How Volunteering Can Help Your Resume

This week's post is written by Kai K. Harvey, sophomore economics major at CU-Boulder.

The recovering state of the economy and dire job-outlook may seem intimidating to college students. However, there is good news. If you take initiative early in your college career, your job outlook will drastically improve when you graduate. Having work experience, leadership experience, and volunteer experience will go a long way in helping you find a job.

The first goal is to find a starting point. Most undergrads don’t have much work experience, especially in professional environments. This makes gaining acceptance into the best internship programs a difficult task because there isn’t much on your resume quite yet. But don’t worry, this is where volunteering can really help you get experience and build your resume, leading you closer to the internship of your dreams later down the road.

If you’re interested in politics, for example, volunteering for a political campaign or a grassroots organization is a great way to demonstrate to employers that you are passionate about your future field of work. Alternatively, volunteering at a homeless shelter or a retirement home shows that you care deeply about helping others, which is something employers look for in job candidates.

Building strong relationships with the people you volunteer with will only further what you gain from the experience. These people could be potential references for future jobs or internships and could even help you network your way into an interview.

When I first began my job search, I applied to about eight different businesses, but I did not get a single call back. The problem was my lack of work experience apart from taking care of my neighbor’s dog. I decided the best way to quickly build my resume was through volunteer work.

I spent about two months volunteering for a childcare organization as well as a summer camp for underprivileged children. Through these experiences I gained skills in problem solving, communication and leadership. With this experience now on my resume, employers could see that I had the ability to work hard and stick to my commitments.

Now my resume was stronger, and I also had two solid references from fellow volunteers. In addition, the skills I learned through my charity work gave me the confidence boost I needed to succeed in interviews, so I tried applying for more jobs. This time I was quickly hired at a local restaurant.

Luckily there many available volunteer opportunities, so it should be easy to find something that relates to your field of interest. Even if the charity doesn’t apply to your dream job in the future, volunteering is a great way to build your resume and yourself as a person! Local opportunities can be found through CU’s Volunteer Resource Center, or through our website, which offers the chance volunteer abroad.

Now you have some information about how to make yourself a more competitive applicant for job and internship positions. . In order to have a chance at a more selective internship, you should to start building up some basic experience. The best way to “get your foot in the door” is to start small and work up. In other words, take those small volunteer opportunities now to prepare yourself for the big internships later.

Seniors, it’s time to start your post-grad job hunt!

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hi everyone, my name is Mindy Rappoport and I’m senior journalism major here at CU. Before I started working as a Peer Career Advisor in Career Services’ office, I would’ve never thought about applying for entry-level jobs when there are still eight months left before graduation! Recently, when I asked my friends who are CU seniors if they have started applying for jobs, I got the same response; “Now? No way, it’s only September!”

But, surprising as it is, now is really the time to start searching for jobs. While some companies recruit year round, others have deadlines to fill positions the following year. Companies like McGladery and Chevron already have internships and full-time positions posted on CSO. They will start accepting entry-level job applications from May graduates by the end of September to mid-October, according to Career Services Online.

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are four things you can do now to get started on your post-graduation job search:

1.     Polish your resume. The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to update your resume! Make sure your most recent job or internship is listed at the top, and that everything fits on one page of your resume. For more resume writing tips and templates, check out Career Services’ Resume Writing Quick Tips or head over to the third floor of the library (E303) for Resumes That Rock, our offices’ resume writing workshop, taking place Tuesday, September 13 from 5:30-7 p.m.

2.     Start researching companies you might be interested in. Pull up your favorite search engine and start exploring the websites of companies you might want to work. If you’re not sure what companies offer positions in your field of interest, log on to Career Services Online and use the “On Campus Interviews” tab to find out which companies will be on CU’s campus to interview seniors for entry-level positions.

3.     Network with former employers. Check in with contacts at past internships or jobs—you never know what positions they may be hiring for in the near future, or they might know another company that is searching for entry-level job applicants.

4.     Set up informational interviews. If you find a company or job you are particularly interested in, ask an employee at that company if they’ll meet with you so you can ask them questions about what a typical day in the office is like. By asking an employee questions beforehand, you’ll know if you’re interested in applying for a job at that company and what exactly it entails before you line up an interview (hopefully). For some ideas on types of questions you can ask a professional during the informational interview, check out Informational Interview Quick Tips.

