Career Services

College of the Arts

Career Services

Office Location: Life Hall, Room 128A
Director:  Ms. Elaine Russo
973-655-5194 (phone); 973-655-4381 (fax)

Overview

ASSESS. EXPLORE. CREATE. SUCCEED.

College of the Arts’ (CART) Career Services is a special unit within the College’s Office of Student Services.  The unit  is dedicated to helping students assess their professional skills and interests; explore careers based on those interests; create strategies for professional development; and succeed in finding a professional direction. CART Career Services will then help you develop a career plan that complements your intended professional direction, taking into account your academic preparation.  Services include individualized consultation and a range of special programs.

Whether you are a freshman undergraduate or a master’s degree candidate, there are steps you can take now to advance your career development by participating in CART Career Services’ advising sessions and career development workshops, and/or using our online interactive tools – all of which are designed to help you:

  1. Learn more about your interests, skills and values
  2. Research careers
  3. Prepare your career plan
  4. Explore professions through Cooperative Education and internship opportunities
  5. Plan for graduate school
  6. Develop job search skills

CART Career Services offers something for everyone at each step of the career planning process. To review recommended steps for your career planning journey, go to Four-Year Steps for Career Planning.

CART Career Services also cooperates with the University’s Center for Career Services & Cooperative Education which provides a centralized database of opportunities for students and alumni.

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Self-Assessment and Career Exploration

There are a variety of online self-assessment tools and exploration resources available to help you discover who you are and what career options truly interest you.  The self assessment process provides a framework for making decisions among the gamut of career pursuit possibilities. Listed below are some useful online tools available to College of the Arts students.

  • Focus2  -- “Focus 2” is a self-paced online career and education questionnaire-based planning tool. By answering a battery of questions, Focus2 will enable you to assess your individual values, skills and interests and explore career fields and majors that are deemed compatible with your questionnaire responses. You will also be able to compare and contrast a list of occupations which further hone in on your interests. (For more information, go to Focus2.)
  • What Can I Do With This Major – The “Majors” exploration tool fosters an understanding of common career areas, typical kinds of employers and related professional associations, plus recommended career development strategies and more. (For more information, go to Majors.)
  • O*NET OnLine – The online version of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is a primary source of occupational information for professions found in the United States.  O*NET OnLine supports your career planning by accessing key data for identifying and developing workplace skills for a breadth of occupations. (To link to this external tool, go to O*Net OnLine.)
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics – This valuable handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information. The OOH includes information about the nature of work, working conditions, training and education, typical earnings, and job outlooks for hundreds of occupations.  (To link to this external tool, go to OOH.)

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Internship Programs

EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE = SUCCESSFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CART Career Services assists students in finding, securing and getting the most value from internship-type experiences, including Cooperative Education internships, Department-based internships, self-initiated internships and/or professional volunteer experiences.   In all cases, such opportunities provide on-the-job-training related to your major and are an excellent means of "testing" a career interest in a discipline-applied setting.   Internships also provide a great way to establish professional contacts for career transitioning following graduation.  

The College of the Arts offers various forms of internships to meet your needs. Offerings include: 

  • a structured experience for college credit,  made available through Cooperative Education (Co-op);
  • a structured experience for college credit through a Department-initiated internship; or
  • an experience, not for college credit, to test a career interest which may be self-initiated.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Internships

Montclair State University’s Cooperative Education (Co-op) program provides internship opportunities for students who want a structured experience that includes work-site supervision by a faculty member, and integrates classroom-learning and related academic assignments with hands-on application in an occupational field. Through Co-op you can explore applications of your major within the professional workplace while, at the same time, earning academic credits and, possibly, an hourly salary or stipend. The credits are not merely for time on the job but for the total learning experience.

