Did You Apply Yet?

Freeze right where you are! Ask yourself this simple question: "Did I apply to the Community Fellows Program yet?" You may feel prepared and confident about your application. However, make sure that you are not overlooking any details. Regardless of the fact that the Community Fellows Program is an internship through Adelphi University, you are still putting yourself out there for employers to critique. Therefore, you want to put your absolute best effort forward! Allow me to give you a little checklist of some things you should bear in mind:

• First, is your resume ready? Remember, your resume is a representation of who you are, what you have been doing, and what kind of experience you have in one or various fields. Is your resume updated, relevant to the position you are currently applying for and free of any spelling or grammatical errors? Consider having it proofread by a counselor at the Center for Career Development. In fact, go the extra mile and have your resume printed with laser jet ink on professional-looking paper. The way you present your resume  can be the deciding factor between being hired and not hired.
• Second on the checklist: is your application essay done? Avoid waiting until the last minute. Perhaps you should schedule an appointment with the Writing Center to ensure your essay is polished and that your voice clearly communicates the purpose for which you are writing it. Let this one page essay be enough to convince a potential employer that you can cast vision and organize your thoughts well on paper.
• Finally, be sure that you ask your professors for a letter of recommendation. They have deadlines to meet and classes to attend as well, therefore, the more advance notice you give them, the better. Additionally, be sure to ask a professor that has seen you grow academically and perform well in their class so that their letter reflects well on your overall application. 

Applying for the Community Fellows Program is something we are all very capable of,  but if you really want to stand out, then show it by preparing for all of these steps well ahead of time. So I ask again, did you apply yet?