Government, Nonprofit & Education: Mid May Edition

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May 11, 2021 – Upcoming Events, Opportunities & Resources

From the Advisor: 

Hey everyone, 

That’s right! We’re back for a second week in a row. We have even more opportunities for you this week. And if you are freaking out because finals are just too much, or maybe you are just plain exhausted, that is a-ok. A meaningful summer may not include a formal internship. In my own college journey I did a D.C. internship (in fact, my only internship) for one semester, studied abroad for another, and then worked on campus for orientation. Some of my warmest undergrad memories were the summers I spent working in Ann Arbor (I also worked in the cafeteria one summer, and helping stock books in a local, indie bookshop another). I think it was because I was busy enough during my work, but had the time to just chillax. 

So, go ahead and do what you need to do to recharge this summer. Adapted from my colleagues’ newsletter: Perhaps you just need to make money, but need to give your brain a break. Go ahead and take that lifeguard, retail, or babysitting gig! Perhaps you want to focus on studying for the LSAT or GRE. Perhaps you are burnt out and want to binge on Netflix. Do what serves you best. Remember, you are a student first, so employers and admissions committees are not going to question “gaps” in your resume – especially in these times when everyone is burnt out and our economy is still recovering. Need some suggestions where to start? Here are alternative ideas to spend our summer break beyond the typical internship plan:

  • A Shorter-Term Project. Check out Parker Dewey for shorter, unpaid projects.
  • Refresh your Career Development Skills and Documents. This includes updating your resume, Handshake and LinkedIn profiles; preparing for case interviews and behavioral interviews; preparing for graduate school by studying for exams and researching programs to apply; and networking with professionals.
  • A Personal Project. Get ahead of your senior thesis or junior research project; write a blog with content you are passionate about (topics could range from baking cakes to climate change); and/or learn a language.
  • Take a Course / Learn Something New. Take courses to learn/enhance a soft and hard skill(s). Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer an array of courses. Improve upon your project management skills, a refresh your foreign language skills, or supplement some of your quantitative studies by learning a new programming language, or how to master Excel like a pro. Also, check out this list of Ivy League free courses.
  • Volunteer. My go-to sites to find volunteer work or projects are idealist.org, volunteermatch.org, catchafire, allforgood, and helpwithcovid.com. There are a lot of opportunities related to local communities and helping with pandemic relief. Of course, you may want to volunteer in a completely different area of interest to explore your curiosities, and that works too.
    1. Apply to support the blood donor or disaster action teams with the Red Cross. 
    2. Check your local city or county. Some, like Arlington, have weekly newsletters you can sign up for to learn more about the individual needs. Or you can volunteer with your local Parks & Rec (bonus: you get to spend time outside!). 
    3. Be ready to apply for the VSFS program (applications will open over the summer). Take the time to research the various opportunities on the website. 
    4. Get outside! The National Park Service often looks for help, especially during the summer months. 
    5. Other ideas include food banks and food delivery, roles in grant writing, Translation, tutoring (Paper Airplanes tutor those conflict-affected; UPchieve) social media marketing, fundraising, transcribing, and more. The Smithsonian has some cool volunteer opportunities in digital archiving, or working on-site.  
    6. The Center for Social Justice also created a list of DC specific sites to volunteer last spring if you feel connected to D.C. and prefer serving this community.

All the best,
Beth

Website Note

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Article of the Week

Are you a graduating senior trying to find employment for after graduation? Then check out these two articles for some extra advice on how best to go about your job search. 

Career Center Resources

Industry Advisor:
Beth Schill 
elizabeth.schill@georgetown.edu (new window)
twitter.com/hirehoyas_bethS
linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-schill-81a1765/ (new window)

Resources:
Writing Resumes & Cover Letters (new window)
Networking Skills (new window)
Interviewing Skills (new window)
What Can I Do with My Georgetown Major? (new window)

Virtual Drop-Ins:
New drop-in hours for spring semester!
Drop-ins will now be available (new window) from 9-10AM Tuesday through Friday, 1-2PM Monday through Friday, and 7-8PM Monday through Thursday every week. 

Appointments: Virtual appointments are available via Handshake (new window). Sign up under ‘Career Center,’ then ‘Appointments’, then ‘Industry Advising,” then ‘Government, Nonprofit, and Education’.