3 things to consider to make the most of your down-time
By Peter Koerella UVM Career Center
Fall Recess is just around the corner, and a few days of rest are nearly here! Whether you’re planning on relaxing at home or somewhere else, it’s a perfect time to get a head-start on exploring career opportunities! Here’s a few ways to make the most of your time away:
• Reach out to an Alum on UVM Connect: Search through the Directory and make a new connection. You can also look under the “Members” tab in your Interest Groups. Make sure to look for alums with a “Willing to Help” banner above their profile picture. You can also use the Mentoring – Offering Help filters to find alums who are open to discussing career paths, offering job and internship opportunities or networking in the industry. A simple message can go a long way!
• Prep for a Job Shadow during Winter Break: Want to explore an industry or a possible career path? Consider a job shadow! These hands-on experiences are low-risk, highly rewarding chances to get outside the classroom and into a field, to meet folks in the industry, and to see if a career might be right for you! Think about what company or industry you might want to explore and reach out to contacts on UVM Connect to set up a job shadow! Check out the Career Center’s Job Shadow Resources for help finding a job shadow, messaging examples, questions to ask during a job shadow, and how to follow-up.
• Start thinking about summer internship opportunities: Internships engage your strengths, interests, and values, while building your professional network. Interns build reciprocal relationships with community partners and deepen and apply your academic learning. Browse internship opportunities on Handshake, Jobs on UVM Connect (type “Internship” in the search bar), and explore micro-internships with Parker Dewey.
Finding time to recharge your mind, body and spirit doesn’t come often during the school year. But a little preparation and investigation into what’s out there can make a big difference.
Heading home for the break? This November we’re focusing on how to talk about all the cool stuff you’ve been up to in college—whether it’s classes, internships, or campus involvement.
Talk About What You’re Learning: Share the awesome things you’ve been doing in class, clubs, or internships. Make it relatable by connecting what you’re studying to everyday situations.
Starter: “In my [class/club/internship], I’ve been working on [describe a project or skill]. It’s been super interesting because it’s helping me understand [relate it to something familiar or useful].”
Celebrate Your Wins: Whether you’ve tackled tough projects, hit personal milestones, or nailed an internship, don’t forget to share your progress. Your friends and family want to cheer you on!
Starter: “Something I’m proud of this semester is [name an achievement]. It was a challenge, but I learned a lot about [what you gained] and pushed myself.”
Perfect Your ‘College Story’ Pitch: Just like in an interview, having a go-to way of talking about your college experience can help. Summarize your involvement in clubs, internships, or research to show how it’s setting you up for success.
Starter: “This year, I’ve been part of [describe an activity]. It’s been a great way to build skills like [name the skills], which I know will come in handy for [describe your future goals].”
Write a thank you note! Read why and when you should send below…
A prompt and sincere note of thanks helps you stand out among the hundreds of other people the employer met at the fair. It illustrates your sincere interest and motivation about their company, demonstrates your writing skills, and it can make you more memorable than any other candidate. Send a thank you note within 24 hours of the fair.
Here are 5 tips to making your thank you note successful:
1. Make it professional.
This isn’t a text message or a Facebook post with your friends, so don’t use slang or abbreviations. Address the email formally with “Dear Ms. Hoppenjans” instead of “Hi Jill!” Sign it with “Sincerely” instead of “TTYL.” Remember that this could be your future employer.
2. Make it grammatically perfect.
Re-read your note several times to make sure it is as perfect as a resume or cover letter. You want the employer to remember you and what you’ve said, not that you misspelled the company’s name!
3. Make it personal.
You don’t have to send a note to every person you met. Send notes to employers you are really interested in and/or want to stay connected to. Don’t send a mass email to many employers at once. Write an individualized email and try to incorporate the conversation you had with the employer, particularly if there is something about the conversation that might be memorable for the employer.
4. Make it meaningful.
At a minimum, you are thanking them for attending the fair and for speaking with you. If the employer gave you some next steps (i.e.: apply online, look at their website, talk with another colleague), give them an update on your progress. If you don’t have more to say, don’t add fluff or filler.
