Student Career Guide (2011-2012)
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WHAT IS
CAREER SERVICES?
Career Services focuses on everyaspect of your career explorationand development process. Allmajors (with the exception of the
professional schools) are served anda dedicated counselor is available toassist every student. The center alsoprovides employment resources forstudents and employers at thepart-time, internship and full-timeprofessional level.
We also host interviews withemployers in a wide range of indus-tries, offer a variety of workshops,
and organize several career eventsannually.
Alumni Career Services providescareer support to those studentsmore than one year past graduation.
Visit us on campus in the Student Services Building, Room 350, or
online at www.careers.utah.edu.
Welcome to Career Services at
The University of Utah
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HOW NEW JOB SEEKERS FOUND THEIR JOB........20
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES..........21
INTERNSHIPS................22
NETWORKING WORKS......23
GETTING RESULTS AT A CAREER FAIR........24
PREPARING TO INTERVIEW......26
YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY.........27
DRESS TO IMPRESS.........28
NEGOTIATING JOB OFFERS............30
ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES........31
Implementation and the Job Search
Contents
GET FAMILIAR WITH UCAREERLINK........6
CAREER ADVISING.....8
WORKSHOPS AND INFO SESSIONS...8
CAREER FAIRS.........8
PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS..............9
Career Services: Who Are We and Why Do You Need Us?
Choosing a Major and a Career
DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER PORTFOLIO.......10
SELF-DISCOVERY,.....11
INVESTIGATION AND EXPLORATION........12
IS GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR ME?........13
WHEN YOUR MAJOR ISNT A ROADMAP TO A CAREER......14
INFORMATION INTERVIEWS, SHADOWING,AND THE MENTOR DATABASE...........15
CAREERS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD........16
THE INTERNET JOB SEARCH.......18
DECISION MAKING AND GOAL SETTING.......19
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Tools of the Trade
WRITING A WINNING RESUME......3
DEVELOPING ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS......3
RESUME FORMATTING TIPS................3
CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION...........3
ACTION WORDS...........3
RESUME TYPES.........3
PORTFOLIOS......4
COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS..........4
WRITING EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS..........4
LETTER OF INQUIRY..............4
THANK YOU LETTERS............5
CATCH PHRASES...............5
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UCAREERLINK
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YOUR MAP TO EVERYTHING CAREER
HOME
Home is where you will find Career Services announcements and quick tips to help you better understand UCareerLin
MY ACCOUNT
My Account is divided into three categoriesMy Profile, My Documents, andMy Applications/Interviews.My Profile contains important information regarding your graduation date, majors, GPA, and other demographicinformation. It is VERY important to keep this information up-to-date because it will determine whether or notyou qualify for certain interviews and positions.
My Documents stores your resumes, cover letters, application forms, and unofficial transcripts. Many schedules anevents require you to upload a resume toMy Documents in order to register.
My Applications/Interviews will show you job postings sent by your Career Services counselor, as well as employerswho have viewed your resume through UCareerLink. It is also the place to review interview schedules or information sessions for which you have applied.
JOBS
Career Jobs and Student Jobs & Internshipsare found under the Jobs heading. You may filter your search, view all jobs by leaving all criteria fields blank in the Job Advanced Search feature. Jobs is also where ycan create a Job Search Agent, a feature that will email you when new jobs matching your search criteria amade available.
EMPLOYER INTERVIEW SCHEDULES
Employer Interview Schedules is where you will find a list of employers who have scheduled on-campusinterviews with students/graduates through University of Utah Career Services. You may choose between
View Onlyand Sign Upin the Employer Interview Schedules menu. Sign Up will provide you with a list ofschedules that you are qualified for. View Onlyallows you to view all schedules, even those for which you arenot qualified.
CAREER EVENTS
Career Events provides you with a list of upcoming events, including employer information sessions, Career
Services workshops, and Career Fairs.
MENTORS
The Mentors feature in UCareerLink allows you to locate and contact a University of Utah alumna or alumnu
or other professional who is interested in networking with current University of Utah students and alumni. Amentors primary purpose is to contribute to a students career exploration by giving tips on finding a new jobproviding advice on getting into a particular career path, and insight to possible careers related to certain ma-
jors. The mentors should not be solicited directly for employment.
CAREER RESOURCES
Career Resources are external assessment and research applications designed to assist you with your careeexploration process. It is recommended that you complete one or more of these assessments before meetinwith your Career Services counselor.
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Career AdvisingCareer advisors can help with every stage of career planning. Freshmanthrough senior, graduate student or alumnuswhether your goal is employmentor graduate school, we can help.
Our services are free to students and recent graduates and include personal
career counseling with someone who is a specialist in career options for majorsin your college.
Because individual appointments with a counselor are in high demand, pleaseregister for services at www.careers.utah.edu and attend a workshop or twobefore you come see us to help make the most ofyour individual time.
We know the Internet is a valuable tool, buttheres more. Our Career Library contains countlessresources to make your research easier. Discoverinformation about careers, nationwide internships,
job market trends, salary information, graduateschool guides and personal exploration.
Everything Career Services has to offer is availableto recent graduates for one year after graduation.And if you have graduated beyond the one year mark,University of Utah Alumni Career Services is for you- www.alumni.utah.edu/career
Workshops and
Information Sessions
Workshops are held frequently in conjunction with ourCareer Caf. For a detailed listing, login to UCareerLink, clickon Career Events, then Career Services Workshops. Sampletopics include:
Resume writing
Preparing for a career fair
Networking
Interviewing
Successful career planning
How to land a government job
Presentations and information sessions by featured speakers includingalumni, employers, faculty and other experts
Career Fairs
Career Services sponsors at least five Career Fairs everyyear and there may be specialty fairs from time to time.Be sure to check the Career Services website often fordates and places. Want to know how to succeed at aCareer Fair? Go to our website www.careers.utah.eduand click on Career Fairsor go to page 24 and readGetting Results at a Career Fair.
Student Employment Fair: held soon afterschool begins in the fall
Science and Engineering Fair: first Tuesday ofOctober featuring internships and full-timeprofessional opportunities for technical majors
Fall Career Fair: first Thursday of October forBusiness, Humanities and Liberal Arts majors
Spring Career Fair: February for internships andfull-time professional opportunities for allmajors
Summer Jobs Fair: February for those seekingsummer employment
Teacher Fair: generally in March for allEducation majors
Who is Career Services and why do you need us?
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One of the things we are so proud of in University of Utah students is their refined sense of integrity and professional-ism. These qualities are key in defining the person you really are and the degree of happiness and success you willachieve in your life.
On campus we expect you to follow certain policies and practices and to honor your commitments with a very fine-tuned sense of integrity. Keep in mind your actions are not isolated and in most cases will affect those around you.
What is integrity? From Webster: moral soundness; honesty
FALSIFICATION OF INFORMATION
Students and alumni registering with Career Services and submitting their resume data arecertifying that the information is completely truthful and accurate. Those found providing falseinformation in any way risk becoming ineligible for services.
EMPLOYER INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT CANCELLATION
You are expected to keep every interview appointment scheduled.A no-show for an interview is professionally unacceptable anddemonstrates a lack of respect and responsibility and will result ininactivation of your UCareerLink account. Occasionallyemergency situations arise, but you will be expected to informyour counselor in Career Services and to write an email of
apology to the employer.
ACCEPTANCE OF JOB OFFER
If you have accepted a job offer, you are part of a contractualagreement and should not continue to interview withemployers. Notify employers with whom youmay have upcoming interviews and withdrawyour application.
RENEGING
Reneging is accepting an offer and thenchanging your mind - forwhatever reasons - to acceptanother offer. This reflects badlyon you and the University atlarge and is never appropriate.Carefully plan and manage yourentire job search process withthe help of your counselor sothis never becomes an issue.
PROFESSIONALISM & ETHICS
As a student at the University of Utah, you should be willing to follow these policies:
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Choosing a Major
and a Career
Developing Your Career Portfolio CAREERDEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
Career planning is a
lifelong process and wedlike to suggest four stepsthat are designed to helpyou now as well as withyour future career plans.As you begin the stepslisted on the next page,youll find questions toconsider, resources tohelp, and results we hopeyoull recognize before
moving on.
