career planning guide
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The Career Service Office provides you with the opportunity to:
• Meet with a career counselor on an individual basis, who will work with your academic adviser, if necessary, to help you with your career planning.
• Research potential employers related to your major in our Career Resource area.• Register and utilize the services of the all University GoldPass System.• Utilize our on-line Interview-Stream Program.• Review 20 or more on-line Webinars dealing with Career Services Topics.• Visit with a career counselor in how to find an internship related to your field of interest.• Create resumes, cover letters, and other career related correspondence that will help you secure employment.• Attend UMC’s Job and Internship Fair, the All University Job and Internship Fair and local area job fairs.• Participate in on-campus recruiting program.• Research graduate and professional school opportunities.• Review our career services Web site to learn more about our programs and connect with career information and
resources.
In addition Career Services also offers:
• An internship class each spring semester and workshops and seminars with information about majors, hiring trends, internships, the job search process and more.
Each time you come into the career service office look around and see what is new. We are constantly upgrading and adding services and resources to better serve your career needs. We are looking forward to meeting and work-ing with you this year as you plan for your future. We hope to see you in our office soon ( and often).
Sincerely,
Donald R. Cavalier
Donald R. Cavalier M.S.
Crookston Campus Career and Counseling Department 245C Sargeant Student Center 2900 University Avenue Crookston, MN 56716-5001
218-281-8586/218-281-8585 Fax: 218-281-8584 E-mail: [email protected] http://ccs.umcrookston.edu
Dear UMC Student,
Welcome to Career Services for all University of Minnesota, Crookston students. This Career Services and Academic Planning Guide is designed specifically with you in mind. Whether you are in the process of choosing a major or have decided on a major, are looking for an internship, or interviewing for your first professional job, we are pre-pared to help you, along with your academic adviser, every step of the way. Students are encouraged to visit the UMC Career Center, located in the Sargeant Student Center, Suite 245 , and to request on-the-spot assistance any time. We hope you will find this guide helpful and encourage you to take advantage of the wide variety of career ser-vices and academic advising services available to you.
Career Services and Advising UMC On -Line Workshops-Career Events Calendar and all University Workshops
Career Events Calendar at: (http://www2.crk.umn.edu/ccs/calendar.htm)
All University Career Workshops (http://www.St.Paul/careers.umn.edu/workshops/)
CHECKLISTS FOR SUCCESS • FRESHMAN (1nd Year) EXPERIENCE – INQUIRY & AWARENESS
Decision Making and Goal Setting
“Find your Passion!”
Steps to explore your career options!
I’m not sure what I want to do…?
So What Can I do with a major in…?
How can I take a Career Inventory or Assessment…?
Introduction to Grad Planner (Next Page)
Introduction to Electronic Portfolio (ePortfolio) (Next Page)
Introduction to the U of M Gold Pass System (Next Page)
Career Assessments:
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
CPP Inventories
Campbell Interest & Skills Survey (CISS)
Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) & Strong Interest Inventory
Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585 Career Services
Contents
• SOPHOMORE (2nd Year) EXPERIENCE – ASSESSMENT, EXPLORATION,
AND IDENTIFICATION
“Planning for YOUR Future and setting Goals and Connect with Your Academic Adviser and Career Services Office.”
Identify Your Strengths:
Connect/Reconnect to Your Strengths
Volunteer for Service Learning Activities
Other Possibilities:
Informational Interviews
Utilize On-line Resources:
Interview Stream (http://umn.interviewstream.com/)
Review SOPH-LIST (www.sc.edu/fye/listservs/index.html)
Resume makeover and make sure it is on the GoldPASS System & Develop Cover Letters and References (See Appendix B)
• JUNIOR (3rd Year) EXPERIENCE – PREPARATION, INVESTIGATION,
AND TESTING CAREER DECISIONS
Looking Back/Looking Ahead: A Major Plan
Understanding Yourself!
There is only one you!
Job Shadowing/Dress for Success
Planning for Your Career/Job Fairs
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF CAREER - RELATED EXPERIENCES – Earn, Learn,
and Intern!
• SENIOR (4th Year and Beyond) EXPERIENCE – ACTION, IMPLEMENTATION,
JOB SEARCH, AND GRADUATE SCHOOL
Job Search Strategies you will use forever
You’ve got an interview, now what…?
Your next big transition-Life after UMC!
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THE JOB SEARCH
Appendix A ( Resume Worksheet; Sample Resumes 1,2,3,4,5,6,; Word List)
Appendix B (Sample Letters of Application, Follow-up Letters, Questions
Frequently Asked During Employment Interviews, Sample letter
for Internship)
Career Services and Academic Advising can help at every stage of your planning for life after UMC. We focus on helping you connect your career, academic and co-curricular experience to life after college, whether your plans are employment or graduate study.
Career Services and Advising
l Getting Started: UMC has career counselors and academic advisers skilled in early stages of career planning and academic planning and development to help you get off on the right foot!
l The UMC Career Services Center provides career planning for all students interested in their career development.
l Your UMC Academic Department has advisers who specialize in career op-tions for majors in your field of study. Faculty can provide you with detailed information about jobs and job search strategies for specific careers.
l All Career counselors and Academic Advisers work with students though individual advising and group workshops. Contact your Academic Adviser to set up an individual advising appointment and information about ca-reer planning services.
UMC Online WorkshopsCalendar (http://www2.crk.umn.edu/ccs/calendar.htm)
All University Workshops (http://www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/workshops/)
Improve your job search skills in just 10 minutes by viewing one of our online workshops. Have more questions after view-ing our workshops? Call 218-281-8585 or 218-281-8586 to get your questions answered or to schedule an appointment!
Resumes, CVs, & Cover LettersResume Writing
Resume Writing for Design Fields
Cover Letters & References
Curriculum Vitae Writing
Professional Portfolios
InterviewingEffective Interviewing
Phone Interviews
Job Search StrategiesJobs & Internship Searching
Networking
Networking for International Students
Applying for Federal Jobs
Marketing your Individualized Degree
GLBT Job Search Tips
Professional Associations
Career Services for Student Veterans and Service
Members
Job Fair PreparationJob Fair Success for Undergraduate Students
Job Fair Success for Graduate Students
Graduate/Professional SchoolGraduate School Planning
Pre-Law Workshop
Writing Effective Personal Statements
Job Offers and Salary NegotiationSalary Negotiation
Transition to EmploymentTransitioning from Student to Professional
Health Careers Center Short CoursesPlanning for Medical School
Personal Statements for a Health Program
Interviewing Skills for a Health Program
FRESHMAN
Checklist for SuccessInquiry & Awareness
Get to know your academic adviser.
Enroll in core courses and First Year Experience program with the help of your academic adviser and begin student Grad-Planner: https://onestop2.umn.edu/gradplanner and UMC Electronic-Portfolio:https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio
Inyouracademiccoursework,usetherequiredgeneraleducationcoursesandothercollegecoursestohelpyouexploreyourpotential.You might wish to take courses and explore subjects that have always been of interest to you, but that you never before had an opportu-nity to study.
Visit U of M, Crookston’s Career and Counseling Department for help with special problems such as career counseling, test anxiety, lack of motivation,depression,orstressrelatedactivities(Suite245StudentCenter). www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/
Exploreyourinterests,abilities,skills,personalityandvalues.Identifyappropriate career choices by using computerized career informa-tionsystem,lookingupcareerinformationontheinternet,meetingwithastaffmemberofthecareerservicesofficeforacareercounsel-ingsession,attendinganycareerawarenessworkshopsofferedon-campus, and sharing your goals with your academic adviser.
LearnUMC’s academic systemutilizing Current Studentsweb site,class schedule, major requirements and course prerequisites.
www.umcrookston.edu/currentstudents/
ExploresummerjobsontheCareerServicesWebSite. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs
Take career-related assessments to identify your interests. Consid-ertakingtheCampbellSkills& InterestSurvey, theStrong InterestInventory, the SelfDirected Searchor Myers-Briggs Type Indicator available in theCareer ServiceOffice, Suite245, Sargeant StudentCenter.
Continued on back page
FRESHMAN
Checklist for SuccessInquiry & Awareness
Becomefamiliarwithhowtouseon-lineregistrationwhen scheduling courses. http://onestop.umcrookston.edu/registration
Studystudenthandbooktolearnofavailableresourcesoncampus. www.umcrookston.edu/currentstudents/studentservices.aspx
Visit the Academic Assistance Center to review tutoring, improving your study skills and other services when needed.
Beginyourpersonaldevelopmentbybeing involvedandparticipateinclubs,activities,servicelearningprojects,committees,intramurals,athletics,studentgovernment,andorganizations.
www.umcrookston.edu/services/studentactivities/
Attendcampuscareer-relatedactivities(careerfairs,joband internship search workshops). www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/calendar.htm
ComposeyourrésuméandregisterwiththeUniversityGoldPASS System. www.goldpass.umn.edu
Secureasummerjoband/ordovolunteerworkthatwillallowyoutogainpracticalexperiencesaboutacareerthatinterestsyouandwillprovideyouwithanopportunitytolearnorrefineskillsthatwillbeattractivetoprospectiveemployers.(Gettingalongwithpeople,
communication,responsibility,honesty,andhumanrelations- learningtoworkwithindividualsofdifferingbackgrounds)
Considercollegeaspreparationforlife. Excel academically, do your best!
Continued . . .
Network! Network! Network!
UMC Career Services CenterDecision Making and Goal Setting
Once you’ve explored career and educational options, you are ready to identify your career objectives. Some of the questions you may want to answer include, but are not limited to:
l Whatismy“passion”inlife?WhatdoI“really”wanttodo?
l WhatdoIwanttoBE?
l Whatwillgetmeupinthemorningtowanttogotowork(fun)?
l WhatkindofworkdoIwanttoperform?
l WhatkindofworkenvironmentwouldIlike?
l WhatcareerdoIpreferorindustrydoIlike?
l WherewouldIprefertowork?
l WhatkindofpeopledoIwanttoworkwith?
l WhatsalarydoIconsiderappropriate?Realistically!
l DoIhavespecialneedstoconsider?
l Howrealisticaremyexpectationsconsideringmyinterest,skills,values,andabilitiesandthe realityofthejobmarket?
Ifyouneedassistancewithclarifyingyourcareergoals,choosingamajor,makingdecisionsorfindingacareer-relatedposition,andwhatcoursestotake,besuretomakeanappointmentwithyouracademicadviserorwitha career counselor.
Obtainingcareerexperiencesisalsoagoodwaytotryoutyourtentativecareerdecisions.Acareer-relatedpart-timejob, internship,work-studyposition,summer job,orservice learningpositioncanhelpyoudecideonacareerpath.TheCareerServicesofficecanhelpyoulocatetheseopportunities.
Find Your Passion!Steps to Explore Your Career Options
I’M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT I WANT TO DO OR WHAT I HAVE A PASSION FOR
F A career counselor can suggest strategies to help you uncover your interests and narrow them down.
F TheCareerServicesstaffandWebsiteofferresourcesthatcanhelpyouresearch careeroptions.
SO WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN….?
F Keepaneyeoutforworkshopofferingsandalumnipanels.
F Check www.umcrookston.edu/ccstogetinformationofwhatyou candowithyourmajor/s.
F Meetwithyouracademicadviserand/oraCareerCounselorwhocanhelpyoulayout a plan to explore your interest and connect with alumni and professionals.
HOW CAN I TAKE A CAREER INVENTORY OR ASSESSMENT?You can schedule a career assessment, but they really aren’t tests. The assessments that we use take an inven-
tory and helps you organize your interests, values, skills, and careers that relate to these areas. The results help
youtoreflectonwhatyoureallyneedtoknowaboutyourselftoplanforyourfuture.Visitingwithacareer
counselor about your results can help you see how you can use what you’ve learned to make career decisions.
More
CAREER ASSESSMENTSCareer Assessment allows you to assess and examine your interests, work values, personality, and beliefs about
yourworkskills.Youcantakepaperand/oron-lineassessmentswhichofferawealthofinformationabout
careers.Youcansearchforinformationoncareers,compareyourassessmentresultswiththeinformation
provided,createacareergoalplanandsaveitallinyourUniversityGradationPlanner:https://onestop2.umn.
edu/gradplanner/home.jsporOnlineePortfolo:https://portfolio.umn.edu/.
