Why Should I Go To Drop-Ins?
This blog post was written by Peer Career Ambassador Luke Martiros ’21.
It could have been the smallest thing: one page instead of two pages, more buzzwords and less fluff, or a clean and structured description of your best accomplishments. Whatever it is, your resume is vital in making you stand out.
When applying for a job or an internship, the initial stage of the application process typically involves filling out some personal information, answering a question or two, and attaching your resume. The most important part of this stage is your resume, as it provides the employer with their first impression of you. It is important to provide a good first impression because it shapes how people view you in the long term. Therefore, you should update and carefully review your resume, as it can make or break an opportunity. That is where drop-ins come in handy! All undergraduate students can swing by the Center for Career Development (CCD), which is located on the first floor in Hollister. Every weekday from 2:00 to 4:00 all class years are welcome to meet with a Peer Career Ambassador (PCA) and from 1:00 to 2:00 sophomores, juniors, and seniors can visit the designated drop-in adviser for the day. You can “drop-in” for however long you want, but typically, most appointments take no longer than 20 minutes. In these meetings, you will work alongside PCAs who are classmates that go through training to help critique resumes. So, why come into drop-ins to work with students?
First, we are your peers and your friends. Exposing your resume is not an easy thing to do, as there is a lot of personal information on it. That might make it intimidating to work alongside adults, but working with students can eliminate that fear. A welcoming atmosphere during the drop-in hours is appealing to many students. In addition, you never know what piece of information you can pick up while working with a student. For example, if you are interested in accounting and meet with Davele, who is concentrating in accounting, she can give you a piece of “inside advice” about a job or internship she had and what she learned. The second and equally important reason to come to drop-ins is that it is very efficient and extremely valuable. For 15-20 minutes of your day, the time you spend getting out of bed in the morning, you can have a beautifully polished resume! Having an aesthetically pleasing and organized resume can make you stand out among the crowd. Your resume is your chance to pitch yourself and tell your story, so you want it to be as good as possible! The third and equally important reason to come to drop-ins is to get to know the CCD staff. Meeting the PCAs not only improves your resume but also adds another friendly face to say hi to on campus and expands your personal network. Along with the PCAs, getting to know the staff of CCD and develop relationships is with them is healthy. You will develop the ability to talk to adults and can potentially gain a connection for a job or internship!
If you are still unsure about drop-ins, take the extra 15 minutes to stop by and change up your daily routine. You will not regret it!