Getting Started
Working Backwards From the Ideal First Job

Thinking about careers means thinking backwards, really-- starting by projecting yourself in the ideal first job, then figuring out how to get there. Thus, the guide works backwards also, describing 1 ) the technical skills (analytical, statistical, cartographic, field methods and writing) you can develop as a Geography major; 2) sample resumes, with both effective and ineffective examples; and, finally, a section on where to find and how to get internships. You should think about what the job market is in the area you are interested in, what the entry-level requirements are for professional jobs in that field, what courses you should take to prepare yourselfand what extra-curricular activities (volunteer work, internships, part-time jobs) to seek in order to enhance your marketability.

The notion of the marketability of skills may sound a bit too vocational for an academic institution. View it more as a way to take your coursework seriously, to shape your academic career so you can do what seems most worthwhile or challenging to you after you graduate. Even if you totally change your mind about your life's direction (as many of you may), at least you will have built up some coherent sense of what you're doing with your brief time as an undergraduate. While an undergraduate, you have the opportunity to develop skills and methods of problem solving which will be invaluable in any vocation you choose. Your course selection, approach to course work, and job-hunting are integrally related. One way to get a job is to develop a professional interest in a field or set of public issues or public policies. By "professional" we mean systematically developing your background, knowledge base, skills and contacts over a 2-3 year period so that by the time you hit the job market you will have the confidence that can only come from knowing what you know--and don't know--about your chosen field. Knowledge, enthusiasm, confidence in your skills and a good academic record are the keys to getting that vital first job.

The resume section offers various ways to present these skills to employers. Again, skills are stressed because they are a key way to translate coursework into real-world terms. Seeing yourself as an apprentice in a chosen field (and not just as a student) will help you translate your coursework onto a resume.

Internships: Feedback and Apprenticeship

The internship section is intended to encourage students to seek and find an internship. Internships are an ideal bridge between coursework and the world of work. Especially valuable in internships are the quality of feedback you get, the contacts you make, and the workplace skills you learn--including how to get along in an office. One of the surest ways to land a good job is to land a good internship--paid or voluntary--while you are still an undergraduate.

Community Service: Develop Your Skills
and Give Something back to the Community

An increasingly popular alternative to internships is the community service option available at many universities. Students work in community-based agencies that are related to the themes or topics of courses, whether dealing with hunger, community development, poverty, domestic violence, etc. Community service thus counts toward satisfying course requirements and provides excellent first-hand experience with real-world problems--often calling foranalytical ability, problem-solving, and human relations skills.