can talk more! Thanks for the great question.

Hi,Christie Anderson. My name is alexandria. I am a junior in college my major
is theater and my minor is business management. I am taking class's
this fall for my minor. However, I wanted to to internships this
summer regarding theater and than next summer I would try to get an
internship for business management most likely at a bank firm, or
anything that deals with accounting and financing. Please email me
back in regards to helpful tips or answers to my inquiry. 1. Where
should I look for good internships specially for me and my major. 2.
When I take the courses for my minor will I be able to find a good
internship in management. 3. Are all internships non paid?

Sarah S,

Clearly a website is always the best way to present an online portfolio. But these days there are online creative sites that are becoming increasingly more popular to use. For example, http://www.behance.net. The user uploads certain images and there is also a link to their own website (because again, a website is the best way to show work always!)

Clean and simple design that allows for the work – and GOOD work at that – is the best way to attract attention. Too many bells and whistles detracts the viewer. Easy navigation is the way to go.

Caroline Juhlin- Portfolio Center

Naomi,

Great question and you know it depends. I think you are safe in making sure you have both available, but in a lot of ways it depends on the preference of the employer. Many of which will have their guidelines in any call for work.

That being said I tell all students to be sure to have their work in multiple formats: have your website updated with your most recent reel and have some promotional DVDs on hand. These DVDs should be professionally run and have some design elements to them.

Be sure to include your contact information, both on the disc and as part of the design. Those elements can be minimal. In fact in many cases less is more.

No matter what you do don't send in a scratched up DVR with sharpie scrawled all over it saying, "my dope reel" and in the same breath don't send someone to your myspace or youtube page. If you do I can guarantee you won't be getting a call back any time too soon.

- David Lewis, Portfolio Center

To Jackie and Kat re: internships,

First to Jackie- 99% of the time, it is worth it to do an internship, even if it is unpaid. Unpaid internships are common, so it is what you get out of it that is most important:

1. a resume/portfolio builder
2. experience in the industry
3. contacts in the industry
4. possibility of being hired after the internship

These are invaluable, and assuming you can afford to spend a semester without pay, it's almost always worth it for the foot in the door. With an unpaid internship the biggest question should be whether it's a quality internship. Ask about what a typical day would be like, whether you will be exposed to different areas of the organization, and what projects you will be a part of. Some companies want interns for the free labor, but it should also be a learning experience.

To Kat- it's also important to know that internships are not the only way to build your resume, portfolio, and network of contacts. Depending on what you want to do with your Illustration degree, there are other ways of getting experience without a formal internship. Freelancing may be one possibility. Professors or other mentors may be able to share additional ideas for getting out into the world to build solid relationships.

If you know what you want to do, and you know which companies in the area are doing this work- reach out to them now. Setting up a brief meeting to talk to them about the company and what they look for in new hires can help you get a foot in the door at a time when you may not be searching for a job. Who knows- maybe they will end up needing an intern or freelancer.

Film full of solid, stark, and stoic storytelling, and visual meaning. I love it dearly, but the prospect of working in California is a bit steep, and New York is a bit to close to home for my taste. So how in the world can I find a place to start kicking my way through the walls surrounding this seemingly impenetrable industry?

So I am a second semester Freshman and already I'm freaked out about loans, "The job" and graduating. So my parents have thankfully helped me out with paying for part of my college education. But soon it will all become mine to look after. I keep hearing that a four year degree is the new "high school diploma" and it doesn't matter where you get it. So what now? I love Columbia but I don't love the price. Would it be smart to save money and transfer to community college for a year? And if so do I have to reapply to Columbia?

p.s I get no Finical Aid

Well first of all just because the sign says "Now Hiring", doesn't mean they are hiring you! My question would be, why is it that if you qualify for a job, you interview, not once, but twice, that you receive the horrendous letter in the mail that you are overqualified!? Huh? What the heck does that really mean?

I'm in fiction writing and I'm working on a couple of book ideas. How the hell do I find someone to publish me? Or would it be easier to just do it myself?

I'm a sophomore photography major. I do not really know how to "network," it seems as if certain people just have a knack for knowing every person on the planet. I'm a tad bit shy and I don't always know what to say to people to sell myself. I also get very nervous in interviews. I don't know how to sell myself and set myself apart from the other applicants. I just had an interview for a photography instructor job for younger kids, and I've been waiting 2 weeks to get a conclusive answer as to whether or not I got the job. I called twice, and got a phone call from the employer saying that my interview went great but they were still interviewing people. What can I do to make employers say to themselves, "I have to hire that girl NOW! Forget the other applicants!"

I'm going into music production, and it scares the hell out of me the further I advance in my college career. I admit I do not have much experience, and over, and over, I hear that networking helps. I'm shy and have anxiety, and I know if I want to do this, I have to suck it up. I have gotten better with the whole anxiety thing, but still it is keeping from doing what I want to do most. Maybe because I do not know how to network? In my classes, I feel dumb because everyone knows soo much more than I do, but I do study hard, and if I have a question because I don't know something, I do ask. I want to learn as much as I can. It seems like many people in my class are all ready recording, making music, and has a lot more experience than I do. I felt dumb in my class the other day because my teacher asked each of us how we are furthering our career. Everyone else either recorded their band, made some beats, or played an instrument, and when it came my turn, I embarrassedly answered that I did nothing but listen to music. I just wish I could make friends with someone who recorded music, and at least just let me watch them.

I am a film and video major with a concentration in cinematography. I'm wondering how I should present my reel to potential future employers. What is the easiest for them? Should I supply them with a DVD? Should I have my work purely on my website? Thanks!

Being in a major like Illustration with no internship opportunities makes me a little nervous, I'm afraid I'll leave college without all those connections, and my feet in doors I should have if I want a job. I know the careers I'd be happy with, but I'm blank as how to make the transition from here to there.

Should I be cautious about unpaid internships? I landed one, it seems amazing... but it is unpaid, although I can get it for college credit. Is the 15-20 hours per week, the experience, and the one-line addition to my resume really worth ditching the much needed income?

Luke,

You raise some great questions, so I will give you the short version of my answers here.

When you’re job searching in a bad economy, a few things are important to know:
1) There is more competition for each job, so you need to be extra polished
2) It's more important to know people in the industry
3) The search takes longer- so start early

Your resume needs to be targeted to the jobs you are looking for, and it needs to represent you well. This is more than laundry list of past jobs. The best way to gauge whether it’s effective is to show it to as many professionals as possible. Feel free to send me a copy for feedback or set up an appointment.

Of course there are no guarantees, but most students can expect to have a job within about 6 months of graduation. That seems to be the magic number, and it’s a good thing because 6 months is how long your government loans defer before you have to start making payments!

Finally, the statistic on earning that you mentioned came from the Census Bureau in 2000. The economy may have taken a turn for the worse since then, but I still expect a degree to be well worth the investment in the long term. Consider that the average student leaves with about $30,000 in debt- you still come out ahead of your high school educated counterparts. I have loans myself, so I understand the stress! But most likely you would not be able to do the work you want without that initial investment.

Keep the questions coming and always feel free to follow up with me for more info!

What is the most respectable format for an online portfolio according to industry professionals? What makes a portfolio stand out?

What are some good strategies for getting the right job after college? What should I be mentioning in my resume?

There had been that statistic that those who graduate with a bachelor's degree will make 1 million dollars more than those who only went to high school. Today that isn't really true because there are many students who have graduated college and don't have a job and are still stuck with major loan debt.

What is the likelihood of getting a job after graduation in this economy?