iSchool Career Services Newsletter: 5/29/2012

Career News and Tips

Using Linkedin

There’s plenty of information on using LinkedIn out there, but my biggest pitch is to create a page if you don’t have one already! I encourage everyone to be using this great resource as a personal branding tool, a way to research employers and contacts, and for professional networking. Here are some helpful tips on creating your profile:

1. Photo:  Include one! No profile photo makes your profile look unprofessional and anonymous, especially when you show up in a search result next to other LinkedIn users who do have profile photos. Photos put a face to a name and make you seem like a real professional person, and not just an unknown user. It should be a professional-looking shot that conveys you in a positive light. If you decide to a take a photo specifically for LinkedIn, this blog post provides good tips on your photo set-up.

2. Headline: Customize this! Keep it brief but make it a powerful demonstration of how you add value. “Skilled web developer and UW student” or “Library Science student specializing in Knowledge Organization” are both much more powerful than just “student at University of Washington”, or the LinkedIn default choice. Consider writing your summary first and then from that, pull the most powerful few words to use in your headline. Note: you can (and should) also customize your linkedin URL, and you can include this on business cards or in email signatures.

3. Summary: This can be your elevator pitch in written form. See earlier newsletters on the student services blog for more information on how to construct this, or email me for a link to the “Don’t Be Awkward” networking workshop that contained great info on how to create a good summary introduction of yourself. If you need help with language, gather some job descriptions you’re interested in and look for common keywords or skills that are often mentioned, and highlight those in your summary.

4. Everywhere: Talk about your benefit. Point our your value-added, the benefits of your skills and work, and the outcomes of your projects. How is something, someone, or somewhere better because of your work?

5. Refresh and update periodically. Each time you update your profile, you get a little call-out in the newsfeed of LinkedIn, drawing attention to your profile. This is good! It’s okay to let your profile develop further over time. Post updates when you have them, these show that you know and love the work that you do, and can brand you as a competent (even expert) professional in the field. Research other great LinkedIn help guides and tips online, and note that LinkedIn also has a great blog, and is a source of job postings!

iSchool Career Services Newsletter 4/23/2012

News and Tips

I spend a lot of time talking with hiring managers, recruiters, and people who are looking for great qualified applicants for really good jobs. Here are some general lessons I’ve learned this week in talking with people who want to hire iSchool grads:

1. You need a portfolio. A good portfolio. Ask professionals in the field to review it for you as a good way to make a connection with someone and get tips that will help improve it. Look for or ask for examples of portfolios of people who have jobs that you want.
2. Build/show a breadth of skills. Learn a few programming languages, demonstrate project management ability, business acumen, IT systems, database systems, and more at a basic level to be able to talk to your diverse skill set when you meet with potential employers.
3. Build/show depth in a skill in your interest area to set yourself apart. One thing I heard this week from a recruiter is that they need someone with experience in complex application design, rather than just basic web development, for example.  Pick one or two skills or topics that you like and are good at to focus extra energy on. If you can take a few skills to the next level above your peers, you just might be the perfect fit for someone with a need in that area.
4. Meet the basic qualifications. Read the description carefully if there is one, customize your resume to demonstrate that you have the elements they are looking for, and show them through your resume and cover letter and in conversation that you understand what their fundamental needs are (and if you don’t know, ask!). You don’t always need to meet all of the elements listed in a job description (it’s rare that someone will), but know the position and how your skills match up with what the identified and most basic needs are.

Confused about how you’re ever going to do all of this? It might be as simple as changing how you talk about your skills and experiences and how you list these in your materials. Come see me (mattaj@uw.edu)  to talk about your specific questions!

Event: Information Session – National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) Info Session & Internship Program

National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) Info Session & Internship Program

Tuesday, April 3rd

12:30pm-1:20pm

Thomson Hall 317

No registration required

Internship: Guaranteed Summer D.C. Internship Scholarships

A scholarship update about summer internships with The Washington Center (TWC). TWC will award University of Washington students a $2,000 scholarship for residents and a $1,500 scholarship for non-residents for the 2012 Summer Quarter. Go to www.twc.edu for information about their program.

If you are interested in applying, the deadline is Friday, March 16.

Get in contact Meera Roy ASAP to set up a time to talk about the program, whether it is a good fit for you in terms of experience and cost, and to review your application materials. For an appointment, either use the online appointment system at https://depts.washington.edu/polsadvc/signup.php or email meroy@uw.edu.

 

 

Event: Information Session on Internship Opportunities in Washington, D.C.

Are you interested in doing an internship in Washington, D.C.?

If yes, please join us for information meetings about The Washington Center Internship Program at the following times:

Monday, November 7

   1030-1120 GWN 1A (ground floor of Gowen Hall)

   1230-120  SMI 311

   130-220   MEB 237

   330-420   CMU 228

 

  Tuesday, November 8

   1230-120  SMI 311

   130-220   MEB 237

   330-420   CMU 228

 

The Washington Center (TWC) runs a full-time internship program in Washington, D.C. that is open to all UW students and provides comprehensive service, including internship placement and housing. Placements include government agencies, corporations, nonprofits and international organizations. Hundreds of UW students have participated in this program since UW’s affiliation in 1977, and many have made connections that led to post-degree employment.

