Said Ali, Business and Marketing Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership Minor
Executive Team Leader | Target

How did you learn about your current position?
I learned about my current position by going to the employer recruitment event that came to STSS which was on campus. I knew that Target was going to be there and I have been preparing for Target for a long while so I knew that this was my chance to get to know more about them and see if they had any positions open. They had a Position open which is Executive Team Leader. So I applied for the position and did a round of 5 interviews and got the job.

Describe your position.
I will be working at Target as the Executive Team Leader. This position is kind of assistant manager and manager at the same time. I will act as the manager in different roles and will be the assistant managers at other roles as well. I will be out in the store helping out customers, working in a team with team members, and doing different task at a daily level.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
I really like the idea that I will come every day doing something new and challenging at the same time. Coming to work and knowing that you will be doing the same thing over and over again can get boring at times but at the current position I will be doing something new daily which is something I enjoy. There are many challenges some of them are making decisions on the spot, trying to get the best quality to meet guests exceptions, and making sure everything is going fine at work with team members.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?
It does fit with aspects of HRD. Recruiting is one industry in the HRD field and it is a different and intriguing in my opinion. I am grateful I can have an experience like this so young in my career.

During your job search, how did you make yourself stand out to employers?
I try and be as honest as possible. I want them to know that I am still inexperienced and I am looking for new opportunities to help expand my professional outlook. I am always up front and I know how to sell my human capital. I have great emotional intelligence and I use that angle to help my employers get to know me in a different way.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your internship/job search process?
I had the help of family and friends that have had similar experience in this field. I also had their support which is always a plus! I also was prepared because I have gone on interviews in the past and using my past experiences always helps me be better prepared. It was also very helpful that the U of M set up a HRD recruitment event in which great organizations attended!

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
I would give this advice: don't pass up opportunities that are presented to you just because you think you don't have the experience or job prerequisites. Everyone has to start somewhere, and building your resume starts with experience! Do as much as you can while you're in college, it will benefit you in the long run. You don't want to look back and think 'oh I wish I would have done that'! I went to the recruitment fair kind of on a last minute whim. I saw it in an email and thought "hey maybe I find something, maybe I don't". Always try and go into those kinds of things with an open mind and don't be afraid to put yourself out there! You will be glad you did.

Name: David Davoudlarian
Licensure program: School Counseling
Completed ILP: 2009
Employer: North Slope Borough School District, Alaska
Position: School Counselor

1. How did you learn about your current position?
I went to the (MN) Education Job Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center and learned about jobs in Alaska. I filled out the application, which is universal on the Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) website. The position I was offered was originally offered to another person who decided at the last minute they did not want to go so far north. So the Principal started looking at profiles and liked what she saw in me and contacted me.

2. Describe the application and interview process.
Alaska has a universal application site to help educators find jobs in Alaska. Many interviews are held at job fairs around the country. When they cannot meet the applicant in person, interviews either happen via Skype or an old fashioned phone interview. My interview was over the phone and was relatively short. The process usually involves multiple people, mine was with only my Principal, but that is by no means common. Also most if not all educators in Alaska have to work in the Alaska "Bush", basically not on the road system. Road system jobs are very hard to come by even for experienced educators. I work in a fly in only village of 250 people.

3. How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
I sold myself. I am my own biggest advocate and I made sure that my personality, while large, was not overwhelming but at the same time I was sincere about who I am. Follow up on your job search. If you have placed an application with a school through ATP, make sure you call the school and introduce yourself. Speak clearly and enunciate your words. Phones in Alaska are not always reliable and there might be as much as a 5 second delay.

4. Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
Don't get frustrated. I placed approximately 50 applications around Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska and only had 4 interviews. The local (MN) Education Job Fair was great.

5. Did you utilize career services (on-campus interviews, career events, appointment(s), online resources)? If so, what was your experience like?
Career services set me up for the (MN) Education Job Fair and was very instrumental in directing me to the different locations who were looking for a School Counselor.

6. What advice would you like to share with others about your experience?
Don't give up. I almost did, I won't lie. Also keep your mind open to other places. I did and now I live in an awesome 100% Alaska Native (Inupiat) village that has opened my eyes and broadened my my mind. Yes, it gets bitterly cold (-80 with wind last year), yes you have culture shock, yes you might be away from your family like me (they are about 1000 miles away), you might have to fly in a single engine, 9 seater plane (watch Flying Wild Alaska, they fly me). But you do it anyway for the kids. I have 71 students from K though 12 and I know each of their names and I know their parents. I am Counselor Dave to them. They have embraced me and shared their culture with me.

Name: Alexandra (Ali) Vujovich
Licensure program: English Education
Completed ILP: Spring 2012
Employer: Minneapolis Public Schools - Southwest High School
Position: Ninth Grade English teacher

1. How did you learn about your current position?
I did my student teaching in the Minneapolis district, which was great because that was the district I ultimately wanted to work in. My cooperating teacher and a few of my teachers and supervisors from the University were really great about helping me navigate the system and talk to the right people to line me up with this job.

2. Describe the application and interview process.
I won't lie; the application process was something I kept putting off. My cooperating teacher kept telling me to start the MPLS application but on top of student teaching four classes (2 preps) each day, I was exhausted. It was really something I had to make myself do. The interview process was an interesting one. I was labeled as an excessed teacher. So my interviews were called "matching" interviews to find the best spot for me in the district. I had half hour interviews lined up all day, but I only made it through two before Southwest offered me the job. Going into the interviews I was pretty terrified, but the questions are things that this program prepares you for really well. One HUGE piece of advice, don't let your first interview be with the school you want to work with. My first ever teaching interview was that morning and I was so nervous that I could barely think of reading strategies to provide. Let yourself practice a few first. I had a friend who went to the job fair and she was much more ready to interview than I was.

3. How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
I really tried to put my all into student teaching because I was student teaching in the district I wanted to work in. My unit plan that I wrote for the program was 79 pages long (and everyone from my cohort makes fun of me, but it really was worth it)! For the first part of spring semester while we were still in classes I was going to my site three times a week (on top of taking twenty credits) and the requirement was to go once a week. I started teaching on my own fourth quarter, but third quarter I think was really what made it for me. I was always there collaborating with my cooperating teacher and asking to plan lessons and observing other teachers. I really wanted to be known in my building and I think all this work paid off. When it comes down to it, you can work and work and work, but a huge part of it is about the people you know. I put in all this work and my cooperating teacher saw just how serious I was about this. Developing a really deep, authentic, and lasting relationship with my cooperating teacher was probably the most important thing I did because then she really helped get me in the right places to meet the principal, vice principal, and people in the district and that was got me labeled as excessed and able to land this awesome job at Southwest!

4. Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process? Quite honestly, I didn't fully invest in the job search process--not nearly as much as some of my fellow cohort members. I knew that I wanted to work in Minneapolis for the public schools and I was sort of resigned to long term sub for the year (I had something lined up in the school I was student teaching at) to get into the district and then next year I could apply and interview earlier. I won't say that my parents were too thrilled about that option, but I knew where I wanted to go and what I needed to do when I got there. I think the most helpful thing during my brief job search process was, again, my cooperating teacher. She was telling me what I should bring into the interview (things that would normally make up a portfolio), what I should make sure I clearly articulated, and things that I should ask after the interview was done. Clearly, I owe a HUGE thank you to her because not only did she help me prepare for the interview but she really helped line me up to interview in the first place.

6. What advice would you like to share with others?
Meet lots and lots of people. Work hard at what you do in the classroom so that when you meet these important people you have something to talk about. Talk to your principal at your site. Ask your cooperating teacher lots and lots of questions (even if you're not necessarily meshing with them). I don't think I'd be working as a first year teacher in Minneapolis if I didn't try to meet and talk to as many people in the district as I could have. Most importantly, have fun. I know finding a job is really terrifying, but if you genuinely love what you do when you're in the classroom, some principal or assistant principal or teacher who is interviewing you is going to see that in how you talk about your experiences and they're going to want to bring that spark into their school.

Asja Karic, Family Social Science
Advocate | Lewis House Domestic Violence Shelter

How did you learn about your current position?
I learned about my current position through the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits website. I saw a position I was interested in and sent in my resume. I received a call a week later saying that the position was already filled and asking if I would be interested in interviewing for a part-time Advocate position that has not even been posted yet. I agreed, as I really wanted to be a part of this organization. A few weeks into my work as a part-time Advocate, my supervisor called me saying I have been doing an excellent job and offered me a full time position. I accepted!

Describe your current position.
I am currently an Advocate for Lewis House domestic violence shelter. I provide direct care, advocacy and crisis intervention to families experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault. A big part of my position is to ensure that the women and children at Lewis House receive all the resources and assistance they need in order to be self-sufficient and stay out of abusive relationships when they leave the shelter. I also provide crisis counseling in person and over the phone and facilitate a support group for women who have experienced domestic violence.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
Every day when I drive home from work I feel accomplished and I know that I made even a small impact in ending the cycle of violence that so many women are stuck in. The most satisfying part of my work is interacting one-on-one with families and serving as a support for women who don't have that elsewhere.

The most challenging part of my position is turning someone down for shelter. We have been packed over the limit almost every day since I have started. When we're full, we have to refer people to other shelters and sometimes homeless shelters that don't have the resources to support a woman experiencing domestic violence. It is certainly difficult to come to terms with the idea that I can't help everyone.

During your job search, how did you make yourself stand out to employers?
I was told by a career adviser from CEHD Career Services that having a portfolio of my past work relevant to the position would be a great asset. I really believe that this set me apart from many applicants. Even if I didn't get a position, interviewers were impressed and enjoyed looking through the portfolio during the interview. In the interview for my current position, the person interviewing me actually asked to have a copy of some of my work in the portfolio to show other staff!

What did you find to be the most helpful during your job search process?
I really took advantage of Career Services at the U of M. As soon as I graduated, I made an appointment and improved my resume with a lot of help. I also gathered all of the information on interview questions and practiced my answers many times.

I joined LinkedIn and that opened many doors and connections. Throughout my job search, it was extremely helpful that I had built good relationships with my volunteer and internship supervisors in order to get great letters of recommendation of my work.

Name: Ryan Mintz
Licensure program: Science (Physics)
Completed ILP: May 2012
Employer: Internationella Engelska Skolan i Uppsala
Position: Middle School Science Teacher

1. What interested in you teaching abroad?
I had always wanted to travel abroad, but different circumstances during college prevented me from participating. It had always been in the back of my mind to experience life somewhere besides the United States. Sweden just happened to be the first place to come calling, so I jumped on it.

2. How did you learn about your current position?
The career services office had set up an interview day with Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) and the head of the Science Education Program (shout-out to Barb) sent an email to our cohort. I figured it would be a good practice interview, so I sent my resume along.

3. Describe the application and interview process.
After sending my resume and a cover letter through GoldPASS in October, IES scheduled an interview time for me when they would be on campus at the end of January. During that interview, I met with the head of academics for the whole company, and we talked for a bit. To me, it seemed pretty informal, with a few interview questions, but mostly just information about the company/schools, and the kind of people they were looking to hire. At the end of that interview, I was told to fill out the application online, which I did, and then I was put in touch with principals of two different schools. After a few very early morning Skype sessions (thanks to the 7 hour time difference), which were more formal interviews than the first in person meeting, I was offered a position as a teacher.

4. How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
You have to play up your extra curricular activities. Join a club. Get involved. I am fully convinced that my experience as a member and president of the U of M Rugby Club is what landed me the job. Whenever I hand somebody my resume, that is the first thing they ask about. You think your degree and teaching experience make you stand out? Guess what. EVERYBODY else applying for that same job has a degree and teaching experience. Find something that sets you apart, and ride that as far as it can take you.

5. Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
The most helpful thing for me was talking to the people around me. My cooperating teacher and fellow student teachers were a great support in organizing and composing myself for interviews. The people in class around you are a great resource. They want to be teachers because they like to help people. Let them help you.

6. Did you utilize career services (on-campus interviews, career events, appointment(s), online resources)?
Career services set up the initial in person interview, which was great. Nothing is better than meeting in person, and if it had been an entirely online process, I probably never would have followed through. The way that career services made the application and interview process was smooth and easy to use.

7. What advice would you like to share with others about your experience finding a teaching position?
Don't be afraid of failing. Throw your resume everywhere. I was applying for what I thought was a practice interview, for a job that I would never get, and it turned into the beginning of my career.

Name: Megan Braun
Licensure program: Physical Education
Completed the ILP program: August 2012
Employer: Minneapolis Public Schools
Position: SPAN/SPEN Physical Education and Health Teacher

1. How did you learn about your current position?
My former professor in the Physical Education and DAPE ILP program and fellow teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools, Kathleen Healy, informed me of the position and provided me with a name to contact if I was interested in potentially getting an interview.

2. Describe the application and interview process.
My job search and application process began in the winter when I was still completing my program. I used websites recommended by the University (EdPost, K12jobspot...), and searched and applied, and searched and applied. I also attended the Minnesota Education Fair where I had one interview. I continued the application process throughout the spring, and aside from a few leads here and there began to get a bit discouraged and by summertime decided I would subsitute teach in the 2012-2013 school year. Toward the end of August, job postings in the Minneapolis-St.Paul and surrounding area picked up. I ended up having three interviews in one week for various Physical Education and Health teaching positions - including the interview for my current job. From the five total interviews that I had for a teaching position throughout the year, I can summarize and say they were all extremely different. It is important to go in relaxed and confident, use examples from your student-teaching experiences, and put in a little bit of research for the district you are interviewing for. Be aware that the application, interview, and job search process can be frustrating, time consuming, and discouraging at times, but do not give up - many teachers, like myself, get hired the week before the start of the school year! Use your connections, use your education, and have a back up plan; opportunities come when you least expect them, and sometimes all at once.

