When applying for positions, you need to cover all of your bases
Know where to look for and apply for openings
Develop a group of contacts who are willing to help you (friends, family, alumni,
UD staff/faculty)
Utilize LinkedIn
LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com - professional networking website)
Complete your profile
Headline: State your goals, career interest, highlights, and/or accomplishments
Photo: Use a professional headshot that shows your face clearly
Search for jobs or connections by industry, job title, location, school, etc. Filter
by school.
Message people! Don’t be shy about reaching out via LinkedIn
Follow up if you haven't heard anything (roughly 2 weeks)
Job Fairs
Research - look into companies of interest and don’t discount those that aren’t in
your field.
Elevator pitch - customize your pitch for the job/internships offered in the industry.
Ask questions - ask about things that can’t be found on the website.
Smile! - Maintain eye contact and smile. This will communicate that you are engaged
and interested.
How to Write an Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch should encapsulate who you are, what you have to offer and what
your goals or interests are. It should be brief - imagine that you’re on a quick elevator
ride and only have a few seconds to tell someone what you’re all about.
Example: “Hi, I’m Jessica. I’m a junior English major. I’m interested in editing and
publishing. I’m currently interning at the World Affairs Council where I do social
media for all of their events. I saw that your company is looking for a marketing
intern. Can you tell me a little bit about what kinds of projects your past interns
have completed?”
Some Sample Questions:
Always have questions prepared to ask recruiters. Here a few suggestions below:
What projects are interns/employees currently working on?
What’s a typical day like for an intern?
How did you land your current position?
What do you like best about your job or company?
Have questions prepared for alumni, too. Things like:
How do you think your UD education helped you with your job?
Which class do you think was the most helpful for your career?
How have you leveraged your liberal arts background?
Informational Interviews
An informational interview is an informal conversation you can have with someone who
is working in a field of your interest. Talking with people allows you to learn about
different career paths and increase your connections. A lot of jobs and internships
are gained through these connections.
How to Prepare
Research the professional and their company.
Research their industry.
Review your experiences, interests, and skills.
Develop a list of questions.
Arrive a few minutes early and dress in formal or business casual attire. If the meeting
is virtual or over the phone, identify a quiet location beforehand and ensure that
your roommates know to be quiet. If you need a quiet place, reach out to our office
if you’d like to reserve a private room on campus.
Send a thank you note: Within two days, send a thank you email or note highlighting the value of the meeting
and referencing something specific the professional suggested. This keeps the door
open for future exchanges.
Develop a plan to stay in touch: It is important to stay in touch with these contacts. Follow up every few months,
but this depends on whether or not you have something substantial to say. Substantial
updates can include: an update on your professional life, an interesting article,
or even a season’s greeting. Not everyone will reciprocate, so do not take it personally
if someone does not reply. Also create a database to keep track of contact information;
include: name, date of conversation or follow-up, outcome and any relevant notes.
Additional Tips!
Beware of Social Media
No one should judge you based on what’s on your Twitter or Instagram; however, people
judge you based on your Twitter and Instagram. To ensure that you put your best foot
forward, we’ve compiled a list of social media tips for you to utilize.
Adjust your privacy settings and be aware of what is and is not public.
Know what comes up when you search your name on Google.
Proactively untag yourself from photos you do not want public.
Never complain about your job/boss/coworkers on public or full-name affiliated social
media accounts. Be wary of sharing your personal views on social media especially
about hot button topics.
Strategies for nerves
Practice with a friend!
Take a break.
Test technology (and then test it again).
Email Message Templates
Reaching out to recruiters and alumni
Include the following:
A greeting
purpose
Skill set/background summary
Attchment of resume (optional)
Call to action
Email to Recruiters
To: Gaby O’Neill
Subject Line: Summer 2022 Internship
Hello Ms. O’Neill,
My name is Christina Nguyen and I met you at the University of Dallas job fair last
Thursday. When we spoke, you mentioned that you would have summer internships posted
soon and that I should email you my resume. I am still interested in the marketing
internship that you mentioned and am sending you my resume for your consideration.
You may give me a call at 972-721-5000.
Thank you,
Christina Nguyen
To: Angela Smith - Financial Analyst at ABC Company
Subject Line: Financial Analytics internship
Hello Angela,
It was great speaking with you at the video interview workshop you hosted at the University
of Dallas last week. I decided to apply for the Summer 2022 financial analytics internship
you recommended based on my background in data analytics. I attached my resume for
review as you requested. Thank you again for your time.
Sincerely,
Gaby
Email to Alumni
To: Shannon Blatt
Hello Shannon,
I am a junior English major at UD and I see you graduated from UD with a degree in
English. I was hoping that you’d be open to talking briefly over the phone or meeting
for a cup of coffee to discuss your professional path after UD? I’m interested in
learning more about social media marketing. Any insight you could give me about your
career path in marketing for Whole Foods would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your time,
Gaby O’Neill
To: Shannon Blatt
Subject Line: Meet for Coffee?
Hi Ms. Blatt,
My name is Christina Nguyen and I met you at the Champagne Breakfast at Groundhog
Day a couple weeks ago. When we spoke, you suggested we meet for coffee so we can
chat about your career path as an English grad and how you ended up at Fidelity. My
schedule is flexible and I can meet Monday through Thursday in the evenings. Please
let me know what days and times work best for you.
Thank you,
Christina Nguyen
LinkedIn
Why Use LinkedIn
Regardless of your major, LinkedIn is a necessity in today’s world. It helps you establish
a professional presence and begin building your professional network. This is incredibly
important for getting jobs, internships and even volunteer opportunities while in
college and beyond. In basic terms, it is an online resume that allows recruiters
and connections to find you based on your skills and experience.
How to Create an Effective Profile
Profile Photo
Your face should take up most of the photo and you should be dressed professionally
Do not use selfies or obvious photo filters
Headline and About Section
Write clearly and concisely in first person
Highlight your goals/interests as they relate to your target internship, job, or opportunity
Revise with the help of OPCD
Describe your experience and education
Experience should highlight specific outcomes or accomplishments
Education should highlight your major and relevant coursework
Attach links, files and media
Use targeted keywords that are relevant to the field you’re interest in
Skills
Identify valuable skills by analyzing job listings
List skills that frequently appear in the jobs you apply for--only if you have them
Evaluate your resume for soft skills and list them along with the hard, measurable
skills.
How to Use LinkedIn
Etiquette for College Students
Linkedin is meant for professional relationships and prioritizes decorum and a stricter
code of internet behavior compared to most social platforms. Follow these rules when
communicating with colleagues, recruiters and employers on LinkedIn.
Making Connections
Find people you know, have a clear connection with, or have a compelling reason they
should connect with you. You can send a message along with your request to connect.
If you do not know the person with whom you are connecting, you should typically send
a message explaining the connection. For example: “Hi Shannon, I am looking to connect
with more English majors from UD!”
Sending Messages
Always personalize your messages and clearly state your intent within the first couple
of sentences. For more information you can look at our networking section and even
find templates for your use.
Getting Endorsements
It is best to ask for endorsements from people you know and have worked with. You
can ask fellow classmates, professors, and previous colleagues and supervisors.
How to Succeed on LinkedIn
Join professional groups
Join alumni groups
Engage with your connections
Explore companies and look for people you have connections with
Talk to recruiters
Apply for jobs
Follow companies of interest and influencers in your field of interest
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