Getting Started with Career Planning - University of...
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Getting Started with Career Planning Maurice Traylor, M.F.A., M.Ed. Career Services Manager [email protected]
Transcript of Getting Started with Career Planning - University of...
Getting Started with Career Planning
Maurice Traylor, M.F.A., M.Ed.Career Services Manager
Jobs Don’t Just Happen
Agenda
• Challenges & opportunities for new UM CoE students
• The Engineering Career Resource Center (ECRC)
• Marketable skills for employers
• On-Campus Recruiting resources and activities
230 Chrysler Center ▪ www.career.engin.umich.edu ▪ [email protected]
Challenges Unique to New CoE Students
Lack of technical coursework and experience
Lack of UMCoE GPA
Project-based experience• Engineering 100• Major design courses• Project-based student teams• Research
Previous GPA for now. Add UM GPA in December
Challenges Opportunities
Challenges Unique to New CoE Students
Challenges Opportunities
Lack of familiarity with UM resources and processes
Lack campusinvolvement
Resources• ECRC• Career Events
Recruiting Process• Learn the recruiting cycle
Get Involved• Student Organizations• Volunteering
Engineering Career Resource Center
• Student Career Services
– Advising for Internships, Co-Ops, Full Time job searches
• Individualized Advising
– Career Advisors and Peer Advisors
Engineering Career Resource Center
• Workshops– Resumes & Cover Letter– Career Fair Preparation– Interview Preparation– Networking
• Employer Relations– Information Sessions– Career Fairs– Tech Talks– On-Campus Interviews– Company Days– Industry Resume Critiques
Accessing ECRC Resources
• Engineering Careers, by Symplicity
• ECRC Website
• Career Guide
• Weekly Emails
Career Guide
• The Career Guide is a comprehensive manual that covers the following topics:– Student Services
– Resumes / Cover Letters
– Job Search Strategies
– Interviews
– Evaluating Job Offers
– Graduate School
– Industry Advertisements
Engineering Careers, by Symplicity
Search hundreds of active job postings
Upload resumes, cover letters, and transcripts
Register to attend workshops and events
Accept and schedule on-campus interviews
Research 3,700+ employers
Career and job search resources/leads
What Skills and Qualities are Employers Seeking?
Skills Employer Rankings
• Plan, organize, and prioritize work
• Ability to obtain and process information
• Teamwork• Communication• Problem solving and
decision making
1. Communication2. Teamwork3. Problem solving
and decision making
4. Plan, organize, and prioritize work
5. Ability to obtain and process information
Recruiter Interview Feedback
• Communication:– “… communication skills eliminated more candidates than
I could count… All the skill in the world will not matter in the business world if the employees cannot …be clear to others in their communications.”
– “We are a very customer oriented business, being able to speak to all types of different people is important, something you can only gain outside the classroom.”
– “I look to see their level of self awareness and how well they speak to what they have done, what it means and where it fits in.” [referring to candidates without ‘real world’ experience]
Recruiter Interview Feedback
• Teamwork:– “We work exclusively in teams and change
projects frequently. Our career path is rapid and leadership skills must be developed and exhibited quickly.”
– “Working on teams and interacting with team members is a major challenge in engineering. It is impossible to build systems by yourself so you need to be able to work with all kinds of people and accept their ideas even when they conflict with your own.”
Recruiter Interview Feedback
• Involvement and Interpersonal Skills:
– “Students who have hands-on experiences outside the classroom tend to hit the ground running. They often better understand how big companies function and can integrate more quickly.”
– “Realize the technical aspects of the qualifications are satisfied just from being a UM Engineering student with a good GPA. It's the interpersonal stuff that is being probed in the interview.”
Now what?
Get Involved and Develop Skills
• Student Organizations– Technical / Major specific– Social / Club– Resources
• Center for Campus Involvement
• Maize Pages
• Project Teams– Wilson Center– Multidisciplinary Design
Team– Course Projects
Get Involved and Develop Skills
• Employment and Research– Campus Employment (Peer Advisors, Research
Assistant, Office Assistant)– UROP– Professors and GSIs– Student Employment Site
https://studentemployment.umich.edu/
Communicate your Skills and Experiences
• Verbal Description
– Effective Introduction
– Elevator Pitch
– Interview
• Written Description
– Resume
– Cover Letter
Elements of an Effective Introduction
• Make it Memorable!
– Consider the interest of your audience
– Create a compelling story: demonstrate your passion, abilities and desire to help them
– Do your homework!
• First Impressions Matter
– Firm Handshake
– Smile
– Posture
The Elevator Pitch
1. Include your name, major, and grad date/class level
2. Highlight 1 or 2 skills, strengths, or experiences
3. What are you looking for? Why are you at their table?
Sample Pitch
Hi, I’m Sally Smith. I’m a freshman in the College of Engineering and I’m interested in studying Environmental Engineering. I am interested in obtaining a water supply internship with your organization.
During my Engineering 100 course I worked on a water remediation project where I analyzed potential high pollution areas in local water systems following heavy storms and suggested structural revision to water systems.
I’m hoping expand my knowledge on water systems during your internship this summer. Can you tell me more about it?
Your turn!
Hi, my name is _____. I am a freshman in the College of Engineering with an interest in studying (major). One of the things that led me to pursue this major is my interest in _____.
I am very interested in an internship with (name of organization) because of (demonstrate your organizational knowledge).
I hope to apply my research and growing engineering skills in your (name of internship). Can you please tell me more about it?
Campus Recruiting Timeline
Action Timeline
Activate Engineering Careers account(Peak job posting months: Sept., Oct., Jan., Feb.)
NOW
Develop / Refine Resume NOW and again in Jan.
Attend ECRC workshops and meet employers at company events
Sept., Oct., Jan., Feb.
Attend the Career Fair! (North Campus, 10am – 4pm)
Sept. 16 and 17, 2019
Prepare for interviews(Peak interview times: ~ 6 weeks following each fair)
Sept. – Nov.Jan. – early Mar.
Consider responding to offers Ongoing
Upcoming Events
•Sept 9-13: Industry Resume Critiques
•Sept 5 & 12: Career Fair Preparation Workshop
•Sept 12 & 24: Ace the Interview! Workshop
•Sept 13: Elevator Pitch Booth
•Sept 16 & 17: Fall Engineering Career Fair
