Career & Professional Development Center

By Olga Kingsbury, CPDC Undergraduate Career Coach

Handshake, a University of Utah internship and job search platform, is a one-stop shop for students’ all career needs with some amazing features. Whether you are going to look for an internship or a job this year, activate your Handshake account to get access to exciting career opportunities.

Manage your Career Center appointments.

Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach through Handshake. In the Career & Professional Development Center, we help students explore themselves, find jobs and pursue meaningful careers. Students can schedule Career Exploration, Internship and Job Search, Interview Prep, Salary Negotiations and Graduate School Admission appointments through Handshake.

Expand your job search

Handshake offers access to CareerShift, one of the most comprehensive job hunting and career management solutions. While Handshake is a great tool to look for employers targeting University of Utah students and alumni, CareerShift pulls opportunities from the multitude of job search engines like Indeed and Glassdoor as well as company web-sites.

Attend employer events

According to LinkedIn, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. Handshake offers an opportunity to network with top national and local employers at employer information sessions, workshops and webinars. These events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a company and start conversations with recruiters.  It is not uncommon for students to be invited to interview after having a meaningful interaction with a company representative.

What employers are saying about Handshake:

“Education at Work (EAW) utilizes Handshake as a primary tool to recruit U of U students for our part-time opportunities with Fortune 500 clients that include an hourly wage along with the opportunity to earn up to $5,250 per year in tax-free tuition assistance and potential employment after graduation!

With Handshake, we are able to engage with students in a variety of different ways including positing our job opportunities, participating in career fairs hosted by Career Services, hosting on campus interviews and virtual information sessions. We love to be able to reach out to students using the Handshake profile search to find student who could benefit from our positions.

EAW is committed to student success and Handshake allows us to find those U of U students who are the best fit for our positions. We encourage all students to complete their Handshake profile and keep it updated as well as sign-up for Handshake notifications so they do not miss out on amazing opportunities!”

Ryan J. Boyd, Director of Student Success, Education at Work

More about Handshake: Handshake: The Best Job Search Engine I never Knew About.

By Shay Enstrom, Social Media Intern at Career & Professional Development Center

Many students view internships as a box to check before getting their dream job. When I started my internship, I was disappointed in myself for not finding a job. I later realized that internships are an incredible opportunity to test-drive your desired field as well as build the foundation of your professional network (and make friends!) that can benefit you down the road.

Have A Positive Outlook

An internship is simply a means to an end. You won’t be in this role forever, this is just your starting point to help you get a head-start on your career. Be grateful for the challenges you encounter, and think about how overcoming them will help you in the long run. Consistently making a good impression, no matter the circumstances, can help you progress farther than you think. No one is expecting you to be perfect or make zero mistakes, but coming to work prepared and with a smile on your face can make all the difference.

Be Proactive

As an intern, you are not the main priority. Your to-do list may dwindle at times, and it can be tempting to sit and wait for further instruction. This is the perfect time to go the extra mile and show your supervisor what you are capable of. Ask around and see if there’s any work you can help with, ask for resources that can help you sharpen your skills, look for areas of improvement and work on them. No one is going to forget the intern who helped the flow of the office or brought new ideas to the table. These are the people who you can ask for references and letters of recommendation, you want them to be impressed!

Learn Everything…Or As Much As You Can

As an intern, you may be asked to help with or take on projects that others in the office are too busy for. Don’t view this as you picking up the slack. It is an opportunity to expand your resume and experience. By helping with projects or tasks outside of your assigned duties, you not only show a dedication to the work but you build up resources for yourself. Education and learning is the one investment that no one can ever take away from you, so take in as much as you can. Be selfish!

Build Relationships With Those Outside Your Immediate Cohort

Just because you work in one department or area of a company doesn’t mean that other departments are off limits. You are in a gold mine of professionals ready and willing to share what they know about their role and the working world. Everyone in the company is someone who could be in your future professional network. This is the perfect opportunity to not only grow your network but learn about different career paths, and how they all operate together as a unit.