Steps in securing a Coop internship

  1. Plan ahead: It’s recommended that you start the process of exploring Co-op options two semesters prior to the time of the intended experience.  Co-op courses are offered during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.  Some internships may be pursued part-time (16-20 hours), others full-time (35-40 hours). 
  2. Determine your eligibility: To be eligible for a Co-op Internship, you are required to have completed 30 credits of academic study and hold a minimum GPA of 2.0. (GPA eligibility requirements are higher for some majors.)
  3. Inform yourself: Students are required to view a narrated PowerPoint presentation, Who We Are, Cooperative Education, which provides more information about the Co-op program including how to prepare for the internship. (It is recommended you view this presentation, regardless of the type of internship you are pursuing.)  Presentations may be viewed at the University’s Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education (located in Morehead Hall, Room 337) during Center hours.  An information packet will be provided in conjunction with your viewing the presentation.
  4. Schedule a CART Career Services advising appointment: Following the above step, contact the CART Career Services director for Co-op advisement. During the advising session, you will receive help in developing a resume, cover letter and search strategies for finding and securing an internship, including use of the Co-op Employer database (PlacePro) and/or seeking an internship on your own.
  5. Outreach to internship employers:  Following the advising appointment, your next step is to outreach to potential employers with your resume and cover letter.
  6. Go on the Interview(s):  If an employer is interested in your resume credentials, you will likely be invited to an interview.  Refer to Preparing for Job Search for interview preparation tips which would also apply to internship interviews.
  7. Enroll into the internship course:  Upon receiving and accepting an internship offer, you should then return to the Office of CART Career Services to arrange for enrolling in the Co-op course for internship college credit.  The number of credits you will earn for a Co-op internship will depend on a number of factors, including guidelines for your respective major and whether the internship is part-time or full-time.  Internship credits can range from 3 to 8 cr., to be determined in consultation with the Career Services director.

Eligible Participating-Majors and Specific Co-op Guidelines

Co-op internships are offered in the academic majors listed below. Some carry specific course pre-requisites and procedures for student involvement as defined in the respective pdf links.  Others follow the general Co-op guidelines. 

Academic Department—Initiated Internships 

Several majors of the College of the Arts offer internship programs that are initiated and managed by faculty in the academic department and are organized separately from Cooperative Education.  Programmatic structures and student responsibilities aligned with these opportunities may vary by program. [paid or unpaid?] To find out more about the following Department-initiated internship programs, contact the faculty advisor(s) listed below: 

Undergraduate                    

Graduate

Non-credit Internships  

Students in any major within the College of the Arts can also pursue an internship for experience without receiving college-credit. Such internships may be initiated through a variety of means:  

  • Employer-initiated Internships– Employers use Career Directions, the University’s online job posting system to announce part-time and internship opportunities. Students may research and respond to these opportunities directly.
  • Student-initiated Internships – Students can research and contact companies on their own to create an  internship opportunity. 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…Volunteer Experiences – Students interested in gaining professional experience, but who may not be ready to or do not wish to fulfill the requirements necessary to attain academic credit, may offer their services to organizations as volunteers.  Arts councils, non-profit arts organizations and arts presenting agencies frequently welcome volunteerism offers from students (particularly for project support)  There are many approaches for identifying opportunities, including online volunteer search-engines designed for this purpose.  Go to external link: VolunteerMatch  

Student Teaching

Students enrolled in the University’s teacher-preparation/certification programs (e.g. Music Education, Fine Arts Education, Dance Education) are required to complete Student Teaching assignments as part of the program.  These assignments are not handled by CART Career Services but, rather, by the academic program directors and the University’s Center of Pedagogy.  For more information, go to: Center of Pedagogy

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Job Search - Preparation and Resources

CART Career Services and the University’s Center for Career Services & Cooperative Education provide a range of services and online tools to help prepare students for post-graduation job search or applying to Graduate School.  Among them are:

Online Workshops – On-line workshops provide help on resume writing, interviewing skills, internships, job searching, and networking. (For more information, go to:  Online Workshops)

Optimal Resume – Optimal Resume is an online system providing interactive tools to help you create an effective resume, cover letter, thank you letter and online portfolio, as well as a tool for virtual interview practice. (For more information, go to: Optimal Resume)

Career Directions – Career Directions is Montclair State University’s online job board.  By registering, you have access to part-time, full-time and internship postings. (For more information, go to: Career Directions.)