3. How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
There are a few ways to help you land an interview: First, a solid resume with lots of extra-curriculuar experiences, for example, volunteering. My personal experiences included my experiences as a student-athlete in college, and also as a current high school coach. I used the experiences to diffierientiate myself from others, and essentially to help myself "stand-out". Second, forming good relationships with colleagues, coaches, peers, and professors helps you network and gain connections in the field - this is huge and an extremely important tool. Form good relationships with the people in the districts where you student-teach as well as your professors at Minnesota; all will help support you and hopefully help you get your foot in the door for an interview. Third, apply for everything. I applied and was willing to take a position that wasn't necessarily my "dream job", and it has been one of, if not the best, experiences and learning opportunities of my life. Lastly, having a Master's Degree from the Univeristy of Minnesota already helps you stand out within the state and elsewhere as it is a nationally-accredited institution for it's teaching prepartion programs.

4. Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
Not stressing out, having back-ups plans, and taking opportunities as they arose. Utilizing my resources as well both at my student-teaching locations and here at the U was also helpful; this includes the networking, mock-interviews, and conversations we participated in throughout the ILP program.

5. What advice would you like to share with others about your experience finding a teaching position?
Apply for everything, use your resources, connections and education, and be patient. Opportunities arise when you least expect them, and many times come all at once.

Name: Jodi Schmitz
Licensure program: Physical Education/DAPE
Completed the ILP program: June, 2012
Employer: Internationella Engelska Skolan Eskilstuna, Sweden
Position: 7-9th Grade Physical Education teacher, 7A Mentor

1. How did you learn about your current position?
Last October my supervisor sent out the information to my cohort that he had received from CEHD (Career Services) who had received it from IES. I didn't even think about interviewing at first, but when the time got closer to the interviews I went for it and signed up.

2. Describe the application and interview process.
After deciding I wanted to interview, I just emailed the correspondent my interest along with my cover letter and resume. I later received an email asking me to sign up for an interview time slot. It was a very easy process. In January, I then met with two recruiters from IES at the Science Teaching and Student Services Building (CEHD Career Services Interview Center). We talked for about 15 minutes and then I was put into their computer system. The recruiters told me that they were heading back to Sweden the next day and were then going to speak with their principals about everyone they interviewed. I interviewed on a Friday and received a job offer on Monday morning.

3. How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
My supervisor prepared my cohort very well for interviews throughout the year. My cooperating teachers were also very helpful in looking at my cover letter and resume and giving me practice questions. This made me feel more relaxed and comfortable going into the interview. I also showed a lot of enthusiasm for the job and was honest about the fact that I am a first year teacher and I am still learning every day. I believe they were really pleased and excited that I was willing to move to another country that I've never been to before and start a job I haven't officially ever done before. Lastly, teaching here now I have noticed that being a female physical education teacher is an idea that is not very common in Sweden. I think that gave me an edge as well.

4. Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
Receiving information and the preparation from CEHD, my supervisor, and GoldPASS was extremely helpful. With these resources, the research and searching is already done for you. I think what was most helpful was everything we did in my seminar class with my cohort and supervisor. We really worked on preparing ourselves for interviews, we received advice from current teachers and administration in schools, and we learned how to navigate through employment websites.

5. Did you utilize career services? If so, what was your experience like?
Yes, I utilized many of the career services. I first learned about my current position through career services and interviewed on-campus through that outlet as well. Informational meetings, career events, and the job fairs were all very beneficial in learning how to apply to employment websites and how to stand out during interviews. Everything is very helpful and is right on campus to make things even easier for you. I really appreciated everything they do for you to help you get a job.

6. What advice would you like to share with others about your experience finding a teaching position?
Definitely use all of the resources that are out there for you. They are all very beneficial and each one gives you more advice, tips, knowledge, and experiences with the job search process and interviews. Keep any open mind and apply for anything and everything; nonetheless, you will get interview and resume writing experience. Don't be afraid to apply for overseas positions. It is a great learning experience and a great way to start your teaching career. Lastly, don't get discouraged!

Name: Jenny Marshall
Licensure program: Math and Science
Completed the ILP program: June 2012
Employer: Internationella Engelska Skolan
Position: 6th grade science and 7th grade math

Job Search

What interested in you teaching abroad? How did you learn about your current position?
Previously, I interned and studied abroad in New Zealand and Finland. I really enjoyed these experiences because I got to interact with people from different cultures, and learn about the education systems of other countries. So, when the opportunity arose to teach abroad, I was quite interested because it was another chance for me to experience something different and learn new things.

I first learned about this school from an e-mail that was forwarded to me by my professor. The e-mail informed me that the school was conducting on-campus interviews.

Describe the application and interview process.
In order to apply for the position, I submitted a résumé and cover letter via GoldPass. The first round of interviews took place at the U of M with the Head of Academics for the schools. This person brought my information back to his principals in Sweden. After several weeks, I heard back from one of the principals who had a math and science opening at her school. I had a second interview with her over the phone. This interview seemed to be more informal, and the principal spent quite a bit of time telling me about her school and surrounding town. After the interview, the principal sent me contact information for several teachers at her school. I was encouraged to ask these individuals any questions I had about teaching abroad and working at the school.

How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
In my résumé and cover letter, I tried to highlight past experiences I have had living abroad. The year-long study program I did in Finland seemed especially relevant because Finland is a Nordic country like Sweden.

Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
I am very appreciative that the initial interviews for this position were on-campus. It was nice to be able to meet some people from the school in person so I could get a better sense of the culture of the school. Furthermore, after the interviews, the school held an information session so applicants could learn more about the school and ask questions.

Did you utilize career services? If so, what was your experience like?
I used career services on several occasions during my job search process. Initially, I asked Sarah to read my résumé and cover letter, and offer suggestions on how to improve it. At this time, I also asked her several questions about interviewing and teaching abroad. I found this initial meeting to be very helpful because I learned what to expect from the job search process. Career services was also responsible for setting up the on-campus interviews and information session. I would likely not have applied for this position if the interviews had not been on-campus, so I am thankful that career services arranged for the school to come.

What advice would you like to share with others about your experience finding a teaching position?
I think any experience aspiring teachers can get with kids prior to the job search process is invaluable. I found that my experiences prior to entering the field not only helped me when I was teaching, but it also gave me a better idea of what type of setting I ultimately wanted to be teaching in. Furthermore, I was able to reflect on these experiences when applying for jobs so I could give specific examples when answering questions posed during the interview.