Handle Your “Failures” Gracefully

A hidden benefit of having an internship is that you have a high threshold for failure. There may be projects that don’t go as planned, you might miss a deadline, you may hate the tasks you’re given. But regardless of all those “failures”, you are learning along the way. If you don’t like your internship, you have an opportunity to re-evaluate what alternative directions or choices you can make for a more fulfilling future. And if make mistakes or things don’t go the way you planned, that’s okay! Your supervisor is there to guide you through the misfires and help you learn from those mistakes .

The best thing you can do during your internship is respect you it for what it is, an internship! By keeping your whole career journey in mind, and not getting caught up in the fact that you’re “the intern”, you’ll find that the experience is actually something you can enjoy, not just endure.

Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach to discuss how an internship can fit into your career path.

More related posts on internships:

5 Things I wish I had known before starting my first internship

The ins and outs of feeling prepared for a virtual internship

By Crystal Cory, CPDC Career Coach

Summer is here! The sun is shining! But now that we made it this far… what should you do with your summer? Check out this list of 5 things for some ideas of what you could be doing this summer.

1. Grow your skillset

When you think of growing your skillset, you probably think of the usual ways of doing that – internships, part-time jobs, full time jobs, etc. But there are also other ways of challenging yourself. Identify an area where you feel like you need some practice or experience, and design a personal project to get you that experience. Are you a photography major that hasn’t done product photography? See if you can practice for your friend’s Etsy store. Are you a math major that wants to get experience in Python? See if you can give yourself a project that increases your knowledge. These projects are not only great ways to test your skills, they are also 100% resume worthy and something employers love to see.

2. Talk to some professionals to explore career paths

Summer is a great time to explore lots of different career paths using what is called an Informational Interview. For those unfamiliar, I wrote an article on my personal LinkedIn that details how it works. If you have questions about a specific career, if you want to learn what’s possible, or if you just want to get some advice, conducting some informational interviews is a great option.

3. Update your documents

Since the school year just ended, now is the perfect time for you to update things like resumes, portfolios, LinkedIn/Handshake profiles, and anything else that you have. The classes that you took and skills that you’ve developed are still fresh in your head, so getting it down on paper now will be more helpful in the long run. When you don’t have the pressure of an upcoming job/internship search, updating your documents is a lot easier. In addition, you never know when an opportunity might arise, so being prepared at all times is a good habit to get into. You can review your documents and get virtual support here.

4. Wear sunscreen

Protect your skin. It’s just a good idea.

5. Take a break

I recognize the irony of me including this in a CPDC blog post, especially when the first three things are career-related tasks. However, not everything has to be go go go all the time! If you feel super tired after the past year of crazy and feel like you just need to chill for a bet, you have my permission to do so. You can’t perform at your best if you aren’t recharging yourself when your batteries are low. Spending time in nature or with family, doing some hobbies that have fallen by the wayside, or even catching up on your favorite show is actually beneficial in the long term.

As a reminder, our office is open during the summer, so if you want to take this opportunity to make progress on some career things, feel free to schedule an appointment! We will also be taking a break with the blog this summer and will be posting monthly instead of weekly.

By Kayla Turbyfill, CPDC Career Ambassador  

Looking back at the last year, I’ve been thinking about the things I so sorely needed to hear to feel seen, heard, and celebrated as I trudged through the many challenges presented. I have mourned life pre-COVID, felt hopeless at times, adapted to more than I thought I could bear, achieved more than I dreamed I could under so such pressure, and made it out the other side changed. The collective trauma and triumphs experienced this year have been awesome to say the least, and I want to take a moment to celebrate with you in this final blog post of the 2020-2021 academic year and share some sentiments I believe we have been missing.

In our many roles we have navigated a year of uncertainty, curve balls, and new challenges seemingly every day. As students, our curriculum and schedules were flipped on their heads. Our study habits were disrupted, safety threatened, and motivation all but destroyed, but we persevered nonetheless. While talking to a professor, I learned there was a lot of discussion at the beginning of the pandemic about how the students would fare this year, but we outgrew and out-performed even their best expectations every day. We rose to every occasion, accomplishing more than many expected –even ourselves.

