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10/28/2009 - 2:00 PM

Finding a Work Project Job: Some Work Needed

Many of us have chosen LIM College because of its strong emphasis on combining education with real-world work experience. The current economic climate has made finding jobs more difficult, so here are some tips.

It helps if you have an employment history before starting college. Even if your earlier job was not in retail, prospective employers will value the experience. If you have no work experience, be prepared to talk about similar experiences such as leadership in clubs and activities or relevant volunteer work.  

Start applying as soon as possible. Procrastination never helped anyone, and this is no exception.

Do not apply to your favorite store only. Working in retail and shopping are two different matters that may be completely unrelated: a good place to shop may not be ideal for work and vice versa. Furthermore, the most famous stores are not necessarily the best employers.

Attend every job fair and use Symplicity religiously. Okay, so maybe Skechers isn’t your favorite store, but why not go to the interview? You’ll gain interviewing experience and maybe they’ll like you so much that they’ll pay you more than your other store options. Remember, even if you’re offered a job, you can always decline.

Make an “Application Day” into a “Me, Myself & I Day"! Don’t just sit on Symplicity and click around, although it is a helpful and important tool. Get out and apply to any store that you think you would enjoy working for! Go on a nice day and take in scenery and fresh air; take some personal time. You might even be able to squeeze in some shopping time before the big holiday rush.

Try not to stress! You have tons of other things to worry about: exams, projects, roommates, friends. As long as you follow these steps (apply, apply, apply!) You’ll find a Work Project job that you’re satisfied with, and maybe even decide to keep through school or go back to during the summer. Who doesn’t like to have extra money?

- Mary Kate Guidry

Categories: Academics, Professional Life, Student Life

5   comments

• 5/7/2010 - 4:56 PM by The Center of Career Development

  Depending on a student’s current position, there are occasions when a student can remain at a company throughout their time at the school as long as the position is adjusted for each subsequent internship program. For Work Project I, students must work as a sales associate. As students move into Work Project II their sophomore year, the position must be of a higher level. As you are more advanced in your academic career at that point, students are also expected to be more advanced in their professional career. Work Project II positions must have exposure to managerial duties if completed in a retail setting, or students also have the option of making their first foray into a corporate office setting. When it becomes time for Senior Co-op, the position must be worthy of the six credits granted for the program. Co-op positions can be done in a corporate setting (at a higher level than Work project II) or in a retail store at the managerial level. An example of a student remaining at a company like Victoria’s Secret for all three required internship programs might resemble something like this: Work Project I – Sales Associate Work Project II – Assistant Manager Senior Co-op – Corporate Merchandising Intern

• 5/4/2010 - 8:56 AM by Ashlee Bishop

  Hello again! i commented on your blog sometime ago and i recently came across it again. i got accepted into LIM but i now have a job with victoria's secret, i was planning on working there throughout college also. How does the work project work around that or along with that? would i need to have a different job or can the school work with my current job.

• 1/6/2010 - 7:11 PM by Professor Londrigan

  Hi Mary Kate, nice posting. Here are some other helpful suggestions. Go directly to company web sites. Most big companies have employment areas on their own sites and might even post internships. Go to www.stylecareers.com, a great site for the industry that also has an area for internships as well as entry level jobs of all sorts. Last resort, search firms like Winston. But never, never pay for a search firm, and if someone is asking for a fee, turn and run. Be creative, look everywhere, even on Craig's List. Minority newspapers and magazines. Just don't rely on letting your fingers do the walking, get out and hit the streets. Good luck. Professor Londrigan, Chair Fashion Merchandising

• 12/11/2009 - 8:34 PM by Mary Kate Guidry

  You absolutely are not on your own. The Center for Career Development hosts job fairs and has a special program called Symplicity where you can see who is hiring students for Work project. If none of those employers interest you or you're not having very much luck, you're allowed to search on your own. I looked on my own because I decided that I did not want to work in a crazy flagship store on 5th Ave or SoHo and that I wanted to be paid.

• 12/7/2009 - 10:25 AM by Ashlee Bishop

  Hey! Thank you for writing about this work project job thing. I'm a senior in New Jersey and I'm waiting on my admissions reply so hopefully I will get in, but my question is, are the students completely on thier own to find a work project job or does the school help out a little bit?