Three simple early bird tips to help your postgrad job search

Sure, graduation is months away. You've got plenty of time to find a job. Successful students realize, though, that starting the job search process early on in their senior year can help make the process less overwhelming later. Take these simple steps now to help your search in the coming months.

1. Highlight your undergraduate extracurricular activities
You're in Mortar Board, so you've undoubtedly been involved in other student organizations, held leadership roles and planned large-scale campus events. Write out what you've done, for which organization and the skills you took away from the job. Even if these achievements don't make their way into your résumé, your practical experience can make a great discussion topic during job interviews.

2. Speaking of your résumé, update it. Now.
You're likely fresh off a summer internship and have the clarity to describe what you've accomplished now. Don't wait six months to describe the job when some details may have faded. If everything doesn't fit in your résumé, save extraneous facts in a separate document - they might come in handy later.

3. Start collecting letters of recommendation
Professors and advisors are likely to be bombarded with requests for letters of recommendation in the spring, so get your request in early. Always give recommenders a copy of your résumé so they can reference your credentials.

Your tuition is an investment, now you can protect it with GradGuard Tuition Insurance and Student Protection Plan!

Did you know that many colleges offer reduced or no tuition refund if a student is forced to withdraw from college due to an unforeseen illness or accident after the first week of the semester?  GradGuard Tuition Insurance, a group policy with College Parents of America, will cover the non-refunded cost of attendance including tuition fees, room, board and other legitimate expenses.  Enrollment in GradGuard Tuition Insurance also includes our Student Protection Plan.
Coverage Includes*:

• 100% of covered fees due to medical disability withdrawal
• 75% of covered fees due to medical disability withdrawal due to emotional, nervous or mental disorders
• 100% of covered fees due to the death of a tuition payer
• Coverage options up to $50,000 of annual protection

Student Protection Plan Includes*:

• Identity Theft Protection and Resolution Services
• Emergency Medical Evacuation
• PC Repairs and Extended Warranty

Make sure your investment is protected! To enroll or learn more visit GradGuard.com/MortarBoard

*Subject to exclusions:  Please review the complete list of coverage and exclusions on GradGuard's website.

Support "Reading is Leading" by participating in the Virtual Book Drive

For the third year, Mortar Board has launched the Virtual Book Drive held in conjunction with First Book. With the Virtual Book Drive, chapters, alumni and supporters can unite nationally while working toward a common goal consistent with the "Reading is Leading" national project - to give children across the country access to books. 

This virtual drive is easily accessible, allowing anyone to donate funds online. Many chapters hold fundraisers or campuswide events, while others simply share the donation link as a way to widely promote literacy. A donation of just $2 can provide a child with his or her first book, and contribute to the national goal of raising $30,000.

Donations will allow a worthy program selected by each chapter to purchase books online in the First Book Marketplace. Even if your chapter is not planning a large event, share the link (www.firstbook.org/mortarboard) with your friends and family to ensure that children across the nation are given the opportunity to read.

Prepping for a major test? Don't forget about your Kaplan test preparation discount

Many Mortar Board members choose to further their education with a postgraduate degree. In preparation for those studies, some students turn to Kaplan's various test preparation courses.

As a Mortar Board member, you are eligible to receive 15 percent off all GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, PSAT classroom and online courses for members.

To receive your discount, simply visit the Kaplan website at www.kaptest.com/mortarboard and enter the code MORTAR during the checkout process. To work properly, the code must be entered in all caps and without any spaces before or after the code. Please note this offer may only be redeemed online and eligibility is restricted to Mortar Board members, their spouses and children.

Share your accomplishments with Mortar Board

Mortar Board members are among the most successful scholars and leaders on their campuses. It is therefore no surprise that numerous members are recognized with notable awards and various honors.

Whether a member receives a scholarship, gets a paper published, receives a campus award or otherwise, they deserve to be celebrated by Mortar Board. Please submit your recent accomplishments to the Mortar Board Forum magazine to receive your much-deserved recognition.

Member submissions can be sent via e-mail to mbforum@mortarboard.org or submitted online using a simple form.

Do you come from a "Mortar Board Family"?
Send us photos!

Across the world, being a member of Mortar Board has become a family tradition. If you are in a family that has more than one member, no matter the relation, now is your chance to be featured in the Mortar Board Forum magazine.

Please e-mail a high-resolution digital photo of you with your Mortar Board family members to mbforum@mortarboard.org along with the following:

• The name of each family member as you would like it listed
• The relation (parents/children, siblings/twins, cousins, etc.)
• Each family member's job title/career or majors/minors if currently enrolled in a college or university
• Each family member’s undergraduate university where initiated and graduation month/year

Connect with Mortar Board

KODA - a unique job-search network for young professionals

You can explore job opportunities in a better way on KODA, the online community for employers and young professionals. KODA showcases companies like New York Life, Yelp, GEICO, Agilent and IDEO. Recruiters from these employers are trying to hire Mortar Board members: they're scouring the KODA community for possible recruits, so create a profile and connect with them.

Find out what these companies are like and understand your career options - they're more diverse than you think. You'll have the added advantage of featuring your affiliation with Mortar Board on your profile, which helps you stand out to employers who are actively searching for recruits in the KODA community.

Sign up now

Need a scholarship?  Search now.

Mortar Board members are given access to a scholarship search engine, hosted by FastWeb. There, members have access to more than a million scholarships with more than $3 billion in awards. 

Browse the search engine now.

Mortar Board provides great benefits to its members

Mortar Board makes every effort to provide beneficial opportunities, outstanding discounts and valuable services to members. 

Be sure to check this list regularly to be sure that you are taking advantage of all the benefits Mortar Board has to offer!

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