I am a big believer in internships. I received my first internship while an art student at school, working in the Financial Aid marketing department designing scholarship brochures. After two semesters, it turned into my first real graphic design paying gig and I was hooked. I could actually make money doing what I loved! I was thrilled and now had real-life examples to put in my portfolio post-graduation. Internships allow students to learn, but it also helps them decide if that is a good career match for them. Internships help students figure out, while still in school, whether the career they envisioned for themselves is the right path.

I’m not going to lie, if you know someone, now might be the time to put the word out there that your student is looking. My daughter found a great internship through her campus newspaper and as it turns out the hiring manager was a good friend of our family. It didn’t necessarily help her get the job, but it did help her get the interview.  The good news now is that many internships also pay a small salary, or the student can gain course credit. (Check with your advisor for those details)

UM’s Topped Career Center offers students assistance searching for internships and jobs, signing up for events and interviews, and career counseling. In addition, they run various career and internship fairs throughout the school year. These are a great resource. The full schedule of events for undergraduate and graduate students for each school.  Professional attire for these fairs is recommended as well as bringing a copy of your resume and researching the employers that will be there.  The Career Center also provides career tools for help writing your resume and other valuable resources.

There are also many websites that list potential internships. Internships.com, as most of the sites do, allows students to put in their city and field of choice and even whether or not they are looking for paid or unpaid internships. From there, a proper cover letter and resume would be the next step. Occasionally a Skype interview may be requested. Using sites like Indeed or SimplyHired may be worth a try, but spending a lot of time on these to simply hit the “apply” button and having their resume sent into a black hole generally doesn’t prove too successful as most of these positions get filled by students with a more personal connection.

Some websites, like Internmatch.com, allow students to sign up to get daily notifications for new postings about jobs that may be of interest to them. Glassdoor.com and YouTern.com are also useful websites to find an internship. FindSpark.com is better known for its more creative internships and entry-level jobs in NYC.

LinkedIn can be an excellent resource. Perhaps your student saw a position at a company they are interested in one of the above sites and then by scouring LinkedIn they can make a connection. A LinkedIn Jobseeker account allows you to view profiles and send InMail messages starting from $29.95 per month. HaveUHeard that LinkedIn has a version specifically designed for students looking for their first jobs? The LinkedIn Students app is free, and lets you research jobs, view companies where alumni from your schoolwork, and connect with more people. You can create an account and get started right away without spending a dime.

To search for internship listings, be sure to have a detailed and updated LinkedIn page ready to go, then go to the jobs tab at the top of the page and put “internship” in the search box. Refine your search by filling in the boxes on the left side of the page. Some students are creating their own videos or websites to show off all they have done and are capable of. It can be better than a long portfolio that may exceed the amount of space for uploaded information. These are generally used for more majors like graphic design or advertising, and not finance.

HaveUHeard which companies were selected as the 100 best internship programs in the U.S.? WayUp presents its Top 100. Vault also has its list of the Top 20 Most Prestigious Internship Programs for 2020.

Should your internship take you out of state, learn about housing options.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Finding an Internship to Start a Career appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Every semester as students at the University of Miami, we have the opportunity to attend various career fairs that showcase future employers. This experience is invaluable to any college student as we must meet with potential employers at some point during our time in school. Even as an underclassman, we can get to know companies for possible internships or employment in our future. My biggest piece of advice to someone just beginning in school is to get as much experience as you can. It’s crucial that you have a chance to practice a little before it is the real deal. I can admit that at my first career fair, I didn’t even know how to approach the recruiters.

Attending the general Career Expo, which is held once a semester, allows students of all colleges and majors to meet recruiters from across industries. This event is huge! It takes place in the Watsco Center, but there is no need to worry about being unprepared. The Toppel Career Center has resources available all semester long to get you ready to meet over 100 organizations ranging from professional sports teams to government agencies, and small startup companies. As a freshman, in two of my major-specific courses, I had turned in a resume, but mid-way through the second semester, I needed to make a few additions. I brought my resume into Toppel for a resume advising appointment and it was perfect in 30 minutes. Additionally, the Career Center offers assistance in creating a cover letter, and if necessary, a portfolio.

The most daunting aspect for me, however, was the business professional dress. Now for men, business professional isn’t too complicated, but as a young woman, it is crucial that my clothing is on point. I had all of the pieces, I just didn’t know how to put them together. I looked online to find that UM has online resources to help you know just what you should wear. The Pinterest boards were a blessing, and with a little help from my friends, I was dressed for success. If you do not own the pieces, that is where Sebastian’s Closet comes in. Toppel offers free rental clothing that you can wear as well. The clothing can be rented during regular hours for up to a week. The people that work in the career center will always be able to help you pick the right outfit for whatever business needs you may have.  You can also check the local Thrift Stores for some great finds or our Dress for Success blog filled with tips on discounts for college students.

