What Risks are YOU Taking for Your Career?

One of my favorite quotes comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated “do one thing every day that scares you.” We receive a lot of messages, whether they be internal or external, that tell us there’s something to be afraid of. We might make a mistake. We might say the wrong thing. We might be too young, too old… we don’t have enough experience. Whatever the situation may be, we could always find a reason why it would be safer to stay within our comfort zone. However, without courage there is less potential for reward.

Sure, job fairs are scary. Networking events can be awkward and uncomfortable. Being scrutinized by a group of people during an interview?! Forget about it! Yet all of these situations will be necessary for career advancement at some point in our career trajectory. Now is as good of time as any to start getting in the habit of taking these types of risks.

With graduation approaching, there are a lot of ways in which students can put themselves out there in order to get noticed in their desired industry.

The Elevator Speech Competition starts on Friday, March 20^th. This is a great opportunity to practice your elevator speech if this is something that still seems scary to you. The competition also provides the opportunity for finalists to practice their pitch in front of employers: this is a really great way to make connections and create a lasting first impression. There is also potential to win some cash, if the argument to participate wasn’t convincing enough already.

Within our upcoming “Life After UT” series, there are plenty of additional opportunities to learn about how to stand out when you’re ready to challenge yourself to get in front of employers. On Tuesday, April 7^th we have a “Personal Branding and Innovative Job Search” workshop and the week after that we have an “Interviewing Success!” workshop on April 14^th. Consider attending both of these informative presentations if you haven’t already signed up.

Finally, we have an alumni panel and networking event on April 21^st. This is yet another great opportunity to practice your elevator speech and networking skills and increase your comfort level in marketing yourself as a professional.

You can register for any of these events through your HIRE-UT profile: https://spartanweb.ut.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Career_Services/Hire_UT.jnz

Graduation is quickly approaching: what are you most afraid? What risks can you take in order to propel your life as a professional?

 

Melena Postolowski, MA, NCC

Assistant Director of Internship Programs

Office of Career Services, The University of Tampa

Internship Fair Prep 101

Experience is vital when applying for post-graduate positions. However, getting your foot in the door can be easier said than done these days. While competition remains heavy in a world enthralled with tech savvy young adults with high ambitions, how can students ensure they gain the proper experience necessary to get hired?

 Internship fairs are a great chance for students to not only get the chance to gain experience, but also to network and practice “selling themselves” to employers. Preparation is key here. With The University of Tampa’s Internship Fair coming up on February 2^nd, students should keep the following tips in mind prior to attending.

1.      Suit Up

To ensure that you look the part, prepare your outfit in advance – this includes ironing and any dry cleaning that may be necessary. Refer to the following infographic if you are struggling with determining if your attire is appropriate or not:

 

2.      Do Your Research

Prior to attending the fair, know what firms will be there and further research the ones that interest you.  Once you have found the ones that interest you, rank them. This will come in handy when trying to navigate the crowded room packed with equally as eager students as yourself. Also, don’t be afraid to visit some of the tables that are not on your list – be open minded. Lastly, employees appreciate it when candidates are knowledgeable about the company, so keeping some facts handy before you approach them can be helpful.

3.      Know How You Want to Sell Yourself

Internship fairs are not interviews, but merely a couple of minutes to make an impression – good or bad. You aren’t given a whole lot of time to make a first impression, however you are given time to prepare one. Before attending the fair make a list of 4 or 5 key points from your resume/prior experience that can serve as talking points when you meet employers and are met with the question, “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?”

4.      Be Ready to Network

Work the room. Whether you are talking to employers or just fellow students, be friendly and approachable. If you have business cards – bring them. If not, it’s okay, but do make sure you have plenty of copies of your resume and that they are stored in a protective folder so that they are presented to employers in a polished manner. If you need help with your resume stop by our office in RIVC 116 and someone will be happy to help you.

 

5.      Google Yourself

Last, but not least, google yourself before attending the fair. Ask yourself if the persona that is portrayed in the results is someone you want a future employer to see. Always be mindful of what you are doing/posting on the internet because employers DO look at your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. when considering you for a position.

With these tips in mind you will surely be prepared for the upcoming spring 2015 Internship Fair, Monday February 2nd from 1-3:30p.m. in Fletcher Lounge, Plant Hall.

 

For a list of companies log into your HIRE-UT account now:  www.ut.edu/hireut .

 

We can’t wait to see you there and hear about the experiences you gain from attending! Use the hashtag #utampainternshipfair2015 to document your time at the fair!

 

Warm Regards,

 

Eliza K. Majka

Marketing Intern, Office of Career Services

The University of Tampa

Your Quick Guide to Achieving Your Career After UT

Welcome and welcome back to another semester at The Unviersity of Tampa! As you return to campus you may be asking yourself, how do I get through the next 3 + months with rigorous academic coursework and still make progress toward my career?