Throughout this year, we battled the concept of what “should be” again and again, especially when it came to expectations we set for ourselves, but we still made it. Those expectations bent and adapted just like we did to every gust of change. We did not become “worse” or “better” students, but became different, evolved, in many ways. As we created new routines, allowances for ourselves, and strengths in a world of disruption, we grew into someone new –someone who could take on the world, even when we may have doubted our own abilities. We became our own heroes and person to rely on. We became a powerful new version of ourselves.

So this is for you, the person you are now through it all. The you who stuck to your goals when it was hard. You, who weighed your options, priorities, commitments, and still found time to take care of yourself in whatever ways you could while achieving and growing all the while. This is for the students who sat through endless hours of Zoom lectures and still managed to participate and learn when screen-fatigue and burn out made you ache. The young professionals who are learning to present themselves and work remotely –doing school, life, and their jobs all in the same space. This is for you, while you learn to love and care for yourself during this “new normal.” And this is for those who need to hear, “You’ve got this. Look at all you’ve accomplished.”

You have done so much this year, despite everything. You have become a version of yourself to be proud of because of your new-found strengths, the way you manage to take care of yourself, and the way persevere every day. I hope you take time to celebrate yourself and all you have achieved. You deserve it.

Sincerely,

Turby

By Thaiss Del Rio, Peer Mentor, The Financial Wellness Center

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2021! We know how difficult this past year has been for all of us, and we are so impressed with the strength, courage, and ambition all of you have expressed as you’ve navigated your last year. In honor of Financial Literacy Month, we at the Financial Wellness Center want to give you a financial wellness checklist of things to consider when applying for a new role upon graduation.

1. Be Strategic About your Career Choice

Congratulations, grad! Now that you have graduated, you might find yourself in need of some guidance for your next steps. Alumni who graduated from the University of Utah less than two years ago still have full access to the Career & Professional Development Center’s resources, including access to all of their career coaches, career fairs, Handshake job and internship platform, events and programs, and so much more! Take advantage of these resources that are FREE for you!

2. Contribute to Retirement Savings

It is never too early to start thinking about retirement. In fact, the earlier the better! Consider opening up a Roth IRA or contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement account if they offer one. The great thing about Roth IRA’s is you can take out the contributions and earnings tax-free once you reach the eligible retirement age.

3. Opt into a Health Insurance Plan

Ah yes, health insurance. After 22 years on this planet, I still can’t wrap my head around the way health insurance works. Maybe you feel the same way. If so, check out this great website that gives a comprehensive overview of health insurance and ways to choose the correct plan that is structured for you!

4. Figure out Your Why

Congratulations! You just landed your dream job. Now what? I’ll give you a hint, it starts with SA and ends with VE. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! But wait, before you start saving, you need to ask yourself the following questions: Who am I saving for? What am I saving for? Why is it important to me? Once you figure out the answers to these questions, it will be easier to set aside money because you are doing it for a specific reason. Since your savings goals often align with your personal and financial goals in life, it is important to be aware of your why. Check out this free quiz where you can find out what your inner, social, physical, and financial values are!

5. Create an Emergency Fund

There are several different types of saving accounts you can open depending on your financial goals, but one of the most important ones everyone should open is an emergency savings account. How much you should have is relative to your situation. Start off with $500 and slowly increase it until you eventually have three-to-six months’ worth of expenses.  Visit your financial institution and ask them what kind of saving accounts they offer. Are there any monthly fees you need to watch out for? Is there a minimum amount of money you need to keep in the account? If there is anything you need to watch out for, it’s definitely those hidden fees, so take this into consideration: Never, and I mean never, pay monthly fees for a savings account. If your bank or credit union is charging you a monthly fee for your savings account, it might be time to start looking into a new financial institution.

6. Be Kind to Yourself

Remember to take time for yourself and ask for help if you need it. Your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is crucial in order to succeed. Post-graduation can be stressful and scary, but we are here to help U! Good luck, you’ve got this.

The Financial Wellness Center provides a competent and confidential atmosphere where current students, alumni, staff, and faculty can have access to free accredited counseling services, quality financial education and appropriate tools to achieve lifelong successful financial outcomes. Visit our website to schedule an appointment to learn more.

