Month: March 2011

Perfect Timing (for your summer internship search)!

By Claire Klieger

Hogwarts Castle or, as I like to call it, "Mecca"

I just got back from a trip to Orlando for, among other things, the express purpose of visiting the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter (yes, I embrace my inner dork). We got to Universal early thinking we might miss some of the crowds just to find them all packed into Potter portion of the park because it turns out we had all had the same not-so-bright idea. However, as the day wore on, the crowds really thinned out and we ended up having almost no wait for the HP Experience (fantastic!) or other rides. And, despite being warned to expect a two hour wait at The Three Broomsticks for lunch, we just waltzed right in and were able to be seated immediately—for the record, butter beer isn’t actually that tasty even if it was fun to drink it. Why regale you with stories of my geeky spring break?

It turns out that the internship search season can feel much the same way. Everyone thinks gee, I have to get started really early or all of the “good” opportunities will be taken.  And there is the similar early semester frenzy of OCR. But the truth is that lots of really fantastic opportunities don’t become available until later in the semester. Most students don’t find out about their summer plans that early. In fact, hot off the presses, the summer 2010 survey data shows that for sophomores, over 70% did not receive an internship offer until March or later. While it is true that some industries tend to make offers earlier (financial services peaks with internship offers in February), many do not typically make offers until later. For example, for internships in both communications and with non-profits, the peak time period for offers was April. For more details on timelines for offers, summer salary trends by industry and more, check out our newly posted summer survey reports for the College and Wharton.

So don’t feel like just because spring break has come and gone and it feels like the semester’s end is approaching faster than you could eat a chocolate cauldron cake from HoneyDukes (which, as I deliciously discovered, is pretty fast) that you don’t have options. Now is the time when new internships in a variety of fields are being posted daily. It’s time to get back on PennLink, iNet and other internship search tools because great things are still out there. If you want help getting your internship search back on track, touch base with us in Career Services.

Just for fun, here are other ways your internship search may resemble the theme park experience:

Warning! Those with heart conditions should not ride – the search process itself can be very stressful so it’s important to remember to pace yourself and break the search into more manageable smaller tasks.

Beware unexpected bumps in your internship search!

Approximate wait time: variable – Sometimes you may hear back about an application with surprising speed and at other times the wait can be a long time and often there is no way to predict how long it will take. Makes you wish there was a “fast pass” for internship offer news, doesn’t it?

Attraction Description: This is a high-speed ride that includes sudden and dramatic acceleration, climbing, tilting, and dropping. You will be turned completely upside-down several times. Your search will often feel like an emotional roller coaster, filled with unexpected turns, some good, some bad, some (possibly) terrifying but if you’re buckled in correctly, even if you are compelled to scream at times, the search will hopefully come to fruitful and joyous conclusion.

The USNWR Rankings Are Out Tomorrow – The Top 14 List

Except it’s not what you think.  🙂

So, it is indeed that time of year again – when pre-law students, law school applicants, current law students, and law school admissions officers and administrators anxiously await the new U.S. News & World Report law school rankings.  As many of you know, there are rarely any seismic shifts in the results as evidenced by the ever-unchanging, more-certain-than-death-and-taxes Top 14 (“T-14” for those who speak the Law School Admissions dialect) list of fourteen schools always landing in the top, year after year.  While subtle movements occur within the Top 14 and elsewhere throughout the rankings list every year – after all, you have to give the readers (and online posters) something to worry/debate/obsess about – I am amazed at how thoroughly predictable the rankings are, by and large.  Well, at least I used to be.  So in honor of the 2012 rankings being published tomorrow – for more precise timing, the USNWR staff has graciously provided a clock, ticking down the days, hours, minutes, (and yes) seconds until their online publication – here is Top 14 List of what you should keep in mind when the clock strikes zero.

via braintrack.com

1. In response to a great deal of outside pressures, compelling appeals, and legitimate questions about reliability from myriad constituencies, the 2012 USNWR rankings have apparently been modified in how employment rates are calculated.  The details about the specific changes remain nebulous prior to publication, but the issues of transparency and accuracy and the desire to collectively “eliminate some of the gaming that seems to be taking place” all seem to have gained traction.  USNWR even wrote a letter to all law school deans, insisting on more honest reporting: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2011/03/09/us-news-urges-law-school-deans-to-improve-employment-data

2. In addition to these improvements in the computations, it seems like USNWR will also make more robust and more detailed career data available than they ever have before to paint a broader, but also more nuanced picture of the current state of the legal market for prospective students.  Stay tuned!

3. USNWR recently surveyed law firm recruiters and hiring partners at the top US law firms and created an alternate “Top 25” list, which adds a slightly different perspective to the rankings game: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2011/03/07/law-firm-recruiters-rank-best-law-schools.  However, caveat emptor – according to USNWR, the survey “was sent last fall to 750 hiring partners and recruiters at law firms who made the 2010 Best Law Firms rankings produced jointly by U.S. News and the publication Best Lawyers.”  And also, “the response rate was 14 percent.”