ThefollowingassessmentsareavailablethroughtheCareerServicesoffice.Werecommendyoumakean
appointmentwithourofficebycalling218-281-8586ordropbySuite245intheSargeantStudentCenter.
Keirsey Personality Inventory -Thisisafreeservice.Atestwhichisbasedonaseriesofquestionsandmultiple
questionanswers,calculatestheuser'spersonalitytemperament.
CPP Inventories-Thisservicedoescostmoney,butisasurewayofofknowingexactlywhatfieldsyouqualify
for.ContacttheCareerServicesofficetotakethistest.
CISS (Campbell Interest and Skills Survey)-TheCISStestincludesinterestscalesthathelpassessanindividual's
attractiontospecificoccupationalareasandprovidesacomparisontopeoplewhoarehappilyandsuccessfully
employedinthosefields.Inaddition,theCISSinstrumentgoesbeyondtraditionalinventoriesbyaddingparallel
skillscalesthatpresentanestimateoftheindividual'sconfidenceinhisorherabilitytoperformvariousoccupa-
tionalactivities.Together,thetwotypesofscalesprovidemorecomprehensive,richerdatathaninterestscores
alone.ThistestisavailablebyappointmentattheCareerServicesOffice.
Meyer Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory are in depth assessments available
throughtheCareerServicesOfficeandrequiresaminimumoftwoadvisingsessions.TheMBTI helps you to as-
sesshowyourpersonalitypreferencesmightinfluenceyourcareerchoicesandhelpsyoutounderstandyourself
andyourinteractionswithothers(atworkorinyourpersonallife).TheStrong-Interest Inventory helps you to
clarifyandreflectonyourinterestssoyoucanbetterunderstandandexpandonpossiblecareerchoices.
TheseinventoriesareavailablebyappointmentattheCareerServicesoffice.
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About ePortfolio ePortfolioisyourUniversityofMinnesotaonlineaccountwhereyoumaymanageupto5gigabytesofinformation(elements)anduploadedfiles (materials) inasecurecomputingenvironment.YouhavethreeoptionsformanagingyourinformationinePortfolio:
Enterelements,uploadfiles,orjoinoneormorecommunitiesandusetheirtoolsthatprovideguidance toenterinfomation.AllinformationenteredbyyouisstoredinyoursecureePortfoliocollection.
ShareinformationinyourePortfoliocollectionwithothersinpublications,calledportfolios.Eachport-folioconsistsofoneormoreelementsand/orfilesthatissharedwithoneormoreindividuals.Com-munitytoolsprovideguidanceforbuildingportfolios.
Viewportfoliosthatothershavesharedwithyou.Theseportfoliosmayalsobecommentedon,andin specificcasesevaluated.
Getting Started SelectandjoinePortfolioCommunityandusethetoolsforenteringandsharinginformation.YouhaveanautomaticstartbecausetheUMhasenteredsysteminformationintoyourePortfolioCommunitycollectionguides.
What is ePortfolio?ePortfolioisasecurewebsiteattheUniversityofMinnesotaforindividualstoenter,save,organize,view,andselectivelyshareeducationalrecords,artifacts,andreflections.
Why create an ePortfolio?ePortfolioisaweb-basedinformationmanagementtool,whichallowsUofMandnon-UofMusers(guests)theopportunitytoaccessandshareePortfoliorecordsandotherdocuments.ePortfoliocanbethoughtofasanelectronicfilecabinetinwhichonecanstoreandeasilyfindtextanddocumentsofmultipletypesbyandaboutyourself,suchaswritingsamples,photographs,designsamples,videoclips,musicclips,resumes,internshipexperiencesormentors.Similartoaninvestmentportfolio,thebroadertherangeofdocumentsdemonstratingone’sproficienciesthatarestoredinePortfolio,thegreaterthereturntotheuser.CreatinganacademicandprofessionalePortfolioencouragesonetothinkcriticallyaboutanddocumentyourthoughtsandexperiencesrelatedtolife-longlearning.OncethisinformationisenteredwithinyourePortfolioaccount,theePortfolioownercanchosetoshareeitherpartorallofhisorherePortfoliowithotherindividuals.
Who can use ePortfolio?AllUofMenrolledstudentsandemployeesmaycreateandmanagepersonalPortfolioaccountsandtheymayviewotherpeople’sPortfolios(presentations)towhichtheyhavebeengrantedaccess.Non-UofMusersmayalsoviewPortfoliostowhichtheyhavebeengrantedviewingaccess.UofMgraduatesmaycontinueusingtheirePortfolioaccounts,providedthoseaccountsareactivelyusedatleasteverysix months. More
Can portfolios (presentations) be shared with non-U of M users?PortfoliosmaybesharedwithindividualsoutsideoftheUofMsystem.Passwordsaresenttonon-UofMgueststoviewPrivatePortfolios.PublicPortfoliosmaybeviewedbyanyonewithInternetaccess.
How can I get help with ePortfolio?ThequickestwaytogetassistanceistosendanemailtotheePortfolioHelpDeskorcontactyourcampusHelpDesk.Theseresourcesprovidesupportfortroubleshootingerrorsandproblems([email protected]).
Bepreparedtoprovidethefollowinginformation:- the exact steps taken just before the problem occurred-theerrormessages(ifany)thatwerereceived-thetimetheproblemoccurred- the web browser and version you were usingUMC–CrookstonHelpDeskInformation-URLhttp://www.crk.umn.edu/technology/computerserv/helpdesk/index.htm-Phone:281-8374or281-8380-Hours:Monday–Friday:8:00a.m.–4:30p.m.
When can I access my ePortfolio account?ePortfolioaccountsmaybeaccessedanytimedayornightfromanywhereontheweb,exceptfor4:00to6:30A.M.CentralTimedailywhenePortfolioaccountsarebackedup.
How large is my ePortfolio account?EachUofMusermaystoreupto5GBintheirePortfolioaccount.
Which browsers are supported?MostmodernbrowsersaresupportedincludingFirefox2+,Safari3+,InternetExplorer7+,andGoogleChrome.UsingInternetExplorerversion6isnotrecommended.
How should I set up my browser to use ePortfolio?SetupyourbrowserthroughthepreferencestoacceptcookiesandtobeJavaScriptenabled.Adjustthefontsizeforoptimalviewing.
How do I start my ePortfolio account?ePortfolioaccountsareautomaticallyavailabletoallUofMstudentsandemployees.Newandongo-ingePortfolioaccountsareaccessedbyloggingintothesecureePortfolioWebsite(https://portfolio.umn.edu) using your U of M system username.
What information is in my ePortfolio account?YourePortfolio is linkedtotheUofMsystemdatabaseinsuchawaythatsysteminformation,suchasdemographicandtranscriptinformation,isautomaticallydisplayed(andautomaticallyupdated)inyourePortfolio.Thisinformationisidentifiedassuch,andisalwaysascurrentastheinformationstoredin theUofMsystemdatabase.Allother information,suchasself-reportedelementsanduploadedmaterials,andcollections(purposefulcollectionsofelementsandmaterials)mustbeenteredbytheePortfoliouser.
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How do I change information provided by the U of M Administrative System?TochangeNameofRecord,DemographicInformation,contactyourcampusRegistrar’sOffice.-Crookston:9HillHall,218-281-8548
TochangeAccessofRecord,PhoneNumberofRecord(includingcurrentphoneandcellphone),EmergencyContacts,youmaydosoonline.Forupdatingorsuppressingyourpersonal information:https://onestop2.umn.edu/personaldemographics/viewGeneralInfo.do?institution=UMNCR
To change Adviser, and College and Major, see your college adviser.
TochangeyourUCardPhoto,seeyourcampusUCardOffice.
May I download the U of M ePortfolio software?Yes, ePortfolio isopen source. TheUofMePortfoliowasmoved toopen source in2003.TheUofMopensourceePortfoliocodeiscalledOpenSourceElectronicPortfolio(OSeP).ItisbeingmanagedthroughUMD’sKnowledgeManagementCenter(http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/portfolio.html).
What is the key vocabulary necessary for using ePortfolio?ePortfoliohasthreeprimaryfunctions:Enter,Share,andView.
EnterThisisthesectionforenteringinformationintoyourePortfolio.Informationmaybeenteredinanyoneof the following ways:- Elements are entered by the U of M system or by the user;- Elements are entered by the user through element templates;-Collections(elementsanduploadedmaterials)areenteredbytheuserfollowingthepromptsprovidedwithintheCollectionGuides;-Materialsareuploadedbytheuser,includingfilesofanytypeandweblinks(URLs);-TheDataTreeisadisplayofallcategoriesandelementscontainedintheePortfolioapplication.Infor-mationmaybeself-reportedinanyoneoftheelementsdistributedthroughoutthesixcategories,oritmaybeautomaticallydisplayedinyourePortfoliofromthedefaultinformationusedtocreateyouraccount.
ShareThroughtheSharefunction,ausermaycreateoneormoreePortfolios(presentations).EachePortfoliomaycontainoneormoreelementsandViewingprivilegesmaybegrantedtooneormoreUofMand/ornon-UofMindividuals,ortothegeneralpublic.TheindividualcreatingthePortfoliotosharemayallowviewerstheoptiontodownloadaPDFfileofthesharedPortfolio.Thedownloadedfileiscom-pressedusingaZIPfileformat.
ViewItispossibletoviewPortfoliostowhichyouhavebeengrantedaccessthroughtheViewfunction.AllUofMePortfoliousershaveaccesstotheirownUofMProfiles(UofMsysteminformationdisplayedinPortfolio)throughtheViewfunction.
CommunityCommunitiesareeducationallypurposefulareaswithinePortfoliowheremembersaredirectedtocol-lectitemsthatreflectlearningarounddesiredprogramareaobjectives(learningoutcomes).Communi-tiesmaybedesignedtosupportformativeand/orsummativeassessmentandreporting. More
Collection GuidesCollectionGuidesareselectiveguidestoenterinformationintohis/herePortfolioaccountforagivenprogramand/orpurpose.RatherthantryingtoselectfromthelonglistofelementsinDataTree,eachCollectionGuidecontainsaselectedlistofelementsspecifictoadesignatedpurpose,suchasacademicprogram requirements.
Upload MaterialsUploadMaterials is a functionofePortfoliowhereusers canuploadfilesandweb links (URLs). It ispossibletoupload,delete,attach,anddetachthesematerialsthroughtheUploadMaterialsfunction.EventhoughmaterialsmaybestoredinePortfolio,theymaybeattachedtoanelementinordertobeshared.
Portfolio TemplatesThePortfolioTemplatesareguidesforcreatingPortfolios(presentations).TherearetwotypesofPort-folioTemplates:theCustomPortfolioTemplate,whichallowsforsharinganynumberofelementsandmaterials,andCollectionTemplates,whichprovideguides,purposefulcollectionofmaterialstoputinoneormorePortfolios.
Guest LoginNon-UofMusersmaylogintoePortfolioifandonlyifUofMePortfoliousershavesharedportfolio(s)withthemasaguest.Whenaportfoliohasbeensharedwithanon-UofMuser,anemailnotificationmessageissenttotheguest,providingdirectionsandweblinks(URLs)forviewingthePortfolio,andapasswordusedtoenterthePortfoliowebsite.
Data PrivacyFederalandstatelawregulatethereleaseofanynonpublicinformation(i.e.,grades,courses,testscores,etc.).SeetheUofMPrivacyStatementformoreinformation.
How secure is ePortfolio?AnadvantageofusingyourePortfolioaccountisthehighlevelofsecurity.TheePortfolioserverusesSSL(securesocketlayer)encryption;thisensuresthatallePortfolioinformationisencryptedandcannotbereadastheinformationtravelsovertheInternet.
