Pitt students start the internship, housing hunt

The spring semester has just begun, but sophomore Andrew Khoo, a chemistry major, is already… The spring semester has just begun, but sophomore Andrew Khoo, a chemistry major, is already planning his summer research in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Similarly, Jon Cui, a junior majoring in biochemistry, has started working on his housing plans for the upcoming fall semester.

They are not alone. From housing and jobs to internships and volunteering, many students will find that preparation for the upcoming summer and fall starts now.

Housing

Cui will volunteer at UPMC Presbyterian during the summer, and wants to make plans to staying in Pittsburgh until the end of his senior year.

“I have my own lease at Schenley House,” Cui said. But his apartment lease expires in August. He said that he plans to renew his lease this month, ensuring a place for him to stay for the following fall and spring semesters.

This early planning is not unusual.

According to Kevin Stiles, manager of Pitt’s Department of Property Management, students who want new housing for the summer or coming fall semester should start their searches immediately.

Stiles said that all of the apartments that the University owns begin accepting applications for new tenants on Jan. 9. The University owns about 300 apartments in total.

He recommended that students begin searching for housing early, as there are a number of things to consider, such as number of rooms desired and what neighborhood they want to live in.

“You can’t start too early, even if it’s just talking to other students about places,” Stiles said. “Take a walk, go out and explore the neighborhoods to get a feel for what you’re looking for.”

Pitt offers services like the Landlord Survey put out by the Student Government Board, which is available on the Off-Campus Living website, to help students weed through landlords.

Stiles said that landlords generally consult with current tenants about lease renewals in January and February, so they know exactly which apartments will be available.

Another reason to start early is to examine leases thoroughly, which generally last the entire year beginning in August.

“Trust your instincts, and, if you don’t understand something [on the lease], ask the landlord,” Stiles said.

Or students can bring a copy of the lease to the OCL office at 127 North Bellefield, where Stiles said that full-time employees with access to maps, directories and other resources are available to answer questions and assist students looking into off-campus housing.

Internships, Research and Jobs

Khoo hopes to research with either the University of Pennsylvania or here at Pitt over the summer months.

After asking his adviser and networking with family members, he was able to find a group of professors looking for undergraduate researchers.

“[It’s a position on] molecular diagnostics, which happens to coincide with the department I am volunteering in at UPMC,” he said.

Looking to gain experience to help him when he graduates, Khoo is already working on his application for a research position with University of Pennsylvania for this summer. As the February application deadline looms, Khoo hopes to finish his application this month.

Khoo is one of many students searching for internships, research positions and jobs on the eternal quest to bolster his resume.

Associate Director for Career Development and Placement Assistance Karin Asher said that students should consistently revise their resumes.

“The resume is a work in progress and should always be updated. As students gain more academic and extracurricular experiences at Pitt, they should replace less significant high school experiences,” Asher said.

In order to gain more experience through internships over the summer, students have a number of University resources available. Asher stressed the importance of making an account in FutureLinks on careers.pitt.edu in order to access internship listings.

Other resources for gaining experience include non-University-affiliate internships.com and the Pitt Career Network, made up of Pitt alumni. The PCN is an online directory of volunteering alumni who provide information about their careers and offer professional advice to students seeking employment in similar fields.

As online resources such as FutureLinks and internships.com are application-based and varying in availability, students should begin searching for preferred internships in January, constantly checking updated listings throughout the year.

Starting this month, Pitt’s Student Employment & Placement Assistance will hold the Spring Career Kickoff event on Jan. 31 in Posvar Hall, Feb. 1 in Benedum Hall and finally on Feb. 2 in Sennot Square. Here, students will be able to talk to professionals about different career options and have their resumes critiqued.

Following this preparative event will be one that provides job opportunities for Pitt students: the Spring Career Fair on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 in the William Pitt Union.

Here, stalls of potential employers will introduce students to their businesses and potentially accept resumes for internships and jobs.

Finally, on April 4, the Summer Survival Job Fair will take place in the WPU, with 75 organizations discussing summer job opportunities in Pittsburgh.

While there are opportunities like these available, many summer employers finish the selection process much earlier.

“Many internship deadlines end as early as February for summer positions,” Asher said, but she acknowledged that some positions can be available for applications until the end of the semester.

Assistant Director of Career Development and Placement Assistance Ryan Sweeny said that students should complete their Career Action Plan on FutureLinks as soon as possible.

This action plan outlines a checklist of things students should have completed according to their year, from freshman to senior.

One of the first things suggested in the plan is to consult with a career counselor about making a resume, so that it can be uploaded to FutureLinks, where potential employers can view it.

Asher invites any student seeking assistance with resume building or with any other aspect of professional development to visit the Career Development and Placement Assistance Office on the second floor of the WPU from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.