Andrew Gordon

B.A. English
May 2008

Where are you now?
Administrative Coordinator, Research and Communication; Johns Hopkins University National Center for Summer Learning.

What was the best part of using the Career Services Center in your job search?
A good friend of mine (an '07 Alum) suggested I get in touch with the Career Center because they helped him so much during his senior year. He was right! CSC helped me realize my strengths and what kind of work I'd not just be able to acquire, but would be able to find fulfilling day in day out. I was given tons of information about career fairs, how to make my resume best portray who I was, and maybe, most importantly, CSC was always very reassuring. Going through senior year knowing there's a specific month and day when you're out of school, when your insurance expires, when you're student loans are due... all that stuff is very stressful. I always felt confident that things would work out when leaving my meetings, which I had maybe twice a month starting early Spring Semester of my senior year. Peace of mind and staying centered is just as important as a killer resume; the months before graduation are a roller coaster and you need your head on straight to get through it all.

Any advice you would give to other students?
Start early. Employers aren't known for their prompt responses to your resumes - plan for that. Get an internship. My internship was great because it gave me a great sense of what I DIDN'T want to do post-graduation. Be active on campus. Whether you think it's fair or not, connections are one of the most important things you can have; the more friends you have in your circle (students, staff, professors, your local employers, coworkers, etc) the more chances you have for success in finding a job. Grades are important, but they aren't everything. Do well, but diversify your experiences. The ones that aren't graded are likely to be way more important in the long run. And as backwards as this sounds, try to relax and enjoy college during those last few months. The window for being able to do the things you do in college closes quickly, and no matter how hard it is to believe sometimes, things will work out.