Chris Xiong, Kinesiology
Health Fitness Professional | Health Fitness

How did you learn about your current position?
I was looking for supervised practical experience credits and was not sure where to begin. My advisor pointed me in the direction of the U of M's GoldPASS website and informed me that it is a great website to find internships and career opportunities. After exploring GoldPASS, I found an internship opportunity with a company called Health Fitness and I am now about to begin a career in corporate fitness with them.

Describe your position.
Currently I am working for a company called Health Fitness as a Health Fitness Professional. A few of my duties include personal training, designing and teaching group fitness classes, conducting fitness assessments, and developing programs to improve the wellness of fitness center participants. This is all done for employees of a multinational Fortune 500 company.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
What I enjoy the most about my job is how different each day is from the previous one. I get to be creative designing classes for members, I meet new people every day, and I get to be a part of positive change in people's lives. I also would like to mention that I get paid to exercise!

I enjoy the variety of projects that I'm assigned within my role. The internship provides me with flexibility and gives me creative license to develop within my position. We also have a very collaborative team that has a wealth of knowledge in different areas.

A good challenge within my position is the opportunity that I have to sell our leadership program to MBA institutions. I possess some level of expertise in sales through my course work in my second major-Business and Marketing Education, but its time to apply all of the concepts and take it out of the classroom. It's an exciting challenge because I'm using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for this project, which is a great learning opportunity.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your job search process?
I found that having other people, including career counselors look at my resume was very helpful. They pointed out mistakes that I would not have caught myself and helped tailor my resume for its intended audience.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
First of all, I would like to mention that I would not be in my current position without first taking on an internship. My internship gave me the skills and flexibility I needed to grow as a professional. At the same time, I came every day ready to go above and beyond what was necessary in order to stand out. I took notes when new information was presented to me, I volunteered to take on extra tasks, and I was willing to learn from anyone at any time.

Anything else you woud like to share?
Apply for more than one internship/job opportunity because chances are you are not going to get your first choice. There are a lot of great internships/jobs out there and you may accidentally stumble upon something you love by chance. When you find that something, give it your all because you will get in return what you give.

Pa Lee
Business and Marketing Education & Human Resource Development, Human Resources and Industrial Relations Minor
Coordinator of Community-Based Learning | Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, University of Minnesota

How did you learn about your current position?
I interned as the Assistant Coordinator in Spring 2011 and I was offered the interim-coordinator position after I graduated. While being the interim, I was notified when the permanent position opened and was encouraged to apply.

Describe your position.
I am the Coordinator of Community-Based Learning in the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence at the University of Minnesota. I coordinate the Multicultural Family Literacy Program, where I hire university students to become literacy mentors to tutor and mentor K-8 students with literacy and homework tutoring in the Minneapolis and St. Paul community. I provide trainings and have reflective meetings with tutors about the impact of their work in the community.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?

I enjoy working with students and sharing my college experiences with them. I share resources and opportunities with students, encourage them to get involve on and off campus, to take leadership opportunities, and to study abroad. I also enjoy work collaborations with colleagues and working in an intellectual team.

Time management is a challenge working at a large university with so many students to meet, committee projects to complete, and taking care of myself.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?
This position fits well with my long term career goal of working in a higher education institution. It is the beginning of my long term career goal in working with students and intellectual teams across campus.

During your job search, how did you make yourself stand out to employers?
I worked closely with the CEHD Career Services and my professional mentors to help detailed and perfect my resume and cover letter. I did a lot of research online about job search strategies and possible interview questions. On interview days, I dress appropriately and bring a portfolio of past work I have done. Also, I provide information on what I have learned with my double major and how I can apply those to the position I am applying for.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your job search process?
Networking and informing my professional mentors that I am job searching: they were able to keep an eye for positions and forward them onto me. I also visit the career service center and stay connected to a career counselor for mock interviews and making a decision between going to graduate school or taking a couple of years off to work.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
Get involve early in college with organizations/employers that you are interested in working for; volunteer or intern with them. Attend job fairs and networking events to see who are the employers out the in workforce.

Anything else you woud like to share?
"Stay positive and proactive while job searching. Also, stay in contact with motivating mentors and friends who will support and encourage you to not give up. Visit career services often and early and get to know the career counselors like Angie Soderberg and Jeannie Stumne; they will provide you with strategies throughout your job searching process.
"

Sheila Yang
Junior | Family Social Science
CEHD Career Services Assistant | Career Services Center

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I'm a third year CEHD student majoring in Family Social Science. I come from a Hmong cultural background and I'm the first person to go to college in my family. Some of the things I love are food, photography, and Thailand. I also have an interest in teaching and guiding individuals through personal development. My intent is to help people define and become aware of their areas of talents, strengths, career path, etc. After my Bachelor's degree, I want to pursue my career as a school or career counselor working with students. One of the things I look forward to is becoming a part of the College Possible (CP) team as a High School College Possible Coach. I'm a CP 2010 alumna and because of their support, my goals and dreams wouldn't feel this "possible" today. My mission is to be a role model for the younger generation, especially in my Hmong community. I recognize that I can be an agent of change and a positive influence on others by being a support and guidance for students who struggle with overcoming life barriers.

How did you decide on a Family Social Science (FSOS) major?:

It's funny how I spent most of my time searching for the right major for me when it had been in front of me all along. As a freshman, I expressed interest in the social sciences and was admitted to CEHD as a Family Social Science (FSOS) pre-major. I didn't think much about FSOS until my second year that I started taking initiative to look more into my future. At the time, I was confused and unsure if FSOS was for me because I was afraid that the helping profession would be too overwhelming for me. This led me wanting to explore other majors but none really grabbed my attention.

My interest in FSOS started to develop after the day I attended a service learning workshop training that was required before I began volunteering. I needed to do this in order to receive extra credit for my math course. I was impressed with the person who led the presentation because of her passion to bring awareness of social barriers that exist in society and how it has a direct impact on a students' education. This instantly made me think of what I could do to help people fight adversity, make decisions, help them get from where they are to where they want to be, find success within themselves, their career and life. I realized that I was passionate about helping people and getting into a helping profession--and the only reason why I doubted FSOS was because I wasn't confident enough in my ability to help people. I somehow found the courage to face my fears head on and believing in the possibility of becoming a professional in my field one day.

What do you value about the FSOS major?

Relationships play a big influence in my life and it's something I truly value. I especially like it how it's a broad major and there are many careers in FSOS. It's something I feel passionate about learning and teaching. I also find it very worthwhile because I can apply the knowledge to my own life, by creating stronger relationships with my family and friends. The field is a friendly atmosphere that I really appreciate and enjoy being around the culture of the program.

