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

A New Academic Year. A fresh start to a more professional YOU!

Welcome to all new students and welcome back to those returning! This academic year will be the best yet. In order to ensure that the internship or job of your dreams is right around the corner you should follow these top 5 tips to manage your professional image both in-person and online.

1.       Your Professional Career Starts TODAY

a.       Take on the challenge of a new academic year through the lens of the professional that you are becoming. Every person you interact with is a potential mentor, reference, future colleague and networking contact. Arrive to class on-time, take the time to get to know your professors (they are the experts in their fields!) and consider ways to enhance your  professionalism.

2.       Guard your personal reputation!

a.       Make sure that you know and OWN what is being said about you. What do classmates, professors and/or supervisors think about you? If you don’t know, now is the time to ask!

3.       Google yourself!

a.       What comes up when you google yourself? If an employer searches for your name, what do they find? OWN your image online. Create a professional blog, perhaps a dream career journey. Social media can be a very positive way to interact with the professional world around you. Make sure you DO NOT post inappropriate photos or posts. They could change the course of achieving that dream job.

4.       Dress for the job you want!

a.       We all know you do not have to wear a professional suit to make an impression in everyday life. On the contrary, those students who dress in business casual (no flip flops, short shorts, tank tops, etc.) have the opportunity to stand out amongst their peers and show respect to the faculty teaching these courses. Also, make sure you review the professional dress blog prior to the upcoming Professional Job Fair on October 22. http://spartancareers.blogspot.com/2012/10/dress-for-success-career-fair-attire_15.html

 

5.       Become a LEADER!

a.       Challenge yourself to take on an active role in a student club or organization. Employers are interested in those students that not only excel in the classroom but also in the community around them. Leader stands out on a resume!

Take control of your career. Only YOU can dictate your future and it starts TODAY!

 

Jessie Bush
Assistant Director
Career Coaching & Professional Development

May and August graduates, Life After UT and Career Expo next week!

Are you about to graduate and worrying about what’s next?  We’ve partnered with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to plan a week of informative and entertaining workshops to help you in the transition from student to young professional.  All of the events will be from 5 to 6 p.m.; please see the schedule below for locations and topics. 

Mon., March 31          Resume Development                         Reeves Theater

                        Speaker:  Katie Fields, TQL

Tues., April 1              Your Professional Brand                    Reeves Theater

                        Speaker:  Katherine Steffan, PLS Logistics

Wed., April 2             Behavioral Interviewing                       Brevard Community Room

                        Speaker:  Meagan Greenberg, T. Rowe Price

Thurs., April 3             “The Real World” alumni panel          Brevard Community Room

As an added bonus, if your student organization is participating in Relay for Life on Saturday, April 5^th, the group (one small and one large) with the greatest turnout from its organization to these Career Services workshops will receive a $250 reward donated by TQL and the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter!  Come out to one or all and help your group add to its donation to Relay for Life!

And the final event of the week will occur on Friday, April 4^th, when we will have our last career fair of the year, our annual Career Expo, which will be held in Fletcher Lounge from noon to 3 p.m.  We will have over 60 employers who are seeking graduates for full time professional positions after graduation.  A list of employers can be found at https://ccfcc.experience.com/stu/cf_registered_employers?fhnd=6339. Professional attire is REQUIRED for this event.  (Take a look at the right hand side of the page for your “Suit Up” requirements!)

Make the Most of Your Winter Break

Top ten things you should be doing during Winter break, instead of watching Christmas Vacation for the 26th time...

10. Conduct some career or industry-related research.  Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook or O*NET.

9. Take a seasonal job to gain more experience.

8. Contact a professional in your field to arrange an informational interview.

7. Volunteer.

6. Update your resume with your accomplishments from Fall semester.

5. Spend a day job shadowing.

4. Write a note to your networking contacts to keep in touch.

3. Create or update your LinkedIn account.

2. Hit the mall to take advantage of the post-holiday sales, and purchase professional attire for the Spring job fairs.

1. Use the endless barrage of questions from your extended family to practice your elevator speech.

Happy Holidays!

Professional Job Fair- TOMORROW

Professional Dress is Required!  Click here to see what you should wear.

