Career Expo: Open Thread

We'll be live-blogging during the Career Expo this morning, so look for our table in the center of the atrium (right next to the giant School of Public Health sign). Check back here for information about what's going on...

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10:30: There are plenty of opportunities for students looking for jobs and internships today, including a number of non-profit health organizations, hospitals, and campus organizations.

If you are looking for an internship for the summer or beyond, here's some advice I've gathered from the employers at the Expo:

• Do an Internship: While this may seem self-evident, an internship provides invaluable experience and improves your opportunities in getting a future job. With the field of Public Health being so broad, an internship allows you to gain experience in specific fields so that you can see what you like to do. If you have the choice between doing an internship and scooping ice cream for a summer, better go with the internship.
• Expectations are Key: When you're interviewing, be clear about what your employer is expecting and what you are expecting from the internship. Finding a good match between student and employer allows everyone to get the most out of the experience.
• Do your Homework: As you search for an internship, do your best to learn something about the employers to which you're applying. This helps you make the best decision about what internships you want, and you'll also need to tell the employer why you want that internship at an interview. Browsing their Web site, contacting the Student Services Center, and talking with students who have worked at that organization in the past can give you the background knowledge you need to make a good decision.
  
• Don't Worry if you Don't Know Everything: The employers I talked with said that they look for students with a general knowledge of public health, an enthusiasm for learning, and not necessarily being an expert in the field of your employer. So, for example, if you want to apply for an internship at the American Kidney Fund and are concerned that you don't know enough about kidney diseases, don't worry; they'll teach you.

Be back later with some thoughts from students...

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11:32: We're back, and we've been talking with students at the Career Expo. Some are browsing for future jobs with resumes in hand, some are looking for their internship for Health 491, and some are just passing through for the free candy. Here are the highlights of what students say they're looking for out of jobs and internships:

• Hands-on Experience: The students we talked with are looking for more out of their internship than making copies and grabbing coffee for the higher-ups. Hands-on work, practical experience, and having the opportunity to expand their skill set are high on the minds of potential interns.
• Professionalism: It's not a shock that students are looking for the same thing in an internship as they would in a career: a respectful and professional workplace where they will receive guidance and opportunities to learn more.
• Being Approachable: At the Career Expo and other events like it, one student mentioned that they appreciate when the organizational representative is friendly and approachable. Throughout the atrium, we're seeing reps come out from behind their tables to talk to students and express interest in what the students are doing, a good sign to be sure.
  

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12:32: The expo shuts down around 2 pm, so if you're reading this now, there's still plenty of time to come and drop off a resume, take a gander at who's here, or pick up some information.

As for me, my laptop is running low on batteries, so this will probably be the last update. Thanks to everyone who stopped and said hello at The Healthy Turtle table, and good luck with the internship/job hunting.