Soon to be Alumni...

Around this time of year graduates are gathering their cap and gowns, double checking their academic credits, searching for full time positions or post-graduate opportunities, and soaking up as much time as possible with friends and classmates whom they'll miss. It's a busy time in life, a big step towards the future.

Gladly, we here at CSC Never Can Say Goodbye (very famous song by the Jackson 5). To our alumni, we offer job search assistance even after you've graduated from Marquette and moved on. Can't make it in to the office for an appointment, that's quite alright - the CSC Alumni web page (www.mu.edu/csc/alumni) connects you to amazing online resources we recommend to alumni.

Congratulations Graduates! Remember, you only live life once, so make it a good one ;-)

Making Those BIG Decisions

Hundreds of Marquette University students will be graduating this May; maybe you’re one of them. Whether you’re pursing professional school, graduate school, entering the professional arena, or taking on a new opportunity, this article is for you!

Making a decision between two or more life changing opportunities can be difficult. Good thing MU Career Services Center (Holthusen Hall, 1^st) has a few tips to consider when in the decision-making process.

• First and foremost, it’s important to keep your personal values, interest, and skills in the front of your mind; writing them down can be helpful as well.


• That list can now be used to develop your key criteria list – the top things you need in your career or graduate school experience for it to be satisfying. Examples can range from organization size to advancement opportunities, and beyond.


• Now that you have your key criteria list, begin – if you haven’t already – collecting facts and information in regards to the organization(s) of your interest. Compare the organizations information against your list of key criteria. The organization(s) which most closely match your criteria may be your best bet.

If the decision still seems to be unclear, remember, family, friends, and of course MU CSC Counselors are great people for you to discuss your choices with.

101 days until graduation

Applying the 5 stages of COPING to an event many of you are experiencing:

LIFE AFTER MARQUETTE!

Perhaps you have already been accepted to graduate or professional school or you have already found a professional position, or are on your way to a post gradaute service opportunity...but those who haven't here are some tips to get you through.

DENIAL --- What's the first thing you do? Pretend that May is much further away. Pretend you have your old summer job to fall back on. Pretend that you will live in a big house with all of your best friends forever! Pretend that you can count on mom and dad to still be writing the checks.

You avoid the Career Services Center.

ANGER --- "%$@^##& job market!" You start to think that you should have chosen a different major. You wish you had a better experience to put on your resume. You hate your roommate who already has three offers or the other friend who is traveling through Europe all summer (she is still in denial by the way). You consider giving up and bartending in the Bahamas.

You hate the e-mails the Career Services Center sends you.

BARGAINING --- "Oh please let me get a job, any job. I don't care what it is as long as I can pay my rent." You vow to never take anything for granted again. You vow to get to work on time everyday, to work long hours, to never stay out too late again. You consider calling your boss from your old summer job.

You decide that you will do whatever the Career Services Center tells you to do just so you get a job.

DEPRESSION --- "Oh no, what am I going to do? I'm going to be unemployed forever. I give up. I am a big loser and I don't really care any more. What's the use".
You believe you are beyond help from the Career Services Center.

ACCEPTANCE --- "Ok. I'm a grown-up now. I guess I had better take responsibility for my own job search."

You resolve to do one of the following: check out the services available in the Career Services Center, stop in the Career Services Center during daily walk-in hours from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., or call the Career Services Center for an appointment (414-288-7423).

"Don't Wish Your Life Away"

The infamous words of my Dad anytime I start to complain about how eager I am for school to be over or for winter to be over or for some big event to come along. Although I can't wait for classes, papers and job hunting to be in my past, my Dad is right. These last few weeks of college (or in my case last few weeks in Milwaukee after 8 years living here) can be a bittersweet time. Sure you're bogged down with school work and job hunting and are having trouble staying motivated but remember that balance is key to making it to the end. Recently I've realized that even though I am eager to leave Milwaukee, I have also met a great deal of good people here and will be sad to say good-bye to certain things. I'm making time for what is important and have been getting out to catch up with friends and take study breaks much more.

Four years ago when I was about to graduate with my bachelor's degree, my roommates and I took advantage of that time together. In the weeks before graduation we did everything from eat and study and get tattoos together. We were excited school was coming to an end but sad that each of us would be in a different city upon graduation. One thing I wish I knew when I was graduating was that life would change..a lot...after college. I stayed in the area but all of my best friends left. Whether it was starting a full-time career or continuing on to a Master's program each of us struggled initially to adjust to the new environment. Just remember that it takes time to re-adjust to working full-time or living in a new city but once you get accustomed to it, you'll be just fine.

Bottom line...make time for what is important including friends, family, job searching and finishing school strong...take advantage of this time while it lasts and find balance in everything!