Frequently Asked Questions

When should my son or daughter starting visiting Career Services?

What should my son or daughter major in?

Is a summer job like a summer internship and how important is it?

When is the best time to look for a summer job or internship?

What if my son or daughter does not know what he or she wants to do?

How can parents and family members play a role in helping their students with the job search and career exploration process?

How can my child meet potential employers?

Is the on-campus recruiting program the only way for a senior to search for a permanent position?

What do employers look for in a candidate?

What should students be doing if they are interested in graduate study?

Are standardized tests required for graduate schools?

Will letters of recommendation be needed for graduate school?

Is it better for students to go right on to graduate school or to take some time off?

When should my son or daughter starting visiting Career Services?

Career Services welcomes students from their first days on campus. There are open house orientations to the office scheduled during orientation for freshman, but students can come in for an orientation to the office at any time of the year. The beginning months of a student's college career can be quite busy and sometimes Career Services is not the first office on campus that students need to visit as they orient themselves to the new college environment. However, counselors at Career Services can discuss potential majors with students, given their interests and courses they are taking or have taken as early as the beginning of fall semester freshman year.

Counselors from Career Services make presentations and hold programs throughout the year in various campus locations including the residential colleges and the Frist Campus Center. The topics of these programs are geared to students of all years, but those held in the residential colleges are geared specifically to the questions many freshmen and sophomores have about our services. By the end of the fall semester or beginning of spring semester of a student's freshman year, students can begin to search for summer opportunities and the Career Services office is a great place to begin that search.

What should my son or daughter major in?

Many times college majors do not translate into specific career fields. The staff at Career Services encourages students to choose classes, and a major, that they enjoy. All students graduating from Princeton will have fundamental analytical, critical thinking, problem solving, and writing skills to carry them through a variety of professional positions, regardless of their majors. Career Services encourages students to take a wide range of courses and then select a major that they find intriguing and in which they can find topics for independent research in which they are interested. Faculty and Directors of Studies are the primary advising contacts for students so it is critical that students speak to them. Students are also encouraged to speak with Department Representatives in different departments, current upperclass students in various departments as well as attend the Majors Fair held each fall. Counselors in Career Services can also talk to students about their interests and potential majors that might be of interest as well as guide them to useful resources in our Career Library.

Is a summer job like a summer internship and how important is it?

Employers may use the terms summer job and internship interchangeably. However, in general, summer jobs and internships do vary in some ways. Typically, summer jobs include positions such as camp counselors, wait staff, administrative help, and retail sales. Internships tend to be much more structured, include more training and supervision, and are designed specifically for college students. Both summer jobs and internships are means by which to gather work experience, although an internship might offer a student an experience that is more closely related to full-time opportunities after college.

For freshmen and sophomores, summer jobs can be very useful. A position in a nonprofit organization or as a camp counselor can help students to build a set of skills, including leadership, program development, time management and organizational skills, that they will be able to use in jobs they hold throughout their lives. As students finish their junior year however, internships become more important. The structured, professional environment of most internships helps students to evaluate if the experience is something they want to pursue in the long term. In some cases a full-time job offer can result from a successfully completed internship the summer between a student's junior and senior years.

Internships and summer jobs can be very valuable learning experiences for students. The positions offer students the opportunity to test out different fields to gauge their interest in pursuing a particular field. Employers interviewing for permanent, post-graduation positions, consider internships students have held during college in their selection processes as well.

When is the best time to look for a summer job or internship?

Students are encouraged to begin their search for internships relatively early, depending on the internship that interests them. Some highly selective internships have deadlines as early as November 1 for the following summer but most freshman and sophomores are able to find an internship or summer job if they begin the search in January or February. While it is ideal for students to start their search for summer opportunities early, career counselors will work with students to help them strategize for a search throughout the academic year and during the summer.

What if my son or daughter does not know what he or she wants to do?

Many college students do not know what they truly want to do during college or even as they prepare to graduate. If a student is confused or unsure about his or her interests and potential options, the counselors at Career Services are available to meet with students to discuss their interests. After a career counseling appointment, if the student and counselor agree that it would be helpful, the student can take a career assessment that the counselor will review with the student. Information about the assessments available through Career Services are listed on the Career Inventories link on the Start page of the Undergraduate menu.

Another very helpful resource for students to use to learn about what people with similar backgrounds and interests do for careers is to search our online Alumni Careers Network. This database holds the names and contact information of approximately 5000 Princeton alumni who are willing to talk with students about the choices they made in terms of majors, careers and professional schools. Alumni can also speak to students about what they do in their jobs, giving students the opportunity to learn about a variety of career opportunities while making connections with Princeton alumni at the same time.