What made you decide to apply for the position in Career Services?:

I wanted to have a job to keep myself busy over the summer. I was browsing on GoldPASS and knew I had to update my profile along with attaching my resume. I received an email a few days later from someone in Career Services who had reviewed my resume online. She suggested for me to come into Career Services for some additional resume feedback and so that's what I did. I had a drop-in appointment with Valeria, a Career Services Assistant for CEHD, and unexpectedly, who would have thought that I would learn of a job opening in Career Services? Valeria was graduating which meant that her position would be open. She encouraged me to apply for her spot because the set of skills and experiences I presented on my resume seemed to be a good match. I knew this would be a great advantage to increase my communication, leadership, and people skills, and of course, building a positive impact on CEHD. Furthermore, the surprising yet wonderful thing I found out later was that the person who suggested for me to come into Career Services for a resume review happened to become my Supervisor and she is awesome.

Andrew Plovanich
Business and Marketing Education, Human Resource Development
HR Representative | Case New Holland

How did you learn about your current position?
I interned with Case New Holland during the summer of 2011 and the winter of 2011/2012. I learned about the position because CNH is one of the largest companies in the area of my hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Describe your position.
I will be a HR Representative for Case New Holland in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. I will be on the Construction Equipment Product Development team conducting various Generalist duties such as recruiting, employee relations, and performance appraisals.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
I have not started my full time position yet, but during my internship I enjoyed being a part of a team that was not only concerned about the growth of the company, but also their employees. One of the highlights of being the HR Intern was being involved with the college relations program which included help running the overall internship program and prepare for the next intern season.

One of the challenges was interviewing hundreds of students and choosing which individuals would be the best fit for our highly respected and successful internship program. This was great experience however because it gave me the experience to interview those in search of full time positions.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?
My long term goal is to become a HR Manager. I was able to accomplish my first goal within CNH when I became the HR Intern. Next, I was able to obtain a HR Representative position that will give me the skills and tools to someday accomplish my long term goal of becoming a HR Manger.

During your internship/job search, how did you make yourself stand out to employers?
I was able to work very closely with CEHD Career Services to perfect my resume as well as interviewing skills through mock interviews. I also interned with Vic Massaglia, a career counselor within the University of Minnesota Law School. During my time with Vic, I was able to not only help other students with Career Development, but also apply the tools to myself. Networking was also a large part of separating myself from other students.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your internship/job search process?
Visiting Career Services and networking was most helpful during the internship/job search. While visiting Career Services, I was able to become more confident during interviews as well as giving the employeer a well constructed resume. Also, networking gave me an insight of things that I may or may not want to do as I start my professional career.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
Networking is one of the most important thing that students must do to find an internship/job. This will give students a better idea of what they would like to do, but also give them the opportunity to get to know other professionals in their field and may be able to get interviews through them or their connections.

Anything else you woud like to share?
All students should take the time and visit Career Services on a regular basis. I began visiting them during my Sophomore year and it was one of the best career decisions that I have made. While visiting with both Angie Soderberg and Jeannie Stumne, I not only became a better candidate, but a better overall person.

Ilan Sinelnikov
First-Year Student | Pre-Kinesiology
Soccer Coach | Seward Middle School

How did you learn about your current position?
As a freshman, during the year I became more aware of the different services that the university offers. In addition to academic resources, I heard from my advisers that the U of M has offices that can help students with finding employment. I learned about the career services in STSS building, and about the websites "employment.umn.edu" and "GoldPASS". At the beginning of the spring semester, when there still wasn't a lot of school work assigned, I took the time to search GoldPASS and I found a position that fits my interest and my schedule.

Describe your position.
I am a soccer coach at Seward Middle School in Minneapolis. I coach fifth to eight grade boys and girls for three hours at the end of the school day. During practice I work with the children on the principles of the game, as well as on leadership, responsibility, and morality.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
The part that I enjoy the most about my position is that I do something that I love. I've been playing soccer since I can remember myself, and two years ago I got my coaching certificate. I love to coach kids because I teach a new generation of athletes, and to be a soccer player is first of all to be a good person. I haven't had any challenges so far in this job and I hope it will stay like that.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?
This position fits my long term career goals because I plan on coaching soccer in the future. I currently have my Minnesota Youth Soccer Association "E" and "D" licenses, and I also recently found our that the university offers a minor in coaching, which I want to apply for. This position provides me with more coaching experience, and it also provides me with the opportunity to work with kids from very different backgrounds, which will help me work with diverse communities in the future.

During your job search, how did you make yourself stand out?
I made myself stand out to employers by providing them a good resume that I created in the CEHD career center with the help of career service staff. Then, if there was an email account listed under the employer's contact information I emailed them a few words saying why I am the right person to work for them, and letting them know that I just applied to the job which they posted. I think that it helped because my current employer responded to my email and asked to contact me for an interview.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your search process?
The most helpful thing during my job search process was to receive help while writing my resume and cover letter. It is not always clear what you are expected to include in those documents, and I received a lot of positive (and well, some negative) feedback that I used later on.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
My experience of finding a job through GoldPASS was great, and it was probably even easier than applying to many places through separate websites. My tip to students is to use the services that the school provides, because it is nice to know that you have the support of your college and you have someone to answer your questions and guide you through the job searching process. Also, start early! It takes some time to find a job, and the earlier you begin your search the higher your chances are to get a job by the time that you planned on starting it.

Anything else you woud like to share?
The U of M has many services that can help you with finding a job. There is also a great chance that you can find something that fits your major or interest, because the employers who post the jobs are interested in college students and specify the majors that they need. Just take a look at GoldPASS, and check it every week or two because there are always new postings about positions. Also, go to the career center, they have helpful materials to use. If you do all that- you got a good chance to get a job!

Leah Martin
Junior | Youth Studies
Student Office Assistant | Career Services Center

How did you learn about your current position?
I learned about my current position through the job postings on the U of M's Student Employment Website. The Student Office Assistant position appealed to me because I had taken a Career and Major Exploration class with a career counselor my freshman year and had found it very helpful. It was an office that I felt was a positive resource for students, and I wanted to be a part of it.

Describe your position.
I work in the Career Services Center for CLA, CEHD, and CDES as a Student Office Assistant. My job is multifaceted. On the surface, it may look like I simply answer the phone, schedule appointments, and grab resumes from the printer. Though I do all of those things, my main job is to be the first point of contact when a student walks into the Career Center. It is my job to ask good questions so that I can figure out where the student needs help, so I can get them the resources and services that will most benefit them.

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
Something I enjoy in my work, are the interactions I get to have with the students. There is a great satisfaction that comes with leading students to resources, organizations, and programs that fit their needs. Being a person who is passionate about working with people, it is hard sometimes to sit behind my desk to do some of the more tedious tasks, but the face time I do have with students, makes the boring parts worth it.

