Career Development Office
THE EMPLOYER CAREER HANDBOOK
The career development team is committed to providing employers a seamless recruiting experience. Whether you are new to FIU or one of our long-standing partners, the career development team will connect you with services and programs and with faculty, staff and administration to help identify talent. FIU students are some of the best in the country. Find your next employee through us!
Lourdes Gomez, M.S, Ed. Assistant Director
Employer Relations & Career Development logomez@fiu.edu | 305-919-4079
Katherine Martin Assistant Director
Career Counseling & Marriott Tianjin China Program kamartin@fiu.edu | 305-919-4086
Anedriana Franck Program Coordinator
Career Development anfranck@fiu.edu | 305-919-6312
THE FIU CHAPLIN SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
3000 Northeast 151 Street, North Miami, FL. USA. 33181
HM 331-333 | Office Hours: 8:30am–5:00pm
hospitality.fiu.edu
CHAPLIN CAREER DEVELOPMENT MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Career Development Office is to assist with career exploration and preparation for all students and alumni.
We strive to encourage career development through experiential learning, employer partnerships, and student engagement that will lead to postgraduation success and professional development.
SUPPORT: Your support goes toward our Career Development Office which helps students gain access to industry events and opportunities.
DIVERSE: FIU hospitality graduates the most Hispanic, Black and International students than any other university. With a diverse student body and an emphasis on global learning, Chaplin School students are equipped with a comprehensive set of skills and practical experiences that provide a solid foundation for a successful career.
VISION: Students are the center of the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s vision, which is to transform hospitality and tourism… one learner at a time, for a lifetime.
FACULTY: Students are taught by Chaplin School faculty members with strong academic credentials combined with excellent teaching skills and extensive executive-level industry experience to inspire them to become leaders in hospitality and tourism.
EDUCATION: Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is distinguished as one of the top hospitality programs in the United States and the world. It is ranked in the top 50 globally, #1 for its online program, #1 in the Southeast region of the U.S. and it is best in value.
TOP 10
U.S. Public Institution in Hospitality & Leisure Management
We have the most graduates earning the HIGHEST starting salaries compared to any State University System hospitality program in Florida #1 in graduating Black and Hispanic students
Partner with over
1,260 employers
Recruit FIU Chaplin School students and alumni for full-time, part-time, seasonal or internship positions. Campus recruiting is easy and takes place through our platform called Handshake. Recruiting is encouraged in the fall (end of August through December) and spring (January through April).
To plan and schedule visits, contact Lourdes Gomez , Assistant Director of Employer Relations & Career Development at FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Career Development Office via email logomez@fiu.edu .
HANDSHAKE: YOUR ONE STOP FOR:
• Posting available jobs, internships and manager in training opportunities for students and alumni at FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
ON FIU HANDSHAKE YOU WILL:
• Gain access to resumes
• Manage applications
• Schedule interviews
• Receive communication about our career fairs and Chaplin School events/seminars
• Connect with students and alumni
EMPLOYER GUIDE TO HANDSHAKE
1. Sign Up for Account
Visit http://fiu.joinhandshake.com/login and click in “sign up for an Account” on the top right corner of the page. Select which type of account you’d like to create: Employer.
2. Input Information
Once you select “Employer,” input the requested information. Your email address and password will serve as your login credentials for the system.
3. Activate Your Account
The system will ask if you are a Third-Party Recruiter. Select “No, I am not” and continue. You will receive a confirmation email to activate your account. Follow the numbered timeline on the bottom of the browser to continue the registration process.
4. Create Company Profile
If you are creating a new company profile, it will ask for a few details, please fill out completely, including specific contact name and their email address, the company address, phone number and website. Once this information is filled out, you can choose the “Create Company Profile” box. Create a company profile and choose “Create New Employer.”
5. Post Jobs & Register for Events
After successfully creating your account, or linking your email address within an existing company, you will now have the option to post a job, request on campus interviews and register for upcoming events.
6.
Once your account has been approved, you will receive an email confirming your connection to the university.
7. Navigate Options
Use the left-hand toolbar to navigate the options at the university, such as Events, Interviews, Fairs and Job Postings.
Promote your organization by sharing its history, mission, initiatives and values, and meet potential candidates by sharing your open opportunities. Host an information session on-campus or virtually.
Our Career Development Team at the Chaplin School hosts a podcast called “Real-World Talks’’. The podcast focuses on interviewing exceptional and diverse people within the hospitality industry. This is an opportunity for employers to share more about their organization and offer their advice about real world situations, the industry, and growth more directly with Chaplin School students. We are a lighthearted platform with a loyal audience.
Your company can host any of our Career Development Workshops in person or virtually, which take place at least once a semester. It’s an opportunity to lead the way in:
• Resume review & tips
• Interview Tips
• LinkedIn Advice
• Leadership Skills
• Professional Development
• Career Paths
• Salary Negotiation
• Branding Yourself
Students want to engage. This is your chance to invite students to have an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of your organization and introduce students to industry professionals within your organization and conduct interviews.
Take over our Instagram and Facebook accounts to have an interactive experience with our students and alumni.
The Chaplin School offers students multiple courses every semester both in person and online. Provide industry insight by sharing your experience, expertise and more about your company.
Nearly 200 students sign up for and attend our career fairs every semester. Recruit, engage and gain access to skilled and eager students and alumni at our Hospitality virtual and on campus career fairs.
