The Daily Illini: Career Guide

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Worldly students bring desirable skills to work Students use international travel to highlight unique skills

BY SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS STAFF WRITER

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society, studying abroad is becoming more than just an option for college students â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turning more into a necessity.

The experience can make a difference in the job search and hiring process.

Say an employer is deciding between hiring one of two recent college graduates for a top company. Both applicants have very strong academic records, similar technical skills and their alma mater is the University of Illinois.

However, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an experience that only one of the applicants has: studying abroad.

So now, how does the employer narrow down their decision?

College students who study abroad more than likely have the advantage of picking up personal skills â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some of which include communication skills, learning a second language and being able to adapt to different cultural norms and environments.

International careers expert and author Stacie Berdan called these type of abilities â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft skills.â&#x20AC;? Berdan has written several books covering traveling abroad, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Ahead by Going Abroadâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Student Guide to Study Abroad.â&#x20AC;?

She discussed some of the soft skills employers

are looking for nowadays. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We live in a global world â&#x20AC;&#x201D; communication, the rise of technology has created a much interconnected world,â&#x20AC;? Berdan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employers are looking for things like adaptability and fl exibility because todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workplace is at a very fast pace.â&#x20AC;?

Berdan said some of the skills that can be adopted from challenging experiences abroad can really benefit a student in the long run. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing beats spending time outside your own country, outside your own borders and having it really open up your mind to the way the rest of the world works, so that you can actively learn those soft skills because you are forced to,â&#x20AC;?

Berdan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are to deal with a different culture, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re forced to be outside your comfort zone.â&#x20AC;?

Dyuthi Khanna, junior in Business, studied abroad in Singapore last semester. She had the opportunity to earn class credit from the business school of Nanyang Technological University. She said Singapore had offices for every big company sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heard of. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was being exposed to one of the biggest markets â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which is Asia â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a lot of people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that experience,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel so much more culturally literate now.â&#x20AC;?

Khanna, who is in a business fraternity, said the communication skills she picked up from studying abroad have been useful when networking with different recruiters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been back

from Singapore, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what the conversation is always about, because people are interested in international experience,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of thing that makes them remember you. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve defi nitely found since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been back, talking to recruiters and just networking with people has become so much easier for me because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a lot more for me to talk about.â&#x20AC;?

Berdan said she has conducted a qualitative survey with international business people every 18 months or so for the last seven or eight years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always ask them, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;If there are two resumes exactly alike, but one that studied abroad and one that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, which would you choose?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They almost always say the one that has studied abroad because it shows previous disposition to mobility, it shows risk-taking, it shows those soft skills and those cross-cultural skills,â&#x20AC;? Berdan said.

Abby Radasevich, senior in LAS, studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador, last semester. She not only had the chance to take classes while abroad, but she also interned and worked with the food and agriculture department in Ecuador. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got to meet people from the UN, and see ... how they view food sovereignty and food security in Ecuador.

On my other days I went to a local farm and just saw how they

were implementing the practices,â&#x20AC;?

Radasevich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got to see the conceptual side of food security and then actually how it was being implemented.â&#x20AC;?

When she was a sophomore, Radasevich applied to the Chicago Council and Global Affairs. She had good grades as well as some volunteer experience. However, she never received a call back from the internship.

As a junior, while Radasevich was abroad in Ecuador, she decided to give the application another try.

That time, she not only received a call back, but was eventually offered the internship position. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My supervisor and I discussed it during my interview a lot,â&#x20AC;? Radasevich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She had visited Central America and it was just a bond. It shows that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comfortable to get out of your bubble.â&#x20AC;?

Bo White, director of the Study Abroad Office, emphasized some of the advantages of having international experience in a global economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What happens is that the markets in Asia impact what happens in our markets here, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be prepared more effectively,â&#x20AC;?

White said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best way to grow is to put yourself in situations that stretch you and that put you in circumstances that will require you to be challenged.

And sometimes, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no more challenging thing than to be in another culture ... you get to actually understand yourself and your own culture better.â&#x20AC;?

gebregi2@dailyillini.com

I-Link provides opportunities for students, employers to interact

BY AMINAH KOSHUL STAFF WRITER

The proliferation of new technologies has created ample opportunities for recruitment for both students and employers. A prime example of this is I-Link, the Career Management System used at the University.

