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The Job Hunt
Who's Hiring, How to Network, and Where Students Can Go for Advice
Career Services director Skip Sturman '70 and Monica Wilson, associate director of employer relations, recently sat down to talk about their work helping students navigate a tricky employment market.
Monica Wilson: Today's job market is challenging, no question about it. But if students are focused and determined and use their time properly, they can get a job.
Skip Sturman: Employers used to come to campus and hire in large numbers all at once, and that's not happening now. But jobs are out there. Students need to sleuth out niche opportunities. We hear about them daily—a job here, two jobs there. We send out specialty e-mails to students every two weeks with new opportunities. But there aren't whole wide-open sectors anymore.
MW: And the jobs we're hearing about aren't necessarily in the locations that students might have considered at first. We might have a job in Portland, Maine, that's outstanding, or Chattanooga, Tennessee, or Colorado. It's important for students to refocus their priorities and decide how flexible they might be.
SS: Some consulting firms are still recruiting. Firms that help companies restructure or cut costs are doing well, and they've been to campus frequently. Health care and life sciences consulting are also growing sectors, and lots of students take advantage of our health professions advising service. And if you look around campus, there's a burgeoning interest in global health initiatives and international development.
MW: Environmental work also seems to be surging. And another area that's starting to boom in Washington: government jobs. We've reached out to a number of federal agencies and to the Call to Serve organization. The CIA came to campus this spring, and the Peace Corps held information sessions. So we're trying to help students think beyond the traditional industries.
SS: We emphasize to students that they need to be proactive. On-campus interviewing for internships is down, but there are still plenty of internships available, though many of them are unpaid. If you're looking for an internship, you need to be planning six months in advance. We talk about networking all the time, because we all know how many jobs are found through that means. For some students, that's a scary proposition.
MW: Some students are a little intimidated about picking up the phone and talking to a stranger. E-mail makes it easier.
SS: They still need to engage a human being. They have a tendency to graze electronically at 2 a.m., which is fine, but they should also come in and use our services to help them navigate the resources, learn how to network, have their resumes and cover letters reviewed. Students are busy, but the kinds of things we're talking about take time.
MW: Those who do schedule appointments and talk to us face-to-face are overwhelmingly happy they did. Dartmouth students have a lot to offer, and we're here to help them put their best foot forward. I've heard repeatedly from people who hire Dartmouth students or graduates that they tend to be more articulate, more well rounded, and great at project management.
SS: A recruiter recently told me that what stands out for him is Dartmouth students' inquisitiveness, their flexibility, and their numeracy. That's a growing match between our students and what employers need—quantitative ability, and analytical skills in general. So a lot of employers go out of their way to trek up to Hanover because they know they'll find students who have what they need.
MW: We've also been making a concentrated effort to reach out to parents and alumni to say, "Please open your network. Bring jobs and internships to Dartmouth." We've been reaching out to alumni club officers, and to groups like the Dartmouth Lawyers Association, the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association, and the Dartmouth Alumni in Entertainment and Media Association. We're contacting parents who've indicated that they can offer job shadowing or notify us about openings. We also put a link at the bottom of the Career Services home page, encouraging employers to post jobs with us. We'll see the results in the next month or two.