You might use these stepsjust once; you might usethem many times. Thisprocess does not happenovernight and CareerServices is here to help.
SELF-DISCOVERY
INVESTIGATION/
EXPLORATION
DECISION MAKING/
GOAL SETTING
IMPLEMENTATION
Did you know that the same services offered toyou FREE by your Career Services office wouldcost from $500 to $3,000 at a professional careercounseling service?
DID KNOW?
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What am I good at? What examples do I haveof this?
What motivates me?
What am I passionate about? How could this
passion reflect my potential major or career?
What activities do I want to try in the future?
What would my friends and family say I amgood at?
What would my previous employers orteachers say Im good at?
What are my greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
What do I value? How would these valuesreflect my potential major orcareer?
What are my life goals? Careergoals? Personal goals? Other?
What are other factors that mightinfluence my major and careerchoices? Perhaps education/trainingrequirements, parental influence,earning potential, cultural consid-
erations, or ethics.
SELF-DISCOVERY
RESOURCES Visit your career counselor who is
trained to help you in this journey ofdiscovery
Take a career assessment to discoveryour interests, values, strengths andpersonality type
Assessments and a whole lot of otherinformation are found on our website atwww.careers.utah.edu
Have you heard? Books still work! OurCareer Library has dozens of careerexploration books.
Take the Career Exploration class
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Choosing a Major and a Career
INVESTIGATION & EXPLORATION
How Can You Narrow the Fieldof Potential Employers? Determine up to three geographic areas of interest
Create a list of 5-10 organizations with whom you aremost interested in working. Spend most of your timeresearching these organizations and actively trying tonetwork and develop contacts within the organizations.
Researching employers and career paths canhelp you: Explore occupations and industries
Find out about qualifications, education, andother requirements
Gain knowledge and insight you can use in yourinterviews
Obtain salary and outlook information
Decide if a career or employer is a good fit
How do you start? Visit career research websites like www.bls.gov/ocoor
www.online.onetcenter.org
Watch career videos at www.acinet.org
Use the Marriott Library Business Resource Database tofind potential employers
Conduct information interviews and use our mentordatabase
Stop by the Career Services library for books on careerpaths and employers
Career Services has dedicated counselors who havesubstantial networks and great resources for you
The Walt Disney Company owns the ABCtelevision network and the Walt DisneyInternet Group, which includes ESPN.com.You may be talking with a subsidiary of amuch larger organization and not realize it.
DID KNOW?
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IS GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR ME?
WHY GO?
You may be driven by intellectual curiosity
It is a requirement of a profession suchas medicine, law, or teaching in highereducation
You perceive it will get you a betterentry-level job or provide advancementin a current position
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Are you realistic about the commitment intime, effort and resources?
Will this degree actually lead you to where
you want to be professionally? How will you finance it? Have you researched entry requirements? Consider information interviewing of
professionals who have completed thisprocess
WHO GETS IN?
Graduate schools look for the peoplethey feel will have the best chance ofsucceeding in their program
Make it clear in your application thatyou are this person
Faculty referrals are veryvaluable
Academic excellence, relatedwork experience, participationin student government, volun-teer activities and involvementbeyond the classroom areimportant to graduateadmissions committees
HOW DO I CHOOSE?
Use the Career Library, the Internet and your personal network toidentify programs in your chosen field
Check program rating Talk to graduate admissions counselors for individual departments Investigate financial aid
HOW DO I APPLY?
Follow the rules; be thorough, accurate and timely Begin earlymany deadlines occur early in the academic year You will have to write a personal statement; use this URL for some
help www.wpi.edu/Academics/FS/essays.html Arrange for letters of recommendation Prepare for a personal interview
ADMISSIONS EXAMINATIONS
Take a test prep class www.continue.utah.edu/prep/index.php Contact the University Testing Center for dates, times, locations and
registration for examinations
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Choosing a Major and a Career
WHEN YOUR MAJOR
ISNT A ROADMAP TO A CAREER
It is sometimes your responsibility to enlightenthe employer that youre a qualified candidate.
The trick here is to get beyond job titles andpreferred majors. Instead, focus on qualificationsand skills.
Before you start, ask yourself some questions about whats
important to you when it comes to work and life in general:
How will your career choice complement other aspects of your personality?
What role will your career play in your life?
What kinds of things intrigue you about working?
What strengths and talents do you want to use in a career?
Are there definitely things you do notwant to do?
Put your degree in perspective.
Just because the curriculum hasnt steered you
along a particular career path, you still havethousands of options and many employers areextremely interested in hiring liberal arts majors.You probably chose this major not because of the
job it represented, but because of your passion andinterest in the subject matter.
So, you may not have a roadmap to a specificcareer, but you are up to the challenge of figuringout what you want to do next! Without theroadmap, you can head off in many interestingdirections and can do just about anything you wantonce you have determined your skill sets and yourinterests.
DID KNOW?
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MENTOR DATABASEIf you are registered in UCareerLink you have access tovolunteers who have offered to share information abouttheir present occupation and any previous relevant
employment. They can also offer career-related adviceand provide encouragement.
Login to your UCareerLink account
Click on Mentors in the upper toolbar
You will be advised how the volunteer wishesto be contacted
Be the professional in every way!
If you have any questions about this, speakto your career counselor before makingthe contact
INFORMATION INTERVIEWSUnlike the job interview, an information interview depends on youto initiate contact with an employer and to schedule theappointment. The information interview is an opportunity toobtain insider employer or industry information, and mayprovide answers to your questions that written or electronicresources do not cover.
Want to know who you should talk to?
Want to know how to get started?
Need a list of questions you can ask?
Its all there on our website:
careers.utah.edu/careers/infointerviews.htm
SHADOWINGDuring a typical job shadowing visit, you shadow an
employee at work for a couple of hours or sometimes afull day. The visit provides an up-close and personal look atthe workplace and what the daily activities include.
Ask questions, be polite and unobtrusive, andconsider the potential pros and cons of a particularprofession or industry
Be observant as to what workplace skills and career-related experiences are necessary to being successfulin your chosen field
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Choosing a Major and a Career
CAREERS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
DONT LIMIT YOURSELF TO THE BIG PLAYERS.
You already know about the United Way, Red Cross or SierraClub, but there are many smaller nonprofit organizations thatmight not be so well known. Check out the jobs on www.idealist.org
DEFINE YOUR INTERESTS.
Are you interested in the environment, public health, research,international relations? The more specific you are, the moresuccessful you will be in finding organizations that might be rightfor you.
SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS.
The more you stand out as a person with a variety of valuableskills, the more competitive you will be. Do you have webdevelopment skills? Are you a good writer? Can you organizegroups of people?
The vast majority ofnonprofit organizationshave paid, full-time stafffrom all kinds of academicbackgrounds. From
management, volunteercoordination, writing,accounting, marketing, and
moreyou could likely find aplace to use your talents and
social awareness in a career witha nonprofit organization.
IS A NONPROFIT A
GOOD FIT FOR YOU?
Nonprofit organizationsdiffer from for-profitcompanies in that making aprofit isnt their bottomline. That doesnt mean
they dont raise money orgenerate revenue.However, the money theyraise is primarily used toforward their mission.
Nonprofit organizationscan be human serviceproviders, environmentalgroups, professionalassociations, politicalactivist organizations,educational institutions,
just to name a few. Dosome research. Theresprobably one out theredoing work you feel
strongly about and wouldlike to be part of.
So, where do you start?There are thousands ofnonprofit organizationsto choose from, soknowing where tobegin can be achallenge.
DID KNOW?
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EMPLOYMENT
WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Where can I find these jobs?Hiring in the federal government isdecentralized with each agency hiringindependently. By law, all government agenciesmust post vacancies to outside applicants onthe Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
website.
www.usajobs.gov How do I apply?The application process for government positions can be lengthy andconfusingbe patient! And be thorough ignoring the smallest detailscan void your application.
Lets look at the numbers Over 425,000 arts, humanities and social science alums work
in federal agencies
Median salaries for these people tend to be higher whencompared to other employers
High rates of retirementmore than 550,000 individuals in thenext five yearsare creating job openings across the country
Federal, state, county and city governments have allkinds of great jobseverything from atmosphericscience to graphic design. And did you know thefederal government is the leading employer of liberalarts grads?
