Career Center

An interview serves as one of the most important interactions between you and your potential employer. In an interview, you stand in the spotlight. That means the interviewer is listening to every word you say, and even the best orator can make some potentially fatal flaws in his or her personal presentation. Just like after a first date, if you mess up an interview, there is a good chance the employer will not call you back.

There is a lot to consider when deciding on your dream job: Is the industry growing? Does the salary meet your needs? What is the reported job satisfaction? U.S. News has examined these factors and compiled a list of the top 50 careers in healthcare, technology, social services, business, creative and service industries. You can find the right position for you no matter what your career interests.

I’m really into making to-do lists and having clear plans. So when I finally admitted to myself last semester that I didn’t have any idea how to plan for my future career, I got a little nervous. I called the Career Center to make an appointment, hoping that I would be able to discuss my broad range of future career ideas with a counselor.

A career shadowing experience introduced Corinne to her dream job when she was a rising sophomore at Hamilton. Although the program she desired was not offered at a liberal arts college, Corinne was able to get on the fast-track to career success, and has been working as a nurse practitioner for five years.

I’m not one of those people who plan in advance, always knowing what my next move is going to be. I like to think this is a good quality; however, when searching for jobs after college this can be a problematic mindset. The day after graduating from Hamilton with majors in psychology and French, I was faced with a harsh reality: I had only my dad’s couch to sleep on and no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

I walked into Hamilton knowing I wanted to major in creative writing, and the summer following my sophomore year I realized what I would do with the degree. I’m now happily employed in my dream job thanks to an amazing network of Hamilton alums, a lot of hard work, and patience.

Over the years, I’ve become involved with a number of organizations and activities on campus. But campus activities are also great to have on your resume – they can help you market your greatest qualities to potential employers.

Lauren Macy (Hayden) ’07, Project Coordinator in the Developing Countries Department of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement tells the story of how she landed her first job.

Speakers at Hamilton this fall have reflected a Who’s Who of leaders in many fields, including alumni who returned to campus to share their expertise. Organizations and classes on the Hill have been fortunate to draw from the wealth of experience and knowledge of Hamilton alumni.