Mind the Gap, as in Your Gap Year!

Mind the Gap. I used to see this sign quite a bit as I waited for a ride on the Underground (subway) when I studied abroad in England. The recording of a woman with a British accent warning, "Mind the gap," still runs through my head when I think of that saying. For you, though, this may mean something different if you are thinking about a Gap Year before pursuing an advanced degree.

Why a Gap Year makes sense? (or cents?!!)

Make the time to find a position related to what you want to study in the future. Thinking of applying to medical or vet school but feel you need added clinical experience? Use this year to gain more experience and test out the field you're considering. Actually, some advanced degree programs, like MBAs, require that you have several years of experience before you apply.

Maybe you're like me - when I graduated, I was so ready to take a break from writing papers and researching assigned topics. I was done spending my time in the library or typing away on a paper. And if you take a Gap Year, there is an added bonus: NO HOMEWORK!

Use this time to save some money to apply toward your future education. Many graduate or professional schools have extremely high price tags, so making some cash before you take on that financial commitment is a smart plan. It does "make cents," doesn't it?

During your Gap Year, you might find an employer who supports your advanced study, meaning a Gap Year may not even be needed. You can keep right on working as you pursue your degree with your current employer paying for it (depending on what you're studying).

In this year, you have time to learn more about yourself and the world of work if you're unsure what you want to study. A Gap Year gives you more time to do research on programs, interview various professionals, and prepare for the application process, some of which are very rigorous and competitive.

Not happy with your LSAT score for law school? You can work to improve your scores on entrance tests. I took the LSAT and applied to law schools after taking more than one Gap Year. Neither my score nor my barely cum laude GPA were high enough for the law schools where I applied, so after more thought and planning about my future, I took the GMAT and applied to MBA programs, which worked out.

Still another way to spend this 12 months is to use this time to live and travel in a different part of the world. There are organizations that offer international internships or if your English speaking skills are strong, you could pursue teaching English as a Second Language or working for some sort of service program. The Global Education Office has helpful links for you to research these kinds of opportunities while Career Services provides you access to over 40 Country Guides with GoinGlobal.

Embrace Ut Prosim spending a Gap Year (or two) before pursuit of an advanced degree by working for AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, or Teach For America. Bonus: after you honor your commitment, these organizations assist you financially in your pursuit of additional education.

Those are just some of the advantages of taking a break from higher education after completing your bachelor's degree. Be sure you use your time wisely during your Gap Year. Seek out assistance from Career Services whether you're deciding on the direction you will take during your break from school, or you need help with your applications to graduate or professional schools. If you decide to take a Gap Year, we're here to help you "Mind the Gap."

Job Search Gone Cold? 7 ways to warm up!

We finally got our first big snow of 2015 and we’re in for a frigid week. While it’s cold outside, use this time to warm up your job search. Here are 6 warm ups for you with a bonus recipe thrown in!

Want to move to a different part of the country? Check out CareerSHIFT where you can customize your search for listings targeting a certain job title or location. And, if you have a dream employer but no contacts, you can search for contacts at employers as well. Once you locate an employer, send that contact a letter of inquiry with your resume.

Attend career fairs. Next week the Computer Science Consortium, Connection and CareerFest fairs will all be held. Connection is for ALL majors. And, if you don’t already have Spring Break plans, there are career fairs in Richmond and Northern Virginia during our break. Find out more about various fairs here.

Ramp up your brand online by fine tuning your LinkedIn profile. The more complete your profile, the more LinkedIn can help you, and the more you will bubble up in searches. Tap into a special job search site LinkedIn has created just for you. And, FIND ALUMNI by accessing them under CONNECTIONS in the LinkedIn tool bar. Tailor your requests to connect with alumni.

Make Hokies4Hire a regular part of your search by setting up saved searches (a job search agent), so you will get emails when a new job is added that meets your criteria. You can also participate in on campus interviews and look for contacts in the Employer Directory in Hokies4Hire.

Use GoinGlobal to research a city where you plan to relocate. This site features over 40 US City Guides with links to job listing sites. Tap into professional networking groups for a particular city and learn about top industries. And, if you are an international student, access the H1B Plus database to find employers who have been through the H1B process with other employees.

Put yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to reach out to contacts through friends of parents or parents of friends. Maybe that contact is a neighbor, someone you met at a conference, someone you know from class. Most people like helping others. If you find someone who won’t assist you, move on to the next contact. As I tell the 2 Hokies I raised, 

“It  never hurts to ask. The worst answer you will get is no!”

Need more ideas to warm up your job search? Come see us in Career Services or at a location near you. To make an appointment with a career advisor, call 540-231-6241. We can help you heat up your job search!

To close, warm up for real with this homemade hot chocolate recipe from the Hershey Cocoa box. Nothing like HOMEMADE HOT COCOA to warm up on these cold days we’ve been having. Stay warm and try some of these tips to make your job search heat up!

Be the pilot of your job search: An Infographic

This morning as I was watching CBS This Morning, the anchors were discussing a missing AirAsia plane. An expert from the National Safety Council joined in their discussion. As she spoke, she shared that the pilots of that plane had 3 key jobs:

Aviate
Navigate
Communicate

These same 3 actions can be applied to a journey you may be preparing for, your job search. View our infographic below for tips on how to be the pilot of your job search.

Bon voyage, and let us know if we can help during any stage of your journey.