What's on Your Mind?
Ask a CDC Career Counselor!
Here’s your opportunity to get answers to quick questions, address rumors and get accurate information regarding the Career Development Center, your job search, using JOBLINK, on-campus recruiting and more. We will respond to all questions, however, not all questions & answers will be posted online.
For individual and private concerns, please schedule an appointment with a career counselor. Questions will be posted for a couple of days and then moved to an archive page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Submit Your Question Here
Q: When is it appropriate to use a recruiter or manager's first name? I have received replies from recruiters/managers and they have used their first name when signing their e-mails, but am unsure of I should still use Mr./Ms. I know that if they saw me call them XXX, then it would be permissible, but when it is non-direct, when is it ok? Cory, Class of 2009
A: If a recruiter directs you to be less formal in the interview, you may then call them by their first name. However I would be less likely to translate this to written communications. We recommend that through the recruiting process (prior to receiving an offer) you continue to use the appropriate salutation (Ms., Mrs., Mr., Dr. etc). This shows respect for their position and the hiring process.
Q: As an EMAC major, I'm finding it very difficult to find co-ops, which seem to be geared toward engineering majors. What can I do about this?
A: EMAC is an exciting but broad major, as students may have interest in animation, pre-post production, web design, graphic design, and even marketing. While it may seem that there aren’t many opportunities, EMAC graduates have been highly successful. Starting out, it will be helpful to be flexible and open to various jobs that fit your skills. Next, you want to make sure that your resume reflects your background so that employers will want to interview you. Finally, if you aren’t seeing many co-ops, you should make an appointment with a CDC counselor. We don’t know that you are having difficulty unless you speak up! Jessica, Class of 2011
Q: What should I be looking for when I'm researching a company besides location and what they do? Jessica, Class of 2012
A: Some things might include products and services offered; major executives in the company and their background; the company’s mission statement; corporate culture and structure of the organization; recent press releases; trends in the industry; their competition and what sets them apart; other job openings posted. We have two good hand-outs which may help you - Researching Employers and Employer Research 101.
Q: What type of career opportunities can someone get with a major in Design Innovation and Society? Adrienne, Class of 2013
A: The first thing I would recommend is that you set up an appointment with a counselor to talk about the various opportunities based on your specific area of interest within the major, since there are different opportunities that can be matched with DIS majors. Some General job titles you can look into that this major would be qualified for once graduating are: Consulting Analyst, Industrial Designer, Product Designer, Product Developer, Research Associate, Systems Service Designer, and User Interaction Designer. Some samples of types of companies that hire DIS majors include: transportation design, medical products, consumer product companies, special effects for the entertainment industry, computer animation, furniture design, and environmental design including building interiors and signs.