How long is my ePortfolio account active?YourePortfolioaccountisactiveaslongasyouhaveanactiveUofMuseraccountandpassword.Fol-lowinggraduation,ePortfolioaccountsremainactiveuntiltheinwhichtheuserdoesnotaccesstheaccount at least once every six months.
How can I get more information?IfyouhavequestionsaboutePortfolioorsuggestionsforfuturefunctionality,pleasecontacttheHelpDesk at [email protected],orvisitthePortfoliosupportwebsite(www.umcrookston.edu/pfolio).
SOPHOMORE Checklist for Success
Assessment, Exploration,and Identification
Meet with your academic adviser and update Grad-Planner and UMC e-Portfolio to review your completion of introductory courses in your prospective major field of study.
Visit UMC Career Services office and library to learn more about resources designed to help you learn more about fields that interest you and research these career options.
www.umcrookston.edu/ccs
Cultivate relationships with career counselors, faculty, and oth-ers who can help in answering questions that relate to careers and the relationship of course work to careers. These people will potentially serve as references during your applications for scholarships, internships, graduate school and full-time career opportunities.
Continue exploring your interests, values, personality, abilities and skills through self-assessment.
Attend career services workshops and career/life sessions.
Continue to research majors and career fields of interest to you.
Complete introductory courses in prospective major field.
Take active roles of responsibility in campus organizations and activities.
Be sure to register with UMC GoldPASS System online. www.goldpass.umn.edu
Continued on back page
Checklist for Success
Continue to develop and update your résumé, cover letter templates and download them on the UMC GoldPASS System.
Explore and consider Study Abroad program options.
Read up on fields of interest; attend career panels; find out about summer internships and volunteer opportunities through the
Career Services and Service Learning Offices.
Explore summer opportunities on career website. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career
Attend Job and Internship Fairs. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/joblink.htm
Begin to think about Graduate School. www.gradschool.com
Shadow a professional who works in your major area of study.
Conduct information interviews with professionals and alumni who are working in the fields that interest you.
Attend classes and study to maintain a high grade point average.
Build good work habits and work reputation.
Continued . . .
Network! Network! Network!
Assessment, Exploration,and Identification
SOPHOMORE
Planning for Your Future and Setting Goals!
This year is about Assessment, Exploration and Identification College is about exploration and self discovery.
CONNECT WITH YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISER AND UMC CAREER SERVICES OFFICETake time to visit with your academic adviser, professors, fellow students and the UMC Career Services office about majors, specialization, and other areas of interest. If you are not sure about what you’re interested in or have too many interests, you may want to meet with a career counselor to help you focus in on what’s most important to you.
ESTABLISH AN IDENTITY AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A PURPOSEASK YOURSELF…
• Who am I? Who do I want to BE?
• What values and interests guide me? What are my most important life goals?
• What ideas excite me? What activities are most engaging for me?
• How do I learn? What knowledge is important to my plans for personal and professional development?
• How have my experiences helped me grow? What assets do my experiences bring to new settings?
• What skills are my strengths? Are there skills I need to develop?
• What drives me? How do I make things happen and create new opportunities?
• What will help me to live, to learn, to love, and to leave a legacy?
UMC Second Year (Sophomore) Experience Program
CAREER SERVICES NEWS FLASH!Through many years of working with UMC students, I found that the 2nd year (Sophomore) is one of the most important years for students to continue to work on their career development and job search techniques for their future. Students need to understand the value of the services available to them through the UMC Career Services Office . “These same services available to you for free would cost you from $500 to $3,000 at a private professional career service office. Be sure to utilize UMC Career Services as early as possible in your academic career. Don R. Cavalier, Director
What Should I Seek?
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UMC Second Year (Sophomore) Experience Program
Through the Second Year UMC Experience Career Services program (Sophomore Year), UMC sophomores will continue to build on the personal, academic, and career foundations developed during their first year of college. Key to this process is the ongoing development of each student’s individualized, developmental advising-based plan utilizing UMC’s Grad Planner and other UMC and Career Services resources, whereby you connect with a faculty adviser that will assist you in self-assessment exploration and identification in the three above men-tioned areas. In addition, a growing sense of community is fostered through such second-year activities.
The purpose of the 2nd Year Experience program is to help sophomores: • Learn more about themselves so that they can make purposeful and realistic choices about their field/s of study. • Identify opportunities that will help them to explore their career options and build skills necessary for survival in the world after college. • Build a stronger link between themselves and their faculty advisers through ongoing academic advising sessions and development of their Life and Learning Plan • Utilize the UMC Career Services office and staff. • Build camaraderie within their class through social activities and service to others.
What should I seek to accomplish in my sophomore year?No one experiences the same sophomore year, so you could be anywhere on the scale relative to the issues on the next page. Some may be well behind you, others may be at the same level. Not to worry. There’s help all around you, but you must take action as needed. The key words for this year are “Assessment”, “Exploration”, and “Identification.”
Planning for your future and setting goals and connecting withyour academic adviser and Career Services Office
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1. Accept where you are and move forward. Now that the new First Years (Freshman) are getting all the attention, you aren’t the new kid on the block anymore, and that can feel pretty lonely. It’s worse if you feel stuck between your former life where things were clearly defined, and a future self that’s not quite in focus.
This is the perfect time to learn more about yourself, what makes you tick, what motivates you, and what are your strengths and talents.
2. Embrace uncertainty. (or at least get more comfortable with it) It’s easy to feel uncertain, and then feel guilty and uncertain about being uncertain. Go figure! This is normal as you continue your journey toward independence. Things are in flux, sometimes in several areas at once. You might be caught between conflict-ing directions and desires! It isn’t fair, but it’s often the way it is.
Decisions and choices (with their accompanying uncertainty) have to be made, and sometimes remade, as you continue to change and grow. Confusion can be a natural consequence, but making decisions does get easier with practice, since you gradually build more positive “habits” of problem-solving strategies. If deci-sions have you in a bind, try making a list of pros and cons, finding out what others have done (and why they made those choices) and/or keeping a journal or use ePortfolio at (http://portfolio.umn.edu) where you re-cord and reflect on the triumphs and fears natural to this stage.
Of course, that “perfect place” you have in mind is actually a moving target. Even when you reach it, like the top of a stairway, you will have to devote a lot of energy to keep moving up. If the issues of college really get to you, be sure to visit the Counseling Center for help!
3. Work to clarify personal and professional goals. • What kind of person am I, and what kind of person do I want to become or BE? • What career would satisfy me and utilize my strengths and talents? • How can I find a life with purpose?
Just when you had life figured out, new opportunities arise and throw everything into chaos. For some stu-dents, these kinds of questions become very important during the sophomore year.
Remember not to let these questions paralyze you. Part of this is a work in progress that will continue beyond your college years. Revisiting “Goal setting” may help you with the process, and you can utilize campus re-sources, such as advisers, professors, and UMC’s Career Services office staff. Keep an eye out for programs run by the Student Activities office and the Counseling and Career Services department.
4. Select a field of study (and declare a major) that is consistent in meeting your career goals. Continue to scope out majors and their relationship to the careers that interest you. Begin to determine which educational paths are required, which are optional and what kind of “wriggle room” you have. Since a great deal of specific training is “on the job” it may not matter exactly what your major is called; it’s often the combination of things you’ve completed that matter most. A quick check of UMC’s job-posting site will reveal this overlap. Different UMC departments have different names for majors. It’s true that you may need to declare a major by the end of your sophomore year, if you can’t do it sooner. Being prepared for this deci-sion will really help.
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Alert! When you select a major, you may not know immediately if you’ve made the right choice. No buzzer will sound, and no bells will ring to summarize what you’ve won. It’s the quiet nature of the confirmatory signals, the almost undetected indications that you are on the right path that are your rewards.
And it is precisely the lack of immediate and obvious feedback that makes the decisions around the field of study/major/career axis so intimidating. Be sure to use all your resources: adviser, instructors, Academic and Career Services staff, and others.
5. Engage/re-engage academically to move seamlessly into advanced classes. Some sophomores find that they check in to classes, only to feel as if they are checking out. Classes seem like the same-old, same-old, tons of work will be required, and the level and pace may even accelerate over last year. Remem-ber you probably felt this way in high school too, but the compression of college makes all your experiences more intense. The second year is a good time to make sure you are:
• Utilizing study groups to the max so you can remain energized; • Taking at least one class you really want to take each term; • Doing informational interviews/job shadowing for the “That’s so cool!” feeling ; • Reviewing why you came to college in the first place, and how you have grown; • Recommitting to a dream (career/major direction) to boost your motivation; • Seeking contact with professors, staff or academic advisers (they all care!).
6. Remain healthy and balanced in the four dimensions of Life: Socially, Mentally, Physically, and Spiritually. Sophomores often want to “burn the candle at both ends” and can become tired and cranky from all the demands placed on them. You’ll want to make sure you eat healthy, exercise regularly (for general health, stress reduction and to release those feel-good endorphins) , get enough sleep (use ear plugs!), hang out with people who can help you move forward, and take stock of your spiritual life (where you get your energy from).
Now is the time to examine your habits (good and bad). Assess what adjustments may be necessary to at-tain/maintain balance between work and play. Resist the urge to fall back on old patterns that aren’t optimal for moving through this challenging year. Seek out friends and activities that are forward-looking to help you grow, not stagnate. The Counseling Center has information and programming to support your efforts.
It’s the second inning stretch! Remember your sophomore year may seem to stretch out ahead of you, but it will go quickly! Dive in, and get swimming. This too shall pass, and sooner than you think!
Identify Your Strengths!A new focus. The big buzz in personal, college and management development right now is called the Strengths Movement. All over the country, in colleges, corporations, in bookstores and on Web sites, it seems like it’s the strategy that everyone is embracing. The general idea, that you get farther by focusing your effort on your strengths rather than your weaknesses, is hotly debated, but interesting because of it’s power to motivate and focus the effort of students and employees.
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Strengths, not weaknesses. We often focus on our weaknesses, as if spending all our time fixing what’s weak is really going to help us become excellent. Bring up a skill to functional competence is necessary; it’s one reason colleges have placement exams and graduation competencies. And, like it or not, you need basic skills in a number of areas, especially math and communication (both speaking and writing) in order to interact with and be employed in the working world. By this point in your life, you may already know if you are “good” at math or science, or have a special gift for a specific area. The strengths movement is about pushing real and intentional energy into the areas of greatest ability.
Studies on people who Love What They Do and Do What They Love are successful in life (whatever their actual job might be) show that it is identifying and supporting our strengths that can make the biggest difference in our satisfaction with our lives. Living a life based on our strengths (what we love doing and are good at) can be an expected (but unacknowledged) goal of college students.
Not by accident. It takes curiosity, courage and a sense of optimism in order to determine and acknowledge what you are good at! But when those strengths align with career goals… look out! It’s rocket fuel for your future success!
Finding your strengths. You can start to identify your talents and skills in a number of ways! Here are some iden-tified general qualities as potential strength indicators: • Your responses, and your feelings can hint at your strengths: o Your hopes, dreams and longings o Experiencing joy and delight when engaged in the activity o Experiencing a sense of destiny or “rightness” o Being passionate about something • Ability/Acquisition of knowledge and skills can indicate strengths: o A deep sense of satisfaction about learning o Places where your learning seems rapid o Any area with instant insights and understandings • Actual performance parameters can indicate strengths: o Where you perform at levels of excellence, even if for short periods o Consistent patterns of success in a particular role, context or set of tasks o Doing something well and almost effortlessly
Defining flow. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi “cheeks-sent-me-high” is credited with using the word “flow” to de-scribe moments of peak experience closely tied to our deepest self. He defined “flow” as the state in which we are so completely absorbed in a task that we barely notice the passage of time. Otherwise known as “being in the zone” or the Zen sense of “mindfulness”, most of us are familiar with the concept of flow. It turns out that you can use moments of flow as landmarks of your strengths. You might want to read Csikszentmihalyi’s book called “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” or search for more info on the web about his ideas.