DID KNOW?
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Advantages
Identify local, national andinternational companies and joblistings around the clock
Locate and copy files ofemployer literature
Exchange messages withprofessionals in your field
Locate unusual or difficult-to-find career information
THE INTERNET JOB SEARCH
Choosing a Major and a Career
Drawbacks
Vast, sometimes unwieldyamounts of career and jobsearch information.
Privacy issues related to postingyour resume online
Over-utilizing the Internet whileunder-utilizing other resources
The disappearance or relocationof useful career sites withoutnotice
The Job Info by Major page on the Career Services
website is one of the best places to find trade,professional, or industrial associations and otheronline resources.
DID KNOW?
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What career path seems to be the bestfit for me?
What are some job titles I would liketo have?
Who are the top employers in thispossible field?
What are my short-term, inter-
mediate, and long-term goals?
What are the steps I need to taketo achieve my goal?
What is my target date for the nextstep in achieving mycareer goals?
Nobody is interested in a desperate jobseeker. You must look more like a greatpotential colleague and an asset they cant
live without. It is your job to understandyour top companies needs. Then developyour skills and place yourself in situationswhere you can demonstrate your abilities.
DID KNOW?
DECISION MAKING AND GOAL SETTING
Analyze and integrate the information
from previous steps into the world of
work. Identify viable career options and
establish goals to create a plan, giving
a sense of purpose and direction to
your career development process.
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Implementation
And the Job Search
HOW NEW JOB SEEKERS FOUND THEIR JOB
Taking risks broadens your vision for the future
Get to know faculty outside the classroom Learn about their research and passions Take a tour of a company youre interested in Volunteer at a company you like if they cant afford to hire you Go on an Alternative Spring Break program Experiment with electives and Study Abroad programs
DID KNOW?
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JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
Learnhow to sell your skills and experience.
Networking is perhaps your most powerfulresource whether it be through acquaint-
ances or an online tool
Consider all options and be flexible andopen minded
Follow through and pay attention to thedetails
Be optimistic and persistent
Seek encouragement and hang in there
Career Services directors from more than forty universitiesacross the country compiled ideas during spring 2009 to offercollective wisdom on job search strategies. For a list of theseschools, see the end of the article. Thank you to Arizona Statefor sharing this excellent information.
http://students.asu.edu/career/strategies_article
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS AND THE
JOB SEARCH
In the best of times the jobsearch can be a challenge, butwe would like to make theprocess as stress-free aspossible for you. Even if youhave a clear idea of what youwant to do, where you want todo it, and for whom, an interna-tional student has additionalhurdles to overcome.
There are both legal andcultural barriers involved ininternational students job
searches. Visas and workauthorization processes can becomplicated and the culturaldifferences in resumes, inter-views and networking can beunsettling.
Find your counselor based onour major and discuss yourconcerns with him/her.Additionally the InternationalCenter located in the UnionBuilding has excellent resourcesfor job searching and detailsregarding CPT (CurricularPractical Training) and OPT(Optional Practical Training).
UCareerLink can provide one-stop shopping for all yourcareer strategy needs? Be sure to keep your profile up-to-date with current GPA, major, and grad date information.And please include a professional email address now that
you are a job seeker.
DID KNOW?
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INTERNSHIPS: GETTING THE MOST
OUT OF CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
Implementation and the Job Search
CONSIDER ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR YOUR INTERNSHIP
The Career Services Internship Program (CSIP) offers upper-division credit for internships. Many departmentsoffer the same as credit toward the major. Talk to your Career Services counselor to find out if your internshipis eligible
SET GOALS
Before you begin, sit down with your supervisor and establish several realistic goals for your learningexperience. Ask, What results should I be working toward? Use these goals to evaluate yourself throughoutyour experience.
BE RESPECTFUL
You will be working with professionals who have many more years of experience inthe field than you have. Communicate respectfully with all employeesthose withcollege degrees and those without. You can learn from all of them. At the same time,dont be afraid to share your ideas. Sometimes a fresh perspective andcollege-age thinking is just what your employer needs.
FIND A MENTOR
More than likely you will have a supervisor who will assist and guide you. If not,seek out someone who will coach you and answer your questions.
TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Many of your duties will be well defined, but some work may not be.Your employer will be impressed when you see a problem or issueand address it. When you take ownership in your work, youll find itmore rewarding and you may discover solutions that will benefit the
company in the long run.
HAVE FUN!
Learning about your chosen field can be a lot of fun. Make friends atwork and take it upon yourself to organize after-work socialactivities. As you exhibit a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for your
job, you will be respected by those you work with.
Whether youre employed in an internship or full-time professional position, employers arehoping you turn into the star they were hoping youd be. But for now, lets focus on internships, because if you get it right in an internship, youll be a fabulous full-time employee.
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NETWORKING WORKS
If 80% of the best jobs arent advertised, then how can you find them?
Networking is the key!
When you hear the word networking, do you feel uncomfortable? Many
students associate networking with botheringand imposing and dont want to involve peoplethey know in their job search. The good news isthe more you do it, the more confident youll beand the process will become part of your com-fort zone. And heres a flash: most people aredelighted to assist you and will go to greatlengths to be of help.
Four Quick Job Networking Hints
Be the consummate professional and make a good impressionquickly. Be brief and to the point about what you are hoping toachieve from the conversation.
Try to get a business card, phone number, referral, etc. Somemethod of future contact or followup allows you to develop thisfurther. If you say youll follow up, make sure you do it!
Be gracious. Send a thank-you note or express your gratitude forthe networking assistance.
Keep records to stay organized and focused. An Excelspreadsheet works nicely.
Eight Sources to Start Your Network
Family, friends, neighbors
Presentations and events where employers will
be there and be interested in talking to you
Former co-workers as they migrate intoother companies
Classmates and professors
Professional student groups andassociations
Volunteer at Career Fairs orcommunity events and let people see
you in action
Electronic tools such as LinkedIn
Career Services counselors and theUCareerLink Mentor Database
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Implementation and the Job Search
GETTING RESULTS AT A CAREER FAIR
Before the fair . . .
KNOW WHO WILL BE ATTENDING
The list of organizations attending will be on the Career Services website. Make aranked list of employers that interest you.
RESEARCH EMPLOYERS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
If you want to make an impression, be able to talk to the recruiter about what the or-ganization does and how your skill set fits. At the very least, make it clear you haveresearched their website to learn about products, services, clients, and locations.
GET YOUR RESUME READY
Career Services will offer a variety of workshops to help you prepare the
resume that will catch a recruiters attention. If you have multiple targets, more thanone resume may be in order.
DEVELOP YOUR ONE-
MINUTE COMMERCIAL
In order to make an impression insuch a short time, you need to beable to quickly introduce yourself,demonstrate knowledge of thecompany, express interest andenthusiasm, and relate your abilitiesto the recruiterall while sounding
relaxed and natural. Refer to theOne-minute Commercialworksheet for assistance.
A Capsule Biography is your "One-minute Commercial"from Arizona State University Student Affairs
This technique will help you introduce yourself to people in a field thatinterests you. Once you have the details of your introduction jotted down foryourself, practice saying it. Rehearsing ahead of time will make it easy for you toapproach employers with confidence. Give the recruiter the opportunity to hear
about your education, skills, interests, related work experience, and career goalswithin one minute.
Hello, my name is ________________________________________
I am interested in ________________________________________
I have experience in ______________________________________
My strongest skills include __________________________________
My qualifications include ___________________________________
I am looking for information about opportunities in _______________
My immediate goals are ___________________________________
Do you have some suggestions for me or could you advise me how Icould connect with someone who may be able to assist me?
A career fair is not always aboutfinding a job; in fact, some companies
attend even if they are not hiring rightnow. However, it is a place whereyou make professional contacts andlearn what work in your field isactually about. Dont wait until you
really need a job to attendbecomesophisticated early so when you areready, you can get the job you reallywant!
DID KNOW?
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During the fair . . .
GET ORGANIZED
Pick up a map and strategize your game planbased on employers you wish to talk to.