I-Link is a service provided by 10 different career service offices across campus. It is an interactive web-

I L L I N O I S | L AW

site in the sense that it displays tens of thousands of job postings from various employers and gives students the opportunity to make their resumes available by uploading them online.

During the 2013-2014 school year, 17,902 University students used I-Link, according to the Career Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recr uitment benchmarks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any employer that wants

to recruit Illinois students can post jobs or internships online,â&#x20AC;? said Jennifer Neef, associate director at the Career Center. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employers can schedule on-campus interviews while students can fi nd out about career fairs, career development workshops and information sessions.â&#x20AC;?

With such a wide array of opportunities available to both students and recruiters, it is important to note

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that I-Link is a two-sided interactive platform that serves as a great networking tool. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a software that has been in use for over a decade and is subscribed to annually by the University,â&#x20AC;?

Neef said.

Essentially, it is a means of facilitating the connection between students and employers, while establishing relationships that coordinate job prospects.

I-Link tends to attract larger firms in the Midwest that are likely to hire fresh graduates; their decision to use I-Link is based on return on investment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Within their own organization, they have a talent acquisition group and oncampus recruiting team,â&#x20AC;?

Neef said.

The Career Center also plays an integral role in job searches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Depending on the stu-

dentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional aspirations, we help them identify which strategies are the best for sourcing jobs and internships that are aligned with their goals,â&#x20AC;? Neef said.

Neef mentioned that I-Link is one of many tools which when used in conjunction with other resources, can help students engage in a thorough on-campus recruiting process.

akoshu2@dailyillini.com

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

STUDENT VOICES

Students share awkward work experiences COMPILED BY RABIA ILYAS STAFF WRITER

UI students open up about disastrous, embarrassing moments â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the summer, I worked for a small company and I was taught how to input information into a computer. It seemed like it was super easy to put data into a system, but I had to keep asking the other workers how to do it.

And this one time, I almost ended up deleting all the information in the entire database, but luckily did not.â&#x20AC;? &2//((1 520$12 'SFTINBO JO .FEJB

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had an internship with the Adler Planetarium, and this one time I was trying to make glue with another intern, but it turned out to be really funny and dangerous at the same time. We had a gallon of hot water on a hotplate and it suddenly exploded and water just spilled everywhere. I was running around the museum without any shoes, trying to get help.â&#x20AC;? $<$1$ &2&+5$1 'SFTINBO JO -"4

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I recently had an internship with SIMULIA where I almost crashed into a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only to find out that he held a senior position! I avoided the crash by stopping my car just in time, but I still ended up putting the nails of my license plate into his car.â&#x20AC;?

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Working outside the curriculum Following interests may lead to fulfilling jobs KELSIE TRAVERS Design editor

T

wo years of college and six majors later, I am finally on a path to ... somewhere. Deciding your major is not an easy task, and, at least for me, deciding what I want to do with my life at the ripe age of 20 is an even harder task.

But what college has taught me is that your major doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decide your career.

I think something people forget to emphasize about college is that you can get a job outside of your major.

Part of the benefit of getting a college degree is to show employers that you have the work ethic, determination and intelligence to not only get through college, but get through it with a topic of study you are passionate about.

But you can branch out beyond your chosen major and gain even more knowledge in other areas and topics. Your degree does not set limits on what you can do; rather, it is a starting point and can lead to opportunities to delve into other areas.

I began college in an architecture

program not at this University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a transfer student. I soon switched to a sort of business double major.

Then, when I transferred, I entered the University as an engineering major, thinking only of the successful career I would one day have as a female engineer.

That plan quickly vanished.

When I realized that engineering wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for me, and I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t liked business, I moved into general studies for the time being. I took an interest in global studies and soon declared it as my major.

Then, I wanted more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to study, to learn, to discover more of what this University has to offer. I added on a communication degree, which brings me to where I am now: the design editor at The Daily Illini.

Yes, I know it makes no sense, but it was something I was interested in.

I never considered graphic design as a degree, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m now considering it as a career.

I definitely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like I need a graphic design degree to do what I want because I am developing that skill set on my own. I have taken the time and dedicated myself to becoming a designer, and I think that will stand strong by itself in the eyes of a potential employer.

I spent my first two years of col-

lege worrying about what I wanted to do with my life instead of worrying about what I wanted to participate in and what I wanted to study at the time. One day, after hearing the advice countless times from my parents, I realized that my career would find me. And in some ways, it already has.

