The Pi Resource Center’s goal is to connect sisters to gain resources for life. It’s overall mission is to be your First Stop as you navigate your life as an alumna! Resume Review and Interview Prep Coaching are two new perks alumnae receive as an added benefit of paying ReMember alumnae dues. We asked Career Coach and Alpha Delta Pi Alumna, Beth Clausing, why she wanted to be a part of this new resource and what alumnae can expect from it!
1.Why did you sign up to be a career coach in the Pi Resource Center?
I signed up to be a career coach with the Pi Resource Center because the job search is just plain exhausting! It can be really overwhelming to do this process alone, so I’m happy to help. In Graduate School, I spent two years working in the University Career Center, so I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to resumes, cover letters, interviews, and personal statements. I also believe that the career we choose is one of the most personal decisions we ever make, and I’m honored to be a part of that journey for my fellow sisters!
2. What should alumnae expect from this service?
An alumna should expect to get guidance and assistance around whatever questions or concerns are coming up for them. I hope alumnae feel supported, encouraged, and prepared for whatever the next step may be, whether a job interview, graduate school applications, or something else.
3. How should an alumna prepare for a coaching session to get the most out of it?
Come prepared with a few ‘goals’ for the time together. Think about what you hope to get accomplished and tell us!
Remember that no resume or cover letter is perfect. No interview is perfect, and no personal statement is perfect. Everything is a work in progress. At the end of the day, we are doing our best to help you; we have your best interest at heart. However, this is a personal process. Your resume is your personal ‘brag’ sheet, your personal statement for graduate school may contain sensitive information, or you may just not agree with our feedback. That’s OK. This is your process, and you have to like what you put out there as a representation of yourself. At the same time, at the end of the day, we are doing this, and we are here, for you.
4. How much lead time should a coach be given?
Please be prepared for your coach to take 24-48 hours to respond. Because we volunteer, we are working on our ‘off’ time, which may be consistent or inconsistent depending on our outside responsibilities. Plan ahead so that you’re able to get the help you need!
5. Other advice:
1) Be patient.
2) Don’t be afraid to try new things.
3) Keep going.
I think about the job search, interview process, and everything else that goes along with this and compare it to a ‘game.’ You can’t expect to get out on the field without practicing and win a championship. In the same way, it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll knock your first interview out of the park or your first draft of the resume will be it. If you’re willing to put in the work, willing to reflect and try new things, and willing to keep going when (not if!) someone says “no”, then you’ll be on the right track.