THEYRE WATCHING YOUBe the professional from the minute you step on the floor.Recruiters will notice how you dress, how you interact withother students and other recruiters.
APPROACH AN ORGANIZATION
Remember the recruiter is here to meetstudents, so dont be shy. Offer a firmhandshake, nice smile, and then give yourcommercial. If youre interested in acertain position, let them know.
TALK TO THE RECRUITERMake eye contact and dont beafraid to let your enthusiasmshow. Being truly passionateabout the company and theopportunities they have can makeall the difference. Focus on theconversation you are having andforget about the free stuff! Make useof the research you have conductedand dont just wander up and say, So, what
do you guys do?
BE RESPECTFUL OF THE RECRUITERS TIME BUT ASK
THE QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK
A career fair is all about networking, so askintelligent questions and gather information.However, if you are at the fair to try to land a
job, recruiters need to know you have doneyour research and you need to be able toexpress why you would be a good hire.
After the fair . . .
FOLLOW THROUGHIf you have promised to send the recruiter something after the fair(portfolio, website link, cover letter, etc.) then make sure you get theinformation out immediately.
SEND THANK-YOU NOTES
Send a thank-you note or email to everyone you spoke withwithin24 hours. Believe it or not, most students know they should do this,but few actually get around to itand employers notice which ones do.It can make all the difference. For more information on what to say,see page 50 of this guide.
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE NAMES OF THE RECRUITERS YOU
TALK TO AND IF POSSIBLE A BUSINESS CARD. AFTER SPEAKIN
TO A RECRUITER, YOU MAY NEED TO STEP AWAY FROM THE
TABLE AND MAKE A FEW NOTES.
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PREPARING TO INTERVIEW
P The PROBLEM
Give an example of a situation inwhich you were involved that resultedin a positive outcome
A The ACTIONWhat actions did you take to completethe task?
R The RESULT
What directly followed because of youractions?
Sample behavioral question:
Tell me about a time when youhad to deal with conflict in agroup.
Possible answer using the PAR method:
Problem:During my internshiplast summer, I was responsible for
managing various events. I noticedattendance at these events haddropped by 30% over the past 3years and wanted to do somethingto improve these numbers.
Action:I designed a new promo-tional packet to go out to the localcommunity businesses. I alsoincluded a rating sheet to collectfeedback on our events andorganized internal round table
discussions to raise awareness ofthe issue with our employees.
Result:We utilized some of thewonderful ideas we received fromthe community, made our internalsystems more efficient and visibleand raised attendance by 18% thefirst year.
Whats the purpose of an interview?
Up to now youve had a very brief exchange with anemployer, or your resume has had to represent you. Theinterview allows the employer to evaluate your ability to dothe job and fit in with the company culture. You look for amatch between your interests and the work.
How do you answer behavioral questions?
The PAR method is an excellent tool to use when trying to
formulate your answers to behavioral questions. Think ofthe times in your life when you excelled, made a difference,showed leadership, communicated effectively, exercisedinitiativein other words, times when you were reallyeffective and impressive!
At the end of the interview, be prepared with questions ofyour own that demonstrate thoughtful interest in thecompany.
Write a thank-you letter within 24 hours of
the interview.
Thank them for their time and remind them of positive pointsyou discussed. If there were items that needed clarification orexpansion, address them now.
Restate your interest in the position and close with a futureaction. Future action may be based on information received asto how soon a candidate will be selected or something similar.
Whats a behavioral interview?
Behavioral interviewing assumes your past experiences aregood indicators of future performance. The employer willattempt to assess your skills and behavior based on the stories
you tell in order to answer the questions.
Its not so much a matter of a right answer or a wrong
answer. However, you want to accurately select examplesfrom your life that have meaning to the employer and thatillustrate you will be successful in this job.
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YOUR ONLINE IDENTIT
What does your online reputation say about you as a candidate?
Google yourself and check your social networking profiles to see what the online world is sayingabout you. Like it or not, employers are turning to the Internet and social networking sites as a wayof screening candidates. Many employers will use these sites to look for insight into who you are andsearch for red flags that may prevent them from hiring you. Questionable material, comments, orphotos may all influence their decision onwhether or not to bring you in for aninterview.
Dont get burned!
Follow these steps to avoid negative consequences to your online post-ings.
Investigate: try searching with your name in quotation marks
Secure social networking accounts: remove compromising orquestionable material
Email: dont use the same email address on these accounts thatyou use for career-related correspondence
Privacy settings: restrict access to trusted friends if you feel thais necessary
Ask for help: request those who may have damaging informatioabout you on their sites to remove the postings
Consult an at- torney (only in extreme situations
Use it a positive way!
Consider being more proactive in building your
own professional identity
Learn to use linkedin.com,ziggs.com, andzoominfo.com
Post videos highlighting special achievementson YouTube.com or video.google.com
Looking for a career as a sales rep forRossignol? Post a video of you participatingin a downhill competition
Start an insightful blog or create a page oniKarma.com
Get found! Increase your Page Rank on Googleby linking to multiple sites and prep your pagesfor the search engines
Consider purchasingyour domain name froma reputable registrar
A survey of 100 executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet, a jobsearch and recruiting network, found that 77% of the recruiters usesearch engines to learn more about candidates and out of thoseemployers, 35% have eliminated a candidate from considerationbased on the information discovered online.
DID KNOW?
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DRESS TO IMPRESS!
You know that thing about never getting a second chance
to make a first impression?
Its absolutely true! Maybe your first encounter will be at a CareerFair, not in a formal interview, but you are still front and center andneed to play the part.
You might be the best candidate for the job in terms of skills andabilities, but the employer is looking for someone who can fill thatprofessional role the employer has in mind for you. The wholeworking world doesnt revolve around dark conservative suits.Research the industry you are interested in and adapt your style tosuit that model.
WHAT TO WEAR TO MAKE
THAT IMPRESSION
TRADITIONAL/BUSINESS CAREERSlike banking, accounting, finance,law, corporate or managementpositions, public relationsyoullwant a conservative look that conveyscompetence and authority. The classicsuit in black, grey, navy or taupeworks nicely here. Shirts and blousesdont have to be white, but pick a
neutral color or subtle print tocomplement the suit. Keep ties and
jewelry understated.
TECHNICAL CAREERSin areas likeengineering, information technology,sciences, etc.a clean, sharp lookthat conveys knowledge, innovationand efficiency is important. Suitsshould be conservative in subtlecolors with complementing shirts,blouses and accessories. Coordinatedseparates can also work.
PEOPLE-FOCUSED CAREERSsuchas counseling, teaching, sales, andsocial work require an image thatprojects expertise, but also approach-ability. Conservative suits or dresseswith a jacket can work effectively.
CREATIVE CAREERSmore oppor-
tunity for expression of personal stylecan be found in careers in advertising,art, design, and entertainment toname a few. This doesnt mean youcan come dressed as a free spiritawell-cut suit, dress, jacket and slacksare still appropriate, but selectsomething that expresses creativity,innovation and competence.
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WHAT ON EARTH IS BUSINESS CASUAL?
Business casual attire is appropriate for social events, job shadowing, informational interviews and other morecasual encounters.
It would be great if all students showed up at a career fair and a job interview dressed in a suit, but there maybe occasions where a suit might make you overdressed. When in doubt, ask! Either the employer hosting theevent or your career counselor can give you guidance on what to wear.
Even so, dress professionally. No ripped jeans, sweatshirts, graphic Ts, or flip -flops. Great for hanging out withyour friendsdisastrous when meeting a potential employer!
Follow the Some Rules Work for Everyone and consider the items below when youre deciding what to wear.
khakis or casual cotton pantsdress shoes or loafers low heelssubtle print silk or cotton shirtbutton-down shirtsweaterblazer or
casualjacket
SOME RULES WORK FOR EVERYONE
Hair should be clean, well cut and groomed. Simple,classic styles are best
No visible tattoos or body piercings
Remove multiple earrings.(Women: one pair. Men: none.)
