Attendees: Bethany, Allie, Bailey, Julie

Monday afternoon as a possibility for those interested in the internship to visit the Progressive Art Collection

Applications due before end of February
Interviews will begin at the beginning of March

30 + years Progressive has been collecting art
- began with Peter B. Lewis. Though he is not as involved any longer, his philosophy drives the collection. Art has nothing to do with financial investment, it was more driven to make Progressive a unique place to work.
- Underscore the innovation of Progressive (outside the box) through contemporary art
- Collection grew with company - more than 7,000 objects
- Toby Lewis early curator of the collection

Art collection creates cultural sensitivity through awareness and dialogue that boosts the company

When Peter started the collection while CEO, then passed on the curatorial duties to Toby (responsible for ~5,000 works in the collection). She retired in 2004.

Warhol, Portrait of Mao
- Even today the work is controversial
- Purchased in the late 70s (during the Cold War)
- Petition within Progressive to have it removed
* Not everything in the collection is so controversial, but it is all provocative (though visually only)

Diverse collection - American and International

In the 90s installation art became popular and coincided with expansion of the company
- Cleveland (and Austen, Phoenix, Colorado Springs etc.) have call centers with site specific installations
- Shows are curated and start in Cleveland then travel to these other call centers

Started with print collection, gradually added painting, drawings and other media.
In the 90s began to collect installation art
Today the collection is aggressive in collection of video art

Reinvention in Post-Toby era
- create a robust education program - use the art for more than buying and hanging with a wall label
- Revamp labels to appeal to larger audience, but still try to avoid single monolithic approach to artwork
- Interns contribute to writing of these wall labels
Can be your own original work
Attempt for creativity
Communication skills (writing and VERBAL)

Art tours occur all the time
- Interns need to conduct these tours
- For people inside and outside of the company

Variety of projects underway at this time within the company
- Opportunities to do more with the art than simply hang it on the walls
- Interns support this involvement with other aspects of the company

Collection available online
progressiveartcollection.com
- Interns can be involved in adding to / creating sites
- Attempts to promote the company through the internet

Shows
- To go along with products and services
- Education about social issues

Application Process

jobs.progressive.com

All done online (download resume and letter through website)
- Can include references on resume, but that generally comes later

Click on box labeled "Search Jobs" > type "art" into the search box

Posting available in the next couple of days

Departmental Internship
Paid - $10/ hr
- Often graduates that do not yet have a job

Academic Internship
- Unpaid
- Through an academic institution for credit (*required)

Both run along semester
- 192 hours (and no more - unless exception made for academic intern in case of an ongoing project) that start from day one and accumulate
- 2 Academic and 2 Departmental interns hired over the course of the year (lasts over the time it takes you to finish 192 hours)
- Preferred minimum is 2 full (8 hours) days per week
- Can do full time for 3 weeks to complete the 192 hours
-- Does not have to fall into a specified time period (flexible)
- All 4 internships expire by December and usually run 2 at a time

All digital - there will be hundreds applying
- Work with Kelly Anderson (recruiter) who will go through applicants
- Narrows down to 20 phone interviews - done by Kelly - around half an hour long (be prepared for "STAR" Performer questions - look up online)
IE: "Name a situation in which you were stressed. Explain the
cirucumstances and how you reacted."
- 10 will undergo face to face interview
- 4 selected AT ONE TIME (run full course of the year) and then time-line divided
--- Can be hired in March and hired for Sept - Dec.

Tasks:
- Small department that manages large collection, so EVERYONE does important to menial tasks
- Can manage or assist in projects
- Tours of galleries
- Create website
- Write labels
- Interact with artists
- Hang shows

- Many roles in the department, most aligned to general art collections
- Position unique to corporate setting = Regional Art Manager = analyzes where art can be placed in corporate buildings and sends art to these places

- Attempts made to emphasize experiences that align with candidates' skills and interests
- Try right away to pair skill set to task within the company
- Build in shadow days into the internship so that intern can learn all sorts of jobs
* Internship is NOT about busywork

Department consists of 5-7 people (dependent on the number of interns working at any given time)
- Office at Mayfield Village

Paid position - $ every two weeks (on payroll)

Progressive has "Post with a Q" (Qualified candidate already named) - meaning that the job posting went up b/c required, but someone is already in place to take the job.
-- There are no "Q"s for this period, though there are some from last year that are on the radar, but no guarantee that those people will apply and they are not shoe-ins for the positions.

**Expect full and thorough (maybe two) background check(s)!!!

Email Kristen Rogers with any additional questions:
KRogers3@progressive.com
440-395-3087

CVs/Resumes/Cover Letters – all about MARKETING!! (how you arrange the content and present it)

Resumes are short – 2 pages; CV is much more comprehensive – max of 3-4 pages (3 is a good goal at this stage)

Websites and books:

Inside Higher Ed --> insidehighered.com
Mostly free
Good career advise for graduate students and young professionals

Chronicle of Higher Education --> http://chronicle.com
CV Doctor – on homepage – will give you commentary and feedback
-Humanities oriented – not necessarily

********Surviving Your Academic Job Hunt: Advice for Humanities Ph.D.s**********
by Kathryn Hume, $23 on Amazon
Teaching philosophies, etc
First 2/3 is about academic job hunt
Last 1/3 has formatting tools

