Rutgers Career Services

Field Experience Observation and Participation



Richard L. White, director of Career
Services at Rutgers University. (rutgers.edu)



Richard L. White, director of Career Services at the University, and I have a professional relationship. He critiqued my resume, gave advice about cover letters and observed my spring 2011 internship program.  His office, located on College Avenue, aims to help undergraduate and graduate students improve their stock before entering the workforce.  White's message, especially to first-year students, was first to find something interesting to do on-campus.  Become involved, work as part of something valuable and ultimately earn a leadership position. 


I met with White thoroughly to edit my resume and make it more attractive to potential employers.  We corresponded via email and met in person after a semester of working online with him through eCollege.  The concept of a quality resume, he said, was at times foreign to first-year students.  The sheet filled with credentials and prior work experience is often the first impression employers receive in an interview setting.  Therefore, it is important to match aesthetics with relevant content.  But first-year students should not get wholly immersed in building a resume.  Like White said, the goal is to find something you're passionate about, show commitment and do something tangible. 

Here is White in 2009 endorsing Vector Marketing, with a nice spelling error in the video title:

Rutgers University Career Services, which also has an office in the Busch Campus Center, provides a number of resources for first-year students, including programming. It offers invidual counseling to find a major or career path, it provides information on upcoming career fairs and it publishes a yearly program filled with important concepts on succeeding in college.  White once said he found the best way for students, particularly in their first years, to utilize its services is to attend an event or meet in person with a career adviser.  From there, I personally found it best to develop a relationship with someone in the office and turn to him or her casually for advice in the future.  I am very grateful for the help I received and will continue to receive from Career Services.  Hopefully someone else will, too, after reading this.

-- Tyler Barto