I do work that I love every day, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all I really ask for in a career. Yes, money is nice, but that comes to anyone who works hard and is passionate about their work.

I would never be where I am today without accepting the unknown of my future.

By doing things you are interested in, no matter how different they may be from your major, it will lead you to a career you are passionate about and make you a more well-rounded person. You will gain unique skill sets you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have acquired otherwise. Those factors will set you up to be an even better candidate for that unknown future career.

Explore your options. Try new things. And most importantly, work hard and expand your knowledge.

These combined practices will undoubtedly lead you to a career that you will love.

ktraver2@dailyillini.com

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Writing to stand out to your ideal employer Resources help students to craft unique resumes meeting.â&#x20AC;?

They emphasized qualA resume is arguably ity over quantity, suggestone of the most impor- ing that contributing to tant documents to a stu- a few groups by takdent in the job market. In ing on leadership roles essence, it must adeptly could speak volumes summarize oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skills about being involved on and education to date, campus. while making a favorable Lithgow also suggestimpression upon potential ed that students update employers. their resumes at least Jana Lithgow, associ- once a semester because ate director of Business it helps them stay current Career Services, said with their experiences â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the main components of and relevant experiences a resume include contact can go a long way when information, education- it comes to applying for al history, employment jobs. history, extracurricular Neighbors contended involvement, skills and that applicants stand out leadership roles. best when their resumes Nu mer ou s c ol le g- are tailored to a position. es across campus offer â&#x20AC;&#x153;Highlight the things resources such as resume employers are looking for reviews that allow stu- and cover them in your dents to get a professional resume,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of opinion on how to improve a sudden youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a canditheir resumes. date thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s listing all the To take full advantage things they want to find.â&#x20AC;? of these resources, howLithgow gave similar ever, it is important to advice. draw up an early draft â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be authentic, be yourat the beginning of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self and do your best to freshman year, accord- show them why youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a ing to Brian Neighbors, good fit for the job. They senior assistant director hear the same clichĂŠs all at the Career Center. the time,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Resumes must masâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Even if students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have all of the experienc- terfully balance educaes employers are seek- tion and job experience. ing at the college level, The significance of both your resume will indicate varies from industry to which sections you are industry.

The underlying theme lacking in,â&#x20AC;? Neighbors said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And over the next to bear in mind is that four years, ask yourself gaining experience by what you will do to fill in building a skill set is an integral part of the job those gaps.â&#x20AC;?

The Career Center search. advises stuC onsistent d e nt s to formatting is remove all also a major high school asset. experiences B u l l e t from their points must be resumes by long enough the second so that the semester of reader undertheir sophostands what a more year. candidate has accomplished.

This helps When writing make room JANA LITHGOW a resume, canfor more ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR didates must recent and OF BUSINESS CAREER pay attention relevant to detail and ex perienc es that take ensure there place at the college level. are no typos or weird Tia Kosaka, senior in spacing.

Business, suggested stuâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Formatting is easily dents start by model- overlooked,â&#x20AC;? said Kosaka. ing their resumes after â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take into account how online templates. Kosa- the resume looks in aeska has gone through the thetic terms.â&#x20AC;? review process at least The last component once per semester since related to resu mes her freshman year and involves social media. stressed the importance â&#x20AC;&#x153;The largest social of getting a second opin- media platform employion before submitting a ers are looking at is resume.

LinkedIn, but we still â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have someone else see that employers will look over it for you search for students on because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a Facebook or Twitter,â&#x20AC;? much more objective Neighbors said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It defiapproach to how you por- nitely happens more and tray your experiences,â&#x20AC;? more every year.â&#x20AC;? she said.

This leads to the point Joining RSOs provides that students should be students with the oppor- mindful of what they post tunity to network and find online because it could be new opportunities. Neigh- potentially damaging to bors recommends that their professional lives. students who are unsure There are plenty of of a major join organiza- resources, both online tions that interest them, and offline, that students which might help them can take advantage of discover career paths during the resume-writthat line up with what ing process. they enjoy doing.

Among these is the At the same time, how- Career Center, locatever, both Neighbors and ed at 715 S. Wright St., Lithgow warn students Champaign. about joining RSOs with Additionally, LinkedIn the sole purpose of being is a resource to find corable to add it to their porate job searches, and resumes.

