Summer!!!

Aloha Everyone,

Welcome back to school! I hope everyone is looking forward to the new school year! Time to seems to be flying, I can't believe I am a junior already. So how was everyone's summer? Well I just wanted to give you all a heads up on how my summer went.
This summer I went to New York/New Jersey and interned at Northeast Private Client Group in May and June. They are a smaller private advising company, with higher end clients compared to bigger companies like Fidelity and Northwestern Mutual. It was a great learning experience and I gained so much from the people there. I attended appointments and meetings with the president and a few of the directors. I also put together financial portfolios and serviced the clients needs. During my last days at the company I was offered a job with the company upon graduation. They stated that I would work in New York for a few months to a year than move to Hawaii to create a new client base.
Many internships turn into jobs so I would suggest putting your best foot forward at all times, because you never know what could happen. I also would recommend if you're ever given the opportunity to take a job in New York, to take it. It is an extrodinary experience and a world on its own. So break out of your comfort zone and try something new, something different and grow. Not to mention it would be something great to put on your resume.
After interning with Northeast Private Client Group I came back home to Hawaii in June and interned at the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau(HVCB), under the Hawaii Tourism Authority for the rest of the summer. It was also another great experience meeting people in Tourism and working in Waikiki. At HVCB I got to work on a few projects dealing with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) that is coming in November and a new project that I created which was a green meeting planners guide for Hawaii coming out next quarter.
On weekends or when I had free time I would spend time with family and friends eating at all the local spots or going to the beach. It was an amazing summer and I gained so much experience and a better perspective of the world. So get out there and look for those internships and if you need any help come into our office in the UC building 5th floor for some advising.

I hope everyone had a great, fun filled summer!

Aloha,

Nate

Getting Back in the Game

Welcome back to the land of papers, deadlines, and responsibility! I hope you enjoyed your Summer vacation to the fullest. Now that we are back for the Fall semester, it might seem daunting to think of going through classes AND working AND getting an internship. No worries, it is completely possible to get all of these things done and still have time to grab a coffee with your roommate! Just a quick warning, completing these tasks may require some work.

TIP #3  “All work and no play...”
...might just add to your stress levels. Just as important as it is to get your work done, it is important not to burn out. Don’t forget about yourself! Schedule a time during the week that is “me time”. Whether it is taking a 30 minute break to watch an episode of your favorite show or catching a yoga (or boxing) class at Koret, it’s healthy to take a step back from everyone and everything. Be careful to set an alarm on your cell phone or something, so that you don’t make a 30 minute break turn into a 3 hour break.

TIP #2 Note to self: Eating and Sleeping are NOT optional
Do not forget to eat, and when you eat, eat well (i.e. go for the water, not the sugar-filled soda). Remember, what you put into your body will be the energy that will get you through the day.
As crazy as it may sound, set a bed time and a wake time for yourself. Easy enough, right? Sometimes. It will take some work to keep to your schedule. Things come up and things fall apart, thank goodness you had a schedule. Getting a consistent amount of sleep every night will help keep you more alert for the next day!

TIP #1 Time Management:
“You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.”--Charles Bruxton
Unfortunately, not everything will simply fall into place this semester without a little grunt work. If you do not own a planner, get one, or some sort of organizing device (i.e. iCal, Notebook for planning...). It is essential to know what will be going on in your day or days to come. This will come in handy when you are scheduling those many interviews and appointments. By the way, if you need help with your resume/cover letter to apply to jobs/internships or are just looking for some career tips, stop by the Career Services Center! Regular drop-in hours are from 11am-2pm. (UC 5th floor)
“Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it.”--Author Unknown
There is a time to watch movies and a time to buckle down and get to business. Use your time wisely, so that you can actually enjoy your free time...granted that you scheduled in free time. Set aside times to research about your future job to make sure that you are on the right track, or to apply to internships in your field of interest. Think of the many ways you could brighten up your resume with more experience! You can explore your Dons Career for different jobs/internships you could apply for this semester.

There is so much more advice out there, but those are the few nuggets that have stuck with me throughout my college experience.
Carpe diem! It’s going to be a great year.
--Victoria

EXTRA TIP:
Use social networking sites to your advantage!
Be sure to check us out on TWITTER & Facebook for career tips and more information!
Tweet: @USFcareer
FB: USF Career Services

What do you want to talk about every day?

Hello!