In addition to the Career Expo, other recruiting events for students that allow you to communicate with companies online; the Accounting Career Fair, in which accounting students can meet other employers in addition to the Big 4 firms; the Architecture Career Fair; and the Student-Athlete Career Fair. Visit Handshake to register for any of these events and look on the Toppel website for more information.

HaveUHeard that LinkedIn has a version specifically designed for students looking for their first jobs? The LinkedIn Students app is free and lets you research jobs, view companies where alumni from your school work, and connect with more people. You can create an account and get started right away without spending a dime.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

By: Caroline Covington, UM Intern for HaveUHeard

The post Career Showcase – A Student’s Perspective appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

While in college, having a strong relationship with your academic advisor is important in being able to graduate without any missed requirements.  There are a couple of key resources that students at UM should be aware of so they can make an advising appointment with their specific advisor.

One of these tools is how the student’s advisor tracks each meeting so that students can go back and review the progress they made with their advisors.  With the help of these resources, students can easily schedule an advising appointment throughout the semester.

The first resource that students should know about is the website GradesFirst.  Once a student logs onto the GradesFirst portal, they will be able to schedule an appointment easily by clicking on the blue “Get Assistance” tab in the top right corner.  Once you click the tab, you can select make an advising appointment instead of a tutoring appointment and then select the necessary school or college that the student is in.  Then you finalize the scheduling by selecting “General Advising” as the service type, determining the location and time of the meeting, and giving the student’s advisor’s name.

It is recommended that students schedule meetings with their advisors a couple of weeks in advance since appointments can start to fill up.  In addition, if your respective school or college within UM has a specific day reserved for “walk-ins,” it is best to take note of when that day is since it will be easier to meet with your advisor then.

If after meeting with your advisor you have any follow-up questions that you would like to ask them without making another appointment, another strong tip is to get your advisor’s business card so that you can email them when you have a question.  Emailing is usually the best way to contact an advisor without having to take a trip to the advising office. Make sure that when emailing them, you show kindness, respect, and appreciation for their time. This will develop a strong relationship between you and your advisor, making meetings and conversations more productive.

Another tool that students can use to set up an advising appointment in Handshake.  This website allows students to make appointments with an advisor to discuss topics such as utilizing LinkedIn, job or internship search, and interviewing techniques.  This website is a great tool that students at the University of Miami should be aware of in order to help them get the guidance they need to find an internship or job before graduation.

In addition to GradesFirst and Handshake, most schools within the university have their own academic advising pages that allow students to make an advising appointment; for example, the Miami Business School.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com. Are you new to HaveUHeard? Here is how to best use the site.

Carter Krouse, Intern, HaveUHeard

The post Need Advice? Get Some Advising appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Gotta Earn Some Cash?

Some students have to work to pay for college, some consider their school-work their only job and others choose to work while at school to supplement their spending. Whatever the reason, it is rarely a negative when a student gets a job, whether it is to pay tuition or housing, plan for their spring break trip (see our spring break blog for more information on that) or to backpack through Europe after graduation; working, while in school, is nothing new.

The University of Miami will help students get working, to find jobs, summer internships, and post-graduation employment through Toppel Career Center. There is also a Part-Time Job Fair held each fall and spring for the purpose of connecting local employers, both on and off-campus, with the University of Miami students. Students can also check on CraigsList, Indeed, SimplyHired, Snagajob, Monster, and WayUp for possible opportunities. Check out what students are doing at UM to make money.

Students Working at:

University of Miami Rathskellar – UM’s on-campus pub. Wait staff and cashiers needed every semester.

Wellness Center staff – Patti and Alan Herbert Wellness Center – The student-run facility is one of the largest student employers on campus.

Security Assistants (SA) are part-time student employees who are responsible for the night-time security operations of all the Residential Colleges. The main function of a Security Assistant is to screen individuals entering the residential colleges between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., verifying residency and registering guests.

RA – (Resident Assistant) – This is a great way to get reduced housing and meal costs. Students have to apply the school year prior to the year they wish to be an RA and have to complete 60 credit hours prior to the beginning of their employment term.  Check out the deadline to apply and the full job responsibilities here; there are quite a few as this position comes with great responsibility.

Bartending – apparently, this is a really coveted position, probably because the money is plentiful, but be prepared for very late hours, even on school nights. Of course, one good tip jar during a game day shift may possibly pay half the rent for the month.

Fiverr – a great place for students to list the services they offer (or parents).

Becoming a dog/cat walker or dog/cat sitting, apply to be a pet sitter at Rover. You will need to pass a basic background check.

Yoga, Pilates, spinning instructor – Many local area gyms need class instructors.

Tutoring – If there is a subject that you have already mastered, share that knowledge for $20-$25 an hour with a student that needs some guidance in that subject.

Waitress/Hostess – There are so many places to eat near campus and they all need help at some point.