Glassdoor can help with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employers can see preparing for interview through that,â&#x20AC;? Lithgow questions and conducting said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able salary research. to share any meaningful learning experiences if akoshu2@ youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve only been to one dailyillini.com

BY AMINAH KOSHUL STAFF WRITER

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be authentic,

be yourself and do your best to show them why youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a good fit for the job.â&#x20AC;?

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Mock interviews offer opportunities to practice professionalism, etiquette

BY RABIA ILYAS STAFF WRITER

While landing an interview is quite an accomplishment, it is only the first step in securing a position for a job or an internship. Successfully navigating such interviews is achievable if proper resources are utilized.

The Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Career Center is a helpful resource available to all students. It offers a range of services, from mock interviews to 30-minute counseling sessions.

The mock interviews are often conducted by trained graduate coordinators and require a 48-hour notice before they can be conducted. To cater to a specific interview, students can upload their resumes and/or cover letters onto the Career Center website to facilitate more detailed questions.

These mock interviews serve as a supplement for students to learn from their mistakes and improve upon their interview skills.

Chaz Sullivan, a mock interview program coordinator, notes that there are common mistakes that many students make coming into these mock interviews. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eye contact is something that a lot of students usually need to work on, and also responding with concise statements,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Sullivan added that confidence is key in any interview, and many students have trouble showing this. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is very critical, as it can distinguish your answers from another applicant,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lacking this feature even when you have the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest response can really hinder your chances.â&#x20AC;?

Sullivan explained that being true to oneself and sharing honest experiences and goals is critical.

Having a weaker response to a question is better than lying and exaggerating an experience you never had, as there is always t h e possibi lit y of follow-up questions.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead, you should highlight the experiences you do have, and you always want to sound positive and grateful for any past opportunities,â&#x20AC;? she said.

While the interview setting and nervewracking atmosphere of a mock interview is an ideal preparation for the real thing, students can also schedule shorter sessions with advisers at the Career Center. These 30-minute sessions allow students to ask any questions about

improvement.

Jennifer Neef, associate director of the Career Center, said one of the best tips she can give to students is to be as prepared as possible for the interview and to really self-reflect on goals and aspirations beforehand.

She also urged students to never be late to an interview, and to map out the exact location, date and time of the interview to prevent tardiness.

Neef noted that as many as 600 mock interviews are scheduled in an academic year.

Iqra Dhorajiwala, senior in Business, has utilized the mock interview service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The feedback from the Career Center was very helpful,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The interviewer took notes on everything: my responses, my posture and even my body language. Many of the questions asked in the mock were very similar to the ones I was asked in my actual interview.â&#x20AC;?

Dhorajiwala recommended the resource to all students, and said it can build their confidence as they become more familiar with the interview process.

rilyas2@dailyillini.com

DRESS TO IMPRESS Safe to wear: - Always try to dress business professional if your interviewee does not specify otherwise - Business professional for men includes pantsuit, tie and jacket - Business professional for women includes blouse and jacket - Ladies: Always go easy on jewelry and makeup - Hair should be pinned up for both men and women if you do have long hair - Guys: Always wear dark-colored suits

For business casual: - Men can ditch the ties and even wear a short-sleeved shirt with dress slacks - Khaki pants are an acceptable choice for bottoms - Women: top and skirt is common; ditch the suit jacket

Casual: - Men can consider dark-colored jeans - Tucking in shirts is not necessaryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;can even wear collared shirt

Avoid these things (If you think twice about wearing something, do not wear it): - Sandals and open-toed shoes are unacceptable - Short skirts for women - Shorts - Strong perfume - Clothes that are not comfortable, too loose, or too tight - Ladies: Do not overly accessorize

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

5C

Interview tips to help land the job CLAIRE HETTINGER Staff writer

So

you got the interview — that’s half the battle. Your resume resonated with your employer and they want to learn more. Now is the time to shine, and get yourself a job.

Prepare for questions that scare you Like, “What is your biggest weakness?” Or, “What is your strength?” One time I got asked, “What is a problem you faced and how did you resolve it?”

It’s cheesy for interviewers to ask us what our weaknesses are, but for some reason, they think it’s a good question. The only thing to do is to answer

the question in an intelligent manner so you stand out.

Practice answering questions before you go It isn’t good to sound too scripted, but it’s good to have an idea of what you are going to say before you show up for the interview. If you prepare before, then you can come up with answers that make you seem different from other candidates.

Be early to the interview

Avoid mediocre answers

It seems like common sense, but it’s important. That way, you can show you care and you can be ready for whatever happens.

