Administration

Santa Fe
Office of Career Services

 

 

 

Introduction
The liberal arts curriculum at St. John’s College is not intended as preparation for or specialization in a particular field.  Rather it is designed to be a solid foundation for any career path that graduates choose to follow.  The aim of Career Services is to provide information, advice, and encouragement so that students and alumni know what is possible as they consider their lives outside the classroom and after St. John’s.  Career Services works with undergraduates, graduate students and alumni, as well as answering questions for parents and prospective students.

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Building Relationships
All members of the Career Services staff meet one-on-one with students and alumni to learn about interests, dreams and future plans.  This personal contact enables the staff to understand individual student’s needs such as summer internships, graduate school, off-campus employment or career guidance. The moderate size of the student body means that Career Services can build profitable and constructive relationships.  If students or alumni are willing to drop in or set up appointments, the Director, Assistant to the Director and Internship Coordinator can help them create, develop and pursue plans for experiences that will supplement their work in the classroom. The office is open to students from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and at other times by prior arrangement.  The staff can be contacted by calling (505) 984-6066, (505) 984-6067, or (505) 984-6132.  The general email address is careerservices@sjcsf.edu.

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Special Career Events and Opportunities
Career Services hosts special career events throughout the academic year, including:

  • Visits from representatives of national and international organizations (JET, Peace Corps, State Department, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Breakthrough Collaborative, Great Hearts Academies)
  • Recruiters from businesses and graduate schools
  • Alumni who share their experiences and advice 

Career Services also presents hands-on workshops, often in answer to student requests, including;

  • Internet research
  • Choosing and applying to graduate school
  • Writing statements of purpose for graduate school and internships
  • Resumes, cover letters and interviewing
  • Study, travel and work abroad
  • Internships

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Employment Services
The Director of Career Services coordinates the college’s Work-Study program, assisting eligible students to find jobs on campus or through special contracts with outside agencies.  Local, national and international job opportunities are advertised on a Job Board located in the basement of Weigle Hall. Listings commonly include teaching, tutoring, babysitting, landscaping, retail and service jobs, as well as miscellaneous employment requests from neighbors and friends of the college. Students are also notified of local jobs through email messages, posters, and campus mail. For students in need of part-time or temporary work please fill out a “Need-Cash?” form and return it to the Career Services Office. More long-term employment is posted on the St. John’s Alumni Job Board (http://alumni.stjohnscollege.edu/networking/ ).

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Career Services Resources
Going Places, Career Services’ monthly newsletter provides information on careers and career advice, graduate schools, summer research, internships, study abroad opportunities, networking, alumni contacts, jobs and much more.  It is posted online at http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/admin/SF/career_newsletter.shtml, with hard copies available in Peterson Student Center. 

The Career Services Library has books, magazines, newspapers and scholarly journals on topics ranging from graduate entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT), international schools and teacher certification programs to advice on resumes, cover letters and job interviews.  The library also has two computers with Internet access, as well as a printer, for use by students and alumni.  The library is open the same hours as Career Services (9am – 5 pm, Monday-Friday). 

For those interested in traveling abroad, teaching English overseas, applying to graduate school or looking for work after graduation please take a look at the following resources:

http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/resources/CS/TravelWorkbook.pdf
http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/resources/CS/InBetweenJobs.pdf
http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/resources/CS/InternshipFAQ.pdf

Career Services has access to an extensive network of alumni who are willing to speak with current students about the value of a St. John’s education and their current jobs/careers. To tap into that network, contact the Career Services office.

Career Services can also assist students, alumni, staff and faculty in researching topics such as short-term jobs, career paths, graduate school options and much more. Please use the resources linked on this page to start your search, it is much easier to help you find what you want when you’ve already begun to think about it. If you are not finding what you need or are not sure where to look, fill out a Research Request and email it to Career Services or drop it by the office.  The staff will do the appropriate research and contact you with information from the web, alumni, and Career Services Library.

Career Services creates a file for each undergraduate student who matriculates at the college.  This file can contain information about work-study employment, letters of recommendation from tutors and employers, transcripts, and other documents the student wishes to have in a safe central location. Graduate students may also request the creation of such a file on their behalf. As students graduate and begin making specific plans for jobs or further education, they ask Career Services to send these documents to employers and graduate/professional schools.

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Fellowships and Scholarships
Students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply for national and international fellowships and scholarships, including

For these competitions which require nomination by the college, as well as many other less well-known opportunities, the Director is available for consultation and advice on application preparation.  The staff also assists students in researching possible funding sources for graduate school, summer research, study abroad, internships or post-baccalaureate studies. Students are encouraged to find the competitions for which they are eligible and begin their applications well in advance of the deadlines. Students interested in medical school may also be eligible for funds to take summer chemistry courses through the Thorne Premedical Endowment Scholarship (available only to students currently enrolled at the Santa Fe campus).

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Ariel Internship Program
The Ariel Internship Program offers 20+ summer stipends to encourage students to gain practical experience while exploring possible career fields. Internships have ranged from apprenticing with a custom guitar maker to training in legal mediation to teaching students aspiring to be the first in their families to attend college. Internship grants also have been received specifically for students interested in medicine or bio-medical careers. Career Services assists students in finding established internships or in developing individual opportunities for career exploration, even if they do not intend to apply for Ariel funding.  The college’s Internship Committee, coordinated by Career Services, considers Ariel requests each February and makes awards based on a competitive application process.

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Contact Information:
General inquiries: careerservices@sjcsf.edu ; (505) 984-6066
Margaret Odell, Director of Career Services, modell@sjcsf.edu
Clare Davitt, Assistant to the Director, cdavitt@sjcsf.edu
Keiko Giacona, Internship Coordinator, ckgiacona@sjcsf.edu

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