High-Level Resumes: High-Powered Tactics for High-Earning Professionals
By Marshall A. Brown - $3.70 new on Amazon (NOT a typo)
If you get past title – good tips on how to market yourself
Good for non-profit and museum work
Descriptive personal attributes and active verbs

College Art Association
Careers > Standards and Guidelines – good general information (starting point)

U Of Pennsylvania Career Services
Job Search Advise
Tips and Advise
Examples – comparison
Humanities oriented
Accessible to non-students

Content

Major Categories
Order/wording may change by goal and stage in the field
• Education
- ALWAYS first in Academic field
- For museum or non-profit, work comes first
• Teaching
• Museum Experience (curatorial, research, education, conservation)
- Good heading
- Individual titles tell what you did
- May be paid or unpaid positions (don’t distinguish between them)
- At least a few bullet points of what you did
- If you are involved in grant writing – indicate that you were involved as part of a team
- “Cooperation in preparation for … grant…” – if it was not yet submitted
- Want to know that you’ve had some experience
- Say you can work with adults and kids if going into museum education
• Other Professional Experience
• Grants, Fellowships, Awards
- Don’t put the amount – just the prestige of earning SOMETHING
- List if you earned money to travel to juried paper (separate from papers b/c honor)
- Use the name of the Fellowship!!!
- AVOID ACRONYMS (at least spell out first)
- Teaching Assistantship is just the TA assignment – should go under teaching experience
- Honors on MA Exam
- Nomination – can be listed if significant
- Date – then the title
• Selected Juried Papers (or Conference Papers and Invited Lectures, Public Lectures)
• Publications
- Most recent come first
• Selected Research Travel
• Professional Service
• Professional

Do not use multiple emails and phone numbers
- Make sure your cell phone message is professional
Use personal email that will stay with you

EDUCATION
-Resume – come at the end
-Academic – near the beginning
-Easy to make look hard to read
-Degree on far left, year of completion in column, then List Dorctoral Comprehensive exams Major and minor areas – can list
-Do NOT include GPA or coursework
-Section for coursework if needed for fellowship – usually look at transcripts

Publications
-Try to get into conferences – may publish
-Can turn presented papers into published papers

“Selected Juried Papers” – had to be accepted into
-Note where it was and titles
-Mixture of Bold and Italics works well
-Note date (year)
-Mention if you had a specific job
-Presentation abroad is prestigious
-If your paper title doesn’t hint at what the section title was then add it (usually paper title enough)

Languages
-At the end
-List “English” – especially if you have an ethnic name
-List languages, imply a full comprehension
-If you don’t know fully (put competency in parenthesis)
-“Basic” – doesn’t sound stupid
-Include any ancient languages

Study abroad goes in education
Institution and place with year

TA/RA assignment
-Do not use “TA” – spell out Graduate Teaching Assistant/Instructor
-List as Instructor – if you get to stand up in front of the class and do the teaching
-Presented guest lecture on “title” like an exhibition
-NO COURSE NUMBER!!! Means Nothing outside of school (use title)

If you are an “Instructor of Record”
It is a separate category and should be listed as separate
-Start with how many semesters you have under your belt
-Indicate a range if it changes – list years with commas (don’t need to list fall and spring)
-“Conduct weekly conference sections”
-If you collaborate with curators from another institution

General Questions

•If you help on an exhibition – make another section in

•If you did something else (Another Career)
-Generally – mention as a sentence in cover letter but not in CV or Resume (distracts)
-Personal life history – make you memorable in phone interview – give them something that the CV didn’t tell them

•If you work in a gallery
“OTHER” work experience
Try to use language that sounds closer to the field

•Only bring in technical if the certain computer skills are part of the qualifications

•Special Situations – use technical jargon
Visual Resources department –
-People usually have library and/or art historical background
-List software that you may have used
**Always indicate that you know the computer program that the job specifies
-Museum – TMS – good to indicate if you know
-Those kinds of jobs can include a list of
Web design
-DO NOT indicate higher level technical skills than you actually have!!
-“basic,” “intermediate,” and “advanced”
-Only indicate if it is part of the job description
-You don’t want to scare off the employer – only give them what they ask for

•Nothing High School
If you are on a committee – as grad student – list under professional service

•Don’t list yourself as Union rep – look bad to employers

•No need to distinguish between part time or full time experience
•No need to indicate paid/unpaid internship

NONOs
•Don’t indicate things that you did not do
•Be ABSOLUTELY consistent in formatting
•Serif is hard to read in small (12 point for heading, 11 for information)
•Don’t fully justify – leave white space
•All Titles bolded
•Titles in the same place

•Have people read over and over
Often thrown out if there are typos

•If you send a Resume and a Cover letter to institution you’d like to work for that doesn’t have a posted job opportunity
Include a summary at the beginning – paragraph to tell a bit about yourself
Cover letter thrown away, but Resume will be filed
When they get it later it has the pertinent information

•Post-Doctoral or Fellowship
Might ask for specialized information on teaching philosophy and syllabi
Make up a syllabus to show that you have the knowledge

•Archival research
Can fit under “Selected Research Travel” or “Research Experience”

•List undergraduate awards if you have later information

•Memberships – under Professional Affiliations
CAA or AMA
List
Join the pertinent institution