No strong perfume, aftershave or breath mints
Women: avoid trendy clothingshortskirts, low necklines, extreme prints orcolors generally do not project an imageappropriate for a professional meeting
Men: baggy pants, wrinkled or un-tuckedshirts or athletic shoes do not lookprofessional
Crisp, clean, well-pressed clothing is a must
Designer brands dont work any betterthan budget brandsif you follow theguidelines above
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NEGOTIATING JOB OFFERS
Its Not Just About the SalaryThe most important question to ask yourself is: Are
you excited about this job and the salary?Lets hopeyour excitement and passion for the field you areentering is balanced by realistic salary and benefitsexpectations.
If you are lukewarm about both, you probably wont
be a great employee, and you arent likely to have agood experience with the organization.
You dont have to accept the first salary youreoffered. You have the ability to negotiate for betterbenefits, training or payassuming youve doneyour homework and you have the data to back upyour negotiations. Feel free to ask for time toadequately examine and evaluate your total offer.Get all the elements in writing, including wages,stock options, profit sharing, and other measurablebenefits. Most companies can put a dollar figure to
benefit packages.
Negotiation ToolsThe strongest tools to negotiate with are two-fold. First, solidinformation for your industry, and second, the value of the uniqueskills you bring to the table. The industry economic climate and thelocation of your position will both have a major influence on thesalary offer. Do some research on cost of living indexes. San Jose,California is not the same as Boise, Idaho in terms of cost of living.
Our database is your quick reference foreffective salary research. Check out links onnegotiating salaries and also Who Hires OurGraduates for University of Utah studentinformation and averages.
DID KNOW?
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ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES
The collaboration of U of U Career Services, whose motto is putting your education
to work, and the Alumni Association, whose mission is linking you with the U, is
designed to create a large bang for your buck
We understand that many alumni must be mindful of every dollar they spend. For those who maybe out of work, there is little discretionary money for expensive outplacement programs or coach-ing fees. In order to help, Alumni Career Services and the Alumni Association now provide real
oomph to our membership benefits vis--vis your career. After all, you went to the University of Utah for an educa-tion that would give you a leg up in the world of work.
Recent Graduate Alumni Association Membership:
First year after graduation: FREE - and you will continue to work withyour Career Services counselor
Second-year graduate: $20Third-year graduate: $20
Regular Alumni Association Annual Membership:
Single membership, one year: $40
Not a U grad? We can offer you the same services at a slightfee up charge. Go to alumni.utah.edu/careerto read all aboutit and check out this amazing value.
BENEFITS OF AN
ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIPOne private counseling
session with our careercoach by phone or inperson
Access to variouswebinars
Two half -day workshops
that encompass a varietyof job-related issues
Access to U CareerLink, ourjobs database
A subscription to CareerServices job newsletter
Participation in Job Club, aweekly seminar for jobseekers held Fridays from 2
to 4 p.m.
Six months to access theabove services. (You mustmaintain your Alumni Asso-ciation membership duringthat time.)
You may access our AlumniCareer Services program oneyear after graduation.
Alumni need and want expertise in career coaching, rsum writing, and understandinghow to leverage skills and strengths in a challenging job environment. Alumni Career
Services can help answer serious questions such as:
Where are the jobs?
How can I find them? And whats all this talk about LinkedIn?
How do I stand out in this market?
What is a unique selling proposition?
How do I brand myself?
How can I negotiate my best salary?
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WRITING A WINNING RESUME
IDENTIFY YOUR
TRANSFERRABLE
SKILLSEven if you think that your work
experience isnt related to theposition youre applying for,
chances are youve learned skillsthat would be useful andapplicable in almost any worksetting. For example, yourinvolvement in extra curricularactivities, volunteer work, andwork experience while incollege demonstrates that youare able to manage your timeeffectively and balance multiple
tasks at once.
Here is a short list of transfer-rable skills. Although there aremany other skills that are not onthis list, you may use this as aguide when you are writing yourresume.
Delegate responsibilityMotivate othersAttend to visual detail
Assess and evaluate my own workAssess and evaluate others workDeal with obstacles and crisesMulti-taskManage timeKeep recordsHandle complaintsResearchBuild or constructManage financesSpeak a foreign language (specify)Train or teach othersUtilize computer software (specify)Identify and manage ethical issues
Whats a resume for anyway?You want your resume to catch the attention of an employer and make theminterested in talking to you. Employers receive many resumes, and usuallyspend only seconds skimming them. Make your important information easy for
them to see.
Use bullets rather than writing in paragraphs
Be as articulate as possible about your skills and qualifications.
Use headings to clearly organize your content.
Theres no such thing as a One-Size-Fits-All resume. If you are considering avariety of career options and/or applying for many different kinds of positions,you will need to customize each resume you submit. It is important to tailoryour resume to the particular position as much as possible. Remember to
incorporate language from the actual job description into your headings andbulleted accomplishment statements(see page 31) whenever you can.
A resume is NOT a list of
everything youve ever done.
Let the job description guide you in whatto include on your resume and what toleave out. Employers are interested inwhat you have done recently, soinclude activities and experiencesthat youve had since youve beenin collegedont include highschool educationor activities.
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DEVELOPING ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
Employers are interested in more than the tasks you performed on a particular job. They want toknow about accomplishments, outcomes and results.
How do you write it?
Start with an action word Indicate what the action was and quantify Tell the result, goal, purpose of benefit
Duties and Responsibilities Accomplishments
Was responsible for sales in UT and IDIncreased sales in UT and ID by 57% in three
months, despite a reduction in sales force
Saved money on corporate benefits
Researched long-term disability insurance and
found a package that would save the company
$7,000 annually
Step 1: ACTION WORD Step 2: WHO/WHAT/HOW MANY?Step 3: WHY? RESULT GOAL,
PURPOSE, BENEFIT
Designed and implemented a training program for sales staff of 35which clarified procedures and
increased competency
Produced a set of reports for the accounting departmentin accordance with the new SBA
guidelines
Provided system administrationfor an information systems
organization of 12 users
which resulted in more efficient
daily operations
Reducedproduction time by 3 hours on a key
weekly report
getting essential information to the
media by noon instead of 3 pm
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RESUME FORMATTING TIPS
General formatting rules you should always remember:For a recent college undergraduate applying for an entry-level position, stick to one page. (Exceptions are for
federal resumes or higher degree required resumes which tend to be longer because additional experience,
coursework, internships, etc might be relevant).
One-inch margins (all the way around) are standard for resumes.
Be consistent with your format throughout the document. Use the same line spacing, font, font size, etc
Avoid italics and underlining since they can be misread by optical scanners that are used by many employersfor scanning resumes into electronic database systems. Instead, use ALL CAPS and bold to make yourimportant work and phrases stand out.
Choose a font that is easy to read. Good fonts include Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, Tahoma, Calibriand Verdana. Use no less than 11 points for smaller fonts; larger fonts can easily be read at 10 points.
Make headers and contact information larger than the body text.
DO NOT USE TEMPLATES OR RESUME PROGRAMS TO CREATE YOUR RESUME. Anyone who spendstime looking at a lot of resumes can spot them a mile away.
Use Action Verbs to begin bullet points whenever possible. This way, an employer will easily see your skills(analyzed, organized, wrote, taught, solved) just by skimming over the beginning of each line.
There are no rules about what a resume should look like orwhat content matter it should include. It all depends on the
job you are applying for, the type of employer, and the imageof yourself that you want to project.
DID KNOW?
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CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION
PERSONAL INFORMATION OR HEADER: Name, Address, Phone Number, EmailMake sure your e-mail address is professional and doesnt include slang or inappropriate language.
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE (optional)Use only if it clarifies how the resume should be considered. Information concerning your job interests and
qualifications for this particular job may be better described in a cover letter. If you use an objective it must becustomized, brief and to the point.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS (optional)You may list three or four highlights or measurable results you have achieved. Examples: Awarded national
recognition for top auditor intern in region as opposed to Detail oriented.
EDUCATIONList highest level of education being pursued. Do not list high school or colleges attended where no degree was
earned. However, if some items in the high school background show high honors or leadership or generally reinforcthe career objective, then those items should be included in a separate category such as Honors/Awards.
EXPERIENCEThis category reflects your contact with employers including internships, summer jobs, special projects, or military
experience. If you wish to highlight experience most related to your objective, you may have two categories:Related Experience and Employment.