At the informational meetings, a Washington Center representative and I will discuss the program, scholarships and the application process.

For 2012 the quarterly program cost is $5,850 and the housing cost is $3,790.

In addition, students pay UW registration, transportation, and personal expenses. Students may use financial aid for this program, UW tuition is charged at a reduced rate (because of this, the cost for nonresidents is comparable to a quarter at UW), and students may apply for scholarships (many UW students receive scholarships of $1-3000).

Upcoming application deadlines are:

Spring Quarter 2012, Regular: 1/13/12

Summer Quarter 2012, Competitive*: 2/17/12, Regular: 3/16/12

Autumn Quarter 2012, Early**: 1/20/12, Competitive*: 5/4/12, Regular: 6/15/12

Spring Quarter 2013, Early**: 5/21/12, Competitive*: 10/12/12, Regular:

1/11/13

* Deadline for eligibility for most scholarships (some scholarships available with regular deadline)

** See http://www.twc.edu/internships/dates-and-deadlines/early-deadlines for the list of organizations that require applications by the early deadline

Note that some established internship programs, such as the Congressional Black Caucus, may require earlier application submissions than the deadlines noted above.

Regardless of your major, there is an internship position for you. If you would like to know more, please come to an information session or contact me for an appointment. Information is also available online at www.twc.edu

Info sessions for the WA State Legislative Internship Program, Tuesday, May 17th

Work as an intern in the Washington State Legislature, Winter Quarter 2012.

Information Sessions, TUESDAY, MAY 17th
11:00am-12:30pm, 1A Gowen Hall
1:30pm-3:00pm, 1A Gowen Hall

Feel free to stop by anytime during either session.

April 6 D.C. Internships Info Sessions and Deadlines

Are you interested in doing an internship in Washington, D.C.? Placements include internships with federal agencies, think tanks, media organizations, museums and arts organizations, international organizations, corporations, law offices and courts, lobbying firms, and non-profits.  If you would like to learn more, please come to an information session about The Washington Center Internship Program on Wednesday, April 6, at the following times:

   10:30-11:30am in GWN 1B (ground floor of Gowen Hall)
   12:30-1:20pm in MEB 250
    2:30-3:20pm in DEN 205

Paid Summer Research – Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium is happy to announce the application opening of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).  SURP is a 9 week summer undergraduate research opportunity at the University of Washington for students majoring in the STEM fields.

The application due date is April 15, 2011 and the 9 week summer research stipend is $4,000 for full-time or $2,000 for part-time work.

You may find SURP details and the application at the following link:
http://www.waspacegrant.org/u-gradsum.html

Student Philanthropy Education Council

We received this notice from UW Advancement today:

I’d like to share a great student opportunity with you so that you can share it with the students in your department. Recently, the UW Foundation has started the Student Philanthropy Education Program, with the Student Philanthropy Council heading up our program. The Student Philanthropy Council is comprised of a group of highly driven, current UW students interested in gaining valuable work experience and skills who are dedicated to helping better their university. Members of the council are asked to devote a few hours every month to attend meetings and events for a commitment period of an entire academic year beginning August of 2010. I’ve attached an application and description of the position. DEADLINE TO TURN IN APPLICATIONS IS AUGUST 10th, 2010. APPLICATIONS TURNED IN VIA EMAIL TO thesofa@u…

Student Philanthropy Council Description

As a team, the Student Philanthropy Council will work together over the year with the UW Foundation’s Annual Giving staff to develop and carry out marketing campaigns and events aimed at educating the UW student population about the foundation. Acting as an ambassador for the UW Foundation, your main goal will be to assist in spreading the importance of philanthropy and the role alumni support plays in making the UW an excellent university.

Best,
Allison Moran
Project Manager- Student Calling
UW Tower- T1 (1st Floor) Box: 359504
4333 Brooklyn Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98195
206.543.0656 morana@u…

NACE: Interns More Likely to Have Job Offers

New graduates who took part in an internship program are more likely to have received a job offer than their peers who decided to forgo the experience, according to results of NACE’s 2010 Student Survey. 

The study found that 42.3 percent of the seniors who had internship experience and applied for a job received at least one job offer. Conversely, only 30.7 percent of seniors without internship experience who applied for a job received an offer.  

The study also found that those who had an internship were more likely to accept the offer—and have a job to go to following graduation. More than one-quarter of the intern group with offers accepted them; less than 20 percent of the non-intern group did so. 

One possibility for interns’ higher acceptance rate: a higher salary than the average offered their non-intern counterparts. Survey results show the median accepted salary offer for seniors with an internship was $45,301—nearly 31 percent higher than the $34,601 median accepted salary offer to non-intern seniors. 

The 2010 Student Survey was conducted February 9, 2010, through April 30, 2010. More than 31,470 students representing more than 400 colleges and universities nationwide took part; more than 13,000 of those were graduating seniors. A final report on the study’s findings will be available later this year.

From NACE website
http://www.naceweb.org/Publications/Spotlight_Online/2010/0526/Interns_More_Likely_to_Have_Job_Offers.aspx