Should your organization have materials that must be shipped, please clearly label the boxes with your organization name and send to the appropriate address.
Ship to:
Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Florida International University | Biscayne Bay Campus
Attn: Career Development Office
Room: HM 332
3000 Northeast 151 Street, North Miami, FL. USA. 33181
Want to showcase your own brand? We can partner with your company to host an exclusive job fair. Build awareness of your company and recruit hospitality students and alumni through a tailored fair for your organization.
Chaplin School offers many other ways to customize engagement with our students. Sponsor a “lunch and learn”, an expert panel for a seminar, or even offer students a “mini-course” in your company’s expertise. Customize an engagement event based on your expertise and network with students and alumni.
To participate in any of these brand building opportunities, please contact:
Lourdes Gomez, Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Career Development: logomez@fiu.edu | 305-919-4079
Knowing FIU’s student demographics and population characteristics is important. To learn more about our students, visit hospitality.fiu.edu.
Homogeneity in a recruiting team may cause wariness among students of diverse backgrounds. FIU is a diverse university, in fact, 85% of FIU’s student population identifies as minority. Make sure your team sends the right message.
Showcase to students why your company is the best company to work for. Explain your organization’s culture, mission, and vision.
Giveaways attract job prospects. Identify promotional materials that will arouse interest and link to your recruiting message. Be sure to bring enough to last you the whole day.
Communicate with the career development team to confirm your attendance and ask any last-minute questions about that event.
Once you have attracted a quality group of prospective employees, do not miss the opportunity to keep them interested. Determine your follow-up strategy prior to the event.
“An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, 2019)
Historically, full-time, entry-level hires converted from an employer’s own internship program are more likely to continue with the employing organization than their counterparts.
INTERNS PROVIDE
• Fresh ideas
• Assistance with projects
• Insight on new approaches and business solutions
• Feedback on products and services
• Opportunities to screen and work with potential entry-level employees prior to making a full-time commitment
INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES
• Increased brand visibility and product knowledge for your organization at FIU
• A training program and talent pipeline for future full-time professionals within your organization
• Management experience and leadership skills growth for your entry-level employees
• Showcase long-term career opportunities within both your organization and your industry
Ideally, a successful internship program should meet the organization’s needs while providing students with relevant career experiences. An internship is a supervised work experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what is being learned throughout the experience. Learning activities common to internships include learning objectives, observation, reflection, evaluation, and assessment. A brief outline of things you may wish to consider as you begin establishing your program is outlined below.
1. What department or work area would benefit from an intern’s assistance?
2. What learning opportunities can your organization provide the student?
3. Who will be able to mentor the student providing evaluation of the student’s performance while bridging practical experience to what is being learned in the classroom?
1. What does your organization hope to achieve from an internship program?
2. What are the desired outcomes for your organization and the student?
1. What will the intern be responsible for? Have a clear job description outlining the intern’s job duties.
2. Who will be the student’s supervisor? This person should have the time, knowledge and positivity to mentor the student.
3. What qualifications are required of the intern? (e.g. Communication skills, computer skills, etc.)
In order to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, it is required that all employers that are for profit pay their interns, unless the intern is receiving academic credit. Suggested pay rate is $9.00-$15.00 per hour. Government agencies and Not–For–Profits may host interns without pay. An intern’s hours will vary depending on the time of year. For an unpaid internship (for academic credit) to be a bona fide unpaid internship, the employer needs to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act which details that:
• The activity undertaken by the students need to be typical of an educational/vocational experience.
• The training is for the benefit of the students.
• The students do not displace regular employees, but work under the close observation of a regular employee or supervisor.
• The employer provides the training and derives no immediate advantage from the activities of students, and, on occasion, the operations may actually be impeded by the training.
• The students are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the experience.
• The employer and the student understand that the student is not entitled to wages for the experience.
Seven Key Steps to a Quality Internship:
1. Determine Organizational Needs and Internship Goals
2. Create Effective Position Description
Keep in mind that paid interns make ideal workers who are hungry to learn, eager to make a good impression and willing to perform a multitude of tasks.
An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.
Student interns are highly motivated individuals who bring a unique viewpoint to an organization for a designated time-frame. A successful flow of interns can help create a talented pool of candidates to become full-time employees and represent your company on campus.
Yes, it is recommended that all for profit companies offer paid internship programs. As with fulltime salaries, intern rates can vary based upon experience, specialization and/or position, including location. Pay rate ranges from $9.00-$15.00 an hour.
Yes, students can arrange for academic credit through academic departments. Only academic departments can offer credit and policies differ greatly from one department to the next. If you are willing to help a student gain academic credit, then the selected students should register for an internship class through their academic advisor.
Students are available to participate in a paid internship throughout the entire year. We recommend that internships coincide with the school semesters (Fall: August-December, Spring: January-April, Summer: May-July/August). During the Fall and Spring semesters students usually work part-time (generally less than 20 hours per week). Most students opt to intern in the summer on either a parttime or full-time basis.
First, determine the available intern positions at your company. Then write a great internship description that will attract students and detail the learning opportunities, type of projects assigned, and qualifications. Create an account and post your opportunities directly for FIU students via our Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Career Link at https://fiu.joinhandshake.com.
Evaluate student resumes on the website and conduct interviews. Lastly, select qualified candidates to intern at your company.
If you would like to become a partner, please contact:
Shivani Joshi, Executive Director, Global Philanthropy & Partnerships
sjoshi@fiu.edu | 305-919-4510