Another thing I love about my job is the sense of community at the Career Services Center. My supervisor Juan is a great example of someone who builds community. He and all of the Career Services employees, genuinely want to know the student workers' hopes and dreams for their future. They value our input and are invested in helping us grow in our position, and more importantly in our lives outside our work there. Coming from other positions where supervisors were disengaged and uninvested, it was wonderful coming to work knowing Juan wouldn't just let me coast through my job. He pushes me to get the most out of the position.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?
Youth work is one of my passions. Long term, I see myself developing and enhancing programming for organizations such as camps, non-profits, or schools. The skills I have learned while working for the Career Center are definitely transferable to my future jobs. What this job has taught me about time management, asking thoughtful questions, and always looking for what I can improve will stick with me in whatever job I take. Having worked here, I have also developed a much better understanding of how to form resumes, interview effectively, and actively search for jobs. These are tools that make me confident for the post graduation job search.

During your job search, how did you make yourself stand out?
While forming my resume and preparing for my interview I made sure to think of work and volunteering experiences I had that really fit the job I was applying for. I had a lot of volunteer experience, but I think what made me the best fit for the job was that I really understood the goals of the Career Center and how I fit into what they do. I was able to express that understanding eloquently and passionately, which made me stand out in my interview.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your search process?
Something that helped in my job search and continues to help, is using the resources available to me. I took the connections I had made with professors and past bosses and used them to point me in the direction of jobs. I had friends, professionals, and peer advisors look over my resume before I sent it out. There are so many people who are willing to help you in your job search. All you have to do is ask.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
Look for a job you can be passionate about. Or at least, look for an organization you can be passionate about. I would not be able to do my job as wholeheartedly if I did not believe that the students were really benefitting from the Career Services Center.

Addisalem Tesfaye
Junior | Human Resource Development and Business and Marketing Education
Work Effects | Human Resources Development Intern

How did you learn about your current position?
I received several emails from the department of Organizational Leadership Policy and Development. I also saw the posting in Goldpass.

Describe your position.
Here are some of my responsibilities:
-Developing Leadership Development Curriculum
-Creating Leadership Development advertising video
-Creating Leadership Development guidebook in collaboration with intern team
-Contacting academic institutions to sell Leadership Development program
-Writing articles for our company blog

What do you most enjoy about your position? What are some of the challenges?
I enjoy the variety of projects that I'm assigned within my role. The internship provides me with flexibility and gives me creative license to develop within my position. We also have a very collaborative team that has a wealth of knowledge in different areas.

A good challenge within my position is the opportunity that I have to sell our leadership program to MBA institutions. I possess some level of expertise in sales through my course work in my second major-Business and Marketing Education, but its time to apply all of the concepts and take it out of the classroom. It's an exciting challenge because I'm using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for this project, which is a great learning opportunity.

How does your position fit with your long term career goals?

I have a couple of long-term plans. One of them is to be a consultant preferably combining Human Resources and Business Management. This experience being my 5th internship, 3rd one in HRD, it's providing me with additional experience that I need to be equipped for the next stage in my life.

During your internship search, how did you make yourself stand out to employers?
There were a couple of things that I did intentionally during my recruiting process to increase my chance of obtaining the internship. Here are some examples:
-I did a lot of research regarding the company and all of their products and services, so I was able to confidently answer questions about the company during my interview
-I asked a lot of questions at the end of my interview regarding the future of the company inducing expansion, which generally showed my interest in the growth of the company
-In hopes making a great impression, I went to the info session dressed in business professional clothing even though it was an informal event.
-I knew the importance of the question ""Why do you want to work for our company"" This is an interesting question that I feel is tricky to many candidates even though it's a simple question. Interviewees usually use this question to illustrate their genuine interest of the company and all it has to offer to them. In my opinion, that's not a great way to answer the question. People need to keep in mind that companies recruit for the purpose of filling a business need; not so they can fulfill the dreams of potential employees. So, the answer needs to encompass not only the benefit you (as the employee) would get from the company, but also exemplify how they (employers) can use your talent and expertise to fill in those business needs.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your internship search process?
I think what helped me the most was all the different postings on Goldpass and also the emails I received from my academic and departmental advisors regarding the position. There were even some of my professors that encouraged me to apply.

Do you have any tips to share with other students about your experience?
Here are my tips for all students striving for success:

Know who you are or at least attempt to find out.
- What are your passions?
- What are your strengths?
- What is your long and short-term goal(s)?
- What does success look like to you?
- How do people commonly perceive you? Do you like it? If not, how can you change that?
-Get a business card- even as a student
-Create a LinkedIn account that reflects a professional image
-Make sure all of your social media sites i.e Facebook are appropriate- What you put online is permanent- you may think you have deleted it, but it's publicly stored
-Attend networking events & make meaningful connections
-Create and compile a list of references- you never know when you will need it next
-Perfect your resume & cover letter
-Google yourself- you & employers may be surprised by what's out there
-Seek professional help- the career service centers aren't free- we pay for them as part of our tuition and fees, so utilize them
-Sharpen your interviewing skills- this is a must
-Get feedback from those that know you most (friends, peers, professors, and mentors

Anything else you woud like to share?

"It's not what you know, but who you know" - Wrong statement in my view.

It's about what you know, who you know, and most importantly who knows you. Think about it...

Valeria Sinelnikov
Business and Marketing Education, Senior
Employer: CEHD Career Services, U of M

Why go to the job fair?

There are a couple of really good reasons, and in my opinion the main one is the face to face experience. Because candidates today can apply to practically any job online, employers will appreciate individuals who took the time to come in and meet them in person. Another great reason is the practice. At the job fair, you can practice your networking skills and work on overcoming the initial fear of approaching someone that you never met before in a professional setting. Also, introducing yourself and talking to company recruiters is a great way to repeat your elevator speech and work on your interview skills.

Who do you think should attend the fair?

Some people may think that the job fair is only meant for juniors and seniors. However, this is not true at all. My first time at the job fair was during my freshman year, and even though I was not looking for a job at that time I still learned a lot. For example, I got familiar with a large number of companies that I have never heard about before. Had I not gone to the fair, I would have limited my job search in the future only to the companies that I was familiar with. Therefore, it is wise to spend some time at the job fair learning about the business of different companies. You will be surprised how much you can find out about new opportunity that best match your needs.

What do you recommend doing before attending?

I think that a couple of things are critical before attending:

- Make sure that you look at the list of companies attending and choose the ones that you want to speak to their recruiters. Take some time to research them, so you can have something to talk about to their representatives. Remember that the few minutes that you spend with the recruiters can sometimes be critical.

- Print a couple of copies of your resume. Make sure that is it the most updated copy, and if needed visit the career services for advise!

- Practice your elevator speech, or at least make sure that you have an appropriate opening line to introduce yourself. Also, practice your handshake if you are uncomfortable about it.