By Anna Renzetti, CPDC Assistant Director of Marketing

This year the Career & Professional Development Center (CPDC) has dedicated its annual Career Impact Awards to the faculty, staff, alumni and employers who lifted students up during the past year. These professionals ensured U students could still persist into meaningful professional opportunities. Even during a pandemic.

“The tremendous encouragement and support by the collective campus has allowed our students to persevere in moving forward toward their career and academic aspirations,” said Stan Inman, Director of the CPDC. “On behalf of myself and my team, we acknowledge and sincerely thank you for the efforts and commitment to the campus and our students. You have all pivoted to support students in new ways, using new and unfamiliar approaches and continue to be there for students in challenging times. Thank you.”

The CPDC is excited to announce the 2020 Career Impact Award Winners! We honor these individuals as members of our campus community who have committed themselves to prioritizing career and internship success for all students.

CAREER CHAMPIONS OF THE YEAR

In addition to stand-out employers, 7 faculty/advisors have been named for going above and beyond to support U students through the challenges of the pandemic. These individuals ensured that students could still learn effectively, even when they themselves were taking on new challenges of teaching and advising virtually. View all 12 Career Champions here.

ALUMNI CAREER MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Alumni like Ethan Ray (Urban Ecology, ’16), also played an important part in supporting students through 2020 and was praised by his intern. “Ethan helped me learn and understand more about transit planning through the projects we collaborated on. I also learned about professionalism through his example of good time management, organization and clear communication,” said Erik Fronberg, master’s student, College of Architecture & Planning.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

In the College of Education (COE), students concerned with their ability to safely pursue teaching opportunities were met with encouragement and support from Ms. Donnette Mcneill-Waters and the Human Resources Team for Granite School District.

“Granite School District’s support during the pandemic highlighted a commitment to ensure our students were safe, provided with alternative options for classrooms visits and guaranteed learning opportunities in response to students’ individual needs,” said Faculty member and nominator Mary Burbank of the Urban Institute for Teacher Education (UITE).

INTERNSHIPS OF THE YEAR

For many students an internship is a steppingstone to full-time employment opportunities with their dream companies, important sources of income while in school and even a requirement to graduate. This year several U students adapted to a virtual world and used their skills in new ways to make an impact on various industries.

“I was fortunate enough to find an internship where I could safely work from home. This experience has been exceptionally helpful to me in learning how to effectively communicate and adapt to different environments, as well as navigate new software and data on my own,” said Cassie White, bachelor’s student, Communication.

To view a full list of the Career Impact Award winners, click here.

Kody Powell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering, is a winner of multiple Career Champions of the Year Awards. Dr. Powell is sharing his journey to becoming a Career Champion and promoting student career development in a classroom.  

When I started teaching my first class, I was nervous and sometimes (gulp) under-prepared. I had never taught a course before, and it took me some time to get comfortable as I iterated on my pedagogical style. I worked hard my first semester, but I’ll admit that I was flying by the seat of my pants at times, sometimes even scrambling to finish off my lecture preparation just minutes before class started.

That first semester I was fortunate enough to have had a cast of characters in the class that weren’t afraid to speak up, ask questions, tell me when I hadn’t explained something well, and sometimes joke around with me. I was so grateful for their patience as well as their feedback as I learned how to be a good teacher. I was grateful for their tough love.

I had just come from an industry job, so I occasionally filled class time with discussion of my experiences, coupled with advice to students on how to prepare for the real world. I didn’t think much of this until, a couple of months after class ended, I was nominated for a Career Champion Award by a student in my class. This student mentioned that these casual discussions had a big impact on her as she not only sought a degree, but also a meaningful job afterwards.

Noting the impact that this had on one of my students, I have since taken it upon myself to pay extra attention to all my students and their general career preparedness. I love my students, but I often find that they may be under-prepared for the real world in ways that we don’t formally teach about in class. Their resumes may be rough. They may have little idea how to go about searching for jobs or how to network. They may not have polished their interviewing skills.