If the interviewers are ahead of schedule, they can get you in sooner, which they’ll appreciate.

If they are running late, you can wait for them and show that you are accommodating.

Either way, you are showing that you are available for whatever needs to happen, which is a very good quality to portray.

There isn’t much time during an interview, so every word in every answer counts, and should be used to make yourself seem excellent.

You need to choose your words carefully. Don’t waste time with words that don’t help your case.

Research the company and hiring managers, and whoever else you can

Make a connection and be confident

It’s good to have an idea of who you are talking to. That way, you can hopefully make a connection with them so they’ll remember you.

Try Google Alerts. That way, you can be up to date on what’s currently going on in the company. It will show potential employers that you are conscious and aware of what is happening in their world.

The easiest way for an interviewer to remember you is to give them something good to remember.

You need to get out of the cookie-cutter mold of an interviewee and show them something special about you that they will respect and want for their company. Show them why you are worth hiring and they’ll remember you.

Ask questions about the position you are interviewing for This is an absolute must. It shows the interviewers that you care about the job and you want to get it.

You need to show them that you are excited and curious about the position.

That way, they’ll know that if they hire you, you’ll do the best job possible because you are interested and actually want to be there.

Ask if there is anything they’d like you to clarify This is a brave question, but sometimes bravery pays off in an interview. This way, if there are

any misunderstandings or miscommunications, you can clear them up instead of potentially losing the position. Or they might ask about another part of your resume that interests them.

Be yourself Interviewers will connect with you if you show them who you are. You want to get the job, but you don’t want to be stuck in a position that doesn’t fit with your goals or personality.

Send a thank you note This is a great way to show that you are a nice person, you care about the job, are still thinking about it and are still interested in proving you’ll be a good employee.

It won’t be annoying. It will remind the interviewers of who you are, and keep you fresh in their minds. This is a good chance to bring up the connection if you made one earlier.

hettngr2@dailyillini.com

University offers career fairs, assistance to help students hunt down their perfect job COMPILED BY ISABELLA JACKSON AND KELSIE TRAVERS

WEEKLY EVENTS

13 CAREER FAIRS WITH OVER 1,460 EMPLOYERS EACH YEAR

GENERAL CAREER DROP-IN ADVISING (15 MIN EACH, NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED)

UPCOMING EVENTS

When: Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Career Center

BUSINESS CAREER FAIR

When: Sept. 16 to 17 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the ARC

RESUME/COVER LETTER REVIEWS

ENGINEERING EXPO

When: Monday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Career Center Monday from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the UGL Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ikenberry Commons Room

When: Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ARC

73 percent

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CAREER FAIR

When: Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Newman Crane Bay

of UI seniors use Career Services to help find a job or internship

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR

MOCK INTERVIEW SERVICE

When: Sept. 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at the ARC

Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Schedule 48 hours in advance) at the Career Center

ACES AND SCIENCES CAREER FAIR

When: Oct. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the ARC

STUDENTS PARTICPATING IN CAREER FAIRS

20000

29,657

30000

STUDENTS USING I-LINK 17,902 16,409

16,144

15000 19,106

18,731

20000

STUDENTS

STUDENTS

25000

72 of the Fortune 100 companies recruit at Illinois

19,522

17,021

15000 10000

12,430

(rank as listed) 11,738

10000

5000

5000 0

10 9-

2

00

11 12 011 1 20 20

13 21 20

14 31 20

0

0 -1

09 20

8 of them are in the top ten companies

11 01 20

12 11 20

13 21 20

14 31 20

1. WAL-MART STORES 2. EXXONMOBIL 3. CHEVRON 5. APPLE 6. PHILLIPS 66 7. GENERAL MOTORS 8. FORD MOTOR 9. GENERAL ELECTRIC

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CAREER CENTER RECRUITMENT BENCHMARKS, HIRE ILLINI

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Use I-Link, the Illinois career platform, for: - job and internship postings - on-campus recruiting - list of companies at career fairs - career events calendar

the

careercenter center AT ILLINOIS

careercenter.illinois.edu/ilink

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217.333.0203 | peacecorps@illinois.edu

6C

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

THE DAILY ILLINI | WWW.DAILYILLINI.COM

Pre-professional organizations advance student interests, goals Members network through volunteering, social events

BY ISABELLA JACKSON

C

STAFF WRITER

ol lege g raduates want to be the most competitive applicants to a position in order to get the job of their dreams.