4. In addition to the overall rankings, don’t forget to review the Law School Specialty rankings as well, particularly if you are interested in attending law school with a specific field/area of interest in mind.  Though based solely on votes by legal educators, these are still interesting lists to consider.  The specialties listed are: Clinical Training, Dispute Resolution, Environmental Law, Healthcare Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Legal Writing, Part-Time Law, Tax Law, and Trial Advocacy.  And guess what schools in the 2010 Specialty Rankings weren’t #1 on any of those lists?  I’ll give you a hint, they rhyme with Yale, Harvard, and Stanford.

5. Did you know that 40% of what determines the rankings each year is what USNWR refers to as “Quality Assessment?”  Quality Assessment is determined by sending a survey to a variety of constituencies: Peer Assessment (representing 25% of the total rankings) is comprised of law school deans, law school faculty, and deans of academic affairs, while Assessment by Lawyers/Judges (representing 15% of the total ranking) is comprised by law firm hiring partners, selected judges, and other legal professionals.  And what does the survey ask?  One thing: Please “rate programs on a scale from marginal (1) to outstanding (5).” After that, “a school’s score is the average of all the respondents who rated it,” with “responses of ‘don’t know’ count[ing] neither for nor against a school.”   That’s it.  That’s 40% of the overall rankings.  Even scarier?  Last year, for Peer Assessment, only 65% of those surveyed responded… while only 21% of those surveyed for the Assessment by Lawyers/Judges responded.

6. Bar passage rate only accounts for 2% of the total rankings.  The main (and only) indicator as to whether or not you will be able to practice law in a given state after graduating from law school accounts for 2% of the law school rankings.  And just to reiterate, the one-question survey asking for Peer Assessment accounts for 25%.  Just saying.

7. Even the USNWR editors themselves declare that “many other factors that cannot be measured also should figure in your decision, including the course offerings and culture of departments that interest you, the advising or mentoring you can expect to receive, and the location and campus life.”  They even explicitly say this: “the rankings can inform your thinking—but they won’t hand you an easy answer. We urge you to use them wisely.”  Something to think about, huh?

8. There are many, many other resources for you to consider when researching law schools, even though none of them might have the ticking-down clock (See #9-12).

9. The Law School Admission Council – www.lsac.org

10. The websites (and printed materials) of the individual law schools themselves

11. Our very own Career Services Pre-Law Website – http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/law/

12. Our very own Career Services pre-law advisors – Anne Reedstom and Yours Truly – available for individual appointments and weekly pre-law walk-in hours

13. Notice that the litany of law school online forums and “boards” is not mentioned here.  With very good reason.  Please try to refrain for spending time on these websites.  They are unregulated, mostly mean-spirited, and often wildly inaccurate and exaggerated.  Again, please refer to #9-12 before you ruin your day.

14. And now with my caveats in tow, here you go and happy (judicious, well-reasoned, and non-obsessive… promise?) clicking (since we’re rapidly approaching the zero hour): http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools

A Day in the Life: Historic Preservationist

Read Sabra Smith’s archived tweet feed here: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/SabraSmith_Feed.pdf

Our national historic landmarks would be lost, ordinary objects from the past if it weren’t for historic preservationists. Learn about this unique and interesting career path when Sabra Smith (Penn Design ’07), contributes to @PennCareerDay on Thursday, March 17th.   To find out more about Sabra, read below and don’t forget to follow her on St. Patrick’s Day!

Sabra Smith

Sabra Smith is currently a Historian (Architectural) at the National Park Service’s Northeast Regional Office in Philadelphia.  When her term is up in three years and she’s looking for a new job, you can count on hearing from her.  Her career started out in publishing and public relations in New York City.  She comes late to historic preservation, but finds crumbling old buildings to be even more interesting than Norman Mailer.   Doing a sidewalk survey during her UPenn studio project, she observed people recoil when asked about things “historic.”  Her blog, My Own Time Machine: People, Places and Things, tries to remind people that history is about stories and can be lots of fun.  Follow her on Twitter for the day and you’ll hear about the National Historic Landmark vessel Olympia, John Coltrane’s house, women’s history, Franklin Fountain (ice cream for everyone!), and her kids.

Sabra graduated in 2007 from the School of Design with her master’s degree in historic preservation.  Her thesis was “Dead Men Tell No Tales:  How Can Creative Approaches to Communication Keep Historic Sites from Going Silent?”

Find Sabra on:

LinkedIn.
Twitter.
Wordpress – here & here.
Etsy.

 

 

 

 

 

Lend a Helping Hand

by Anne Guldin Lucas


It was a simple gesture of protectiveness.  As two boys were walking along a narrow railroad underpass facing oncoming traffic, the taller boy pulled the shorter boy closer to him, away from the cars.  This isn’t a blog about pedestrian safety, although that’s a worthy topic.  Perhaps only a career counselor could find a career connection in that fleeting moment between two children.

What struck me about an older boy helping a younger boy was the essential importance of helping one another throughout our lifetimes—whether in navigating traffic or in building careers.  Helping others can come in many different forms, and obviously there are many diverse examples at Penn—such as tutoring and mentoring children in West Philadelphia, fundraising for victims of disasters, or serving other worthy causes and organizations.  I believe that most Penn students are involved with some sort of good works; it’s admirable and necessary to the well being of our vibrant community.