Dress for Success: Career Fair Attire

The Professional Job Fair is only a few days away! Appropriate attire is a key ingredient to effectively navigating a career fair – after all, this is often an employer’s first impression of you! To help you prepare, we’ve compiled some tips on how to dress for success.

When attending a career fair, business professional attire is required.

Business professional attire for women:

• Business Suit in dark colors such as black, navy, or gray. If wearing a skirt suit be sure that the skirt is knee level or slightly above – no short skirts! Also, be sure to wear a tailored blouse underneath. Avoid low-cut tops.
• Closed-toe leather pumps with low to medium heels.
• Jewelry – generally, a good rule-of-thumb is no more than three pieces of jewelry (e.g., earrings, watch, and ring). Jewelry should be understated and appropriate for the workplace.
• In addition, make sure your make-up and nail polish is neutral and professional. 

Business professional attire for men:

• Business Suit in dark colors such as black, navy, or gray. If you do not own a suit, you can pair a long-sleeve dress shirt with a pair of dress pants.Long-sleeved starched oxford cloth shirt in white or light blue.
• Conservative necktie in color and pattern.
• Dress shoes – make sure your shoes are polished and well-maintained (i.e., no holes!).
• Over-the-calf dark socks. 

Additional tips to remember:

• A friendly smile and eye contact will make you stand out!;
• Bring a briefcase or portfolio (no backpack);
• Well-groomed hairstyle - avoid unusual styles & colors;
• Wear minimal cologne or perfume;
• No visible body piercing or body art;
• Bring breath mints; use one before greeting recruiter. Do not chew gum! 

Preparing for a Career Fair

The spring 2013 CCFCC Career Expo is just around the corner! Make plans to attend the career fair on April 4, 2013 from 11:00am to 3:00pm in Fletcher Lounge. This is a great chance to learn more about available opportunities with over 55 companies!

Below are a few tips to help you prepare:

·         Update your resume. The Office of Career Services offers resume reviews during walk-in hours and via appointments.

·         Prepare your “elevator speech” so you can effectively communicate your strengths, goals, and how you stand out from other candidates! Click here for more information on how to create your “elevator speech."

·         Research the companies who have registered for the CCFCC Career Expo. This information can be found here. Many of the companies have listed the majors they are recruiting as well as the types of positions they have available.

·         Create a list of questions to ask the representatives from the companies you plan on visiting during the Career Expo. For more guidance on the types of questions to ask, visit “Tips for Success.” 

·         Dress professionally! First impressions matter – dress code for a Career Fair is the same as what you wear to an interview - a business suit. For more details on professional dress and samples of what to wear (examples for both men and women), see here.

If you have any questions on how to best prepare for the CCFCC Career Expo, visit the Office of Career Services in Riverside, Room 116.

Best of luck!

The Importance of Internships

On a recent visit to California, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from several companies including Google, Quiksilver, The Broad Residency, and DreamWorks Animation. While these companies represent a wide-array of fields, their message was consistent.

When asked, “What advice would you give college/graduate students?” two common themes emerged from each company - complete an internship and build a professional network. Both of these are components that can be accomplished at the Internship Fair scheduled for this Thursday from 1:00pm to 3:30pm in Fletcher Lounge. The Internship Fair has over 50 organizations registered! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network and learn about internship opportunities.

Did you know?

Internship Facts:

• 88% of employers use experiential education programs to recruit for their own work forces;
• 50% of interns accept full-time positions with internship employer;
• Over 80% of college students complete one internship;
• 69% of college students complete two internships;
• Starting salaries are $1,000 – $2,000 more than students without internship experience;
• 16% more job offers to student who had completed internships.

Before you go:

• Check HIRE-UT to review the list of companies who are registered for the Internship Fair. Research the companies you are most interested in.
• Bring copies of your resume! Resume critiques are available in the Office of Career Services during walk-in hours (Monday through Thursday from 2:00pm to 4:00pm).
• Prepare to network with employers and your peers.
• Dress for success! Review our blogs posts on professional dress.

Best of luck!

Data retrieved from: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook 2010 Internship Bible, and VaultReports.com