•Personal research – include in your Cover Letter
Major MA Qualifying paper can go on CV

Recommendation Letters
-Take time to choose people that know you well and have the time
-If they are too busy – the letter will not be good
-Have a conversation first
-Give them as much information as possible
-About the job and your experience
-Don’t assume that they will do the research themselves
-4 – 6 weeks advanced notice
-Remind 2 ½ weeks beforehand
-Ask for a confirmation email that it is sent
-“Friendly reminder checking in to see if …”
-Separate reminder for multiple due dates

Cover Letters
•CUSTOMIZED for every application
•You will be cut if it is not easy to read, confusing, etc
•Need to show that you know how to communicate
•No runons
•Very mapped out
•Strong topic sentences (not creative)
•Hit all points in the job description

First Paragraph
-Short introduction of what you are applying to (Include Title)
-Your experience (short and relevant)
-And your status (where you are in education/career path)

Second Paragraph
-Research job -research interest
-Teaching – teaching experience
-Match the requirements of the job description

Last Paragraph
-Close the deal – why you are a good fit for the job
-Tell them why you are the best for this job
-Don’t be humble!!
-Unnecessary to use grad school letterhead (just your own name)

-2 pages max – academic job or fellowship (tenure track)
Generally 1 page for most jobs

Writing Samples
-Less than 20 pages (inclusive of footnotes, but not images)
-Good if on a single object
-Be aware of using something that uses only ONE method
-Usually a range in a department, but you don’t want to pigeon hole yourself
-What you submit should have 2 – 3 methods (illustrates your knowledge)
- don’t want too much or too specific
Balance traditional and more narrow theoretical analysis
-Don’t just appeal to the person you are working with

*Always ask professors if they know someone at the place you are applying to!! Connections are always beneficial even if they are through someone that is not writing a letter for you.

Questions will be gathered from all of the faculty (essay questions and images)
Ancient – Dr Niles
Medieval – Dr Olszewski
Ren/Baroque – Dr Olszewski 3-4 questions and Dr Scallen 3-4 questions
Modern – Dr Landau, Dr Helmreich, Dr Adams, Dr Carrier – each will present a few questions
Non-Western – Dr Giuffrida, Dr Petridis

DAY ONE
2 1/2 hours
30 images – 5 minute answers
Answer all 30
6 images in each of 5 areas – equally balanced painting, sculpture, architecture
Graded 0-4 points for each answer
1 point artist title and date, 3 points for discussion
5 lowest scores dropped (because not everyone familiar in all areas)

Artist title and date (don’t need location, except architecture) Some will be anonymous
May not have a specific title – be as precise as possible
Dates – as specific as you can – will vary by item
Explain the importance – in term of significance to period and larger history
If it is not unique or extraordinary – contextualize what makes it fit category (ie: peristyle temple) (Why Last Supper is an important theme)

Can be any image from the history of art
Emphasis on images from the CMA collection and Stokstad Survey book (but not limited to these sources)

ID questions will NOT be any chronological/stylistic order (may repeat a patter or sequence – don’t know what to expect)

If it is something you are unfamiliar with it, try to rationalize and say something about the work – partial answer better than none

Should be able to say something significant about very famous works.
If there is something you are unfamiliar with –> comment to the extent that you can

Visual components might relate to the essay questions the next day

DAY TWO
Also in the 5 areas
Answer 4 questions in 3 areas
(Minimum of 3 areas must be answered)
2 of 4 in area you plan to study in PhD

4 hour exam – 1 hour per essay
Spend first 5-10 minutes in making an outline (use extra blue book) – decide answer before writing

Answer the question as it is asked (give specifics to the answer and then bring in outside material – suggest fluency in the material)

If you are strong in one answer, don’t spend too long on it (will cheat other answers)

Support answer with visual references (artists, images *dates) to show visual fluency

General Information
Both Days in Mather 100 – projection – rearrange tables
Faculty will be present for questions
Blue books provided and shared between faculty in grading
Usually graded within a week

Information will come later in the semester about applying to Case’s PhD program
You have to do well in those answers

High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, Fail
PhD needs at least 2 High Passes
Image ID grade should be above 80 (want to be as high as possible)
2 HP on essays and good slide grade or 3 HP essays and mediocre slide grade = HP overall
(2 HP and 1 LP – problem)
Normal – high grade for image ID is low 90s
Dr Scallen grades images
Other faculty looks at essays

Recommended bibliography?
Visual fluency is the key!! Just keep looking at images
Then move to advanced books (Renaissance = F. Hart)
Then move to monographs

Start thinking in terms of 3 areas (don’t study what you won’t need to know)
Know major monographs
Get a sense of chronology

Impressive if you bring in methodology and historiography
Major authorities in the field should be at your disposal
Impress reader by bringing in different methodology in your essay

If you answer a question quickly – be careful

Difference between undergrad and grad
(Undergrads – say too much; Greaduates – don’t say enough)
Start with the question and then get into extraneous information
Be careful that you don’t speculate or make it clear when you are
Don’t add INCORRECT information!