Members of pre-professional organizations on campus are actively working to achieve this through involvement specific to their majors or future plans.

When students start to navigate the professional world, there are many skills that are needed in order to secure a job, and campus organizations can teach these skills.

Joel Hood, senior in Business, is the president of Business Council, a preprofessional organization that hosts close to 120 events each semester. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of our mission as an organization is to help develop our members. We have resume critiques, mock interviews as well as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Professional Development Boot Campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hosted each semester to prepare our members for the intimidating career fairs and recruitment season,â&#x20AC;? Hood wrote in an email.

Michelle Lass, senior in Engineering, was last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president of the engineering fraternity Theta Tau. Lass said when a new member joins Theta Tau, they learn how to set up a LinkedIn

account and write a strong resume. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A large number of our meetings will have little presentations about a professional skill; this week we had a workshop on how to perfect your elevator pitch put on by one of our brothers,â&#x20AC;? Lass

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a preprofessional organization, we are mainly looking to prepare for continued schooling as well as get a better grasp of what our future career entails.â&#x20AC;?

CARA WARNING JUNIOR IN AHS

wrote in an email. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theta Tau also holds information sessions and networking nights with a

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHI DELTA EPSILON

Members of Phi Delta Epsilon, a pre-medical fraternity at the University, host a fundraising dinner last October at the ARC.

List of participating companies on I-Link

wide variety of companies.â&#x20AC;?

Those who want a future career in medicine know that it has become increasingly more competitive to secure a spot in a medical school.

Michael White, senior in LAS, is the president of Phi Delta Epsilon, the only premedical fraternity on campus.

He said Phi Delta Epsilon works to help its members stand out from other applicants by choosing passionate and capable people who have experiences that make them multi-dimensional and able to solve problems in many ways. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have speakers every semester talking about medical professions besides just being a physician,â&#x20AC;? White said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We try to provide a comprehensive and holistic view of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ahead for pre-med students.â&#x20AC;?

For example, Phi Delta Epsilon recently hosted an epidemiologist from Champaign County who talked about potential research opportunities and career paths dealing with the spread of diseases, including the mumps outbreak that has recently impacted the campus.

Cara Warning, junior in AHS, joined the Pre-Physical Therapy Club after she changed her major to kinesiology following her freshman year.

She said joining the club has helped her make a smooth transition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a pre-professional organization, we are mainly looking to prepare for continued schooling as well as get a better grasp of what our future career entails,â&#x20AC;? she wrote in an email.

Like Phi Delta Epsilon, Warning says that the Pre-Physical Therapy Club gathers once or twice a month to meet with graduate school representatives and physical therapist panels in order to give its members information about future careers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through these events, our members are able to prepare as necessary to meet requirements for PT-school and beyond,â&#x20AC;? Warning said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can hear firsthand what different schools are looking for in applicants, and then can hear

$&(6 6&,(1&(6 &$5((5 )$,5 Thursday, October 8, 2015, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Open to all majors from Bachelor level through Post Doc!

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PHI DELTA EPSILON

Members of Phi Delta Epsilon, a pre-medical fraternity at the University, volunteer abroad in Lima, Peru, last January. from physical therapists how these skills are actually used and needed in the workplace.â&#x20AC;?

Pre-professional organizations are also a great way for students to connect with others who have similar interests and goals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I chose Theta Tau because I was looking for more friends on campus, especially in engineering,â&#x20AC;? Lass said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Theta Tau) has all the benefits of an honor society as well as the social and philanthropic aspects that make being a brother a lot of fun.â&#x20AC;?

White said that in Phi Delta Epsilon, members of the fraternity look out for each other on campus and provide helpful information for others about research positions and other opportunities that would benefit a memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical school application.

When the work is done, Hood said Business Council members

Professional attire is expected +RVWHG E\

form close friendships by attending barn dances, hosting water balloon fights and trips to the drive-in movie theater.

Many of the organizations also devote considerable amounts of time to community service.

White said Phi Delta Epsilon prides itself in being both service and philanthropyoriented. Among its various service activities, the group raises money every year for the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miracle Network hospitals through fundraisers, volunteers at football games and with the Urbana Park District.

Hood said Busi ness Council also commits time to volunteering at the soup kitchen, working with Habitat for Humanity and keeping the community clean through the Adopt-a-Highway program. ijackso2@dailyillini.com

,OOLR 2016

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