While endorsing all varieties of aid, the type of “helping others” I’m discussing here is more directly related to careers.  I’m referencing sharing career advice, an important way of giving back to Penn.  On Monday, March 14th, Rich Ross ’83, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, will return to Penn for his 20th visit to address students interested in “Entertainment Careers.”  Rich’s devotion to his alma mater is exceptional and unprecedented.  Literally decades of Penn students have benefited from his expertise and experience, enjoying a good dose of humor in the mix.  If you’d like to attend Rich’s presentation, please check out this link and RSVP:

  • Entertainment Careers with Alum Rich Ross – Chairman of Walt Disney Studios
    Monday, March 14th, 4:30 pm – 6:00pm, Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall     RSVP Here

Since there is only one Rich Ross as far as Penn is concerned, fortunately there are other ways for Penn students and alumni to make contributions related to career networking.  Did you realize that current students have volunteered to share information about their internships with fellow students through the Penn Internship Network and alumni have registered to share their career insights as mentors in PACNet, the Penn Alumni Career Network?  Please participate in these networks, as an advisor or as an information seeker, by using the links above.

Additionally, for students participating in campus organizations such as athletic teams or publications, the arts, or service clubs, why not reach out to alumni who shared your passion for these activities when they were students at Penn?  Many of our athletic teams do a terrific job of connecting today’s Penn athletes with their stars from yesteryear for mentoring.  If your team or club hasn’t tapped this vital resource, I urge you to initiate similar programs in your organization.  While meeting with a Penn undergrad recently, we fantasized about bringing together students interested in the business and creative sides of entertainment so that they can begin to forge productive relationships on campus, which they will then carry into the world beyond Penn.  I’m imagining the 2025 Academy Awards when the group receiving the Best Picture award mentions that “Our collaboration began at Penn!”

If you need advice or encouragement to take full advantage of the many networking opportunities available to you, please make an appointment to meet with a counselor in Career Services!  Let’s help one another learn about career options and move into rewarding, successful careers.  And thanks again to Rich Ross ’83 for making his 20th visit to Penn next week!

Cubicle with a View

by Lindsay Mapes

As an administrative assistant I do not have a corner office with a view of Locust Walk.  Instead I have a corner cubicle with a view of every move you make before your settle in with your counselor or advisor, and sometimes it’s not pretty.  The scenery doesn’t change much when I head down to OCR to check in employers and students for their interviews, either.

Etiquette starts when you pick up the phone to schedule an appointment or interview.  Make sure it doesn’t sound like you’re not standing in the middle of a six lane highway or while you’re leading a kindergarten class in a sing-along. You should also have your calendar handy when you call.  Similarly, when you have an appointment or interview over the phone find someplace quiet, with good reception and free from interruptions.  We actually had a student call for her scheduled phone appointment while she was on a bar crawl.  Not only is it disrespectful to who you’re speaking with, but it hampers the quality of your appointment and what you get out of it.

Whether you’re interviewing in OCR, meeting with an advisor at Career Services, or headed to an unfamiliar city for an interview, make sure you know where you’re going.  That doesn’t mean having an address scrawled on a wrinkled piece of paper. Career Services is tucked away in the basement of the McNeil Building.  Tons of students show up late for interviews in OCR or appointments in Suite 20 because they don’t know where they’re going. Google the address before you go.  Also, administrative assistants are happy to give directions! If you had an interview in Manhattan you wouldn’t just show up at the train station, then try to figure it out on your own and call 10 minutes after your appointment begins breathless and lost?

If you are going to be late, call as soon as you know.  If you’re not going to show up at all, you should also call or email as soon as you know.  As redundant as this advice seems, it’s surprising how many students simply do not show without advance notice.  I notice and so do the advisors, especially the frequent no-shows. Interviewers and advisors are very busy, as are you, so if you let them know well in advance they may be able to accommodate you for another time.  Blatant no-shows do not guarantee any accommodations.

When you do show up on time to your interview or appointment you should know what company you’re interviewing for or who you’re meeting with.  This prevents you from sounding like a disorganized person who doesn’t want to be there.  There’s no Anne Redstorm or Ted Rothum here.

Be aware of your surroundings when you’re in the waiting area, especially in OCR.  Sometimes when people get nervous they get chatty, and then they get loud.  Other students (and interviewers) may not want to hear how your last interviewers thought you were perfect.  People also probably aren’t interested in hearing a phone conversation about how much you drank over the weekend.  Be considerate. If the three people in the waiting area with you are exchanging looks and rolling eyes at each other, you might want to stop playing Angry Birds with your sound on.

Administrative assistants and receptionists are here to help you from the moment you pick up the phone or come in to make an appointment.  Do not hesitate to ask for directions, to call when you’re running late, or to see if we can schedule you for a different day.  And Lifesavers! We have Lifesavers!  Could someone with a basket of Lifesavers steer you wrong?