Commercial Web site Tests. The “Clifton Strengths Finder 2.0”, “Strengths Quest” (an older version of the same text) and “Now, Discover your Strengths” are a series of books and related Web sites built around the Gal-lup Poll Organization’s work on positive psychology and research on the lives of thousands of energized, satisfied people. They code your responses into 34 signature themes. The site must be accessed by a code (one use only) sold with one of these books. This movement has a lot of strength behind it and connects to both education and business applications.
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Connect and Reconnect: Fighting The Sophomore Aloneness Feeling!
Many students report that a feeling of being alone and adrift (both academically and socially) begins to sweep over them during sophomore year and they don’t know how to respond. One strategy is to take intentional and powerful actions, on multiple fronts, rather than floating helplessly. The actions of connecting, reconnecting and re-engaging are often the keys to anchoring yourself. And you will overcome the national trends!
Connect/Reconnect to friends both old and new. You might be feeling that some of your friends don’t seem to “see you” as well as they did last year. It’s natural that some friendships fade and some strengthen dur-ing the college years. As you become more aware of your own preferences, interests and values, you are likely to seek out peers who share the same. That’s a normal consequence of growth and change. Now is also a good time to identify any “train wreck” people in your circle of influence; the ones that drag you down instead of sup-porting your efforts. If you are able to gradually disengage from these people, you will have an opening for that next (potentially amazing!) friend.
Connect/Reconnect to the interests and activities that you really love. You may have explored many activities, but by now, some are probably calling you stronger than others. Again, it’s a sign of growth and change. Don’t be afraid to shift your focus as necessary and use the “Saying No to Obligations” if you need help disconnecting from activities that no longer invigorate you. A new interest, on the other hand, may provide an energy boost and is a great way to dive into the year!
Connect/Reconnect to your strengths. It can be much harder to determine your path if you don’t have an accurate idea of your authentic strengths, not just what you’d like to be good at. And if you focus on weaknesses, as many of us do, the picture can get very blurry. Take a proactive approach. Investigate “Identify your strengths” and seek resources with your Academic Adviser and Career Services Office and on line. Identifying strengths can increase your self-knowledge, focus and enhance your academic performance and suggest rewarding careers for your unique talent set.
Connect/Reconnect to your hopes and dreams. It’s easy to lose sight of your dreams as the practical re-alities of career/major choices pile up and consume your energy. Now is a good time to re-examine your dreams, and see which ones are “Up on the wall to admire” dreams, “If only” dreams, or dreams worthy of direct action. Redefining and focusing your dreams is a life skill, and a good task to learn this year.
Connect/Reconnect to your instructors. In national studies, sophomores often register the lowest level of contact with professors outside of class. This isn’t true at UMC, where there are so many ways to connect with your instructors. Office hours are a wonderful chance to ask how your instructor selected their career and the twists and turns that happened to them during their college years. You might even ask them about their sophomore year.
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Connect/Reconnect to academic success. Another national study result! Most sophomores admit to fall-ing back on low maintenance learning strategies, such as spending most of their test prep time on memorization. Since memorization is the lowest level of learning, it is hardly surprising that these students become discouraged with their academic performance. Now is a good time to develop (or increase) your use of learning teams and other innovative techniques for maximizing learning. Check into the Internship requirement that will give you experiential opportunities for learning on the job. Become a master student!
You aren’t the only one. Connecting can give you a sense that you aren’t alone, and you can find different people to help you with aspects of your journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone on the path ahead of you did exactly that, just as you will extend a helping hand to those who come after you.
UMC’s students work closely with faculty. The resulting partnership leads to co-authored publications and re-search studies, and intellectual development and amazing opportunities. While faculty are fueled by students’ curiosity, energy and ambition, the students are engaged by the faculty’s passion, attention and knowledge.
Why Declaring a “Major” Can be a Major Pain: The Sophomore Crunch
Some students seem to have no question about where they are headed. You may wonder how they manage it, and feel even more lost and alone if you don’t have the same confidence. And the clock is ticking. You feel the pressure to make a decision, but you don’t know where to start. Here are some things you might consider:
Everybody questions the path they are on. Whether it’s now, during the senior year, or after big money has been spent on graduate school, everyone questions their path. Thousands of books, career Web sites and a thriving consultant business shows that many people make mid-course corrections. If you are confused and un-sure, so much the better. Even though it can feel uncomfortable, questioning is a sign of growth and a hallmark of the sophomore year. Now is a good time to think through your future, especially since you have time to explore in a relatively safe environment.
Most of the questioning is silent. Unfortunately, you aren’t aware of the questioning going on around you, of how many of your peers act sure when they really aren’t, or are running on someone else’s dreams, rather than their own. Honest conversation can reveal where people are in the decision path. You aren’t alone.
Overcome the myths that trap you. A major, or even a field of study, isn’t a final decision, so you don’t need to stack that pressure on yourself. Many satisfied people are working in areas related to their original major, yet they use much of what they learned in college every day. There’s no one to one connection between major and career, except in certain technical degrees and certification programs. You have more room than you think, as long as you select, declare, and finish a major so you can graduate.
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Develop an alternate “Plan B” for backup. Questions like “What if it doesn’t work out?”, can choke off creative thoughts, or paralyze you and derail your planning process. One secret can be to develop a “Plan B” that branches off your original idea. If you want to be a rock star, your Plan B could be to start in the recording indus-try. It might be as easy as revisiting your flexible four-year plan and tweaking it to gain a new direction.
You have exciting work to do. Self-discovery of your strengths and talents started last year, and is an on-going process. Many sophomores have not really considered all possible careers that might be satisfying. Use campus resources and programs to get a handle on your personal growth journey.
The worst thing to do is stand still. Start with small steps. Here are a few possibilities:
• If you are an extrovert: talk, the more the merrier, and ask lots of questions (just don’t forget to listen).
• If you are an introvert: write/reflect, and talk one on one with career counselors/people in the field.
• If you are a logical thinker: investigate and collect data, make lists of pros and cons.
• If you are an abstract/theoretical thinker: investigate and spin out the big pictures and ideas, look for connections.
• If you are interested in, and sensitive to feelings: ask what issues others dealt with, look for careers that speak to interpersonal skills.
Use all your resources. The Career Services office can provide consultation and exploratory testing for you to do, like determining your Holland Occupational Code. And they can help you get unstuck, too.
Resume Makeover on the GoldPASS system (See Resumes and Cover Letters in this guide) and go to the Career Services Web site for resume information at: www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/careerPlan.htm
VOLUNTEER SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIESUMC is one of the best colleges fostering social
responsibility and public service
UMC students are good stewards of the world around them. Whether cleaning a long-neglected roadside ditch or river, you can be involved in service projects through classroom work or vol-unteer activities. Your education is personalized to your talents and interests to prepare you for service, leadership and stewardship.
Other possibilities:
l Visit the Career Services Office or UMC Library for additional resources or pointers.
l Talk to your adviser, instructors, parent and peers to learn how they discovered their strengths.
Web sites you might find useful or amusing (copy URLs into your browser)
National Conversation - Review SOPH-LIST Archives www.sc.edu/fye/listservs
Positive Psychology (Penn State) www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
A number of interesting questionnaires, some related to strengths.
Use this Career Services and Academic Planning Guide to help you in your career journey.
Informational InterviewingUMC Career Services
Visioning for the future…Taking risks broadens your vision. 3 Talk with faculty and staff about their research and field experiences. 3 Take a tour of business, industries, nonprofit and government organizations. 3 Experiment with electives and Study Abroad programs. 3 Go on an Alternative Spring Break program. “Pay It Forward” Tour.
Talking to current professionals in the field is a great way to determine if a career field is for you. An informational inter-view is a 10-30 minute conversation with someone working in a position or field that interests you.
“WHY SHOULD I DO AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?” • TO LEARN. If you want to find out what a specific career path has to offer, what the positives and negatives are within an organization’s culture, or which academic major will best prepare you for a selected career path, why not ask the people who are already working within that field? • TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. In a recent national survey, 70% of the Respondents reported they got their present position because of a personal contact. The earlier you start building relationships with people in your field of interest, the stronger they will be when you actually begin your job hunt later on.
“HOW DO I CONDUCT AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW AND WHERE DO I FIND PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW?” • Outlines for conducting Informational Interviews can be found at: www.quintcareers.com/information_interview.html
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/informational_interview
Book: What Color is your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles.
“WHERE DO I FIND PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW?” • A Searchable database of employers, including contact information can be found on the UMC Career Services Web site under Job Links at: www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/careerRes.htm • You might be surprised how many professionals are willing to visit with you about their careers and professional experiences. • Friends, relatives, family, UMC professors and UMC staff are also great resources.
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Preparation, Investigation, andTesting Career Decision
Meet with your adviser and confirm that you have an acceptable plan to com-plete all requirements in your majors and minors for graduation. Update Grad-Planner at https://onestop2.umn.edu/gradplanner and e-Portfolio at
https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio.
Speak with faculty about specializations and current trends in areas of interest.
Visit the Career Services Office. Review information resources to identify careers fields that you may wish to consider.
Make contacts with professionals in an area of interest. Expand your information and professional network. Investigate graduate and professional schools if you plan on furthering your education.
Get to know faculty, counselors, administrators, and career advisers.
If you are still undecided, continue to seek advisement. Contact Career Services, Suite 245 Student Center, to discuss your academic options.
Choose your courses carefully! Enroll in the courses that you will need to gradu-ate. Enroll in electives that will enhance your major.
Consider enrolling in Internship Seminar Class 1981, Spring Semester.
Participate in a credit internship, research, or volunteer opportunity.
Consider the Study Abroad Program.
Start your job search 6-9 months prior to graduation. Be sure you are registered for the UMC GoldPASS System at www.goldpass.umn.edu and download
résumé, cover letters and other documents.
Utilize the career resource library in Career Services and the UMC Library. http://library.umcrookston.edu/resumes.htm
Assume responsibility for making a decision for your life’s work and on continu-ing education (Graduate school). www.gradschool.com
Review internship and full-time career opportunities using GoldPASS. www.goldpass.umn.edu
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Checklist for Success
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Network! Network! Network!
Preparation, Investigation, andTesting Career Decision
Work with adviser to plan and apply for your internship. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/internship.htm
Research industries, companies, and internships. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs
Combine reality testing with values and skills assessment.
Get involved in a professional organization related to your career field. Inexpensive student memberships are often available.
Take a course in career development, attend Career Services seminars, work-shops, and job fairs.
Check Career Services to do a mock-up interview. Practice and refine interview-ing skills using Interview Stream at:
http://practice.interviewstream.com
Apply for graduation, check with the Registrar and your graduating department office. These requests should be made two or three semesters prior to your planned graduation date.
Prepare and schedule national graduate school entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT).
Develop a network of contacts in the field of your choice through continued in-formational interviewing, and involvement in professional organizations.
Gather letters of recommendations written on your behalf from previous em-ployers, current employers, professors, and any professional who can vouch for your skills and abilities.
Open a credentials file at Career Services for education majors at 236 Sargeant Student Center.
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UMC Third Year (Junior) Experience Program
What will the junior year hold in store for you? You can research information on the Career Services Web site, talk to seniors and use the summer after your sophomore year to investigate more about your direction(s). De-pending on how your sophomore year went, you might even have an internship, study abroad, or overseas term already planned.
Looking back: • You are halfway to graduation, and the time will go even faster now.
• The most uncertain part of the journey is behind you.
• You should have a fair idea of your direction, and it will be easier to focus on your goal.
• You have sharpened your academic skills and are better prepared for classes in your major.
Looking ahead : A Major plan • You may have declared a major by the end of the sophomore year, hopefully before.
• The (often loose) connection between major, field of study and potential careers should be more clear.
• Some major classes have been completed, and next year you will make great progress.
• You may want to talk to seniors in your major to see what choices they made.
• Your flexible four-year plan will have many facets to enhance in your junior year:
o The required classes within your major, with terms and times
o Overseas study if required by your major
o A plan for a potential minor, if there is inclination/room/time
o Some spring terms options, or plans to gain unique experiences
o Summer plans as they develop (classes, internships, career-related employment)
Understanding Yourself!By understanding your values, strengths and talents,
motivation and drive, you will:
There’s only one you!Your junior year is the perfect place to continue your unique journey, and it’s often packed with many opportuni-ties. Seek these out and add them to your wish list now. It’s not just what you have learned, but what you plan to do with it, that helps keeps you focused on the path toward graduation.