List the name of the organization, job title, city/state, dates and duties. The most relevant tasks should be listed first,
however, do not simply list tasks. Provide outcomes and results based on your efforts. (See page 33). You may alsowant to use the Action word list on pages 36-37 to help you identify and document your past experiences.
VOLUNTEERInclude information on campus, community or church involvement. When listing an experience with a religious
organization, do not list the denomination (e.g., Volunteer Church Representative, Barcelona, Spain, 20042006,Selected to supervise the work of 30 other volunteers, rather than LDS Missionary, Zone Leader, etc.)
INTERESTS (optional)Include information that portrays you as a multi-dimensional individual. Personal achievements in sports, music or
some other outside pursuit may be appropriate. For instance a manufacturer of sporting equipment may beinterested in your lacrosse abilities. A mortgage company may or may not care.
REFERENCESThese should be listed on a separate sheet; they do not belong on the resume. Particularly, do not say References
available upon request; this is understood. The reference page should duplicate the identification or header on youresume. Below that header, title the page References. List three to four professional references including name,
job title, organization, telephone number, and e-mail. You may also include an address if you wish. Ask permission iadvance to use their contact information.
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ACTION WORDS
Leadership and Management
Advocated Formed Mentored RecruitedApproved Founded Moderated RepresentedAuthorized Governed Monitored RespondedCounseled Guided Motivated ReviewedDetermined Headed Negotiated SpearheadedDeveloped Hired Operated SponsoredDiagnosed Influenced Originated StagedDirected Initiated Oversaw StartedDisseminated Inspired Pioneered StreamlinedElected Installed Presided StrengthenedEnforced Instituted Prioritized SupervisedEnlisted Instructed Processed TaughtEnsured Integrated Produced TrainedExamined Led PromotedExplained Managed Recommended
Technical and Analytical
Administered Developed Generated MaintainedAnalyzed Devised Identified OperatedAssessed Discovered Improved ProgrammedAudited Documented Increased Reduced
Charted Drafted Inspected ResearchedClassified Edited Installed RestoredCompiled Evaluated Instituted SearchedComputed Examined Integrated StreamlinedConducted Expanded Interfaced SurveyedConsulted Forecast Interpreted SystematizedDesigned Formed Interviewed TestedDetected Gathered Launched Wrote
Administrative and Organizational
Arranged Ensured Maintained ReorganizedAssembled Examined Monitored ReviewedCatalogued Executed Operated RoutedCollected Explained Organized Scheduled
Coordinated Formalized Planned StreamlinedDeveloped Implemented Prepared StrengthenedDisseminated Initiated Processed UpdatedDistributed Installed Recorded
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Communication and Interpersonal
Advised Corresponded Interpreted RecruitedAnswered Demonstrated Interviewed ReportedApprised Drafted Introduced RespondedAssessed Edited Lectured Scheduled
Authored Educated Planned ScreenedBriefed Explained Presented SpokeClarified Facilitated Projected SummarizedComposed Familiarized Proofread TaughtConducted Handled Publicized TrainedConstructed Informed Published TranslatedContacted Instructed Reconciled Wrote
Counseling and Helping
Aided Contributed Helped SupportedAssisted Counseled Instilled TreatedAttended Facilitated Mentored TutoredCollaborated Fostered ProvidedComforted Guided Settled
Marketing and Selling
Arbitrated Educated Increased ProposedAttained Ensured Influenced PublicizedAugmented Established Integrated PublishedBoosted Exceeded Launched PurchasedBroadened Excelled Led Researched
Calculated Expanded Maintained ResolvedCentralized Expedited Marketed RevampedConsulted Familiarized Mediated RevitalizedConvinced Gained Negotiated SecuredDecreased Generated Performed SoldDeveloped Identified Persuaded SolicitedDissuaded Implemented Produced StrengthenedDocumented Improved Promoted Supplemented
Creative and Innovative
Arranged Developed Initiated PresentedAuthored Devised Invented Produced
Composed Directed Launched RevitalizedConceived Edited Modernized RevolutionizedConceptualized Established Originated ShapedCreated Fashioned Performed StimulatedDesigned Formulated Planned
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RESUME TYPES
Chronological ResumeLists, describes, and provides dates for each job and
educational experience separately and in reversechronological order (most recent first)
Many employers prefer this style
Works best for those who have progressed in titlesand have a good work history
Functional ResumeHighlights your skills and how they qualify
you for the desired position whilede-emphasizing employers and dates.
Works well for those with limitededucation, significant employment gaps,lack of work experience, or experiencein a different field. This format can beused both by recent grads and careerchangers.
The actual employment history is listedat the end of the resume andprovides only the most basicinformation such as employer
name, job title, location, and dates. Combination ResumeCombines both detailed work history and skills
Usually includes a skills summary or highlights section near the top ofyour resume
TIP: Keep your skills section short, somewhere around four bullets
Once youve decided what type of format will work best for you, its time to start writing! Begin by making a listof your skills, work experience, honors, awards, certifications, activities, internships, etc. Include anything you
think an employer might want to know. Once you have created this mega-resume, it will be easier to customizeeach resume for each employer, and include only relevant information.
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CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
Your Name201 South 1460 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 (801) 581-6186 [email protected] of Qualifications
Over 3 years experience working in a marketing/public relations environment, skilled in developing creative and innovativemarketing efforts for retail, real estate, and non-profit organizationsInternational business experience: 2 years working and living abroad, ability to speak, read, and write Chinese fluently
Technical skills include DisplayWrite, Flash, Adobe Photoshop, QuarkExpress, HTML, Front Page EducationUniversity of Utah, David Eccles School of Business Salt Lake City, UtahBachelor of Science in Marketing Graduation: May 2011Grade Point Average: 3.7, Deans List Fall 2008ExperienceSmith Realty Corporation Salt Lake City, UtahMarketing Internship January 2010May 2010
Conceptualized marketing plan for retail commercial, medical, and industrial real estate markets, which increased companyrevenue by 2 million dollars in 6 months.Conducted feasibility analysis specifically for various governmental, medical, retail and industrial projects.Developed 6 print advertisement campaigns designed to increase industry awareness of Smith Realty Corporation properties.
Hot Shot Public Relations Agency Salt Lake City, UtahPublic Relations Intern August 2009December 2009
Wrote press releases on new product introductions for XYZ Bakery and ABC Engineering, resulting in products being featuredon KSTU Fox and KTVX ABC TV morning new shows.Researched construction, outdoor sports, and needlecraft trade journals for potential story pitches.
Volunteer Experience American Marketing Association, University of Utah Chapter Salt Lake City, UtahNetworking Coordinator, Member May 2008Present
Corresponded with professionals in the marketing field by arranging guest speakers and creating networking opportunities forthe American Marketing Association (AMA) members.Led marketing SWOT Analysis and developed a regional demographic focused ad campaign for a regional convenience storechain.Presented case for the national AMA case competition in which we took 3rd place nationally.Created unique fundraising campaigns which resulted in a 15% increase in the University of Utah AMA 2009 fundraising drive.
Volunteer Service Organization Beijing, China Volunteer Representative June 2006May 2008
Directed volunteer efforts and training of more than 200 representatives on presentation skills, organizational strength, goalsetting and achievement, team building, and managing cultural differences.Launched promotional activities intended to educate the public on organizations mission and goals.Delivered message through presentations and door-to-door marketing campaigns. Efforts increased team recruitment results by35% in two-year period.