- Relax, and set yourself reasonable expectations. You may not get a job offer on the spot, but you for sure will be one step ahead in your job search only by attending. Remember that the job fair is for creating the initial contact with employers and learning about new opportunities. As long as you come to the fair feeling comfortable and with an open mind, you will have fun.

- Bring a binder for the business cards and other materials that you will receive. You do not want to walk around with a pile of papers in your hand. Also, bring a pen so you can write on the back of the business cards some of the things that you talked about with the recruiters. The notes will be useful when thinking about how to begin a follow up email.

Finally, what to wear??

At the fair that I attended, I was impressed that students who wore a business attire rather than casual looking clothes appeared to make a better first impression. Since a job fair is a professional event, definitely go with the business look.

John Thomason
Senior | Business and Marketing Education
ShopNBC | Customer Relationship Marketing and Online Programming Intern

How did you learn about your internship position?
The University of Minnesota's Job and Internship Fair.

What are your key responsibilities?
Basically I help the Marketing and Programming departments with whatever tasks they have to do. Primarily I have been doing research. Most of the areas I have been researching I am familiar with due to my classes here at the U.

What steps did you take in the application process?
After joining numerous internship-search websites and attending many career fairs, I put together a list of potential positions I was interested with. For most of these positions I was able to meet recruiters and talk to them about the position and the company offering it. From there I applied for 15 to 20 internships and made sure to send thank you emails to the recruiters I met. This is when I started using Career services to have them check over my resume as I searching.

Once I applied to all my target internships, I was forced to wait for responses back from my potential employers. However during this time I was constantly looking for new opportunities at act as back-ups in case these positions didn't work out. Eventually towards Spring Break I heard back from employers and started setting up interviews with them during Spring Break. To practice for these interviews, I went to Career Services for mock interviews.

During Spring Break I had an interview each day, Monday through Thursday, three of which were on site and one was a phone interview. They all went well and I made sure to said a thank-you email to each person I met. From that point on I waited for responses back and continued searching for new opportunities. Then one day I heard back from ShopNBC to do a second interview with them, which I did on the phone. I talked with three of their top management in separate interviews and all of them went well. Finally, hours after my third interview, I got a call from ShopNBC's Human Resources department saying I had gotten the position! I was very excited that day.

How did you help yourself stand out from all the other applicants?
The first thing I did was adhere to a strict image of professionalism. Before every interview I made sure I dressed up in a suit and tie and that I looked good. I also made sure to arrive on time to any meeting I had and that I had everything I needed with me. I brought a briefcase with me at all times that had my resume and other important papers and items in it. I also used Fed-Ex to make my my own business cards that I gave to every single living thing I met, saw, or even glanced at. Having such cards is important as it gets your name out there as well as they make you look professional. Finally, I had Career Services look at resume so that it looked professionally up to date and organized.

The second thing I did was I made sure employers knew I was enthusiastic about the position I was applying for. This wasn't difficult for me as the positions I was applying for were ones I had researched and wanted because they looked like so much fun. Employers really like seeing excited applicants and they remember those types of people. Smiling and asking lots of questions goes a long way.

What did you find to be the most helpful during your internship search process?
Having access to all the different resources to that I needed to succeed was really helpful. This includes Career Services, who helped me prepare for my interviews, looked over my resume, and provided me with dates and information on upcoming career fairs.

My parents were also a great deal of help. They often would email me links to internships that they thought would interest me. They even helped update my wardrobe for my interviews! My Dad gave me a DVD called "Getting that Job" by a college education group called Standard Deviants. I recommend everyone see this video as it gives very important tips to secure a job and it's presented in a humorous way. Most importantly, my parents gave me advice and encouragement during my job search, which really helped me.

The final resource I found helpful was the internet. As well as provide me information of the different companies I was applying to, I found many websites and articles that gave me excellent advice on how to do a job search, what to look for, and of course find internships.

What have you learned this far from your internship experience that you have found to be the most valuable for your professional development?
Being prepared is crucial. Having a plan to do something as well as the knowledge and skills to support that plan is vital in any professional setting.

Do you have any tips to share with others about your experience?

1. Apply for multiple positions. A bare minimum number is 15 or so. The more the better. It will take a lot of time to fill them out but you need to do it.

2. Research! Not only should you look at the companies you are applying to but also look at websites and articles that deal with job searching.

3. Use the Career Services here on campus. they are free, here to help you, and do a great job. Did I mention they were free?

4. Everything about you should be professional. This includes not only your attire but also your resume, other paperwork, business cards, brief case, attitude, walk, etc.

5. Go to the University of Minnesota Job and Internship Fair. It's free and they even drive you there.

6. Respond with a thank you note to each person you meet/interview with.

7. Be on time. Arrive within 10 minutes of any meetings/interviews you have. If you don't know where you are supposed to go, drive there beforehand.

8. Don't be cheap. Spend the money to make businesses cards, have paper for your resumes, attend career fairs, and upgrade your wardrobe. It is worth it.

9. Have a plan.

10. Don't worry. You will find a job.

Name: Elisabeth Charboneau
Licensure Program: Secondary English (Communication Arts/Literature); Completed ILP June 2010
Employer: Spring Lake Park High School
Position: English Language Arts Teacher

Job Search

How did you learn about your current position?
I used websites, such as EdPost, to find out about the job I'm currently teaching.

Describe the application and interview process.
I applied at the end of August, just before school started. I wasn't called for an interview until a few weeks later. The school was waiting for approval from the state to move an English teacher into an instructional coaching position and they were hiring someone to fill that vacant English position. I was interviewed by two associate principals and two English teachers at the school. I was called a couple of weeks later by the principal and had a brief phone interview with him before being offered the position. After a brief transition, I took over teaching classes about six weeks into the school year.

How did you make yourself stand out during the job search?
I think I made myself stand out during the job search by researching a lot of information about the school system. I found on their website that they had recently restructured their grading system, so I made sure to ask questions about that in the interview to show that I was well informed.

Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during job search process?
I think being diligent and optimistic was the most helpful thing during the job search process.

What advice would you like to share with others about your experience finding a teaching position?
Even when everyone around you seems to be getting jobs, never give up because a great job could be posted at the last minute.

Teaching Position

Describe your current position.
I am a full-time English language arts teacher at Spring Lake Park High School. I primarily teach 10th grade language arts, but I have also taught women's literature and theater.

What do you most enjoy about your position?
I enjoy the collaboration among my colleagues. We have time set aside for meeting with other teachers every day, which is a huge advantage for a first-year teacher.

What are some of its challenges?
Classroom management has been my biggest challenge this year. It is not something that can be learned ahead of time and you have to figure out pretty quickly what your non-negotiables are.

Please share your advice to students entering the teaching profession.
Try to have a sense of humor about things--it makes even your worst days better.