Career Information Resources – The resources below are linked to employment information, job-search resources and portfolio preparation advice:

  • Company Research-Vault’s Insider Guide –  Employer profiles and company rankings as well as industry and profession profiles
  •  The Riley Guide –  Directory of employment and career information sources and services on the Internet
  • Quintessential Careers – An online leader in expert career, college and job-search advice.
  • Creating a demo reel – Advice from a former Pixar intern
  • New York Foundation for the Artsprovides support to artists and arts organizations.  The website includes listings of jobs in the arts, opportunities and services for artists, and events, as well as discussion boards

Professional Development Resources Related to Academic Majors – The links below go to Professional Development webpages in the College of the Arts’ academic departments: 

Applying to Graduate School Resources – The links below address applying to graduate schools:


Additional Resources (grant writing, career-related, etc.)

  • Fulbright Scholars Program – The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year.                 
  • Freelance/Entrepreneur - US Small Business Administration -  New Jersey District Office -  The SBA provides information on starting, financing and managing a small business.
  • My Next Move – U.S. Department of Labor’s online career tool designed to direct career-aspirants to training requirements applicable to specific professions
  • Grant Writing Resources – PowerPoint presentation offered by the University’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

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Information for Employers

The College of the Arts works with employers that represent industries, corporations as well as for-profit and non-profit organizations, who are looking to hire interns or recent College of the Arts graduates.  Below is information regarding ways in which CART Career Services connects with employers:

Establishing internships

  • Employers are encouraged to offer internships through which students may earn academic credit at the University.  Most credit-bearing internships are managed by the Cooperative Education (Co-op) program which carries specific employer-participation guidelines.
  • Internships may be offered as carrying a salary or stipend, or as unpaid.  The Fair Labor Standards Act sets clear guidelines for employers offering unpaid internships. (FLSA Worksheet #71) Wherever possible, the University encourages organizations to offer paid internships if they are in a position to do so.
  • Internships are generally scheduled for the length of a semester (at Montclair State, a semester is defined as 15 weeks long during Fall and Spring and 13-4 weeks long during Summer). 
  • Employers can structure positions as part-time (16-20 hrs) or full-time (35-40 hrs.)
  • Employers are asked to provide a detailed position description which is posted for students to review.  At a student applicant's request, a resume would be forwarded to the employer for review.  Follow-up interviews would be arranged by the employer. 
  • When a student accepts an internship offer, course enrollment for the work-based experience is arranged through the University’s Cooperative Education program.  A Co-op Faculty Advisor is then assigned to supervise the student's learning activities. 
  • For more information on employers’ participation in the Co-op program, go to: Co-op, Employers               

Posting Positions of All Types

Employers are invited to post part-time, full-time, temporary and internship positions on Career Directions,  the University’s online job board. You can access Career Directions through this link: Career Directions, Employer Login

Presenting On-campus Information Sessions

Employers are encouraged to enhance their partnership with the College of the Arts by offering an on-campus presentation.  This can include speaking to a class regarding career opportunities/preparation; sponsoring a career “event”; or participating in the University’s job fair.  For more information on these opportunities, contact the CART Career Services Director by phone at 973-655-7495 or by email at russoe@mail.montclair.edu .

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Information for Alumni

Montclair State University and the College of the Arts maintain active relationships with alumni.  If you are a graduate of the College of the Arts and looking for an intern to assist your organization, we hope you will contact us (see “Information for Employers.”)

If you are looking for personal career development assistance, you are welcome to access all information and tools provided on the CART Career Services Webpage.  The centralized Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education offers additional services for alumni.

For more information, go to: Career Services, Alumni  and Alumni Relations.

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Office Hours and Appointments

Contact Information                                   

College of the Arts’ Career Services
Elaine Russo, Director
Email: russoe@mail.montclair.edu
Phone: 973-655-7495
Fax:  973-655-4381 

Location

Life Hall Room 128A

Office Hours

Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Summer Hours:  Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 5:15pm

Appointments for Advising

Individual advising is arranged by appointment. To schedule an appointment, students may call 973-655-5194.
Students may also come during drop-in hours to ask a quick questions, obtain information, forms, etc.

  • Drop In Hours:  Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:30pm

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