How can parents and family members play a role in helping their students with the job search and career exploration process?

Support of loved ones during the career exploration process is very important and helpful for students. Parents and family members should talk to students about their interests and encourage them to explore different areas of study and career options. If your son or daughter is interested in a field of work that either yourself or someone you know personally is involved in, offer to arrange an informational interview or "shadow day" so the student can ask questions about the field and meet other people with similar interests. Also, encourage your son or daughter to visit the Career Services office to learn of the services we have to offer throughout their college career. Any parent or family member who has specific questions about the career exploration or job search process or how to help their student is encouraged to contact the Career Services office and speak to a counselor.

How can my child meet potential employers?

There are many opportunities for students to meet potential employers throughout each year at Princeton. Employers and alumni from different fields participate in career panels, there are a variety of career fairs on campus, and many employers conduct presentations about their organizations for students. Many companies, organizations and government agencies recruit students for permanent and internship positions through the on-campus recruiting program. This program is managed through an online computer system called TigerTracks. The system allows students to view job postings, submit resumes electronically and even schedule interviews. Students are encouraged to attend a TigerTracks orientation each year at the beginning of the year to learn about the system and any new features that have been added in the annual update of the program.

Is the on-campus recruiting program the only way for a senior to search for a permanent position?

Every student is encouraged to develop an individualized job search strategy, as organizations in some fields, such as nonprofit, health care, and publishing do not normally use campus recruiting. Students should learn about the hiring processes of the fields that interest them, as different fields have different timelines for hiring permanent employees. Counselors in Career Services can lead students to resources to search for positions as well as create networking opportunities with professionals in the student's field of interest. Career Services has a database called the Alumni Careers Network of over 4,000 alumni in a diverse range of career fields who have volunteered to talk to students about what they do and provide career advice. The Career Services website also lists links to job search websites in a wide variety of occupational fields.

What do employers look for in a candidate?

In general, employers look for students who are highly motivated, able to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, and can demonstrate skills in leadership and teamwork. Employers also consider a candidate's academic background, appearance, their comfort level with the interview process and the initiative taken throughout the entire job search process. The skills that students need to demonstrate to employers are the cornerstone of a Princeton education and with a little practice, even the most timid student can become a good interviewer. Students are encouraged to work with a career counselor to create a job search strategy as well as practice the skills that will help them succeed in the process.

What should students be doing if they are interested in graduate study?

Students who are interested in graduate school either immediately after graduation from Princeton or in the foreseeable future should be sure to take care of some things while they are still on campus. Students should meet with faculty in their discipline of interest or the designated pre-professional counselor (e.g. pre-med or pre-law). Counselors at Career Services can advise students about general graduate school admissions, as well as pre-law and business school advising. The Health Professions Advising Office advises all students who are pre-med or pre-health. These professionals can help students identify whether graduate study is right for them as well as what programs might best meet their interests and needs.

Students should research different graduate programs to see what the requirements are for admissions (many business schools, for example, want students to have full-time work experience prior to applying). Representatives from graduate, business, law and medical schools visit campus and attend the Graduate School Fair in the fall. These are great opportunities for students to learn specific information about programs.

Are standardized tests required for graduate schools?

Students need to research the graduate testing requirements for the program they will be applying to. Information about the GRE and the LSAT is available in Career Services, while information about the MCAT is available in the Health Professions Advising Office. Typically, if a student wants to attend graduate school in the fall semester following graduation from Princeton, they need to take the MCAT by the middle of their junior year; or the LSAT by the spring or summer of their junior year; and the GRE should be taken by the fall of their senior year. Since most students do not go directly to business school directly after graduation, the GMAT can be taken during the college years (junior or senior year) and the scores are good for 5 years (as is the case for the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT).

Will letters of recommendation be needed for graduate school?

Students should open a credential file in the Career Services office. This file holds confidential letters of recommendation that students collect from recommenders while they are still on campus; the student can later request letters be sent to various graduate programs as part of their admission application.

Is it better for students to go right on to graduate school or to take some time off?

Some students need a break from school after graduation from Princeton. It is important that students begin a graduate program well rested and motivated. If a student is unsure of whether he or she should go directly on to graduate school, Career Services encourages the student to speak to a career counselor or the medical school advisor about the best plan for him or her.