Won’t mark up the blue book (don’t want to influence if there is a second reader)

Methods Reception
•December 1 - After Methods presentations (approximately: 4:30-6:00 pm)
•Clark 206 or somewhere on campus
•Appetizers and Beverages provided

Registration for Next Semester
•Dr Olszewski is the academic adviser for Graduate students this semester - need to schedule and appointment with him
•There is a form to fill out for Fellowship courses - available online:
http://www.case.edu/provost/gradstudies/forms.html

CV Workshop questions – Monday, Nov 16, 2 pm in Mather 100
•Discussion of major questions for Dr Guiffrida to address at the CV workshop next week
•Answers to questions will be posted following the CV workshop

Upcoming Events
•Tuesday, November 10 – 6:00 pm – Clark 309
Anna Bryzaki – Associate Professor of Art History, University of Kentucky
“Chinese Graffiti: Politics of Visual Culture in Contemporary China”

•Wednesday, November 11 – 1:00 pm – Mather 100 – MA Exam meeting

•Wednesday, November 11 – 7:30 pm – Murch Auditorium – CM Natural History
Patrick McGovern, U of Pennsylvania Museum
“Uncorking the Past: The Quest for Wine, Beer and Extreme Fermented Beverages”

•Thursday, November 12 - 2:00 pm - Mather House 100
Julie Nero - Case PhD Candidate
Dissertation Proposal:
"The Lesbian Monocle"

•Wednesday, November 18 – 6:30 – CMA Recital Hall
Moyna Stanton, CMA Conservator
“Technical Aspects of the Volpini Suite"

•Wednesday, November 18 – 7:30 – CMA Recital Hall
James Housefield -
“Gauguin’s Baudelairean Dream”

•Wednesday, December 2 – 12:30 pm – Recital Hall of CMA
Travers Newton – Case Masters Candidate and CMA Consultant Researcher
“Van Gogh Exhibition Research at the CMA: The Repetition Paintings”

•Monday, December 7 – 4:00 pm – Mandel Center Room 115
Friends of Art
Stephen Knerly, Esq.
“Issues for American Museums Regarding Holocaust Era Looted Art”

•Cleveland Symposium call for papers went out – ONE spot held for a Case student - deadline for submissions is Dec 11

Kimberly Paik
216-368-4446
kjp14@case.edu OR kimberly.paik@case.edu

Attendees: Allison, Bailey, Julie B., Colleen, Elizabeth S., Margaret, Virginia, Rachael, and Bethany

Career Center – located in Sears 206, one level down from the Quad entrance
Handouts – slides from the presentation; general template (more available online); tips for networking

What is a Resume/CV?

Summarize work experience and qualifications – first thing seen in an application
Takes time, drafts, many reviews
Marketing tool – sell yourself – look at what skills you want to use to entice prospective employers/schools
Goal => peak their interest to get the interview (not the final say)
First impression of your professional talents
Make sure all grammar and formatting are as perfect as possible
Try to put yourself in the reader’s shoes – make it as easy as possible for them to get key points
If an application asks for x, y, and z skills make sure you emphasize those

Difference between CV and Resume

Length, content and purpose differ
Curriculum Vitae – CV is longer (Resume is 1-2 pages, CV has no limit)
CV is focused for academia – apply for academic/museum position; application for grant; presentation at a conference; annual review for an employer; requirement for membership in many professional societies/organizations
More details go into a CV
- Includes summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching a research experience, publications, presentations, honors, affiliations and other details
Resumes apply to specific positions outside of academic setting

Basic content:

Name and page number on each page! (include as a footer, with “Hotujac, 2 of 3”)
DO NOT use Word Template (not scanner friendly and spacing issues)
Handout is a skeleton – gets meatier with more content
Double check spelling and grammar!
Use 8 ½ x 11 paper with ½” – 1” margins
Use boldface to highlight information, but be consistent in use
Leave enough white space for someone to read
Use neutral colored paper – higher quality can make a difference in hard copy
Keep it simple! Avoid speckled paper (makes copies less legible)
Laser printer is better quality than ink jet version (better for them to make copies)
Do not staple

How to Grab Attention

Easy to read and logical
First look may be 20 seconds – make skimmer friendly
List is more friendly than a paragraph

Problem Action Result (PAR) statements
Action verb first!
Pair the action with a goal/result/skill developed → show what you learned
Go beyond action (job description) tells about you and adds value

DOs

Format so it is easy to read/skim
Most important information first
Choose strong headings
Focus on result/skills/accomplishments more than duties
Use consistent tense
Write to an outsider

DON’Ts

Beware ERRORS!!!
Have read by friends, family, Professors, Career Services
Do not include personal information beyond name, address, phone (Hurt to have too much info)
Avoid personal pronouns (me, my, I) – keep in sentence fragments
Avoid abbreviations, slang or jargon
Unless generally known to field or common (GPA)
Don’t be vague or poorly focused
No need to label as “CV” or “Resume” at top
No photo!
Salary information is irrelevant
Don’t include the reason you left your last position (can explain in the interview)

Ideas for Categories of Information:

Very personal – will vary from person to person

Identifying information
Summary/Objective – not necessary in CV
Education
Experience (Can split Research and Teaching Experience)
Most relevant information first
Skills
Activities, Honors, Interests
Service
Publications/Presentations
(These are not the only options, feel free to add a category that will highlight your potential)

CV – home and office info if applicable

Summary/Objective

(More for a Resume than a CV)
Short, but difficult to write – 2-3 lines at beginning
First thing after your name
Clear, concise statement describing your skills/experience and express you goal
Give structure
Show what you have to offer for the position
3 ways to focus
- Knowledge, experience, or skills offered
- Job function (position) desired
- Organization type, industry, or field
Tailored to specific job