THINK AHEAD!!
l Have a better sense of yourself and what you are capable of achieving
l Create a target for career satisfaction
Researching potential careers will continue into the junior-senior year, since:
l Many potential careers could meet your needs
l There are opportunities and jobs you have never heard of still out there for you to find
You’ll continue to work on things like informational interviews and job shadowing to:
l Gain a knowledge of what careers and jobs are really like
l Connect with UMC alumni through the UMC Alumni Association
l See the wide variety of paths others have taken toward their goals
l Learn how others have positioned themselves, and acquired unique experiences
l Help focus on and prepare for a possible internship in your junior year
Job ShadowingUMC Third Year (Junior) Experience Program
BENEFITS OF JOB SHADOWING • Gain important information and advice to assist you in making informed academic and career decisions. • Make valuable new networking contact in the “real” world. • Link your skill development, courses, and academic planning to your future success on the job.
During a typical job shadowing visit you “shadow” an employee at work for a couple of hours, sometimes even a full day. The visit provides you an up-close look at workplaces and the “real job” from an employee’s view. You have a chance to observe daily activities, ask questions, and consider the potential pros and cons of a particular profession or industry. You will also discover what workplace skills and career-related experiences are essential to being successful in your chosen field.
PREPARING FOR A JOB SHADOWING VISIT • Research the employer and/or the industry you will be observing. • Choose 10-15 questions to ask the employee you shadow. • Confirm the time/date and plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early. Be sure to have dependable transportation to the site.
AFTER THE VISIT • Send a thank-you note. • Take time to evaluate what you have learned about the skills and work experiences needed to pursue your career interests.
Additional ways to get career-related experience• Working on or off campus
• Volunteer work and service learning
• Try setting up and undergraduate research experience with a professor, staff person or employer
Dress for Success!You know that thing about never getting a second chance to make a first impression? Well, it’s true. It’s just as true about a blind date as it is about meeting professional contact for the first time. Regardless of the circumstances, you want to make the best impression you can the first time around ---or you might not get a second chance!
Dress Essentials for Everyone • Hair should be clean, well groomed and away from the eyes. Simple, classic styles are best. • No visible tattoos or body piercings unless you are interviewing at a tattoo shop for a job. • Remove extraneous earrings. • Avoid strong mints, perfumes, or aftershaves. • Clothing should work for you, not against you. Fit and comfort are important considerations in projecting yourself at your best. • Trendy Clothes – like short skirts, low necklines, extreme prints or colors – generally do not project an image appropriate for a professional meeting. • Crisp, clean, well-pressed clothing is a must.
Who Wears What? • For TRADITIONAL CAREERS – like banking, accounting, finance, engineering, law, and corporate positions – you’ll
need a conservative look that conveys competence and authority. Suites should have a classic cut or style and be dark in color (navy, dark grey, black, etc.) Shirts and blouses should be a neutral color, like white, ivory, light grey, etc. Ties and scarves should be subtle with a little color.
• For those pursuing TECHNICAL CAREERS – in areas like information technology, sciences, etc. – a clean look that conveys knowledge, innovation, and approachability is important. Suits should be conservative in subtle dark colors. Blouses and shirts should be a subtle color.
• PEOPLE – FOCUSED CAREERS – counseling, teaching, sales, and social work, for example – require an image that projects expertise but approachability. Suits should be conservative in subtle dark colors, coordinate separates can work too. Blouses and shirts should be subtle color.
• The most opportunity for expression of personal style can be found in CREATIVE CAREERS – like art advertising, design and entertainment. In these fields you’ll need a contemporary image that conveys creativity, innovation, and competence. Suits vary in cut, style, and color. Blouses and shirts should accent your total look.
For more information on dress go to: http://umconnect.umn.edu/jobfairsuccess
Planning for Career/Job FairsBEFORE THE FAIRKnow who will be attending. Before the fair begins, know which companies and organizations will attend. Get this information through the Career Services Calendar at: http://www2.crk.umn.edu/ccs/calendar.htm/ Make a list of employers that are of interest to you.
RESEARCH EMPLOYERS OF INTERESTIf you want to stand apart, be able to talk to the recruiter about what the company does and how your skill set fits. At a minimum, go to their Web site, learn about the products, services, or clients, and read annual report, if available. Check out more research tips available at: www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/interviews.html. Scroll down to Job Fair Preparation.
PREPARE YOUR RESUME(S)Make sure your resume effectively reflects your knowledge, skills, and abilities. You can have a general resume to hand out, but if you really want to make a great impression, make different versions of your resume that tar-get the specific business, industry, or job that interests you. Make sure you give the right resume to the right organization. Check out more resume tips at: www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/resumes. Scroll down to Resumes.
PREPARE A JOB INFORMATION AND SEEKING TRAINING CARD (JIST)You only have about 30 seconds to make an impression with a recruiter, so you will need to be able to quickly introduce yourself and let them know your interests and qualifications. Make-up a JIST card that you can present easily while still sounding natural. Include the following information:
• Your name
• Your UMC program/major
• Graduation date
• What you’re looking for (more information, full-time employment, and internship and etc.)
• Your skills and qualities that relate to the job
• Your strengths
• Positive personal qualities
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THEY’RE WATCHING YOUKeep in mind that the moment you enter the fair, recruiters are watching you. They take note of how you dress, how you behave, how you interact with your friends and with other recruiters. Check out this Web site for more information how you should dress and proper etiquette: http://umconnect.umn.edu/jobfairsuccessAPPROACH AN ORGANIZATIONIt can be intimidating to approach and introduce yourself to a recruiter. Students often say introductions at career fairs are forced, weird, unnatural, or uncomfortable. It helps if your remember the recruiter is here to meet you, so don’t be shy! Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and don’t be afraid to let your enthusi-asm show. Being truly passionate about the employer and the opportunities they have to offer can make all the difference.
GATHER INFORMATION AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THE RECRUITER’S TIMERemember, career fairs are all about networking, and recruiters love to see 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year students at fairs asking questions. It shows that the student is thinking about and making connections for the future! But if you’re at the fair to try and land a job, recruiters need to know that you’ve done your research and are ready to go. While speaking with recruiters, be courteous to them and your fellow students by keeping your conversa-tions short and purposeful.
AT THE FAIRPick up a map showing where the company booths are located. You may also want to take a quick walk through the space to get the feel for the layout of the fair. Then what?
Depending on the time and crowds, you might want to consider approaching an employer towards the bottom of you list to start off. This gives you an opportunity to actually use your prepared introduction with a real recruiter and work out any last-minute nervousness before you visit the employers you’re most interested in, where you can least afford to be nervous.
FINALLY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE NAMES OF THE RECRUITERS YOU TALK TO, AND IF POSSIBLE, GET THEIR CARD. SOME STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN CARDS TO GIVE TO THE RECRUITERS.
AFTER THE FAIR
Follow-upIf, during your conversation with a recruiter, you promised to follow up with more information (Web site link, portfolio, writing sample, etc.) then make sure you get the information out right away.
SEND THANK YOU NOTES
Send a thank-you note within 24 hours to everyone you spoke with. This is a little thing that really makes a differ-ence. Almost everyone has the intention, but very few actually get around to it. Don’t know what to write? See information on thank-you letters at: www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/afterinterviews.html and enter in this guide. It doesn’t have to be fancy; the point is to remind them of who you are and let them know you’re serious about your job search.
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?An “Internship” has lots of different meanings. For our purposes, it is defined as “work experience (paid (pre-ferred) or unpaid) in your chosen field of study.” Internships can take place during the summer months or during a semester, and may be full-time or part-time and is supervised by your academic department. You can receive pay and academic credit for such an experience.
EVERY MAJOR CAN FIND WORK EXPERIENCE WHILE IN COLLEGEWhatever your major or field of study, there are opportunities to obtain related work experience. Most majors at UMC require some kind of internship in order to graduate. Check with your academic adviser or your Univer-sity department internship coordinator to see what the internship requirements are for your department.
Most UMC departments require that students complete an internship before graduation, but there are excep-tions to this policy and you should check with your adviser and department head to answer your questions about internship policies.
FINDING INTERNSHIPS IS EASY • Make use of the Career Services Internship Web site at: www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/internship.htm
www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/joblink.htm
• Talk to faculty, advisers, family, friends and utilize the Career Services office
• Identify employers of interest and contact them directly
Getting the Most out of Career-Related ExperiencesEARN, LEARN AND INTERN
Internships
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BECOME A STAR HIRE THAT ALL EMPLOYERS HOPE TO FIND:
• SET GOALS. Before you begin to look for an internship sit down with the internship superviser and establish several
realistic goals for your learning experience. Ask, “What results should I be working toward?” Use these goals to evaluate yourself throughout your experience.
• BE COOPERATIVE, RESPECTFUL, AND COMMUNICATE OPENLY. You will be working with professionals who have years of experience in the field. Remember to be
open to a new learning experience and you do not have to know all the answers. Communicate re-spectfully to all employees…those with college degrees and those who do not. At the same time, don’t be afraid to share your ideas. Sometimes a new approach and perspective is just what your employer needs.
• FIND A MENTOR. If your employer does not provide you with someone who will coach you and answer your questions,
seek out employees who will agree to serve in that role.
• BE A PRO-ACTIVE PROBLEM SOLVER. Some experiences are well defined with specific outcomes provided, others are not. In either case,
don’t sit back and wait. Your employer will be impressed when you see a problem and address it. Also be honest and take responsibility for your actions. Taking ownership in your work will be a rewarding experience and you’ll find it more rewarding.
• HAVE FUN Remember to exhibit a strong work ethic throughout your experience, and you will be respected by
those you work with. Keep in constant contact with your college internship supervisor.
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Action, Implementation,Job Search, and Graduate School
Begin your career or graduate school search early.
Visit your adviser to make sure that you will have completed all course requirements for your major and graduation requirements on your Grad-Planner at https://onestop2.umn.edu/gradplanner and e-Portfolio at https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio.
Also, initiate a major/minor check with your adviser and a graduation check with the Registrar’s Office two semesters before your graduation.
Continue networking, cultivating contacts and talking with professionals in your field of interest.
Explore with a career counselor other strategies to find employment for your field of interest, such as using the many job listings on the Inter-net and those postings in the Career Services office, enrolling in national employment databases, and learning the process of networking (getting involved with professionals in the field you wish to enter and learning where the hidden job market is).
www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/joblink.htm
Meet with a career counselor for assistance with your career or graduate school search.
Ask faculty, staff and employers to act as references for you.
Reap the rewards of your hard work by using the UMC GoldPASS System. Update your résumés and cover letter templates on UMC GoldPASS Sys-tem. www.goldpass.umn.edu
Collect letters of recommendation written on your behalf by people who can attest to your skills and abilities. Keep copies of these letters in your online GoldPASS file.
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Your goals are to secure satisfying employment or to get accepted to a graduate or professional school if your career interest indicates the need for an advanced degree.
Checklist for Success
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Network! Network! Network!SENIO
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Participate in area job fairs.
Attend GRAD FEST during Spring Semester.
Attend workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and other job search information. Learn how to market yourself.
Learn procedures for interviewing with Career Services office. Practice interviewing. Complete at least one mock-up interview with online InterviewStream software. http://practice.interviewstream.com
Research business and/or organizations where you might like to work using the Internet and the career services and UMC library. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs
Write a personal statement and have it critiqued by Career Services staff and adviser.
Sign up for on-campus interviews.
Attend all the job fairs and/or Graduate Professional School Days. www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/calendar.htm
If you are continuing your education: Complete applications for graduate school or professional studies early! Take required tests, follow recom-mendations, and visit campuses. Interview for graduate or professional school/gain admission and continue your career path through additional education and training. www.gradschool.com
Report your employment, any job offers or continuing education status to Career Services.
