UI CareerConnect is a quarterly newsletter for University of Iowa students. The publication highlights upcoming career events, and it provides articles and useful tips that guide you to a career that fits you.
What Happened? Backstage Access
Pomerantz Career Center welcomes Alicia Russell
As the university celebrates new and familiar faces on campus, Pomerantz Career Center warmly welcomes their newest employee, Alicia Russell. Alicia manages the peer program and is an academic advisor for science majors here at the career center. Not a science major? No problem, stop in and meet with Alicia for any career advice or questions.
Think Internships
What can The Des Moines Center offer you?
The Des Moines Center is an off-campus internship that allows students to live and work as interns in the heart of Des Moines. Students spend one semester in a paid internship with an employer from various industries-both profit and non-profit. The Des Moines Center students have access to short-term housing and earn 12 hours of academic credit.
Through the Des Moines Center experience, students:
- complete a professional portfolio
- explore future career areas and develop professional skills
- attend an academic seminar on native and global perspectives of Iowa
- partake in a variety of service learning activities
Sample internships include:
– Aviation Operations at the Des Moines International Airport
– Investment Management Intern with AVIVA USA
– Stadium Operations with the Iowa Cubs
– Event Management Intern with the Civic Music Association
– Animal Research with Blank Zoo
The Deadline for Spring 2008 participation is Wednesday, October 17, 2007.
What are Information Sessions and why are they beneficial to you?
Prior to conducting on-campus interviews, many employers choose to hold a session to educate students about the company's mission, products, and/or services.
By attending one of the information sessions, students become morefamiliar with acompany as representatives discuss their organization, chat informally with the applicants, and sometimes explain the entire interview process.
Information Sessions tend to be informal and a great way to network within an organization. Although these sessions are informal, keep in mind that you still want to make a good first impression!
Upcoming Sessions (Free for Expo Members) *
10/16
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
IMU Minnesota Room (347)
10/17
Cargill
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
IMU River Room 1
10/18
Accenture
8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
IMU Penn State Room (337)
10/22
DuPont
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
IMU Hoover Room (255)
10/24
Epic Systems Corporation
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
IMU Kirkwood Room (257)
*Note that some employers will require that you attend an information session prior to your interview.
A Whole Lotta Advice
ICE-NET: Iowa Career Exploration Network
Q: What do a Producer in LA, a Planning & Development Expert, and a Financial Analyst have in common?
A: They are all UI Alumni volunteers available to you through ICE-NET.
What is ICE-NET?
Created as a career resource for UI undergraduates, the Iowa Career Exploration Network is a terrific way to connect with other Hawkeyes who share similar professional interests. Conducting an informational interview is as easy as emailing them! UI alumni and other professionals have been invited from all fields, professions, and geographic regions to make themselves available to talk about their experiences.
Possible topics for discussion with volunteers include:
– career paths
– daily responsibilities
– advice for a career in their industry
– information about their company
You Oughta Know: UI Employment Expo
Search further with Employment Expo
Employment Expo is a fast and accurate job search of millions of jobs from thousands of different job boards and corporate sites across the web.
Benefits:
– Create and submit resumes to make it easier for employers to find you
– Increase your exposure to thousands of employers
– Establish direct lines of communications to hiring managers
– Reduce the amount of time spent searching the web for job listings
I just found a great internship that I want to apply for, and I need to submit a resume and cover letter. I just updated my resume and it looks pretty good, but I have no idea how to even begin my cover letter. What do I say? Do employers even read cover letters? Help!
Sincerely, Writing my mid-term is easier than this
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Dear Writing,
The cover letter is an important part of the job search process, and yes, they are read! While your resume acts as a quick snapshot of who you are, your cover letter allows you to expand on your experiences and describe why you are qualified for the position. Through your cover letter, you make the connection between your qualifications and the position—so the employer doesn't have to.
Here is a standard format to follow when writing cover letters:
Opening:
Get the employer's attention in the first paragraph. Identify the position you're applying for and how you learned of the opening. If you have been referred to the position by someone within the company, include that information. State that you wish to be considered as an applicant.
Body:
Justify your qualifications for the position by matching your skills to the specific job requirements and use examples of your work experiences. Do not simply duplicate the information on your resume, but highlight or add relevant details of interest. Provide more details about a particular project you completed or more information regarding your general skills.
Closing:
Ask for an interview by stating that you would be happy to talk further about the position in person. State that you intend to contact the employer in a week or two to make sure your materials were received or to speak about the position in detail. Thank the employer for reviewing your resume.
In General:
1. Individualize each cover letter you send
2. Never dwell on your short-comings—always emphasize your strengths, but be truthful
3. If you state that you will be contacting the employer in one week, mark that date, and then make sure to follow through
4. Check your letter for spelling or grammatical errors
Cover letters aren't so scary! Just spend some time thinking about how you can present yourself as the best candidate for the job. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Ivanna Work
Pomerantz Career Center
100 Pomerantz Center, Suite C310, Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-335-1023 careercenter@uiowa.edu
What Happened? Backstage Access