As a professor, I have found myself to be in a position of influence and often with a captive audience who may need help and not even know it. It is highly motivating for me to be able to make an impact on someone else’s life, and I have found ways to try to help these students. These include:

• Offering to review students’ resumes for them, usually via coordinated resume workshops
• Organizing career-related events on topics like networking, interviewing, LinkedIn, etc.
• Having career conversations with students including advising them on where to apply, what factors to consider, and how to talk to employers
• Regularly announcing job opportunities that I hear about from employers
• Getting to know the folks at the Career Center and regularly coordinating with them

No, none of these things are in my formal job description. I don’t get compensated for doing them. However, it is always immensely rewarding to hear back from former students about how fifteen minutes spent with them changed their career paths and, ultimately, their lives.

Like me during my first teaching experience, students may not know exactly what to do. But, with a little bit of caring, patience, and apt feedback, faculty can change the lives of their students. It may just take some tough love.

By Dani Baum, Recruitment Manager, University of Utah 

Congratulations! After working hard updating Resumes, agonizing over Cover Letters and applying for multiple positions, you have finally been invited to interview for a job! Whether it is your first big interview or you have done this a hundred times before, an interview may seem like a minefield where you can easily make mistakes.

These are 3 most common interview mistakes I have seen in my 10+ years as a recruiter and some strategies for avoiding them.

Not doing your homework

You may have applied to a quite a few jobs in your job search, maybe even multiple jobs at the same organization. Your goal may be to find any job, but when it comes to an interview, you need to be able to articulate why you want THAT job. You will be expected to be familiar with the job duties and the basics of the organization you are interviewing with.

How to avoid this: As you apply for positions, save PDF’s of every job you have applied for so you can reference the job posting. Have it in front of you during the interview so you can be familiar with what they are looking for.

Google the organization you are interviewing with and pay particular attention to the organization mission or vision statement and their values which are often listed online.

“Blanking” during the interview

It is easy to get nervous or lose your train of thought when answering interview questions. Often, we only come up with the perfect answer AFTER the interview is over and regret not thinking of that response in the moment.

How to avoid this: Have your resume in front of you during the interview, compare it to the job description you’ve saved and make notes of where your experience lines up with what the organization is looking for.

Whenever possible, answer every question by telling a story using the situation/action/resolution model. For example, rather than saying “I have good customer service skills” you should share a story about a real situation that you have encountered.

Not asking questions during the process

This can be interpreted as not having interest in the position.

How to avoid this: Take notes as you go! It is fine to have silence in the interview to pause and reflect on a question or take notes. Notate any areas you want to ask about. Prepare 3 questions beforehand. A couple of my favorites to have on deck are: “What questions/concerns do you have lingering about my experience that I can speak to now?” and “What do you like about working here and what do you find challenging about working here?”

Preparing for a job interview is a lot of work. By investing some time into organizing your thoughts BEFORE the meeting, you can feel more confident that the best version of yourself will show through to the hiring manager.

We often think of interviews as an opportunity to prove we can be what the organization needs. But you have to remember: you are also interviewing them as a prospective employer. If you get this job, you will be spending a lot of time with this group of people. It is important to find a place where YOU want to be.

To prepare for an upcoming internship or a job interview, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach here.

Daniel Moseson from the Career & Professional Development Center had a conversation about salary negotiations with Ella Butler, Director of Career Services at Salt Lake Community College.  

Daniel: Why is negotiation important? 

Ella: It’s important to negotiate because small pay differences add up over the course of a career. A 1-time salary increase of $5000, invested and compounded over 40 years, equals to over a million dollars. Not negotiating means leaving money on the table.  

Daniel: What is negotiable? 

Ella: A typical compensation package for full-time positions includes a salary and other benefits and perks. The salary for one job might look lower in comparison with another, but there are other important factors that need to be evaluated and, potentially, negotiated.  

Does the employer provide medical, dental, vision or life insurance? Does the company offer a tuition reimbursement program or equity? You will often get the best picture once an offer is made, but it is a good idea to come to negotiations prepared by reviewing the organization Human Resources page.  

Aside from benefits, think through what is important to you. You might negotiate for parking passes, office equipment, gym membership, daycare, working from home, flexible schedules, education, and professional development.    

Daniel: How can students and professionals prepare for negotiations?    

Ella:There are five steps students and professionals can take to prepare for the upcoming negotiations.  

