CDC Resources at Your Fingertips
Below is an article that the CDC Peer Advisors, Nitya Karki and Kelly Roberge, wrote about helpful CDC resources located on our website – www.wpi.edu/+CDC
At WPI, time seems to fly by. It can be hard to find time for anything outside of your classes and activities. Tasks like picking a major, finding a summer internship, or striving to receive your ideal job offer can seem daunting. Luckily, the CDC offers information on all of these topics and more on their website (www.wpi.edu/+CDC), which you can access whenever it’s most convenient for you. All the information you need can be found underneath the Student section of the CDC website. This information even includes class year timelines to guide you on what you should be doing or thinking about each year, even after graduation. It’s an easy way to make sure you don’t put off things until they’re too late.
If you’re an underclassman undecided about your major, make sure to check out information on majors, careers, and resources for undecided students. You can learn all of the steps that could help you determine what you may want to do. You can explore options like self-assessment tools (Myers Briggs Type Inventory and Strong Interest Inventory), informational interviews, internet resources, and jobs shadowing, as well as specific information on all WPI majors. In addition, you can be matched up with alumni through the STAR Mentor Program who can help answer your questions and give you advice.
If you’re getting ready to start your internship, co-op, or full time job search, you can find information on resumes & cover letters, interviewing, and Job Finder. There’s a guide on how to get started with your job search, networking information, the benefits of professional associations, how to research companies, and much more. Chris Brandmaier, ME, class of 2012, explained that when he “didn’t find internship opportunities in his desired location though Job Finder [he] went to the CDC website and was able to find the information he wanted on opportunities on green internships and global opportunities. [He] was also able to use the different search engines provided to look for even more internships in the area [he] wanted”. And if you’re wondering where you stand in your job search in relation to other WPI students, check out the CDC blogs (www.wp.wpi.edu/cdc ) to see what other students are doing or thinking about in relation to their job search.
As a senior, if you’re interested in graduate school rather than finding a job, there is information for you too on the CDC website. You can learn about the process for graduate school, law school, medical school, veterinary school, dental school, and MBA programs, as well as information about funding, planning a timeline, researching programs, and how to determine if graduate school is the right choice for you.
If you are planning on obtaining a full time job there is information on how to negotiate a job offer as well as statistical information about previous classes so you can gain a little insight on what you can expect in terms of salary and employers. There is salary information (for full time jobs as well as co-op and internships), so this is a great resource to use when requesting a salary. Edwin Muniz, CE, class of 2012 said “For my internship this summer, my employer asked me how much I was hoping to make. I didn’t know how to respond to that, but luckily I was able to find that kind of information on the CDC website. It was really convenient for me to go to the CDC website and look at how much an intern in my major should be getting paid”. You can also find class information in this section on how many students graduated in each major and what they did after graduation.
As a student of any year, there are a few important areas of the website to keep in mind. There is a list of podcasts and handouts that show you every helpful handout and video the CDC offers. There’s also a section on student services that outlines all of the different resources and programs available to WPI students. And, if you can’t find any of the information you’re looking for then you can either stop by, become a fan on facebook (www.facebook.com/CDCatWPI) email the CDC (cdc@wpi.edu), or IM the CDC (CDCatWPI).
No matter who you are or what you’re looking for, the CDC website is a useful tool. Next time you’re thinking about your major or looking for a job, make sure to take a look to see what resources may be able to help you.
