Getting the Most Out of Your Professional Experience

So after months of talking about how to land that job or internship with resume, cover letter, interviewing, networking, and social networking preparation, your first day is coming up. Summer is around the corner and you have that summer internship or job all lined up…but now what? Sure, the hard part of finding and being accepted for a position is over, but having a strategy to be a valued employee or intern while learning and having the best professional experience possible is still important!

Being a successful professional is a topic that has been discussed around the country and world by notable experts. After researching a variety of career blogs, websites, and articles here are the tips needed to make the most out of your experience.

1. Be timely and efficient!

Like any interview or important meeting being on time to the job or internship is extremely important! When you establish right off the bat that you are there on time and ready to go – you are subconsciously letting your co-workers know that you care and are ready to go. Starting off the day late can often times negatively affect your performance throughout the rest of your day.

2. Dress for Success

Always dress professionally. Although it is important to dress to the environment you’re in, always remember that you’re the one who is trying to either get a job or move up in the job you’re in. On your first day, take a look at what your superiors are wearing and imitate their level of professional dress.

“When I was an intern at CBS4 News, when talking about professional dress attire, our internship coordinator said, ‘Don’t just be professional, look professional. Remember we already have our jobs, you’re still trying to get one.’” – Brittany Moore

It is ALWAYS better to over dress than under dress. Again, subconsciously by dressing professionally, you are demonstrating to your peers that you are serious and care about what you’re working on.

3. Take the initiative and seek out MORE opportunities

This is probably one of the most important parts of making the most out of your experience. Remember, although you may be working and helping the company, at the end of the day it’s important to keep in mind what YOU’RE taking away from the experience. One of the most valuable and notable things you can have on your resume is your experience – so always be seeking new ways to gain that experience. Take on the mindset that the more opportunities you seek out, the better skills you will gain and can add to your resume.

Keep in mind that during internships, your co-workers and superiors aren’t going to hold your hand and guide you to every possible experience. They have their own jobs to worry about and aren’t going to know what you are interested in learning. Simply ask! Your superiors will almost always be willing to help and show you things, but they won’t know what you’re interested in until you ASK!

4. Find a mentor

Finding someone in your industry you can seek out for advice and questions is an invaluable asset you should always be on the lookout for. Career blogger Penelope Trunk lists in her blog 7 Ways to Find and Keep a Mentor…

1. Identify a potential mentor

2. Have good questions

3. Don’t expect miracles

4. Be a good listener

5. Prove you’re serious

6. Always be on the lookout

7. Give back

To find out more mentorship tips, visit Penelope’s Blog

5. Be trustworthy and dependable

Whether you’re an intern or an employee, the company you are working with has established some level of trust in you. Regardless of whether the company is depending on your confidentiality or your ability to get a job done, trust has been given to you. One of the most important things to learn in the professional world is NOT to burn any bridges. The quickest way to burn a bridge is by losing someone’s trust or failing to get something finished. You never know when that burnt bridge may come back to haunt you. It’s a small world and people talk; you want to make sure they are saying only the best about you!

6. Do more than what is expected!

The best ways to get noticed, build relationships, and gain opportunities is by going above and beyond the expectations. If you are always jumping at opportunities, spending extra time on projects, and helping anyway you can, your efforts will be noticed and could result in great experiences and opportunities. Who knows, you might even be recommended for or offered a job just by putting in some extra effort.

7. Network every chance you get!

Just because you have already landed the job or internship does NOT mean you stop networking – it means you network MORE! Now that you are in the professional environment, it will be much easier to network and build relationships with clients and co-workers. Remember, it’s not just about what you do, but also who you know.

8. Show up ready and excited!

There is something to be said about being effective and efficient while on the clock. Being responsible and getting the appropriate amount of sleep, eating right, etc. will all improve your attitude and ability to perform while on the job. You can’t make the most out of your experience if you’re not in the right frame of mind to do so!

9. Evaluate the company and industry

Remember, you are just starting your professional career and should be evaluating whether that job or internship is what you want to continue doing. Entry-level jobs and internships are meant for testing out the waters and seeing if this industry or job is really what you want to be spending your time doing. You have many years to work and it is important to always evaluate your professional experiences and decide whether or not you are happy with your work.

10. Be on the lookout for portfolio fillers

Whether you are trying to build your resume, website, or blog content, you should always be on the lookout for ways to collect examples of your work. Chances are your future employer will want to see examples of your work. Internships and entry-level jobs are the perfect time to start collecting samples of your work. Additionally, this is a perfect opportunity to ask your mentor or a co-worker you have closely worked with to write a recommendation letter for you. Letters of recommendation will come in handy with future job applications.

Hopefully these tips have made you feel more confident during your professional experiences this summer or in the near future. Don’t forget that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own! CU-Boulder Career Services will be open all summer and invites you to come in, ask questions, and seek advice. For more information about summer hours and programs visit our website.

Feeling Confident with Cover Letters

Ever written a cover letter? In some ways, cover letters can be even more difficult to write than resumes. Like resumes, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there about what makes a good cover letter. There are, however, a few good rules that can you use to guide you as you write a cover letter.

Let’s start with the most basic of basics: salutations. When you apply for a job, especially if it’s at a larger company, you may not have a direct contact to address your cover letter to. Never fear, there are a few ways you can try to find a contact. Start by checking out the company’s website to see if they have an employee guide. If they do, you may be able to locate a hiring manager, etc. If not, try searching for employees of the potential employer on Linked In. If you can’t locate a name, don’t stress. It’s acceptable to address your letter to “the hiring manager” or “whom it may concern”. That said; definitely try to find a contact!