The answer is simple. Have a plan. “Invest in the future because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life.” ― Habeeb Akande

1.     Start where you are. You are a student. Utilize the services offered to students.  Did you know that you have an office dedicated to Life after UT in the office of career services? Employers are on-campus many times during the Spring semester. Have you pre-registered on Hire-UT? What other offices on-campus have professionals that can assist you? Do your research!

 

2.     Pace Yourself. Much like any workout or training plan you must pace yourself when making strides toward your career. What will you do this semester that will open doors for your career? Will you begin to network through information interviews, job shadowing or volunteering? Maybe this semester you begin searching for an internship. Whatever you do make a plan. Time goes by fast!

 

3.     Enjoy the ride. Enjoy talking with professionals. Ask professors, employers, career coaches and other professionals questions. What do they suggest you do to make the most of your time while you are in college? Shoot for the stars and make a plan that fits into your semester. One sample goal would be to make contact with a professional twice/month at an event on-campus or off-campus. Be open to life’s possibilities now and you will thank yourself later.

 

All the best for your career!

Best Regards,

Jessie

Jessie Bush, M.A.

Assistant Director, Career Coaching & Professional Development

 

 

 

 

Getting Ready to Graduate: Are You Ready for the Workforce?

Graduation is in sight and there’s light at the end of the tunnel… but now what!? The anticipation of graduation can be an exciting time met with pride, a sense of accomplishment and excitement about the future. It is not uncommon for students to also feel sad to leave their college experience and have anxieties or fears about embarking on a job search and entering the workforce. While each individual will have different goals for after graduation, there are some common transitions to prepare for:

Relationships may change. Your community after college becomes more intentional, as you seek out relationships of choice rather than relying on the social community universities create. More of your time may be spent networking and developing professional relationships than focusing on relationships that are developed with the sole intent of socializing. This is a great opportunity to get to know people from a variety of backgrounds who have had different experiences than you have encountered. You have the opportunity to learn a lot from your peers and colleagues and professional mentors along the way. After all, “every person that you meet knows something you don’t.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Generational variances exist more in the workforce than they do at traditional universities. You may have gotten used to working with peers close to your age, but this will not necessarily be the case moving forward. There is potential for four generations of professionals at your organization and while it is important to avoid stereotyping, differences in working style or communication could arise. Get to know the individuals you are working with to better understand their perspective and reasoning for approaching a situation the way they do. If misunderstandings do arise, show willingness to talk about the perspectives being represented and develop problem-solving strategies and better ways to communicate. You may also need to be prepared to supervise professionals much older than yourself.

Teamwork will be the norm. Many universities require and encourage teamwork in the classroom, as this skill is utilized on a daily basis in the world of work. We do not exist in isolation, so learning how to work with others will be crucial to your career success, whether it is on your immediate team or with professionals from another department. Learn how to capitalize on people’s strengths and different working styles and offer to pitch in when help is needed. Not only will this help produce the work that needs to get done but it will also serve as a networking strategy over time.

Finally, learn how to budget time and money. You may need to prioritize tasks at work and will notice that project deadlines and punctuality will be stressed more in the workplace than they have been throughout your college career. In order to budget your money, you will want to list your expenses, calculate costs and prioritize based on your income. The earlier you start saving, in general and for retirement, the better prepared you will be in the long run.

Enjoy the transition and the growth that comes along with it. Welcome to the world of work!

 

Melena Postolowski, MA, NCC

Assistant Director of Internship Programs, Office of Career Services

The University of Tampa

Owning My Career

                It seems like just yesterday I was a freshman pursuing a degree in marine biology with no idea of what I wanted to do after graduating, or how I was going to do it. I am now a senior who will be completing a degree in marketing with a minor in public speaking in May of 2015. I have three internships under my belt, great connections in my career field, knowledge about my industry, and a solid idea of what I would like to do after graduating and how I will be able to attain my goals. A lot has changed in the past four years, and looking back I am happy to have been able to take control of my career. By utilizing the many career services resources here at the University of Tampa, I now understand how important it is to get a head start on looking into your future goals and the steps that are needed to achieve them.  

To start, it helps to have an idea of what kind of industry you would like to pursue. Again, I initially started my college career as a marine biology student but I soon realized that I was not happy doing that. I dreaded going to all of my classes and taking the time out of my day to study the material. After making the switch to marketing, my classes are now something that I look forward to, and I thoroughly enjoying learning more about the industry. After finding a broad idea of what is the best fit for you, you can then cater your goals to something more specific within your industry.  