Education

University and degrees (with graduation date)
Majors and Minors
Honors (if you have enough, you can separate them)
Describe where you are in program

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH
- M.A. Art History, May 2010
- GPA 3.5 / 4.0

The Ohio State University, Columbus OH
- B.A. Art History, May 2008
- Minor in Music
- Studied abroad for 3 weeks in Italy
- GPA 3.8 / 4.0

Variety of ways to separate schools, depending on where you went
No one set method – need to figure out what works best for your information
Highlight what is most important about your experience

Experience

Company, location
Title, dates
- Action + goal/result
- Action + skill developed

Include job title, name of employer/institution, your responsibilities and accomplishments, dates
If you can quantify information it makes it sound stronger
If you quantify – use the number don’t spell it out (stands out more)
If you have a substantial amount of experience in museum, it is ok to label as “Museum Experience” – this is especially important if you want to go into that field

REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Good phrasing, Example:
“Responsibilities included preparing class lectures, homework assignment, and exams”
vs
“Delivered 8 class lectures on composite materials and developed 5 supporting problem sets and a midterm examination.” **More effective
“Developed and implemented a scholarship plan…”

Research Experience Example

Postdoctoral Research: Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2007-present (research advisor: Dr. Stephen H. Smith)
- Developed a quantitative theory of hierarchical structure in ecological systems.
- Analyzed how ecological communities reflect environmental heterogeneity at different scales.
- Completed a numerical study of the foraging behavior with short and long range movement in heterogeneous environments.

Doctoral Research: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 1999-2004 (research advisor: Dr Jane Advisorname)
- Studied the impact of avian predation on lizards in the eastern Caribbean. Documented the importance of differences or special scale between prey and predators.
- Completed analysis that demonstrates how species interaction can sharpen underlying environmental patterns and how heterogeneous environments can stabilize predator and prey populations.

Undergraduate Honors Research: Department of Biochemistry, Northwestern University, 1995-1999 (research advisor: Dr Sam Jones)
- Investigated primary events of bacterial photosythesis

Teaching Experience

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH
Department of Art History, Teaching Assistant, August 2008-present
- Issues in Medieval Art, Fall 2008
- Issues in the Arts of China, Spring 2009
- Sixteenth Century Italian Art, Fall 2009

Activities, Honors, Interest

Professional Associations
Leadership Roles
Clubs
Include only if active member (expect to be asked about connections)

Professional Associations:

College Art Association, 2007-Present
Etc.
You may also choose to list them as “Memberships”

Awards

Scholarships, Fellowships, Teaching and Research Awards
List title and date
Can be grouped with Honors

Service:
Community service if relevant and substantial

Publications and Presentations

(can be together or separate; when you have enough you may choose to list “selected”)
Good to keep a full list somewhere in case you need it
Could group by content – if you publish in multiple fields
Publications in standard bibliographic form
Presentation includes title, conference and date

Tips For Success:

Best CVs are drafted with particular application in mind.
Think about what the organization is likely to value:
- Quality and quantity of research (achievement and potential)
- Previous experience
- Ways you have ‘added value’ to your current job or department and made your presence felt
- Your education

References:

List on separate page from CV
Talk to at least 3 people (can be more) so they can be ready to write
Bring to the interview
Talk with references FIRST
Keep them informed on what’s going on (If they tell you they will call references, if you have an interview that went well you should tell the reference – send updated copy of CV if necessary – they can look at the job description)
List: name, title, company, address, phone number, email
If reference is not clear – indicate your relationship with the person (id: professor that moved from one institution to another)
Thank you note when done

Example:
Dr. Jane Smith
Department of Art History
Case Western Reserve University
206 Sears
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-368-5555

Career Center Services:

Majority of these available to Alumni
Representative at Career Services who specifically with Alumni
(On campus interview only within 1 year of graduation)
Online tools always available

Review CV/Resume
Monday-Thursday 11 am – 2 pm Walk in hours (no appointment necessary, first come first served)
They can assess and make suggestions

Accenture Career Resource Library
Section for graduate students
Academic Job Search Handbooks
Books on searching for an academic jobs
Non-circulating, but open times to use

Case Career Link
When a company contacts Case about job postings they go here
Access from Career Center Website
Can search for jobs by keyword

Alumni Career Network
Alumni that volunteer who can provide career-related information and guidance
Fill out an application to find a contact
More to learn about a specific career – not a way to get a job, more to learn about a job
Location, title and degree are the easiest searches to find someone to meet with
You give them your CV/Resume and they put you in contact with someone
Phone (or in person) interview where you can ask questions

Employer Interaction Opportunities
Connect with employers through our on campus interviewing program, employer sessions, annual career fairs

On Campus Interview
Practice with a Career Center Employee
Call 216-368-4446 to schedule a mock interview
1 hour appointment
20 minute interview
Tape interview and get feedback on your response

Consulting Hours
Come into the office for quick questions

Website
http://careercenter.case.edu
Links on left side of page
Section specifically for applying to grad school
Internship programs