1. Do your research 

You can evaluate whether you received a fair offer by doing research online. If the position does not have a salary range or a public salary, research similar positions on sites such as Glassdoor, Payscale, and Salary.com . Also, check out NerdWallet’s Cost-of-Living Calculator to compare the cost of living in different areas.  Show the employer that you’ve done your research and ground your ask in the average salary range for the role and your qualifications.  

2. Know your worth  

It is important to come to negotiations knowing what you offer – education, experience, hard and soft skills. Ask yourself “What makes me a strong candidate for this role?” and note these points down providing detailed evidence for each of your strengths.  

3. Practice, practice, practice  

Negotiating may be very anxiety producing. If you don’t feel comfortable asking for more, you can prepare for the upcoming conversation by:  

• Practicing in front of a mirror 
• Practicing with a friend, family member, or career coach 

• Writing out a script and having someone look it over beforehand 

4. Do not say yes immediately 

Now that you have thought about how to align your needs with the company’s, you will start the negotiation once you have an offer.  When an offer is made, open the conversation by thanking the employer for their offer. Don’t say yes immediately. Ask for time to reflect on their proposal.   

5. Be prepared for the logistics  

Depending on the organization size, you can expect to speak to several people.  You can count on your prospective supervisor being involved and, possibly, an HR representative. You will likely negotiate over the phone, but you should receive your final offer in writing. Remember to have your list of what you want to negotiate for handy.   

Daniel: What are some ways identities come into play in salary negotiations?  

Ella: Women-identified job seekers negotiate less often than those who identify as men, and this may contribute to the gender pay gap.  We also know that women of color are paid less than white women.   

Daniel: How can we overcome this?  

Ella:  Speaking with someone who shares your identity and who negotiated before can be helpful. You can also meet with a Career Coach who is ready to help you develop and practice negotiation skills. Your Career Coach can read HR policies with you, help you evaluate offers, think through what to negotiate, and how to articulate your unique strengths to the employer.  

To prepare for salary negotiations, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach (Undergraduate or Graduate). We are all invested in your success and are here to listen, learn, coach, and empower you to help you move forward in your career journey. 

By Amanda Beardall, CPDC Undergraduate Career Coach

University of Utah Pride Week

From March 29th to April 2nd, the University of Utah will be hosting Pride Week, a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic, and more) community. The theme of Pride Week this year is “Queer at the Intersections”, so each event will explore how our identities and experiences impact how we navigate the world.

What is Out at Work?

Out at Work is an upcoming event that focuses on the experiences of being LGBTQIA+ in the workplace. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 30th from 12:00 – 2:00 PM over Zoom. The first hour will consist of a panel of LGBTQIA+ professionals who will share their experiences and answer questions. The second hour will allow you to choose a breakout session where you can discuss one of the following topics:

• Understanding Benefits in the Workplace
• Healing from Workplace Trauma
• Preparing for Success After Graduation
• Building an Inclusive Work Environment

Why Does it Matter?

While more legislation is being passed protecting LGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace, many LGBTQIA+ employees still do not feel comfortable being their authentic selves at work due to hostile work environments. All of the following statistics come from the Human Rights Campaign’s “A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide”:

• Only 46% of LGBTQIA+ employees are out at their workplaces
  • 38% of those who were closeted reported that they have not come out due to a fear of being stereotyped
• 1 in 5 LGBTQIA+ employees were told to dress more masculine or feminine compared to 1 in 24 for non-LGBTQIA+ employees
• Nearly 1/3 of all LGBTQIA+ employees feel depressed or unhappy at work
• Over half of all LGBTQIA+ employees have reported hearing homophobic jokes in the workplace

Events like Out at Work help bring these issues to light, while creating space to brainstorm action steps to move forward in creating more inclusive environments.

Benefits of Attending If You’re Part of the LGBTQIA+ Community

Being LGBTQIA+ is often an invisible identity, which makes it more challenging to find community and mentors who share your identities. Events like Out at Work give you the opportunity to network with those with similar experiences.

Benefits of Attending if You’re an Ally

You’ll gain a better understanding of the challenges and barriers that your LGBTQIA+ colleagues and peers face with regards to employment, as well as how to better support and advocate for them.