The semester is coming to an end and summer is near. Did you truly enjoy your classes to the fullest this last year? Is your chosen major what YOU want? A simple way to find out is by asking yourself, "is this what I really want to talk about every day for the rest of my life?" If your answer is yes, you're on a great path to your future and kudos to you! If the answer is no, you are not alone!

It is hard enough to decide what you will do for the rest of your life before you even get a chance to explore and it's even harder to pick when you're only 18 years old fresh out of high school. An important thing to remember as well is that 'nothing is forever'. Even if you did declare a major on admission but you are realizing it is not what you expected for whatever reasons, it is ok to change. Don't be afraid of change and know that you have support every step of the way!

If you find yourself pondering the idea more and more, I suggest to give yourself some time to do some reflecting and soul searching. There are many resources out there that can help you in your journey of discerning your future and the Career Services Center is definitely one of them. Our career counselors would be more than happy to have a conversation with you and aide you in your process.

Be curious with your options!

Rosie

Should I? Should I not?

People always ask, when do you send in a cover letter? or Do you need to send a cover letter in even if they didn't ask for one? The answer is yes, yes, yes. Always send a cover letter no matter what, unless the job description says "please do not send in cover letter" or if the company’s website doesn't allow you to post a cover letter. It is always better to send a cover letter even if not stated because most employers think it is expected and it looks really good, showing your research and knowledge. It also looks bad when you do not send one in and another applicant sends their cover letter in.

A cover letter is also a great way to introduce yourself and show how you can contribute to the company you're applying to and why you're not only the best candidate but you have the experience and knowledge they are looking for. So the best thing to do is try your best and get a cover letter done and send both the resume and cover letter, but do not forget to stop by the USF Career Services Center located on the UC 5th floor, so we can take a look at it and help you. Our drop in hours are Monday through Friday 11am- 2pm. 

-Aloha Nate

Fight Senioritis! There's still a lot of work to do!

Seniors, you're almost there!! As you get ready to graduate and begin reflecting on where you are going/what you are going to do after graduation, use the following as a basic checklist for things you should get done before you leave USF:

• Meet with a career counselor and plan a strategy to maximize your senior year/summer.
• Sign up for On-Campus Interviews on DonsCareers.
• Decide on your best option after graduation, and come up with one or two backup plans just in case.
• If you are considering graduate school pick up the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, CBEST, PRAXIS, or MCAT test bulletins.
• Attend Resume Writing and Interviewing Workshops.
• Learn market trends and salary expectations for your industry and career of interest.
• Gather relevant job application materials. (Resume, Cover Letter, References, Examples of Previous Work)
• Attend the Career Fair to network and discuss opportunities with Bay Area Employers
• Identify top skills/interests from past work experience to prepare for interviews.
• Set up a videotaped mock interview session to practice your skills.
• Use DonsCareers to identify job opportunities.
  
  Congratulations Seniors! You've worked hard your years here and deserve the best!!  

Inquiries and Internships

Hello all!

        As the Summertime approaches, I myself have been on the hunt for a good internship that would help me gain experience...not to mention, something nice to add to my resume! I went on DonsCareers and Internship Exchange, and got an idea of what kind of internship I was really interested in. From there, I started Googling away companies that I would like to intern at. I looked over my resume, wrote out a few cover letters (because they should be specific for each company you apply for), and sent out my inquiry emails! I expected to receive, “Thanks, but no thanks” emails back from the companies, but it was quite the opposite. I got a response! In fact, I have been scheduled for a face to face interview later this week. There is no harm in sending out emails saying you’re interested! One of the company managers actually said “Thanks for reaching out and showing interest!” Don’t lose hope, there’s still time! Just get a move on! Show you’re interested and get that internship! Lastly, if you would like to do a Summer internship, but cannot this year, you can still get a jump start on researching internships for the Fall semester!

Good Luck!

--Victoria

GRAD SCHOOL???

Are you thinking about going to grad school? Do you think it’s right for you? Is it needed for you to reach your ultimate goal? Need a game plan? Come into the Career Services Center on the UC 5th Floor if you answered yes or even hesitated to answer one of these questions. We have things that will help you in the tough process of grad school from exploring, to planning, to the application and more. Grad school is both important and expensive, not to mention a huge decision. If you are having trouble laying out your options or making a life changing decision come to meet with a counselor that will help you determine what might best fit you as an individual. Our office also provides handouts and online resources about the test process and different grad schools. You can also check out the Career Service Center Graduate School Link  for addition information or to start your grad school process. Don't hesitate, were only an appointment away! So Drop in and ask for some help. We welcome every student with open arms!

-Aloha Nate