This academic year, Union students will have summer break from June 14, 2024 to September 4, 2024. Union has various resources and programs available for students to make plans over the summer break.
Many students take on internships over the summer break, and the Becker Career Center offers a variety of resources. To begin, students can make an appointment to explore career options, write a resume or cover letter template, set up a LinkedIn, get networking advice, negotiate salaries, and more. The career center periodically hosts networking events, such as Lunch with Alumni, where students can sign up on Handshake and learn about alumni career paths. The college also runs a database called GarnetGrove, where students can explore career options and meet alumni in fields of interest. In addition, GarnetGrove has affinity groups and opportunities to apply to internships posted by Union alumni.
The Becker Career Center emphasizes the importance of networking to find jobs and internships. Students should look at “networking as the process of learning and building relationships. Networking can be conducted in either a spontaneous or planned manner, both of which are beneficial. Your strategy will depend on the nature of your relationships, and your goals for the networking communications,” according to the Career Center’s Networking Guide. Examples of spontaneous networking can be talking to a friend’s parents during homecoming weekend, or stopping by a table in Reamer to talk to an employer. Examples of planned networking can be making an appointment with a professor to talk about their career plans, and going to a career fair hosted by Union.
In order to prepare for interviews, students can make appointments at the career center or utilize a platform called BigInterview. BigInterview is a virtual training platform where students can practice interview questions and watch videos on how to answer common interview questions. Handshake also has an “interviews” section, where students can look up companies and see what other people were asked in interviews.
For students who have internships in Schenectady, Albany, or other surrounding areas, or are doing research on campus, students can live in College Park Hall over the summer. Last year, students were able to live on campus from June 11, 2023 to August 12, 2023 for $89 per week in a double and $120 for a single room. Previously, students could also purchase declining dollars at a 10% bonus: if a student bought $50 in declining dollars, they would have $55 declining dollars to use. Applications for summer housing will likely open at the beginning of the spring term.
Applications for summer research grants have passed, but students can still apply to open research opportunities at other colleges and universities. Students can find these opportunities on Handshake, LinkedIn, and other job platforms by using the application’s search bar. In addition, students can get in touch with their academic professors, advisors, and Union alumni to learn about opportunities from their networks.
The Concordiensis wishes students good luck on their search for summer plans, and hopes that students find these summer opportunities meaningful.