5. Make it easy for the employer.
Attach a copy of your resume so that the employer can be quickly reminded of who you are.
Applying for a job or internship? In most cases, employers will call your references. For most other competitive opportunities, chances are you will need strong and descriptive letters of recommendation to help set you apart from other applicants.
Think you might apply to graduate or professional school, or for a national fellowship? Letters of recommendation will be critical to your candidacy. You might even need letters well before you graduate, i.e. for a summer research grant or enhancement program. The bottom line: you need to cultivate strong references while you are at UVM, and the sooner, the better. Continue reading “Requesting Strong Letters of Recommendation”
An interview with Jaz Routon, the Career Center’s 2024 Faculty Career Champion Award Recipient
Jaz Routon, PhD, a lecturer in Human Development and Family Services in the College of Education and Social Services, has been awarded the Career Center’s Career Champion Award for her outstanding dedication to supporting students in their career paths. In our interview, Routon shares their approach to empowering students and some of the best career advice they’ve been given in their career path. “Change is scary, even when you know you are making a good decision,” says Routon. “Do not let the fear of change stop you from making positive moves in your life.”
How does it feel to win the Career Champion Award?
I am honored to be selected for the Career Champion Award but could not have done this work alone. I must credit my teaching assistant, Arima Minard, many guest speakers, and our UVM and community partners who supervised our HDFS interns throughout this academic year.
What is your approach to supporting students in their career path?
My primary approach was demonstrating to the graduating seniors that their career trajectories did not need to be linear. I wanted to ease the stress and anxiety associated with graduating and figuring out the next steps. I invited helping professionals (such as counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, and clinical psychologists) to elaborate on their career paths and the twists and turns leading them to their current roles. I wanted the students to understand that what success looks like is diverse. I wanted the seniors to know there are no wrong turns because each step will give them experience and insight to inform and benefit their next step. It’s never too late to follow a dream.
What motivates you to go above and beyond to support a student’s career development?
In my first year leading the HDFS internship capstone course for our seniors, I realized that students were unsure what to do with Human Development and Family Science after graduation. Although the majors learn about numerous helping professions early in the program, they are not given explicit directions on exploring these options. I also remembered how hopeless I felt at the end of my undergraduate years and how much I could have benefited from this type of guidance. To help them better prepare, I asked what information the students wanted or needed, and I worked to meet those requests. We covered resume building, cover letters, recommendation letters, types of graduate degrees, job readiness, and career exploration, to name a few. I provided the students with various links for career and graduate school exploration. The students even learned about budgeting and received a crash course in Excel.
How do you foster a sense of confidence, courage, and curiosity in students regarding their career goals?
When the students first start at their internship sites, they think they know with certain which population they want to work with in the future and have a good idea of what they may want to do. However, the internship experience can sometimes change their perception altogether. For instance, I’ve had interns who thought they wanted to work with children only to find that they did not enjoy doing so or have the patience needed. Or, I’ve had an intern who was interested in working with the aging population but found they could not deal with the grief and loss when a client passes. When their original perception changes, the interns feel a sense of loss, confusion, and concern about what to do next – especially if they had spent their undergraduate years expecting to go into a specific helping field. However, I reiterate how critical it is to gain this insight and grow from it. I hope this has built courage and curiosity to keep seeking a path that feels right to them. I also teach the students to stand in their privileged social locations to push for change in the helping field. I think this has helped build confidence in their ability to make positive change and impact on individuals, families, and communities.
What’s the best career advice you were ever given?
That change is scary, even when you know you are making a good decision. Do not let the fear of change stop you from making positive moves in your life.
What’s the most important piece(s) of career advice you give to students?
To retrain your brain about “failure” because no matter what, you have gained experience that can serve you.
How can other staff support students in their career pursuits?
Making efforts to engage with campus and community partners deliberately and consciously in a way that does not only serve the University. As a land grant University, faculty and staff must be critical and consider how their teaching techniques and assignments can serve the community. Doing so builds trust and social capital that is highly integral to career development.