If you’d like some more help, feel free to set up an appointment with one of the counselors in our office by calling 303-492-6541 or going online at https://www.securedata-trans12.com/ap/universityofcolorado/index.php?page=10.

Happy job hunting, seniors!

Career Services: Let Us Help You!

Spring Career
and Internship Fair

In promoting Career Services, I’ve noticed that many students ask: what exactly does Career Services do? In short, Career Services is an on-campus resource for students, paid for in their student fees, that provides the access to the skills and opportunities students need to be successful during their college careers and beyond. However, even after hearing that answer, many students still reply, “That’s nice, but what does that mean?” To give students a better understanding of what Career Services does, it may be useful to give an overview of the types of events that Career Services puts on.

One of the best places to find Career Services events is online, at either careerservices.colorado.edu or on Career Services Online. Another extremely useful resource for students is Careers in the Buff. Careers in the Buff is a newsletter that Career Services puts out weekly, which details upcoming Career Services events. The newsletter also offers students a look inside the Career Services office by featuring various Career Services staff, such as Peer Career Advisors, or students who spread the word about Career Services. Each issue of Careers in the Buff gives students an inside look into Career Services, or more specifically, who we are and what we do. Check us out! 

Resume Writing Workshop

Career Services has tons of events planned for spring 2011 to help students to prepare for the future beyond CU. We’ve got resume building workshops, the Spring Career Fair, class presentations, residence hall events, and various drop-in resume critiques and interviewing 101 events on tap for the spring semester. For students looking to fine-tune a resume, the first resume workshops of spring semester will be January 19 and 20. Look for the Career Services booth in the UMC and around campus, where we'll be offering resume critiques, interviewing tips and more! The dates for drop-in critiques and interviewing tips will follow shortly. As always, Career Services offers walk-in appointments Monday through Thursday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Of course, you may plan longer appointments with a career counselors by calling 303-492-6541 or scheduling online.

So now you’ve had a little taste of what Career Services provides. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Resume workshop? Interviewing tips? Great! Now how does that work?” Perhaps one of the most well-known services that we provide is the resume building workshop. So what is it, you ask? In a resume workshop you are in a computer lab with Peer Career Advisors, who will lead you the various sections of a resume--what to include, how to format it. The best part of the workshops? Throughout the workshop you will be given time to work on your own resume, while asking the knowledgeable staff any questions you may have. Check our calendar for resume workshop dates and locations.

Networking Event

One of my personal favorite services that Career Services provide is interviewing help. If you’re like me, when an interviewer asks you an ambiguous question, such as, “Tell me about yourself,” you nervously start spouting off every little detail about yourself, including the name of your first pet. Here’s your first interviewing tip: Don’t do that! Interview tips help you answer those tough questions, know what sorts of questions will be asked, figure out how to dress, and more.

Believe it or not, that’s just a couple of the services Career Services has to offer students. The staff at Career Services wants you to graduate college feeling prepared and ready to take on your future. The best way to do that is to get involved with Career Services as soon as possible. So check us out online, make a profile on Career Services Online, attend some events, or come in for an appointment. The resources are here for the benefit of CU students, so take advantage!

Career Services is moving to C4C!

Like many other student service offices on campus, Career Services is moving to the new Center for Community building! Career Services' new office will be housed on the third floor on the north side of C4C, and faces Hallet Hall, Regent Administrative Center and Koelbel Business. The new office will open on Monday, October 4, but in order to prepare for the move, Career Services will be closed on September 24, 29 and 30, and October 1, said Lisa Severy, Director of Career Services. (more...)

Get Involved - Find out HOW this week on campus!

Are you looking for a way to boost your resume to the top of that pile of job applications? Look no further! Employers love to see students who are involved in different clubs, activities and volunteer groups; it demonstrates that the prospective employee is passionate about their community, curious about the world around them, and interested in gaining leadership skills.

This week, CU is encouraging that participation by hosting several different fairs as part of Student Involvement Week. Got a break between classes on Wednesday, September 8? Head over to the UMC Fountain area between 11 AM and 2 PM to check out the Student Involvement Fair. Members from over 100 different groups are waiting to meet you, answer your questions about their clubs and help you get involved in something you're passionate about! Ask how you can gain leadership and group facilitation skills. (more...)