Caity Sweet
Kinesiology | Clinical Movement Science
Spring 2011 Graduate
Northwestern University
Doctorate of Physical Therapy Student

How did you learn about your graduate program?
When I was researching physical therapy programs I found a number of schools around the country that I was interested in. After looking into the schools I decided to apply to Northwestern because of their great facilities, faculty members, clinical opportunities, and reputation in the field of physical therapy.

Describe your graduate program.
The DPT program at Northwestern University is a 3 year program, for the next year I will be studying anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and clinical decision making processes while working on a research project. The second year of school I will study a variety of clinical management courses specific to different types of injuries and illnesses. The final year of school I will be placed full-time in physical therapy clinics completing 2 clinical internships.

What steps did you take in the application process?
I applied to a number of schools through PTCAS, the centralized physical therapy school application system. In my application I included transcripts, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. After applying some schools offered interviews or require a supplemental application.

How did you help yourself stand out from other applicants?
To make myself stand out as a competitive applicant I made sure I had good GRE scores and grades. All of the schools I applied to require that you have shadowing hours so I obtained a variety of experiences in different types of settings. During my time at the U of M I made sure to get involved on campus in a variety of ways. Working in CEHD Student Services the past 4 years has taught me how to work in a professional environment, develop conflict fluency, and maintain professional relationships. Through my campus involvement, physical therapy experience, and time spent studying abroad I was able to draw from a lot of experiences to make my personal statement unique and memorable

Looking back, what did you find to be the most helpful during the graduate school application process?
The Academic Health Center on campus has a great online course called 'Personal Statements for a Health Program' that prepares you to write your personal statement. The course had a number of worksheets and tools to help me organize my thoughts. The APTA and PTCAS websites had great information as well. They had information about applying to each specific school and the program requirement as well as basic information such as location, cost, and size of the different schools.

What did you learn during the graduate school application process?
Through the application process I've learned a lot about myself including my strengths and weaknesses, why exactly I want to pursue a career in physical therapy, and what in physical therapy gets me excited. The self-awareness I gained from the application process helped me to choose the school that fit me the best.

Do you have any words of wisdom to share with others about your experience?
I would start studying for GRE early! Summer is a great time to take the test. I also recommend getting a variety of physical therapy experiences starting early. Getting to know physical therapists and your professors is important; you'll need recommendations from them. And remember to ask earlier rather than later for recommendations.

Did you utilize career services? If so, what was your experience like?
I met with Angie in career services to go over my personal statement and then again before an interview. She was so helpful in organizing my thoughts into a cohesive statement. We also did some mock interview questions that helped calm my nerves and gave me practice!

Ann Peckskamp
Family Social Science, Senior
Family Communication Project
Assistant Project Manager

How did you learn about your internship position?
It's a long story - My advisor, Bibiana Koh, works as the recruiter for the project, so at my Family Social Science orientation meeting she asked if anyone would be interested in a position. I'm lucky that I was in the right place at the right time, otherwise I would have had no idea that this project even existed. I applied for the only open position of coder. How the project works is that families come in and are video taped doing a variety of activities. Then, a coder watches the video and assigns codes to different types of behaviors or interactions (e.g. how well the father communicates with the daughter, or how good the parents' relationship is).

After both the preliminary and second interview for the position, Bibiana decided that my personality and skill set would be better utilized in a different area of the project. She recommended that I contact the assistant project manager (who would be leaving the project soon) and ask her to interview me for her position. So that's how I ultimately found out about my current position.

What are your key responsibilities?
Administration: Taking minutes, writing agenda's for meetings
Finances: Keeping track of budgets that are used for the project expenses, doing purchase orders, keeping in contact with the FSoS accountant to make sure her accounts line up with ours
Website: Being the liaison between the web designer and the project in order to keep the website updated
Miscellaneous: Making copies, going to the reuse center to pick up free office supplies when needed
Advisory board: Communicate with advisory board members about meetings, setting an agenda, and working with researchers about what information they want to present and getting it ready

What steps did you take in the application process?
First, I e-mailed my advisor (who told me about the position) asking for more information about the position. Then I updated my résumé so that it was current and reworded or modified my previous experiences so that they were more relevant to my prospective position. I wrote a cover letter highlighting my strengths and how my skills from previous experiences could be transferred to the coding position.

I had a first interview, and was informed that I might not be a good fit for the position, but that I would still be advanced to the second interview. After the second interview, Bibiana was confident that coding would not be a good match for me, but she felt strongly I should find a way to become involved with the project. So, she recommended that I talk to Emily Becher, the assistant project manager (see question #1). Emily and I communicated via e-mail to set up a time and place to meet so that she could interview me. We met at Caribou Coffee and discussed what the position entailed, how I could benefit the project, and how the project could benefit me. She offered me the position at the end of our interview.

How did you help yourself stand out from all the other applicants?
As a former elementary education major, a lot of my previous volunteer experiences weren't relevant to my new position. While I was worried that this might make me a less desirable candidate, I worked really hard to show how my skills were transferable - and it actually worked to my advantage. It made me unique and it showed that I could bring things to the internship that other people couldn't.

I've had some really good jobs with a lot of responsibilities, which most other undergraduates just don't have. I've worked in a professional office and I also teach ACT test preparation for the same company. By having two positions in the same company, it shows that I'm loyal to my employers and that my employers believe that I'm a valuable employee, capable of accepting increasing responsibilities. I've made conscious efforts to grow my résumé with the most impressive positions that I can. It would have been easier to just get a job at a coffee shop or something, but in the long run, it's paid off that I've made getting valuable job and volunteer experiences a priority in my life.

During my final interview, for the position that I actually accepted, Emily said that the one thing a lot of applicants had had trouble with, was articulating how the position would benefit the applicant. It's unpaid, so she said that she wanted the position to go to someone that would get something out of it too. I said that I had gotten where I am today by means of making connections and knowing the right people, and that this position would give me access to a wide network of professors, professionals, and other students who could help to further me in my future careers. She seemed pretty impressed by that answer, so I would encourage other internship seekers to think about how they would answer a similar question.

What did you find most helpful during your internship search process?
Keeping myself on my future employer's radar. I made sure to follow up with Bibiana on the same day that she presented the position to me. After I sent her my résumé, I contacted her a couple weeks later to see if I would be able to have an interview. After she told me that I was not right for the position, I asked what my other options were, and I contacted the people that she suggested right away. Just being very proactive was the most helpful thing that I did.

Do you have any tips to share with others?
Take advantage of your resources! I made an appointment with a career services counselor and I found practice interview questions, cover letter templates, and action verbs to strengthen my job descriptions on my résumé all on the CEHD Career Services website.

Don't forget, your resources include people too! Build a network. I am friends with someone already working as part of the research project so I asked her what they look for in applicants. My advisor was the recruiter, so I made sure that I took the time to get to know her. I had my sister, an English major, read my cover letter and résumé. Anything that can give you inside knowledge or help to make connections will definitely make you stand out.