After deciding that marketing was the perfect route for me, I started talking to people within the industry (professionals, professors, friends, and family) gathering advice about the steps that I should take in order to succeed in my field. I have found that there is one thing that is common to succeeding in any field that you pursue: experience. Join clubs that relate to your industry, if you are a biology major look into joining tri-beta, if you are a math major join the math club. This campus is full of opportunity, but you must be the one who is looking for it: you probably won’t receive a personal invitation to become a part of a student organization. Another word of advice is to earn a leadership position in the organization that you have become involved in. Show that you are dedicated and prove that you can take on the responsibility – it will be worth it when you are applying to jobs in the future.

Another way of gaining experience is by interning. As many know, the process to receiving an internship has become more and more competitive over the years. You are never too young to intern, even if it’s just a couple of hours a week. When you gain experience while you are young, even if it is at a smaller, unheard of company, it will open the doors to many other, bigger opportunities because you will have the prior experience that every big name company seems to be looking for these days.

By getting involved and by gaining experience you will have been given the opportunity to network without even realizing it. By maintaining these relationships that you have created with people who you have worked with, or participated in the same organization with, you will realize that these are the people who will be able to help you within your field and if needed be, lead you in the right path.

With these couple of steps, you will be headed on the right path to owning your own career. It will give you the confidence that you need to step into an interview and portray to an employer that you are the perfect fit for what the company is looking for. Your college years can be some of the most valuable years of your life if you utilize them in a way that is fit for your career. There are some things that I wish I did differently as a first year student, but I realized that it is never too late to get started, although the sooner you realize it, the better!

 

 

 

Victoria Williams

Marketing Intern, Office of Career Services

The University of Tampa

Get ready for that job or internship. Here are some ways to help yourself with a career plan:

*Job Shadow – Make some calls to see if you can arrange a job shadowing experience.  Job shadowing is a great way to gain knowledge and insight into a specific career field.

*Informational Interview – Conducting an informational interview has proven to be very successful in gathering information about a particular career field and also expands your network.  Check out our sample questions and how to go about finding opportunities.

*Network – When you attend social gatherings, have an elevator pitch.  Create a two minute summary about yourself so that if someone asks you if you are looking for an internship or what you plan to do with your life after graduation, you can give a summary of your career goals and interests.  There are many possible networking connections through family and friends.

*Internship/Job Search - Take some time to look at HIRE-UT to check out possible internships and jobs for next semester.  Look at the dates for career and internship fairs and make a note of them in your calendar.  Now is the time to plan some effective networking strategy.

*Resume/Cover Letter – If you don’t have a resume prepared, create one!  The Office of Career Services has some excellent resources available on the Job Search Toolbox portion of our website.  Spend some time writing your resume and then come to our office for a resume review.  We have employer walk-in hours on Monday between 2-4 pm; and Career Services staff walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm.

Make the effort to invest time in your career planning!

Marsha Sherman
Assistant Director of Career Exploration
The University of Tampa

Sadly, my time as Marketing Intern here at the Office of Career Services is about up. And as sad as I am to leave, I am happy that I will be able to pass this amazing opportunity along to the next person. This office is a great place with resources I never had a clue about, and I hope that some of you take the time to apply for this awesome opportunity, since it is probably the most optimal marketing position you will find to blend seamlessly with your experience as a student on campus here at UT. As the Marketing Intern for the Office of Career Services, you will be producing designs and projects, paid, on campus, with hours that are set by you. Paid. On Campus. Marketing Opportunity.

 

Applications are due by March 28^th at 5 pm on HIRE UT. Applicants should have a background in marketing, advertising, design, or public relations. Adobe Creative Suite proficiency would be a big plus. You can find the application here:

https://ut.experience.com/experience/login

Joshua Jacobs, Graphic Designer

Vice President, Student Productions

Marketing Intern, Career Services

A Semester of Lasts

This will be my last insightful blog post of this semester, so I feel that is fitting to talk about the end of things. For example, just last week I had my last meeting with a colleague. I recently attended my last NACA conference as a student. I’ve had my last winter break, and my last spring break is coming up. For many of you, including myself, this semester signifies your last year as a student. So, what does that mean? Moving on to bigger and better, perhaps. But also, it means that now is the time to cherish your experiences.

This is not just for those of you experiencing lasts this semester, but for every student here at UT. I implore you to take a good look at each day and approach it as a new opportunity, because as soon as it has passed it becomes an opportunity that you cannot reclaim. We here at Career Services are all about seeking opportunities, in any form, and so we hope you will take this advice to heart.

 Speaking of opportunities, I am sad to announce that after spring break I will begin looking for a replacement to take over my responsibilities of Marketing Intern for the Office of Career Services. We don’t have the exact timeline lined out yet, but you can look for the application on Hire-UT the week after spring break. If you have any questions feel free to email me at Joshua.jacobs@spartans.ut.edu.

 

-Vice President, Student Productions-

-Marketing Intern, Career Services-

-www.joshljacobs.com-

-678-571-6748-