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FUNCTIONAL RESUME
Tools of the Trade
Your Name201 South 1460 East (801) 581-6186Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 [email protected] secure a marketing position with the Salt Lake City office of the United Marketing Group EducationUniversity of Utah, David Eccles School of Business Salt Lake City, UtahBachelor of Science in Marketing Graduation: May, 2011Grade Point Average: 3.7Deans List Fall 2008Skills and QualificationsMarketingOver 3 years of experience working in a marketing/public relations environment. Skilled in developing creative and innovative
marketing efforts for retail, real estate, and non-profit organizations.Conceptualized marketing plan for retail commercial, medical, and industrial real estate markets, which increased company reve-
nue by 2 million dollars in 6 months.Conducted feasibility analysis specifically for various government, medical, retail and industrial projects.CommunicationCorresponded with professionals in the marketing field by arranging guest speakers and creating networking opportunities for
the American Marketing Association (AMA) members. .Presented case for the national AMA case competition in which we took 3rd place nationally.Created unique fundraising campaigns which resulted in a 15% increase in the University of Utah AMA 2006 fundraising drive.LeadershipInternational business experience including 2 years of experience working and living abroad. Ability to speak, read, and write
Chinese fluently.Directed volunteer efforts and training of more than 200 representatives on presentation skills, organizational strength, goal set-
ting and achievement, team building, and managing cultural differences.Launched promotional activities intended to educate the public on organizations mission and goals.Public Relations
Wrote press releases on new product introductions for XYZ Bakery and ABC Engineering, resulting in products being featuredon KSTU Fox and KTVX ABC TV morning news shows.
Researched construction, outdoor sports, and needlecraft trade journals for potential story pitches.Employment American Marketing Association, University of Utah Chapter Salt Lake City, UtahNetworking Coordinator, Member May, 2008
Present
Smith Reality Corporation Salt Lake City, UtahMarketing Internship January, 2010May, 2010Hot Shot Public Relations Agency Salt Lake City, UtahPublic Relations Intern August, 2009December,2009 Volunteer Service Organization Beijing, China Volunteer Representative June, 2006- May, 2008
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COMBINATION RESUME
Ima Student1460 East 201 South * Salt Lake City, UT 84112 * 801-581-6186 * [email protected]
_________________________________________________________________________________OBJECTIVE
To obtain a summer 2011 Park Guide Interpretation internship with Arches National Park through the
Student Conservation Association
_________________________________________________________________________________
SKILLS PROFILE
Presented to groups of up to 100, successfully communicating safety skills and camp protocol,
certified in CPR and basic First Aid
Experienced in nature interpretation and research using archival and library resources
Completed coursework in Geomorphology, Resource Conservation and
Environmental Management
Studied interpretive services and visitor information systemsWorking knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Adobe Photoshop
_________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies May 2012
University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
GPA 3.75/4.0Member Golden Key International Honour Society _________________________________________________________________________________
EXPERIENCE
Climbing Instructor, Girl Scouts of Utah Summer 2010
Provided organized climbing instruction in a safe atmosphereExplained and demonstrated climbing equipment, techniques, and hand and feet climbing methodsSupervised campers on the wall to ensure safety procedures are adhered toMaintained order and safety in the rock wall area
Volunteer, Salt Lake Hikers Association May 2008- Present
Worked one on one with special needs hikers to guide and interpret trails Evaluated trails for safety, hazards and inclement weatherPresented to children ages 5-12 on hiking trails in and around Salt Lake County, UT
Server, Marks Caf July 2007 - Present
Quickly learned procedures for preparing food in proficient and safe manner
Improved communication skills through interaction with customers Trained new employees for opening, middle and closing shifts
_________________________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITIES
Volunteered for Utahs Outdoor Activity Exposition fundraiserTen (10) years experience of active involvement in summer outdoor recreation, including hiking,
camping and rock climbingExperienced in trail creation and maintenance
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WHATS WRONG?
This is an MS Word template!Show employers that youcan think for yourself anduse word processing soft-ware skillfully.
The contact information hereis too small.
Dont use an unprofessional
e-mail address!
If youre including an objective
in your resume, keep it shortand employer-focused.
Avoid using first-person (i.e.,
I, my, and me).Employers know youretalking about yourself. Savethe space for words thatreally matter.
There are inconsistencies inthe size of bullets, formattingof lines, and too many fonts,as well as grammatical andspelling errors.
Bullet points for work experi-ence are very task-oriented.
Dates are listed in the front(another pitfall of tem-plates!), which isnt wherethey belong.
Dont use abbreviations andacronyms.
Its nice to have interests, but
those listed here dont applyto the world of business orrelate to the positionfor which this student isapplying.
Dont include references onyour resume.
Ima Student1460 East 201 South 801-581-6186 [email protected]
Objective To get a job working in hospitality where I can advance and strengthen mycommunication, teamwork and leadership skills.
Experience Assistant Manager
Sept. 2007-Present U - Deli, Salt Lake City, UT
Manage staff.
Ordered supplies and inventory.
Prepare customers orders and provided customer assistance.
Waitress
Aug. 2006- May 2007 Generic Sports Bar and Grill, Park City, UT I took orders and served food.
Cleaned lobby and bathrooms and performed other jobs.
Sales Associate
Summer 2006 Sport Outlet , St. George, UT
Assisted customers with purchase.
Stocked merchandise by myself.
Education U of U, SLC, UT
2006-2010 B.S. in Parks Recreation and Tourism, Hospitality Mgt emphasis
Deans List every semester but one
Study Abroad, Summer 2007
Interests Swimming, hiking, reading, traveling, listening to music
References Ima Reference, U-Deli
555 East 555 South Salt Lake City, UT(801) 581-6186, [email protected]
Ima Reference, Generic Sports Bar and Grill
555 Donnor Drive, Park City, UT(435) 581-6186, [email protected]
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WHATS RIGHT?
Name and contact informationis large and easy to read.
Degree and awardinginstitution are spelled out.
Additional areas of study arehighlighted, as well as morespecific information on theStudy Abroad program.
Formatting is consistent -dates line up, bold and CAPSmake important informationstand out, font sizes (andstyles) are the same through-out, bullets are uniform.Overall, the resume looks
orderly and organizedwithout even reading it.
Experience related to thestudents field of interest
(business) is highlighted in thebullet points describing workhistory.
Past tense is used consistentlyto demonstrate readiness tomove forward and leave even
current experience behind.
Points are specific (note theuse of numbers) anddemonstrate the studentssuccess with and impact onthe operations of previousemployers.
Employers are increasinglylooking for employees withsolid technology skills. Use
descriptors like skilled,proficient, etc. todemonstrate your level ofproficiency with variousprograms/applications.
Employers expect that youllhave references to offer, soincluding a line to that effectisnt needed.
Ima Student1460 East 201 South, Salt Lake City, UT
801-581-6186 [email protected]
EDUCATION
____________________________________________________________________________Bachelors of Arts, Parks Recreation and Tourism May 2010University of Utah
Additional Concentration in Hospitality/Tourism and Japanese
Deans List (5/6 semesters)
EXPERIENCE
____________________________________________________________________________
Assistant Manager Sept. 2007-PresenU-Deli Salt Lake City, UT
Supervised and trained services staff of 10
Ordered $7,000 in weekly supplies and inventoryIncreased sales by 10% during tenure as assistant manager
President August 2008-Prese
Student Advisory Committee, University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
Organized and supervised work of 3 subcommittees
Allocated annual budget of $3,000
Interacted with university, city and state officials in service projects
Increased membership by 15% during presidency
Study Abroad: Advertising in Asia Summer 2007
Japan and China
Studied interactive advertising management theory and practice in Tokyo and Beijing
Visited 9 advertising firms and gained insight into creative sales and managementpractices in major Asian markets
Completed team advertising projects using digital media and gaming for cell phonedistribution and presented to panel of advertising and business executives
Sales Associate Summer 2006
Sport Outlet St. George, UT
In charge of direct sales of athletic shoes, accessories and apparel
Determined product display placement and arrangement
Involved in most aspects of managing a retail store including: scheduling, store securitycustomer relations, opening and closing, as well as coaching employees to increase salresults
COMPUTER SKILLS
____________________________________________________________________________Skilled in MS Word and electronic research systems
Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Photoshop
Working knowledge of MS Access, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and Adobe Illustrator
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Tools of the Trade
PORTFOLIOS
Portfolios are great tools for students from all majors. A professionalportfolio is usually taken to an interview or may be viewed online. This
type of portfolio is a documentation and demonstration of your accom-plishments. It shows growth in your skills and understanding over time.A portfolio not only documents your results, but also how you got thereand what you learned in the process.
Portfolio BenefitsRegardless of how youll use the finished product, all portfolios can help you:Write or update your resume more quickly, since all the relevant infor-
mation will be in one place.