Your senior year is when organizing and conducting a job search or graduate school search begins in earnest. It is also a time when you are heavily involved in more advanced courses in your major/s and often have more responsible roles in campus and/or volunteer and service learning activities. Balancing these important pursuits and setting priorities is a constant challenge for seniors and beyond.
Your senior or last year at UMC is full of potential and promise as you complete academic graduation require-ments and envision options for your first year as a college graduate. Most seniors have many ideas and interests. Conversely, some seniors say “I don’t know what I want to do after graduation” frequently meaning:
1. I have some ideas but don’t know how to choose 2. I am unsure how to reach my goals 3. I am not positive I will like those destinations
The world is asking you one question: what will satisfy you for the next few years after graduation. You are not making a life-long decision. Essentially, your first year after graduation is for experiencing a full-time option. Ei-ther a job, graduate school or …?
Yes, your senior year and beyond will be full and your needs may frequently change and refocus. Promise and opportunity always carry a sense of excitement and fear. Both emotions are normal and to be expected. The UMC Career Services office has developed some enriched and practical services for your transition from UMC to your first destination including:
• Continue to meet with your academic adviser • Be sure to update GradPlanner, and GoldPASS System • Utilize ePortfolio for planning for your job search
Action, Implementation, Job Search, and Graduate School
UMC Fourth Year (Senior) Experience Program
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• Expressing your major, activities, jobs, internships, needs, values, and skills in a practical and realistic manner • Graduate school applications and access to graduate and professional schools, constructing and polishing up your resumes - yes, you can have several resumes on the University of Minnesota, Crookston’s GoldPASS System • Evaluating alternative options including post-grad internships, travel, etc. • Using on and off-campus recruiting interviews and Job and Internship Fairs • Insights from recent grads and alumni • Networking with alumni for information and leads on job strategies • Continuing and focusing your conversations with the UMC Career Services staff • Using the Career Services Web site to its full potential • Enhancing your competitive edge through workshops and seminars • Accessing UMC services for alumni
Remember: it is never too early or late to use UMC Career Services. We are here to help you. Call and set up an appointment at 218-281-8586 or 218-281-8585.
Remember the University does not get you a job, but it is through your preparation that you will be successful in securing the job of your choice.
BE SURE TO USE THE CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS ON THE NEXT PAGES TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR GRADUATION
DEVELOP A JOB SEARCH STRATEGY. The job search is successful only if you take charge and develop a job search strategy. So, maybe you’ll need to rethink your strategy…there is no one job search technique that works for everyone all the time.
YOUR JOB SEARCH AFTER COLLEGE IS ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY IN YOUR LIFE. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American with a bachelor’s degree has about ten different jobs between the ages of 18-34 and you will probably change careers 5-8 times during your life-time. Over the past four years you have been learning about the job search processes-whether it be finding a part-time job or internship. To survive – and advance – you’ll have to become skilled at job hunting. Your first job after UMC will be just the beginning of a lifelong process.
SEARCHING FOR A JOB ISN’T LIKE TAKING A CLASS. Although the resume seems like a writ-ing assignment, it’s really an “advertisement” for a meeting. And the interview, which looks like an exam, is more like a date: It determines whether there are enough interests in common to take the relationship a step further.
Job Search Strategies You’ll Use Forever
THREE JOB SEARCH FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW! • Seventy-five percent (75%) of all the jobs are never advertised. • Who you know is as important as what you know. How job seekers found their jobs: 48% Friends or relatives 24% Cold contact with an employer when no job was posted 23% Alumni or College Career Services Office 5% Newspaper ads (Souce: U.S. Dept. of Labor) • 98% of U.S. employers have fewer than 100 employees.
WHAT THESE 3 SEARCH FACTS MEAN TO YOU • The internet should not be your only means of searching for jobs. • Talking to people and asking questions may be your best job search strategy. • Take advantage of UMC resources like Career Services Web site, career workshops, job and internship fairs, on-campus interviews, employer information sessions and other opportunities to meet and discover potential employers.
You’ve Got An Interview! Now What?BE PREPAREDBeing prepared for the interview is very important.The employer has already agreed to meet with you based on your resume and/or cover letter-you’ve made it this far. Now to be confident in your interview you need to be prepared.
l RESEARCH. Find out everything you can about the organization or business. The more you know the more you will be able to connect your experiences and skills to the needs of the em-ployer. This will also help you to ask more interesting questions when the time comes.
l LIST OF YOUR SKILLS. Before the interview, make a list of your skills and abilities. These are what will make you an asset to your future employer; use the list to put yourself in a positive frame of mind and help you “sell” yourself to the interviewer. Your resume and if you used eport-folio: http://portfolio.umn.edu are great starting points for this list, since they both sum up your experience and interests.
l PRACTICE. The UMC Career Services Office offers a new on-line Web site called Interview Stream at: www.umn.interviewstream.com. All you need is a webcam and you can practice interview-ing in the privacy of your residence hall room or home. This is a great way to test your ability to answer common interview questions and get prompt feedback on your body language and your speech patterns. After all, you are your own best critic. Watch yourself in action to see how you appear to an interviewer.
INTERVIEW DON’TS: Arrive late, appear rushed, disorganized, seem over-eager, des-perate, apologize for your background or experience, criticize your past employers or co-workers in any way, oversell your qualities, ask about salary and benefits before you have a job offer, or ramble.
SAYING SO-LONG FOR NOW. It’s time to prepare for your transition into your new life in the world of work or in continuing your education. College has been a lot of work, but is has also been a blast. For once in your life you have been accepted for who you are, been in a relatively safe environment, and met a lot of people who have helped you to succeed toward graduation. Plus, you have a great group of friends with whom you have shared everything over the past four or more years. Leaving all this may be hard, but you can still keep in contact in the future by joining the UMC Alumni Association.
WATCH YOUR FINANCES.All the money you had for extras in college disappears quickly when starting in a new place. Most of you will be responsible for car payments, insurance (car, health, and home) food, rent or house payments, student loan pay-ments, and some of you may already be strapped with credit card debt. Get rid of it before taking on any more obligations. Recent grads were surprised at how fast their salary was eaten up by daily expenses they didn’t have in college, even with salaries in the high $30,000 and $50,000’s.
BE PREPARED FOR THE WORK AT HAND.What made you think work would be lots of fun? Actually, work can be tedious and repetitive at times, espe-cially during the first year or two. You are going to be really eager to get started and make a difference, only to be assigned a data entry task or no-brainer assignment. Engage in the work with enthusiasm and do it to the best of your ability; employers notice and your next assignment will be much more rewarding.
LEARN TO DEAL WITH YOUR MISTAKES IN A POSITIVE MANNER.For the past years mistakes and failure were seldom framed in positive context. Remember when failing a course was just about a disaster? Now there is a real chance for mistakes or failure-not getting a job or being admitted to graduate school, but in the world of work, organizations operate on failures because failures open the doors to new ideas that can solve problems. Because of this, risk-taking is valued by many employers. With this in mind with risk comes failure. This is not totally true in college, but we need to learn to be responsible for our decision making, mistakes, and choices.
Your Next Big Transition - Life After UMC
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JOIN THE TEAMWORK EXPERIENCECompetition is fierce among students who are vying for prestigious jobs and admittance to graduate schools. While there’s competition in the job interview stage, the work environment is much more team-oriented. Work-ing in teams can be motivating and exciting – sharing ideas and learning from co-workers is all part of a day’s work. Be prepared to share; take the initiative on tasks by volunteering to assist co-workers; and strive to be dependable ( begin work on time and get assignments done ahead of schedule).
COMMUNICATE!Be aware that poor communication may exist; don’t be afraid to ask questions and have co-workers clarify com-munications you do not understand.
FIND A MENTORCultivate a relationship with an experienced professional who can provide guidance as you adjust to the organi-zation. A mentor can provide you with insights on how the organization actually operates and how to navigate the different teams and departments; can offer career advice as you gain experience; and can promote you to higher management for assignments and promotions.
Everything UMC Career Services office has to offer is available to recent graduates for as long as they choose to utilize these services, includ-ing the University of Minnesota GoldPASS System, which is available to members of the UMC Alumni Association.
To help the particular needs of International students in their search for jobs after graduation UMC’s Career Services Office has partnered with UMC’s Office of International Students to provide a centralized online resource.
We want to help international students make their job search as productive as possible and stress free as possible. It has become evident that the job search for international students is rarely, if ever, a quick and easy process. It can be stressful even for those who have a clear idea of what they want to do, where they want to do it, and for whom. For international students studying at UMC or at any other university, there are additional issues to overcome.
There are both legal and cultural barriers involved in international students’ job searches. Visa and work authorization processes can be complicated and the cultural differences in resumes, interviews and other aspects of the search can be unsettling. It can also be difficult to look for a job in your home country from hundreds or thousands of miles away.
International students can access information at: www.umcrookston.edu/ccs/career/international.htm
International Students and the Job Search
For more information on services and resources available to international students at UMC, please contact the
International Students Office at 218-281-8442
Resume WorksheetResume Worksheet
Use this as a guide to assist you in developing ideas
______________________________________________First Name, Middle Initial*, Last Name
______________________________________________Street Address, Apartment #, City, Sate, Zip Code
______________________________________________Area Code, Telephone Number
Career Objective* (Summary of Qualifications/Profile) ___________________________________________________________________________ Brief statement that indicates the position you are seeking
Education ___________________________________________ ____________________________ Degree Earned Graduation Date (month/year)
___________________________________________ Major, Minor, Emphasis
___________________________________________ School Name, City, State
___________________________________________ GPA*, Education Honors*, Hours Worked*
Professional/Special Skills* ___________________________________________________________________________ Indicate information describing special abilities you possess that are associated with your major (e.g. Job related skills, computer knowledge, foreign languages, special talents)
Related Work Experience (if no related experience, label as Work Experience) ___________________________________________ ____________________________ Title or Position Starting and Ending Dates
___________________________________________ Name of Business or Organization, City, State
________________________________________________________________________ Indicate a brief job description — start statement with an action verb!
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Repeat Procedure (may include volunteer experience, internships) ___________________________________________ ____________________________ ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Work Experience ___________________________________________ ____________________________ Title or Position Starting and Ending Dates
___________________________________________ Name of Business or Organization, City, State
________________________________________________________________________ Indicate a brief job description — start statement with an action verb!
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Repeat Procedure ___________________________________________ ____________________________ ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Professional: Organizations/Clubs/Certifications* ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Awards/Honors/Scholarships* ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Military History* ___________________________________________________________________________ Rank, Branch of Service, Dates Enlisted-Separated, Assignment, Awards, Special Talents, etc.
Activities/Interests/Hobbies* ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
References Available upon request or they may be listed
Hints: Organize information in reverse chronological order Use short, punchy statements that start with action
verbs Stay away from using pronouns, abbreviations, or
acronyms Put most important items first Attempt to keep your resume to 1 page (under-
grads) and 2 pages (graduate students) Don’t dwell on high school accomplishments
Community Involvement
Computer Skills
Research
Publications
Course Work
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Resume OutlinesPOSSIBLE RESUME OUTLINES
A resume uses an outline form. Most resumes have six to nine major sections. The number and type of headings used depends upon the person’s background, career interests, and personal preference. Below are listed four commonly used resume outlines which can vary according to the person using the outline.
Resume #2
Identification (name)Permanent Address Temporary AddressTelephone Number Telephone Number
GoalPersonalEducationExperienceMilitary ExperienceSpecial Skills, Clubs, and OrganizationsHonors, Awards, ScholarshipsLanguagesReferences
FunctionalResume #3
Identification (name)
Permanent AddressTemporary AddressTelephone NumberObjectiveEducationRelated ClassesExperience or Related ExperienceAdditional InformationReferences
Resume #4
Identification (name) Address Telephone Number
Resume
Personal DataProfessional ObjectiveQualificationsEducationMilitaryExtracurricular ActivitiesInterests and HobbiesReferences
ChronologicalResume #1
Identification (name, address, and telephone numbers)
Career Objective Education Work Experience (dates) Professional/Civic Activities Extracurricular Activities Publication/Research Honors and Activities References
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 1 Chronological ResumeSample Layout
PO Box 1234College Town, US 12675
(102) 834-8223
JOB OBJECTIVE: A growth position in Public Relations leading to project management.