“Credential Files” – Interfolio service
Create an account with minimal fee
Service where references are uploaded and you choose where the letters go to
Good for handling multiple references
They remain confidential (you cannot read the letters)
If the school you apply to uses a similar service, you can call them and see if this is possible

“My Career” – login
Access databases – free for Case students – quick descriptions
Guides for specific cities – US and Abroad

Attendees: Bethany, Rachael, Joe, Rebecca, Lourdes, Sarah, and Bailey

Dr. Helmreich – go over form that she uses when writing a letter of recommendation

Letter of Recommendation form: faculty asked to do many letters, so they want a lot in return. (At any given time, Dr H is writing 12 letters and they are all due at busy times of the year.)
•Name and the position that you apply for.
•Include the information on how they should receive/send.
•Give faculty a hard copy of the information with the institution, the job/position… Better if they can tailor the letter to the job and not have to go onto Google to figure out information
•Provide a list of due dates in chronological order
•Give professors a bullet point list of your reasons for applying and why you would be a good candidate (easier to read than to unpack the personal statement)
•List of classes (may need papers back)
•CV/Resume
•Draft Cover Letter
•Draft of all Supporting Materials
•Need to have all of the information in advance to provide to the professor.

Contact Potential Advisors
•Before information is provided to faculty for a letter
(Dr Helmreich applied to a school with a group of people she wanted to work with)
•Question should be “Are you taking new graduate students?” Rather than asking straight out if they can be your adviser. Opens the door for communication. Important conversation to have with the professor to see the situation.
•Expect to reciprocate about what you want to do. Make sure their time is well spent in talking to you.
•Find out the status of what the school/professor will be doing. (ie: professor that does Medieval and Early Modern may only take one type of student at a time)
•Have 4 main, targeted questions to ask. Do not ask general, pragmatic questions.
•See if the program has a general graduate adviser.
*Contact that person first for a general scope of the program, financial aide, etc. Then indicate that you are thinking about a particular faculty member.
•Send only short emails and set up a specific phone time to prevent trying to answer questions over a long period of time.
•Call them, don’t expect them to call you. Short conversation, 15 min or so.
•Don’t need to know scholarship of the general person, but you SHOULD know the main person you want to talk to: at least read reviews and abstracts.
• *Question should always be “what are you working on now?”
•General adviser will tell you who is a feasible person to talk to, who will respond, and may even forward an email. Some don’t respond until you’ve spoken to this person.

What do Dr Helmreich and Dr Landau look for in applicants?
•Helps to have some sort of connection – gives them an idea of someone to talk to about the student.
•Look for someone who has done their homework: Even though Dr Helmreich did some work on landscape history earlier, that is not a current field.
•Look for someone who did some sort of in depth project – know the field – could be a seminar paper (more than synthesis of general scholarship) – keep in mind that they don’t have time to read a 50 page thesis.
•Will look at research questions, conclusions, bibliography…
Teaching someone to ask good questions is the hardest thing to do, so if they already know how to do it, it helps immensely

In person visit?
Importance of talking to person:
•Some schools may discourage approach. Can find out through website or talk with the general adviser. – Depends on program

When to begin contacting potential advisers:
•Nov 30, Dec 10 – coincide with finals and Thanksgiving. Do NOT want to contact them at inopportune times. They may be out of town or super busy.

Is there such a thing as too soon to approach someone? •Yes – your interest may change and their situation may change.

Writing sample →
•show critical thinking and research skills. Might not matter as much the field that you want to study. Show that you are a superb researcher and a FLAWLESS WRITER!!!! – confident and skillful
•You have to have the writing skills to make it. (NW – quarters – 3 seminar papers per year at the same level of expectation as semester)
Can address where the paper came from in your statement. Say that it came out of a particular class and you have research interests in … area.

•If a person says that you can ask them more questions, only contact them with legitimate questions.

•Don’t think in terms of a “safety school”! Apply to the best school you can, but should have “realistic”. So, know your own limits. There is no such thing (other than Case) at the Phd Level. (it’s the Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton and everyone else and we’re in the last level)
•It is a matter of WHO you study with, more so than where you study.
Look at CAA career – there are openings, but be prepared to move. Even people published in your field may have to work through many jobs to get tenure.

Choosing someone to work with:
•Many who establish a reputation, but step back and haven’t done as much recently. Important to find someone involved right now in networking and researching.
•Good to find someone with tenure (safer, but not automatic). Less time for you if they are not tenured and less likely that they will stay (There are cases where untenured is acceptable). Larger schools may not have as much time to devote to you personally.
•Associate has tenure and Assistant does not. If they are tenured with the title of Assistant (BAD). Occasionally associate without tenure.

Number of schools – depends on the field you choose. •Do not go in with this attitude, it should be a question of who is appropriate to study with.
•Make sure that you have a good intellectual match. If they don’t have a similar methodological approach, that is what they will expect you to have.
•Some professors don’t want to take you on/talk to you a lot until you’ve been accepted. Find out the function with the department
•Have information ready – they may ask you for samples to make sure you’re worth their time before you even do the application.
Once you’ve been accepted, then take the time to come in and meet the professors and the students. Go to them when you know you’re in.
•When you meet ask for a recent syllabus. Meet with students!
•You get less hand holding the higher you go. If you like being pushed, choose a more competitive school.

