Web resources for Career Exploration

At least once a day, a student will tell me that he or she has chosen a particular major, but then the next question is “What can I do with this major?”  Sound familiar? The Office of Career Services would like to share some great web resources that will help you explore possible career paths for your major.

On our career and major exploration site, we have links to “What Can I Do With This Major?” along with links to several government websites such as O*Net and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

Maybe you know a specific career that interests you, but you don’t know much about that job.  O*Net Online is a terrific source  and can give you information about the knowledge, skills and abilities  needed for a particular career, as well as the projected salary and outlook for the next ten years.  For example, a recent search for an event planner showed a “bright outlook” for that career in the future.   It’s very easy to search with a key word, or you can type in a particular career in the box that says “I want to be a….” .

On “What Can I Do With This Major?” you will find information on the major along with numerous links to various professional organizations associated with that major.  If you look up Psychology, you will find links to the American Psychological Association, Society for Human Resources Management, and the American Counseling Association, just to name a few.  This site is full of useful information.

So do some web surfing that will benefit you, and find information on your particular major and related careers so that the next time someone asks you, “What are you going to do with that major?” – you will have a good answer!  If you have any questions about these resources or any other career or major exploration questions, please feel free to schedule an appointment with a career counselor to talk about your options!

  

Building Your Profile on LinkedIn

One of the most popular social networking tools for students and professionals is LinkedIn. LinkedIn offers you the ability to manage your online professional profile while connecting with colleagues, classmates, professors, community members, and employers. If you have not yet created a LinkedIn profile, or would like to enhance your existing profile, here are some tips:

1. Ensure your profile headline is informative and professional.
2. Include a professional photo. Ideally photos should be high-quality, close range (think headshot), and free of distractions - including other people or pets! If you do not have a professional headshot, the Office of Career Services will be taking pictures for students’ LinkedIn profiles at the Professional Job Fair (October 17, 2012) and the Etiquette Dinner (November 9, 2012). If you are interested in learning more about the Etiquette Dinner please stop by the Office of Career Services (RIVC 116) for registration information.
3. Highlight your education. Include information about your degree, major or concentration, minor (if applicable), GPA, and honors/awards.
4. Document your experience. Include part-time, full-time, and internship positions. Seek recommendations from employers, colleagues, and supervisors at each position.
5. Customize your public profile URL within the account settings section. Your public profile URL should be professional in nature (e.g., contain elements of your name or initials) so that you can refer others to view your profile online. 

For more tips and strategies on how to build your profile on LinkedIn, click here.

Reminder: Meet the Firms

Networking With Your Peers

It’s the first day of class, and there are two types of situations the average person finds themselves in, regardless of their year in school. 

One: You walk in, hoping you’ll see a friend you recognize. No luck. You contemplate where to sit. First row screams suck up; last row implies you’re a slacker. You slowly slip into the nearest seat in the middle row, hoping no one noticed the little debacle that just took place in your head. You attempt to pay attention to the professor, take a few notes, all the while thinking about your plans for the night. Your stomach begins to rumble and by the time class has ended your notebook is filled with a few doodles and you bolt out of the classroom without saying one word. 

The second scenario: You walk in, sit by a friend, and manage to briefly catch up between the doodles and the hunger pains. The rest of the scenario stays the same, but instead, the two of you bolt out of the door together without interacting with any of the other students in the classroom.

What you didn’t realize before you fled from the room to grab that Chick-Fil-A sandwich is the person sitting in front of you, just so happens to work for the Tampa Bay Lightning, your dream internship. Did I mention the person behind you is the recruitment chair for the fraternity you are interested in? Oh, and your professor worked for Apple before choosing to teach at UT and has more than enough connections to get you a full-time job after graduation. The point is we go to class because we have to. I’m guilty of it too. Do you really think I want to sit through two accounting classes as an International Business and Marketing major? But since we have to attend class to receive that prestigious degree, why not make the most of the time in class? Interact with your peers. Networking does not just mean meeting professionals in your field of study. Take advantage of your college experience, and get to know people!

I would not have received any internship positions if I just went through the motions in class. Luckily, I took SPE 208 early on with Dr. Callahan, who emphasized the importance of networking with your peers. So the next time your stomach is making creepy noises that you’re hoping no one can hear; take the time to introduce yourself to individuals in the class, and even meet with the professor afterwards. The cliché saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” has a lot of substance to it; however, I like to think of it as, who you know may get you the job, but what you know will allow you to maintain the position and work your way up. Remember a balance between knowing people and knowing the material is the key to being successful.

Law School Fair

Spartan Street Fair

Positive News on the Job Front

It seems that the job market for recent grads has been one of fewer opportunities and the cause for major stress over the past few years.   While TheUniversity of Tampa continues to see a high percentage of its graduates attaining full time employment or acceptance to graduate schools, more positive signs on a national level should help to ease the pressure.   According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) , the job market for college graduates continues its upward trend as employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2013 survey at this early juncture expect to increase hiring by 12.2 percent.  It’s important to note that the data presented here are preliminary and will likely change by the time the survey is completed in September. Still, while not complete, the preliminary data offer early insight into the climate of the job market for the Class of 2013.  

So far, the projected overall hiring increase exceeds the plans of employers last year when they estimated a hiring bump of 9.5 percent. Furthermore, this year, only 8 percent of respondents are reporting they will decrease college hiring, the smallest percentage since 2007. 

One area that has remained the same among the Class of 2013 and the previous two classes are the degrees that are most in demand, which include: Finance, Accounting, Computer science, Electrical engineering, and Mechanical engineering.  

The Office of Career Services has a full slate of events this year to help connect you with opportunities and companies to network with.   The calendar of current events is available in HIRE-UT.  

Part-Time Job Fair Tomorrow

We Want You Back

The Office of Career Services has developed a new program this year to reward you for attending our events.  Make sure to grab your Career Services Card at our next event and begin earning stamps!