RELEVANT STATE UNIVERSITYEDUCATION: COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES9/2000 - Present College Town, US English Major/Minor in Journalism - GPA 3.5 Bachelor Degree expected in May 2004 Major courses include: Public Relations Graphics Presentation Speech I, II, III Media Management Journalism I, II Microcomputer Applications English Composition Statistical Presentation
9/99 - 5/2000 YORTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES Yortown, US Media Technology Major - GPA 4.0 President of Student Tribunal Member, Public Relations Student Association Member, National Association of Female Executives Sigma Sigma Sigma
RELEVANT CORPORATE COMPUTER SERVICES, INC.EXPERIENCE: TECHNICAL SUPPORT6/2001 - 12/2001 Corporate, US Technical Writer - College Internship Aided in writing and revising user manuals for software programs and sales
support. Revised three published and marketed users’ manuals. Evaluation stated, “most promising we’ve seen.” Asked to return on a part-time basis.
OTHER STATE UNIVERSITYEXPERIENCE: COMPUTER SERVICES9/2000 - 5/2001 College Town, US Student Technician - Part-time Responded to on-campus needs for additional computer hardware. Processed
requests for warranty work and support contracts. Utilizing Macintosh computer, helped to revise forms used in contract process.
HOBBIES AND Help to write political speeches and have enjoyed campaigning with my father inINTERESTS: State political races.
REFERENCES: Excellent references available upon request.
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 2 Chronological ResumeClaudia Loren
88 Ohio Street, Townhouse 31Fertile, Minnesota 56540
218.555.1489 (W) 218.555.1998 (H)
OBJECTIVEPosition as director of a private nonprofit corporation dedicated to the development of communities.
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENTNovember, 2000 PRINCIPAL, LOREN & ASSOCIATES. Currently operating Loren & Associates,to present a consulting firm specializing in project management for public agencies.
September, 1998 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, WINMARK ENTERPRISES. Worked with the majorto October, 2000 lenders in the Whatcity area to incorporate energy into the underwriting process.
Also administered three federal grants.
August, 1994 MANAGER, WHATCITY TOWN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION. Supervised anto August, 1998 administrative budget and a staff of 35 full-time employees. Programs run by the office included: Community Development Block Grant, 312 Loan Program, Uni-
fied Weatherization.
January, 1990 PLANNER III, WHATCITY TOWN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION. Head of theto August, 1994 Planning and Strategy Unit. Coordinated community development plans and the
county’s housing program.
October, 1987 DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, WHATCITY COLLEGE. Coordinated housingto December, 1990 arrangements for 3,000 students. Supervised a staff of 11. Succeeded in
changing a 78-year old policy against having pets in dormitories. Set up the successful “Host Cat” and “Host Dog” programs in which each dormitory adopted a friendly animal to greet residents.
EDUCATION2000 to 2004 University of Minnesota, Crookston, 2900 University Avenue, Crookston, MN, B.S. Agricultural Management
1998 to 2000 Northland Community College, Thief River Falls, MN, A.A.S., Economics
ORGANIZATIONS2003 City Council Member, Fertile, MN
2000 to present Board Member, Park Maintenance Fund, Fertile, MN
REFERENCES Available upon request
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 3 Functional ResumeRichard Gillespie
12 Timberidge Drive, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202Home (701) 777-4003
Email: [email protected] accounting and finance professional with 2 years experience in the financial services and leasing industry, including global and domestic exposure and specialization in business planning, joint venture accounting, and reporting & analysis.
Areas of Expertise
Business Planning l Managed entire financial function business plans, including end-of-lease projections, and present to senior management nationally and internationally. l Improved accuracy and efficiency of plan preparation within 3 months. l Gathered financial data for competitive analogs and company IPO. l Participated in due diligence and financial analysis for mergers and acquisitions, asset securitization, and the redesign of 2 divisions.
Joint Venture Accounting l Managed entire financial function of JVs, including reporting & analysis, business planning, pricing, portfolio accounting, cash operations, and sales compensation. l Proactively made recommendations to the president & COO. l Developed and improved relationships with JV partners, monitored compliance, negotiated changes to contractual operating agreements, and resolved partnership disputes. l Selected to manage a large vendor relationship with over $90,000 in new business volumes. l Significantly improved the accuracy and integrity of financial statements within one month. l Coordinated systems conversions, external audits and assets securitization.
Reporting & Analysis l Oversaw timely and accurate reporting to the board of directors and senior management. l Prepared monthly corporate reporting packages, including portfolio performance statistics such as delinquency of owned and securitized assets, no-accruals, repossessed assets, and the adequacy of bad debt and specific reserves. l Reported risk management information such as end of lease performance, asset concentrations, and residual exposure.
Employment HistoryMetLife, Bridgewater, minnesota May, 2002-PresentDirector of Accounting Department
AT&T, Basking Ridge, MinnesotaController, November, 2000-May, 2002Director, Joint Ventures, January, 1999-November, 2000EducationUniversity of Minnesota, CrookstonB.S., Accounting, May, 2006 GPA 3.4
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 4 Functional ResumePO BOX 1234
COLLEGE TOWN, US 12675(102) 834-8223
OBJECTIVE A Retail Management position with a progressive merchandising organization.
EDUCATION
RETAIL MANAGEMENT MAJOR — Bachelor Degree Received June, 2004
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS — AUSTIN, TEXAS — GPA 3.3Major Coursework Includes:Marketing I, II & III; Advertising, Accounting I & II; Labor Relations; Economics; Business Law; Statistics; Microcomputer Applications; Problems in Business Management; Finance; along with English, Math & History general requirements.
Extracurricular Involvement Includes: President of Future Business Leaders of America Club College of Business Honor Society Alpha Alpha Alpha Basketball Cheerleader — 2002 & 2004
EXPERIENCE
RETAIL CLERK — Part-time and Summers — 1999 to PresentBlazers — Austin, TexasMajor Responsibilities Include:Sell women’s sportswear in a speciality shop atmosphere. Maintain database of customers, special order merchandise, receive and mark merchandise, create specialty displays of sales merchandise and aid in opening and closing the store.Accomplishments Include: Helped to open the store. It is now one of the major profit centers of this 2.4 Million Dollar in
sales chain. Designed advertising for two major sales in which budgeted gross was exceeded by 10.3% and
9.8%. Considered a “Lead Sales Person.” Have planned manpower requirements and supervised the
work of others.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTESAccustomed to accepting responsibility, delegating authority and working with people at all levels. Able to plan, organize, develop and supervise day to day activity and special projects. Have good sense of humor. Dedicated to producing timely results.
REFERENCESAvailable upon request
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 5 Combination ResumePO BOX 1234
COLLEGE TOWN, US 12675(102) 834-8223
OBJECTIVEA computerized technical support position, utilizing network, hardware and software interface technology.
HARDWAREUtilized IBM and compatible hardware; Compaq; Display Writer System; NEC Personal Computer; Facet Potter; Epson, Hewlett Packard and Cannon printers on a daily basis both in multiple internships and in the college lab. Established network hookups with Ethernet and token-ring systems. Intimate experience with MODEM, electronic FAX and voice boards. Coursework in X Windows Programming.
SOFTWAREStudies Unix network programming and “C” with control flow. I/0 functions, arrays, pointers, structures and unions. Developed computer labs in two internships utilizing PC operating systems, batch files, configuring DOS and Windows, memory management. Utilizing BASIC, DOS, Database IV, Lotus 1-2-3, and Microsoft Works.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMSDeveloped graphic communications systems appropriate to printed documents, including typography and photography. Aided in the design and development of computer information system and programs using hardware and software for sound, still-image video, full-motion video and interactive applications. Senior Design project involved audio mixing software – awarded “A” in the project.
EDUCATIONUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON, Crookston, MN. 2000 – PresentInformation Technology Management MajorBachelor Degree Expected in May, 2004
SAVOY COLLEGE, St. Albans, NY. 1998 – 2000Media Design Technology Major Associate Degree Received in August, 2000
INTERNSHIPSBIEDERMAN LABORATORIES, St. Albans, NY. Summer, 2003WOLCOTT ENGINEERING, Fransisco, NY. Summer, 2002Computer Installation Technician
WILLING TO TRAVEL AND/ OR RELOCATE
References/ Portfolio/ CD Available
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Layout Format 6 Combination ResumeMOLLEY RACHEL KANTRELL
567 Gold Hill RoadCrookston, MN 56716
(218) 281-8585E-mail: [email protected]
OBJECTIVEA growth-oriented Executive Sale/Marketing position
Skills
EDUCATIONBS Degree, Applied Management, May, 2004
University of Minnesota, Crookston
HONORS AND EXPERIENCE President/Vice President, Student Forum, 2000-2002 Outstanding Senior Award, Student Forum, June, 2001 Sales Associate, Crookston Camera Shop, Crookston, MN, 2000 Grants & Public Relations Intern, Crookston Museum of Art, 2000 Public Relations Intern, Crookston County Chapter, American Heart Association, 1999
ORGANIZATION Delegated jobs to work committees, planned and managed all activities, and set standard for the smooth running of student senate as the president.
Composed press releases, assembled press kits and collected data for an advertising campaign for the Crookston Museum of Art.
Implemented programs designed to promote scholastic achievement within college club; resulted in presentation of Scholastic Excellence Award by the Pan-Hellenic Council.
Scheduled and assisted in fund-raising events, assembled press clippings and wrote press releases for the Heart Association as an intern.
COMMUNICATION Acted as a liaison between active and alumni members and promoted international club activities both within the chapter and in various other settings through public speaking events as an executive officer.
Worked with customers assisting them with their cameras and photographs, and informed the public about upcoming sales and new merchandise as a camera shop sales associate.
Implemented new public relations programs, working closely with the Crookston Museum of Art Public Relations/Development Department.
Operated communication systems between office volunteers and staff of the Heart Association as an intern.
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Resume Word List
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Action Verbs That Describe Your Functional SkillsActed Communicated Empathized Handled LoggedAdapted Compared Enforced Headed MadeAddressed Completed Established Helped MaintainedAdministered Computed Estimated Identified ManagedAdvised conceived Evaluated Illustrated ManipulatedAllocated Coordinated Examined Imagined MediatedAnalyzed Copied Expanded Implemented MemorizedApproved Counseled Experimented Improved MentoredArranged Created Extracted Improvised MetAscertained Dealt Facilitated Increased ModeledAssisted Decided Filed Indexed ObservedAttained Defined Financed Initiated ObtainedAudited Delegated Fixed Inspected OfferedBrought Delivered Followed Interpreted OperatedBudgeted Designed Formulated Investigated OrderedBuilt Detected Founded JudgedCalculated Directed Gathered KeptChartered Documented Gave LearnedChecked Drove Generated LecturedClassified Dug Got LedCoached Edited Governed LiftedCollected Eliminated Guided Listened
Adaptive Skill Words That Describe Your Personal TraitsActive Diplomatic Form Outgoing Sense of HumorAdaptable Disciplined Honest Participate SensitiveAdept Discreet Innovative Personable SincereBroad-minded Efficient Instrumental Pleasant SuccessfulCompetent Energetic Logical Positive TactfulConscientious Enterprising Loyal ProductiveCreative Experienced Mature ReliableDependable Fair Methodical ResourcefulDetermined Forceful Objective Self-reliant
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Career Services
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Skills Verbs That Describe Your Functional SkillsAchieve Increase RecordAct Influence RecruitAdminister Interview ReduceAnalyze Invent ReferAssemble Judge RememberBuild Keep RepairCalculate Lead ResearchCommunicate Learn ScheduleCompose Lecture SelectConsult Listen SellControl Maintain SenseCoordinate Make SeparateCopy Manage ServeCount Manipulate ServiceCreate Motivate SetDebate Negotiate SewDefine Observe ShapeDeliver Organize SpeakDraw Originate StudyEdit Paint SummarizeElicit Perceive SuperviseEliminate Perform SupplyEmpathize Persevere Take InstructionEnforce Persuade TalkEstablish Photograph Teach/TrainEstimate Pilot TellEvaluate Plan TroubleshootExamine Problem Solve TutorExpand Produce TypeExperiment Promote UmpireExplain Publicize UnderstandExpress Purchase UnifyExtract Question UpgradeFigure Raise UseFile Read UtilizeFinance Realize VerbalizeImagine Reason VersatileImplement Receive WeighImprove Recommend WorkImprovise Reconcile Write
Guidelines for Letter of Application221 Poplar StreetCrookston, MN 56716May 18, 2003
Mr. John P. Johnson, Vice PresidentAjax Accounting Company555 Tamarack DriveBillings, MT 59801
Dear Mr. Johnson:
First Paragraph. In your initial paragraph, state the reason for the letter, name the specific position or type of work for which you are applying, and indicate from which resource (career center, news media, friend, employment service) you learned of the opening.
