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

Is your resume getting noticed?

In the Office of Career Services we sometimes hear concerns from students and alumni during the job and internship process. One of these concerns pertains to not hearing back from an employer after applying to a job or internship. An article published earlier this year on the website Career Realism, an online career magazine, discussed reasons why an employer may not be responding to your resume. The author, Jessica Hernandez, reviews some of the main reasons a resume may not be getting a response.

According to Jessica Hernandez, if your resume is not receiving a response it may be due to one of these six considerations:
1. It still has an objective statement
2. It lacks any form of personal branding
3. It's fluffy
4. Accomplishments are not highlighted
5. Duties and responsibilities have taken over
6. Metrics, facts, and figures are nowhere to be found

To learn how to avoid these resume pitfalls,  review the article and visit the Office of Career Services to have your resume reviewed.
http://www.careerealism.com/resume-isnt-getting-response-reasons/

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!)

Don't Miss Out- Spring 2014 Internship Fair- Thursday Feb 6

Attention all UT students!!

Don't miss the chance to meet representatives from nearly 60 companies representing a wide variety of industries and majors at the UT Spring Internship Fair.  From Business to Non-Profit, to Science to Criminology this event promises to have it all.   Please be sure to check out a list of companies attending by logging into your HIRE UT account now.  Bring resumes and your professional attire to Fletcher Lounge from 1 to 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 6th.   See you there!!

Mark Colvenbach

Time to Update Your Resume

As the summer nears an end, your thoughts wander to preparing for the Fall semester.  One thing that students should be doing at the end of each semester is a resume update.  Having a current resume is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you are always ready for any opportunity that may come along.  Here are a few tips to a timely resume:

glassdoor.com

1.  Have a master resume- This document can be multiple pages long and a record of everything you have accomplished.  Use the relevant parts of your master resume to create targeted resumes for jobs and internships.

2.  Update right away- Joining a new group?  Just completed a great summer internship?  Don't wait to add these skills and accomplishments to your resume.  It only takes a few minutes to jot down your most recent accomplishments, while they are fresh in your mind.

3.  Complete a semester end review- Set aside 15 minutes at the end of each semester to give your resume the once over.  Make sure that everything is up to date and accurate.  Trade with a friend for a quick proofreading session.  Of course, you can always bring your resume to Career Services walk-in hours for a review as well.

4.  Think of your resume as a living document- Your resume is never done!  Even after you land your dream job, an up to date resume is a must.  

Spending just a few minutes each semester can ensure your resume is always employer ready!