Who reads applications:
•Differs in different schools. No one will accept someone without looking. (The prof you want to work with will look at the application. Good to target that person in application.)
•Aid will be awarded in various manners – differs from school to school. (Rutgers will not take someone with a GRE under 550 – Dean will refuse money to anyone without fitting that criteria, regardless of the person). If there is paperwork on that type of information needs to be done in a timely manner – make sure you know who to approach.
•Critical thinker, excellent writer, and looked into the school

Personal Statement
•Diagnose a personal statement of someone that got into NW, Stony Brook (didn’t get into Columbia). This was a CASE student.
•Think about what you wouldn’t have thought to do. Tad pretentious in the syntax, but got results. (weakness)
•Tell what you will do.
First paragraphs: interests, how they think, theoretical bent
•If you follow this model, saying that you presented a paper, even though not in my field, it is beneficial b/c… and was accepted.
General organization:
•Clear idea of their situation and what they want to do. Is it too directed? Could that be bad? Would this person come across and too much of a know it all that wouldn’t be moldable? Have to make yourself attractive to the person you are directing. Mention that you have this interest, though not yet honed in on a particular topic. •Mention scholarship that has affected your thinking. Show that you have an interesting mind. There are people who go into grad school because it is hard to get a job, looking for those that would be most intellectually stimulating to work with. You never get a second chance for first impression. May like the way this person thinks and that he has direction. Shows that he knows who he should be reading to make a new contribution. Can dance around not having an exact direction without
•Submitted his MA qualifying paper, even though not exactly what he wanted to present.
•Name drops in good way – major scholars and why he is interested in them. AND he gives the chairs of the session of CAA in which he presented. Make it clear that he has been vetted by major people in the field. Qualification of being accepted in a conference and vetted by more than your own peers.
•Highlights of qualifications based on education later in the essay, after he’s presented who he is and what he wants to do.
•They may not hold you to the letter of what you want to study, but you need to stay in the ball park of the person that you choose to work with.
•Tone down third paragraph with some of the references to some of the scholars – a little too intense and “name droppy”
•If dropping a particular name would appeal to that scholar, then do it.
•You need to distinguish yourself from everyone.
•A lot of schools will require at least 2 years of course work – so you will be attractive with coursework, but there are a lot of people, larger pool than normal.
•Will this introduction grab your attention? Tell them what you’re going to do. But not the best paragraph in the statement. Had to start off with something to get into paragraph two.
•Letter tends to be a little long. If you are limited to one page, what to cut out: paragraph one could be one sentence. Take out some of the names. While Derrida and Deleuze were important to him, but that would be apparent in hi paper. Don’t have to list as many names.
French and American and a less popular artist are contextualized personally.
•Professional aims are in the last paragraph. Future curatorial involvement – show he wants a museum career.
•He stresses a particular museum that impacted him rather than a general I love museums. Some programs are less interested in people with curatorial experience. Top school want people who are on the intellectual/academic track.
•Not a lot of people leave programs and go somewhere else. Previously if you went to NYU and you got accepted, that doesn’t mean that someone will take you on. If no one wants to take on your topic or you and that’s the end, you must move on.
•Need to find out the set of pressures – competitive culture – before you apply and certainly before you go!
•This is not a perfect essay, but he got into 3 of the 5 and got MAJOR offers. ($20,000 with 5 year guarantee)
•Remember that this is merely a PART of the larger application.
•Be sure to indicate WHO you are intellectually. Need to find out about this person’s mind and interests. (He didn’t stay at Case b/c Landau didn’t want to work on this topic). He mentioned the professors that impacted him here, that is a really helpful and gives a sense of the person. (DO NOT CUT THAT OUT)
•CV should be targeted to academic
•Is undergraduate obsolete? Could write BA thesis under that, but don’t go into. Much more interested in Case
•Could leave out the “humble undergraduate” – that could just go unsaid. He wanted to include that because he felt it was important. Landau thinks that everything showed that he outstripped that background.
•Just trying to set apart from the average. You want someone to be interested in your mind.
•Scholarly field and you have to evidence scholarly interests. PhD makes you an expert, so show you have promise of future expertise. Establish a general field and who and what in that field you want to explore.
•(Try to avoid Panofsky or someone that is too old in the field) but mention some specific scholarship – recent – that interest you in the field.
•If you ask the same people for letters of recommendation, there is no question that they will compare the letters with your classmates. It will frankly hurt if you all apply to the same school that will hurt. •They will not take too many people from the same school (Case)
•Make sure that you have some applications to school where you don’t have competition from classmates.
•Think carefully about who can write you the best recommendation! •Have a letter from a curator…. Use someone that can comment on your scholarship, someone that you’ve written for.
•Personal reasons in scholarly and field-specific manner. Personal as it relations to what you want to study. Target to your specific qualifications.
•If you talk about a paper, should it be the one you submit? If you go on about it and don’t include it, they’ll be left wanting. You can mention, but know why you submit the paper that you chose to submit. •Explain in more than one sentence, explain why you chose the writing sample that you did. How it shows what you’ve done and its impact on your newer and different interests.
•Schools are looking for people who will finish.
•This letter is selling yourself!
•If you get accepted to multiple schools, your interview will be them trying to sell themselves to you.
•If accepted to more than one program, absolutely go to them.
•5 or 6 is a good number of applications.
•Bottom line – be HONEST