Now, let’s move onto format. A cover letter shouldn’t be very long- three paragraphs, each about five to six sentences long. Your first paragraph is your introduction, also known as the attention grabber. This paragraph should focus on demonstrating your enthusiasm and describing the position you are applying for. Make sure to address whether you saw this listing on an employment database (like CSO) or if someone (indicate who!) referred you to this listing. Your introduction paragraph should be short and sweet, so be concise.

The next paragraph is your sales pitch. This should be the longest of your paragraphs. This is where you’ll describe your skills, education, and experience that make you a good candidate for the position. Be sure to highlight any skills or experiences that pertain to the job you are applying for. This is also where you can show your knowledge of the company, and how you can meet their needs. Remember, your cover letter should focus on how your skills will benefit them and not the other way around.

The final paragraph is a request for action. Ask for an interview or meeting to discuss your skills and how they might be beneficial to the employer. You can also use this paragraph to offer more information about yourself, such a samples of work or more details about your experience. Provide your telephone number (just one!) and email address with the best way and times to contact you. Include a follow up sentence- i.e., “I will follow-up with you in two weeks” etc. Most importantly, don’t forget to thank the employer for their time and consideration.

Now that we know how to format a cover letter, let’s talk more about what goes into writing a good cover letter. If this is a job that you really care about, then your cover letter should take you more than fifteen minutes. Writing a good cover letter means really thinking through what skills and experiences you have and how those can benefit a potential employer. It means planning and research. And just what sort of research should you do? The goal of research is to give you a feel for what type of company you are applying for- what are their goals, what types of projects do they have in the works, what types of community outreach do they do? This will help you see where your skills and experiences overlap with the employer. In other words, research will help you in your sales pitch. The more you know about the company, the easier it will be for you to write a cover letter an employer will want to read.

I briefly mentioned earlier that your cover letter should be focused on meeting the employer’s needs. Let’s discuss that a little further. When you apply for a job you are applying to fill an employer’s needs. They have a need and you can meet that need, so make sure that comes across in your letter. While you’re writing your cover letter it may be helpful to ask yourself: “why am I interested in this company?”, “why am I interested in this position?” and “why am I good fit for this position?”. These questions can guide you while writing.

When it comes to writing cover letters it’s important to put time and effort into it. If you send out a mass cover letter or one that you wrote in ten minutes, the employer will know it. And will most likely put your resume on the bottom of the pile or in the trash. So start early and recruit help. Attached to this blog you’ll find a sample job description and cover letter to guide you. If you’re having a hard time writing the letter or want feedback, come in for a quick walk-in appointment (M-Th, 1:30 to 4) or email your cover letter to pcahelp@colorado.edu. Cover letters are just as important as resumes, so put in the time and effort that they deserve.

CU Just In Time Hiring and Internship Fair

If you have not found a full-time job or summer internship, this is your opportunity to connect with employers that are still hiring. All employers will have opportunities for internships and/or full-time positions. Remember, the fair is open only to CU-Boulder students and alumni - IDs will be checked at the door.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 13th 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:  UMC 235

COST: FREE!

Here are a few tips to get you ready for the fair…

1. Dress for Success! The atmosphere of the fair will be like any other job fair – professional! Treat this like an interview and dress in business professional attire. This is your opportunity to make a good first impression so make one that lasts. Remember, it is always better to OVER dress rather than UNDER dress!
2. Research the companies in attendance. Career Services has provided a list of companies coming to the fair each day. There are completely different companies attending each day! Please review these lists and choose several you are interested in talking to. Then once you get to the fair you won’t waste too much time figuring out the relevant companies you would like to visit with. Remember, if the company doesn’t list your major specifically, it’s ALWAYS worth talking to the recruiter to inquire about positions that may fit your skills and/or personality. This is a chance to sell yourself. Read through the list of companies attending both days of the fair here.

3.Bring your resume and cover letter. Make sure you bring your necessary professional documents to the fair with you: resume, cover letter, business cards, and a winning attitude. This is your opportunity to find companies you would like to intern or work for and give them your information to look at. Submitting your resume/cover letter at the fair gives you an automatic advantage since the professionals are already meeting you before reviewing your application. With a good impression and resume you have a great chance of finding an incredible opportunity. Even if you are slightly interesting in a company or position, give them your resume! It never hurts and the benefits could be really rewarding! If they tell you that they can’t or aren’t accepting resumes and to apply online, always do so right away. They’re not trying to brush you off, so definitely don’t get discouraged. For some companies, the only way they can accept resumes is online; this is due to EOE employment law. Don’t give up, just go online as soon as you can and apply.

4. Prepare your introduction questions and “Elevator Pitches”! Sometimes it can be intimidating to approach employers at a fair, but the best way to feel comfortable is to practice an opening pitch line. Elevator pitches can be both personal and professional depending on the situation. In this case – using a professional pitch may be your best option. A professional elevator pitch includes your career aspirations, college major, and educational activities, projects and experiences.

5. Bring a notepad! Whenever you are networking, interviewing, or attending a career fair it is important to note that you will be bombarded with useful information that may be hard to remember. Taking notes is the best way to stay organized with this information and remember everything that is said!

For more tips visit the CU Career Services Website as well as your CSO Account. You can also find more information about preparing for the fair and companies attending within the following PDF Document.
Good Luck!