Second Paragraph. Indicate why you are interested in the position, the company, its products or services—above all, what you can do for the employer. If you are a recent graduate, explain how your academic background makes you a qualified candidate for the position. If you have some practical work experience, point out your specific achievements or unique qualifications. Try not to repeat the same information the reader will find in the resume.
Third Paragraph. Refer the reader to the enclosed resume or application blank, which summarizes your qualifications, training, and experiences, or whatever media you may be utilizing to present yourself.
Final Paragraph. In the closing paragraph, indicate your desire for a personal interview and your flexibility as to the time and place. Repeat your phone number in the letter and offer any assistance to help in a speedy response. Finally, close your letter with a statement or question which will encourage a response. For example, state that you will be in the city where the company is located on a certain date and would like to set up an interview. Or, ask if the company will be recruiting in your area, or if it desires additional information or references.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Thomas L. Smith
Thomas L. Smith
Enclosure
Heading:
Inside Address:
Salutation:
Complimentary Close:Signature: Be sure to sign the letter.
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Letter of Application1053 Christopher StreetCrookston, MN 56716January 23, 2003
Mr. Joseph C. SmithOffice ManagerAmerican Equipment Sales Corp.1288 Great Lakes Blvd.Minneapolis, MN 55453
Dear Mr. Smith:
This is a letter of application for employment with your company.
As indicated on the attached resume, I recently graduated from the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and am interested in relocating to Minneapolis. Your company was recommended as a possibility for employment through my acquaintance with one of your employees, Miss Brenda Farr.
I would like the opportunity to complete an application and have a personal interview, which can be arranged at your convenience.
Sincerely,
/s/ Joan Smith
(Miss) Joan Smith
Enclosure
Heading: Your address and date of letter.
Inside Address: Name and address of person or firm whom you are writing.
Salutation: Use Gentlemen unless writing to a specific person.
Indicate your reason for writing and name the position for which you are applying.
Describe your qualifications and state why you are interested in the job or company.
Request an interview or other type of follow-through.
Complimentary Close:
Signature: Be sure to sign the letter.
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
Sample Letter for InternshipJanuary 1, 2008
Ann SpinAssistant ManagerAgriculture Management IncorporatedP.O. Box 152Downtown, MN 56398
Dear Ms. Spin,
As a student at the University of Minnesota, Crookston pursuing a career in _________________________________, I am very interested in interning at ____________________. I have chosen a career in _________________________ because of the opportunities for continuing exploration and the power to effect change that it affords ____________. I believe an internship with your _________________ will only further my experiences and knowledge in the field.
I am looking for an internship that will allow me to build on my experience in ____________________________. John Carter and Lisa Lee, two former interns, have highly recommended your program to me.
I’ve been to (city or town) and spent a lot of time in that area of the state; I would relish the chance to get to know your area. I also hear that your program teaches its interns a lot about hands-on experiences, and gives them the opportunity to ___________. The program sounds exciting, and I’d love to take part in it. I think _______________ is really one of the most ambitious companies I’ve seen.
After graduation, I hope to find employment in the _________________ industry, and go from there. Ideally, I would like to end up making a career in ______________, somewhere for a major corporation/company like yours.
I would very much like to work for you as an intern. Please find enclosed my resume for your review. If this proves satisfactory, you can reach me at _____________________, telephone number 1-218-281-0000. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jean R. Fisher
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Career Services
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Page | 1
User Guide
1) Access your career center’s InterviewStream portal by visiting your career center’s
website.
2) Click Create Account to create a free account or login with your email and password
in the upper right corner of the page.
3) Enter your Name, Username or Email, create a password and then click Sign Up.
Page | 2
User Guide
I have a webcam:
1) Click Conduct Interview if you have a webcam and are ready to pick your interview
questions and get started.
2) If you don’t have a webcam, click Schedule Interview and choose a date or time this
semester to visit your career center’s interview station.
3) Watch an 8 module, on-demand webinar of career expert Rob Sullivan walking you
through the entire interview process.
4) View the InterviewSuite where you will see video tips on how to approach common
interview questions from career experts Vicky Oliver and Rob Sullivan.
Page | 3
User Guide
1) Select from a pre-built interview and click Choose This Interview.
2) Or, click Customize Your Own Interview to access our Drag n’ Drop interview
creator where you can choose from 1500+ interview questions.
3) Click each folder to open that category. Then click the question and drag it to the
My Interview column on the right. When finished scroll down and click BEGIN.
Page | 4
User Guide
MAC USERS: Use Safari and if your MAC built-in webcam is not working, change the Flash settings
Press Ctrl and Click Your Mouse
Pick USB Video Class Video
After clicking begin interview:
1) Select your webcam
2) Select your microphone
3) Click TEST and check that everything
is working
4) Speak in the microphone normally and
drag the bar up to make sure you pass
yellow levels
5) As soon as you hit the target levels, the
Continue button will light up
6) If there is NO microphone activity, click
Change Settings and pick another
microphone
Page | 5
User Guide
1) The time bar will slide across giving you 2
minutes to respond to each question.
2) The RECORDING sign will light up green
indicating your webcam is on.
3) Click the mouse anywhere when you’re done
and your webcam will stop recording.
After a brief video introduction:
The interviewer will ask you the 1st question.
The timer will count down 3..2..1.. before your
webcam starts automatically recording your
response.
1) Review – you will watch your response to the
question you were just asked.
2) Retry – this will erase your previous response
and you will be asked the same question again
by the interviewer.
3) Continue –your response will be saved and you
will be asked the next question.
Page | 6
User Guide
Users are automatically routed back to their user dashboard and sent an email with their interview link after
their interview is complete.
SSeellff EEvvaalluuaattiioonn FFoorrmm
205 Webster Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Tel: 1.877.773.3164 www.interviewstream.com
Non-Verbal Communication Excellent Good Needs Improvement N/A Rate Yourself On: Direct Eye Contact Appropriate Appearance/Attire Upright Posture Friendly Demeanor/Smile Conveyed self confidence Verbal Communication Did You…? Avoid saying Umm, like, I mean, you know Use proper grammar/avoids slang terms Articulate relevant skills and accomplishments Communicate well defined career goals Express ideas clearly Convey decision making ability Emphasize your strong points Other Questions to Consider: Did you answer the questions/stick to the subject? How well did you focus on your ability to learn quickly, communication skills, analytical abilities and other strengths? Were you prepared to answer tough questions? Could you comfortably discuss any aspect of your resume? How well did you describe past experience? Did you criticize a former employer, friend, colleague or were you able to remain positive? Evaluate your grammar. Did you stumble? Counselor Comments/Recommended Next Steps: (In-Person Meeting)
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Questions Frequently Asked During Employment Interviews
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The following questions are intended to provide examples of things you may be asked to discuss during employment interviews. You may find it helpful to ask a friend to participate with you in a practice session in which you take turns as employer and candidate in asking and answering these questions. By assuming both roles, you not only gain some experience in presenting yourself, but also get a feel for the employer’s perspective. What kinds of things do you react to either positively or negatively in your friend’s responses?
1. What are your long and short range goals and objectives, when and why did you establish these goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
2. What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself for the next ten years?
3. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Ten years from now? 4. What do you really want to do in life? 5. What are your career goals? 6. How do you plan to achieve your career goals? 7. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career? 8. What do you expect to be earning in five years? 9. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?10. Which is more important to you, the money or the type of job?11. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?12. How would you describe yourself?13. How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?14. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?15. How has your college experience prepared you for a career?16. Why should I/we hire you?17. What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in your chosen field?18. How do you determine or evaluate success?19. What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours?20. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?21. What qualities should a successful manager possess?22. Describe your most rewarding college experience.25. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?26. Why did you select your college or university?27. What led you to choose your field of major study?28. What college subjects did you like best? Why?29. What college subjects did you like least? Why?30. If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?31. What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?32. Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?33. Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievements?34. What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?35. In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable?36. How do you work under pressure?37. In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?38. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?39. Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?40. What do you know about our organization/company?
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
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43. What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?44. Do you have any geographical preference? Why?45. Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?46. Are you willing to travel?47. Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?48. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our organization is located?49. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?50. What have you learned from your mistakes?51. How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?52. What percentage of your college expenses did you earn? How?53. How did you spend your vacations while you were in school?54. Can you take instructions without feeling upset?55. What men and women have influenced your life most and why?56. What do you mean by “social problem solving,” “working with people,” (and other similar phrases that you have used verbally,
on resumes, etc.)?57. Tell me a story.58. How did you decide to go to college?59. Are you an indoor or outdoor type person?60. What are three things you would like to accomplish in your lifetime?
The following questions provide information that is usually irrelevant and could lead to discrimination in hiring. They do not help the employer assess whether the applicant can do the job. An applicant who is asked these questions by an employer may likely have the basis to file a complaint under civil rights legislation.u What is your age or date of birth?u Have you been arrested or convicted of a crime? (An employer probably has the right to exclude persons who have been
convicted of certain offenses from consideration for certain jobs. The best practice is to obtain conviction information through local police departments rather than from applicants. The existence of a criminal record should not constitute an automatic bar to employment.)
u Are you available for Saturday or Sunday work? (An employed must be able to show such work is essential to the business, since the question discriminates against applicants of religions that prohibit Saturday or Sunday work.)
u How many children do you have? What are their ages? Have you made child care arrangements? (This question insinuates absenteeism and tardiness and discriminates against women, often expected to be responsible for child rearing.)
u What is your national origin?u What is your credit record? Do you own your own home, furniture, car?u What is your eye and hair color?u Has a fidelity bond ever been refused to you? (In the past an applicant might have been denied a bond for discriminatory
reasons).u What is your garnishment record?u What is your maiden name?u What is your marital status? Circle one: Mr., Mrs., Missu What is your prior married name?u What is your sex?u What is your spouse’s name or work?u Are you widowed, divorced, or separated?u Can you provide a photograph of yourself?u If you entertain, how often?u Have you had any serious illness or injury?u Do you live with your parents?u Have you saved any money?u Do you have any debts?u What are your parents’ occupations?u Do you date anyone regularly? Is it serious?u How do you feel about your family?u How much do you weigh?
These question are discriminatory:
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Follow-up LetterJanuary 1, 2005
Mr. Richard D. McCormick, PresidentU S West Corporation7800 East Orchard AvenueCrookston, MN 56716
Dear Mr. McCormick:
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed our conversation on Monday afternoon. The Financial Planning position which you described sounded both interesting and challenging.
As I mentioned to you, my previous experience in the area ofFinancial Planning includes work for both A.T. & T. and the GeneralElectric Company.
While at General Electric, I was the primary force behind thedevelopment of the corporation’s latest five-year financial plan. Ifeither you or Mr. Wilson are interested, I would be glad to sketch outin more detail the exact accomplishments which I made in this area,and the systems we used.
I will be out of town next week, Mr. McCormick. After that, I certainly hope we can explore things further at your convenience. Aspreviously stated, I am very confident regarding my potentialcontribution to U S West.
Thank you again for your time.
Sincerely,
Marsha Randall
For followingup aninterview . . .
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Sargeant Student CenterOffice Suite: 245Phone: 218-281-8585
Career Services
UM
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