Art Talk – Lourdes and Amanda

Curator Tom Henson (?) would like to do an art talk, but make it more of a roundtable
• He’d like to send out exhibition proposals – it would require a bit of work ahead of time
• 5 proposals – 1-2 pages each
— ‘Matisse and the Mediterranean’
— Not heavy reading – just a general idea of the exhibition content
— Don’t know if they would all be discussed all at once or individual sessions
• You would have to COMMIT to coming and to reading
• Faculty would be invited
• Dates are still up in the air

Jon Sydell – Gallery talk format

Mark Cole – Oct 28

Positions:

GSS Representative
• Go to meeting – vote on issues
• First Thursday of Month 11:30-1 – location on website
• Elected:
— Elizabeth Funk

Faculty Representative
• Not a lot work required – but need to have someone to relay concerns
• Elected:
— Colleen and Anna

Professional Events

• PhD Workshop – Oct 7
— Dr Landau and Dr Helmreich
— Email list of questions beforehand – To Bethany by SEPT 23

• Powerpoint workshop
— Offered through Freedman Center
— Email if interested

Social Events

• OCT 2 – 5pm at Bodega
— Not funded – bring money

• Weatherheadless Ball – Oct 31 (?)
— Meet at Bethany’s at 7pm and walk over
— Email with ideas for group costumes

• Open to ideas for new social events
— Groups for monthly social events
— Pass around signup sheet – pick a month
— Email with recommendations

James Ulak – Friday 4:30 CMA
• Graduate session at 12:45 – email Dr Giuffrida

Stephen Ostrow – Sept 30 4:30 CMA

Art Prize in Grand Rapids
• Half Million in prizes – public votes
• Diverse artist groups
• A lot of art in a concentrated space
• Bethany and Julie are planning to go
— Email if you are interested – will have lodgings

Case Symposium

• Joe, Rebecca, Amanda
• FEB 26
• Will ask for volunteers later
• Good to be seen – reception later

GAHA Attendance – Will Laughlin (from CIA), Lourdes, Amanda, Christina, Theresa, Erin, Maryam, Bailey

Will Laughlin, student representative of the student-run coffee house gallery in CIA came to speak about a possible cross-institutional partnership between the gallery and Case graduate students, involving Case students curating shows in the gallery. Will explained that we (Case students) would be able to come over for a tour of the school and studios, see what we like, and then create a series of shows in a sort of faux-biennial. The spaces for the shows would include the Coffee House gallery, and also more unconventional spaces, such as critique spaces and multimedia rooms, including a room for screening digital works. The hope is to include more digital works.
The series would take place all at the same time, all at the factory building of the CIA. Contact info is Tim Shagrew. Will hopes to make this all about the partnership aspect, as well as developing more contact between the two institutions. Another goal includes providing a new inquiry into how peoples’ works fit together, and an opportunity to allow people outside the institution to view the works. There would also be a party, funds provided by the CIA.

Graduate Student Senate Happy Hour at the Jolly Scholar—5-7pm, Thursday, February 19

Clothing exchange—the evening of Saturday, March 21

Tour of Art and Power in the Central African Savanna exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art by Dr. Petridis—5:30 pm, Wednesday, March 25

Meeting with Cleveland Museum of Art Director Timothy Rub—5:30 pm, Tuesday, April 14

Tour of the Lee Friedlander exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art by CMA photography curator Tom Hinson—Friday, April 17 at noon

Attending: Erin, Maryam, Theresa, Christina, Lourdes, Bethany, Bailey, Amanda

January 29, 2009; 11:30am at Arabica’s

The GSS (Graduate Student Senate) puts on a Happy Hour at the Jolly Scholar (in Thwing) from 5-7pm every Thursday. GAHA would like to invite the Art History Grads to come to the Happy Hour February 19th. The date is the day before the Celveland Symposium, but this shouldn’t be a problem, unless there are a number of guest speakers that come in that night. Christina mentioned a gathering the Symposium people had in a previous year, at the Fairmount, specifically for the speakers, but no one but Case students attended, so that’s probably not a big concern. Stay tuned for more info once the Symposium people figure out accommodation.

Friday, February 27th, we were thinking of having another PhD roundtable, if the PhDs are willing ☺ Last year this was a great way for the PhDs to share their wisdom with us in a casual setting.

Friday, April 27th, Tom Hinson of the CMA has agreed to give a tour of the Lee Friedlander photo show that will be up at the museum at that time. We will try to get an estimate of how many people will be coming.

GAHA Agenda, November, 13, 2008:
Calendar of remaining events for the semester:

- Artistic Luxury Tour - 12:30 tomorrow
We send out an email memo about getting a ticket early. The tickets are free, just present your case id and wait for the group outside the upstairs ticket booth. The tour will be about an hour long.

- Museum Studies class exhibition - Nov. 17-21
The Museum Studies class this semester is organizing an exhibition called The Museum: Curiosity and Exploration. The closing party is Friday, November 21st from 4-5:30pm.

- Methodologies reception - Dec. 3
Maryam updated the group on the status of the Methods reception. Nothing too big, can’t have the meeting at the CMA. We’re planning on having it at Clark Hall 206, because it’s a free venue. The room is reserved from 6-10pm, and we can have alcohol (and probably will have some kind of wine). We’re still looking for a catering service, so if you have any ideas, just let us know!