Franklin & Marshall College

Develop Effective Search Skills and Network with Alumni

Foundations For Success is designed for students who plan to conduct a job or internship search this year. Opportunities to network with alumni and to develop effective search skills are the hallmarks of this semester-long coaching intensive program.

In keeping with the tradition of a Liberal Arts education, you will be challenged to think of your internship or career search in a different way, expand the scope of what you view as possible in the world of work, and question your assumptions about key components of conducting a search.

Among other activities, this program will include values and core competency assessments, interactive lessons on a variety of search topics and techniques, opportunities to practice developing skills, interaction with alumni who are eager to engage with students, and individual appointments with a career coach.  Specific topics include:

• Overview of key components in a internship or job search
• Assessment - Interests and Skills
• Values clarification
• Career exploration – Identifying a target audience
• Career Research – Knowing your audience
• Marketing yourself - Articulating skills, themes, stories
• Goal setting, creating plans of action
• Building a thoughtfully constructed network
• Professional presentation
• Resume and cover letter writing
• Interviewing success/Mock interviews

Who is Eligible?

Foundations For Success is designed for students from all majors and is a semester-long program. Students will be selected to participate in the program based on the following criteria:

• Must be a sophomore or senior
• Intention of obtaining a job or internship by Summer 2012
• Commitment and ability to devote the time and attention necessary to actively engage in all aspects of the program
• Willingness to examine current thoughts about the job/internship search process
• Strong motivation
• Ability to work well in a learning environment that is interactive with significant components of individual and team learning