Organize information youve gathered over the years, such as awards,certificates, and records of other accomplishments.
Showcase your achievements, skills and abilities for an interview.
See your career as a collection of skills and talents that youve developed,rather than just a list of job titles.
PORTFOLIO DOSShow a breadth of work
Include a copy of your resumewith your portfolio
Develop a leave-behind, a smallcopy of some of your work thatyou leave with potentialemployers
Demonstrate problem-solving byincluding a before and after
piece
Design your portfolio as a whole.Strong pieces should anchor theportfolio front and back, and therest should be organized eitherby medium or class
Get feedback. Show your portfolioto your professors, otherstudents, or professionals inyour desired field
PORTFOLIO DONTS
Dont put in any work you feelneeds explaining
Dont leave your original portfolioat a company
Dont include copyrighted materialunless you own the copyright
Dont leave out important pieces.If you think it will add to yourpresentation, finish it and theninclude it.
Dont add anything to the portfoliofor which you might apologize.This is the best of your work,and should well represent you.
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COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS
Using the Phone
Dont take a cell phone call or page when with another person its rude. This isespecially true during an interview, site visit, or other professional event!
When leaving a voice mail or message, speak slowly and clearly so your message isclear. Keep your message short. Leave your name and phone number to ensure theemployer can call you back.
Return calls the day theyre received. If for some reason you cant call back thesame day, call within 24 hours.
Make sure that the greeting for your answering machine and/or voice mail is appro-
priate. Employers often complain about greetings that include loud and/or obscenemusic, background noise, or are just generally unprofessional.
Effective E-mailing
Dont use an unprofessional e-mail address (e.g., [email protected]). The recipient could delete the messagethinking its spam or porn.
Always include a meaningful subject line that makes it clearwhat will be covered in the message, such as Jose Vega Confirming Friday Interview Time or U of U Finance Jun-ior Seeking Information.
Always include your full name and contact information ineach e-mail.
Remember that there is no guarantee that an e-mail is pri-vate.
When replying to a message, always include the previousmessage in your response. Keeping the thread of thediscussion together will help both you and your contactto follow the course of your e-mail discussion.
Always re-read and spell-check every e-mail before youhit send!
Overall Tips
Every time you communicate with an employer, be asprofessional as possible.
Always use correct grammar when speaking or writing.Even if e-mail isyourpreferred way of communicating,
check with your contacts to see what theirpreferredcontact method is so you can communicate with themmost effectively.
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Tools of the Trade
WRITING EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS
The Overview
Write a separate cover letter for every position. The best cover letters are customizedfor the employer receiving them.
Dont just talk about you. Your resume talks about you. Demonstrate youve done your
employer research and show them how youre the best candidate for them. This meanstalking about them and how youre a fit for what they need/want.
Demonstrate professional, simple and direct writing style while also expressing personalinterest and excitement.
As with your resume, your cover letter is a writing sample. Proofreading for grammatical
and spelling errors, typos, and content/style is just as important. Mistakes can wreckyour chances of moving forward.
The Details
Your resume and cover letter should matchin both style and appearance.
Fold them together and mail them in amatching envelope, or because employersare increasingly scanning resumes, send
your cover letter and resume unfolded ina large envelope.
If youre e-mailing your resume as anattachment, its not necessary to alsoattach a cover letter. The e-mail messageitself serves as a cover letter. Write itaccordingly.
Address the letter to a specific individual.
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COVER LETTER TIPS
First Paragraph
Arouse the interest of theemployer. State theposition you are applyingfor and show interest andenthusiasm. If there is aspecific opening, you canmention how you heardabout the opportunity.
Second Paragraph
Explain why you areinterested in working forthis employer. Point outyour qualificationsyoureducation and experiences.
Last Paragraph
Pave the way for aninterview by asking foran appointment, by offeringto call the employer in thenear future, or by makingsome similar suggestion tofacilitate an immediate andfavorable reply. Give addi-tional contact information.
The cover letter should beno longer than 1/2 to 1 pagelong.
Your Current Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date
Ms. Employer
Title
Organization
Street Address
City, State, ZIP Code
Dear Ms. Employer:
State why you are writing (I am applying for the position of Process Engineer as listed on
the Career Services website). State who you are in terms of your education status (student,
graduate student, Ph.D., etc.), your professional status (an experienced writer, researcher,
etc.) or someone with experience in a relevant area (fluent in Chinese, knowledgeable about
issues of international trade, etc.). Make the reader interested in you so they will continue
reading past the first couple of sentences. Indicate if you have a personal connection to the
employer or if someone recommended that you write. Tell something you know about the
organization/business.
Mention some compelling qualifications that focus on what you can do for them based
on the job description. Let the employer know why you are interested in the employer,
job and location. If you have related experience or specialized training, point it out.Indicate why you are the best applicant. Keep a positive, confident tone throughout the
letter. If the information on your resume does not seem obviously related to this career
choice, make sure your reasons for applying are clear.
Thank the employer for his/her consideration of your application materials. Close by
making a request for an opportunity to visit the employer. Indicate you will follow up
with a phone call about the possibility of a meeting. Thank the employer for their time
and consideration. Make sure your closing is not vague, but makes a specific action from
the reader likely.
Sincerely,
Your Handwritten Signature (if it is mailed)
Type Your Name
Enclosure
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Tools of the Trade
LETTER OF INQUIRY
AVOID COMMON
MISTAKES
Do not emphasize whatthe company can do foryou.
Do not use general bro-chure language such as
"industry leaders," "in theforefront of technology,""opportunities for growthand advancement."Choose words that carryreal meaning and clearlydescribe you and yourqualifications.
Don't just state yourqualifications, illustratethem by citing examples
of your accomplishments.
Don't try to use fancywords, choose the rightwords. Don't be cute("I'm the person you wantto hire.")
Do not use too much self-evaluation (I am confidentthat I will contrib-ute. Why should they
believe you? Let yourqualifications speak forthemselves.
Do not present yourstrengths too weakly
The Overview
This is a letter written to a company you are interested in and
one for which you have not been able to find employment
information on their website.
Write to a specific person within the company, making a
phone call if necessary to see to whom your letter should be
addressed.
State your interest in the organization and explain why they
should be interested in you.
Emphasize your positive assets and skills and attach a resume.
State when you would be available
to meet for an interview.The Details
A first sentence telling the reader why youare writing.
In the body of the letter, market youraccomplishments. You might describe aproblem relevant to the industry. Statehow you handled it and what results youachieved.
Close the letter with a positive state-ment and request a face-to-face meeting.
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201 South 1460 EastSalt Lake City, UT 84112
September 1, 2010
Mr. Ima Employer
Vice PresidentABC Corp.
2301 Maple Lane
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Dear Mr. Employer,
I am seeking a position in materials evaluation at a high technologycompany such as yours. I am aware from researching your firm that you
have a training program for physicists and engineers.
As you will note from the enclosed resume, I have majored in physics and
have participated in significant research. This background, as well as
several business courses, has prepared me to combine an interest in motivat-
ing people with a desire to work in a technical environment.
I would like to learn more about your trainee position, and I will contactyour office the week of September 15th to arrange an appointment at yourconvenience.
Sincerely,
hand written signature (if it is mailed)Ima Student
Enclosure
Identify Objective
Refer to Resume
Point out qualificationsand special interests
Arrange an Interview
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Tools of the Trade
THANK YOU LETTERS
The Overview
May be sent by US Mail or e-mail.
Express appreciation for the interviewers
time and consideration.
Reiterate your interest in the employer
by mentioning new points or qualities
you may have forgotten to
address in the original interview.
Express your interest and anticipation in
receiving word regarding their decision.
The Details
Always send a thank-you letter after aninterview or other personal interaction.Show the people you met that youappreciate their time and attention.
Thank-you letters can be sent viae-mail, a hand-written note, orformal letter.
Wondering whether or not e-mail isthe best way to send a thank-you note? As with most things, it depends on the organization.
More conservative employers will likely prefer a formal letter. Employers who have ahigh-touch approach to customer service or a high level of relationship development withclients are more likely to prefer a hand-written note or card. But any employer with a quickturn-around time between interview and offer (you interview on Thursday and they tell youthey p