CARE.com – students can sign up and post availability to babysit, dog sit, tutor, etc. The average pay is about $12 an hour.

UBER – Yes, some students with their own cars drive for UBER.

The Mall – Many students have said that there are available jobs at Dadeland Mall, Dadeland Station, Shops of Sunset Place and Merrick Park.

StudySoup Notetaker – This is a great job because it doesn’t really require any extra time. If you are an excellent notetaker you can make up to $500 a semester by taking notes as an Elite Notetaker.

Become a shopper for Shipt.

Get paid to play with dogs by becoming a sitter with Rover to gain access to the nation’s largest network of pet parents.

Wag Walking – This dog walking service has been called the Uber for dog walking. There are students doing this because each job is relatively quick (a walk depending on how far the owner wants) and who doesn’t love puppies? It is a stress-free way to make money.

Internships – This is a great way to get real-world experience. You may start a broader search through the Career Center. For a narrower search, we recommend looking at your individual college or looking up specific companies that you may be interested in working for. Chegg has an internship site or check out some of the job sites including Indeed.com. Don’t rule out LinkedIn as a resource either. And, if you have contacts with friends, families, acquaintances, ask if they know of any internships. Even HaveUHeard has a paid internship program.

Remember, students that hold part-time jobs may not be able to leave for school breaks, which may mean spending Thanksgiving, spring break, or some of the winter break at school. Some dorms are not open during breaks so this can be an issue.

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The post Working While in College appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

I have experimented with various approaches to teaching my daughter to live on a budget. When she lived at home, she was expected to learn how to save the money she received as gifts and earned at her part-time job. Once she each left for college, the discussion about budgeting took on a more serious tone. Perhaps your student is actually able to keep to a budget.

My daughter needed more guidance and struggled at the beginning. She had to learn the hard way after overspending and not saving by not having enough money to participate in things when her friends were going out. I admit, it was hard telling my daughter, as I watched her monthly allowance dwindle, that she better be a bit more cautious or stock up on peanut butter or ramen noodles for her next few meals until her next college allowance came. I knew though that the gift of teaching her to budget her money would be far more useful than the pain I was feeling.

The good news is that there are plenty of places around the University of Miami that make eating while sticking to a budget possible. There are also a few good tricks. For instance, if your students have a meal plan, encourage them to bring back a few snacks from the dining room for later. There is nothing wrong with leaving with a banana, apple, or hardboiled egg.

Students today are very adept at using technology to help them save money.  Have them search for the most up-to-date apps that target local restaurants. They often have coupons or discounts for checking in to their store or giving a review. They can ask about student discounts too. Some students use the Acorns app, investing spare change. It is a great introduction for learning how to make your money grow and honestly, most students do not miss the change.

The question of how much money we should give them for, let’s call it a college allowance, generates a lot of responses; enough varying answers to make your head spin. In addition, your family’s personal financial situation, your family’s values factor into this decision. I will not pay for alcohol. I am not sticking my head in the sand and pretending kids won’t go out and drink, but I don’t have to pay for it either. They can use their summer earnings for that. Books and school supplies were to go on my credit card, which was also there for emergencies. I gave my daughter different dollar amounts per month depending on where she was living that year and if she had a meal plan. It ranged from $300 (living on campus with a meal plan) to $800 (living off-campus with no meal plan).

Start at the Beginning

Basically, at the beginning of each new school year, I created a reasonable budget, as I do for myself. This is to cover all of her expenses after rent, books, gas for her car. If she chooses to use her allowance up on pedicures and sushi, then peanut butter and jelly can help to balance her budget. The point here is that I am looking for her to learn to budget her money. It is my goal to not have to support her after college and optimistic this may ease her into that realm. Consider having your students get their own credit cards. It is a great way for them to start learning how to budget themselves while building their credit for when they are out on their own. Our credit card recommendations for students allow them to learn how to use credit without getting into too much debt as many first-time credit cardholders are given a smaller credit limit.

Mention to your student to take a look around campus for free activities. Many clubs and organizations have events out on the breezeway during lunch and other locations across campus during dinner time that provide snacks or even a light meal! Bagels, ice cream, free food trucks, pizza all the time, falafel happy hours at Hillel. There are so many places to grab free grub at UM, no one should ever go hungry. Included with your Cane Card and with up-to-date and paid student activity fees, students are also permitted to see all the theatre and Frost School of Music productions (on designated student nights), hear guest lecturers, listen to concerts, discover the Lowe Art Museum on Campus, see a movie at the Bill Cosford Cinema and stroll around the Beaux Art Festival that happens right on campus every spring.

Remember that the University of Miami is a hub of activity for the entire city. Many wonderful cultural, academic, and stimulating events and activities happen on this beautiful, vibrant campus daily. I was surprised when students explained that some nights they played board games. Of course, I am sure some turned into drinking games. I am not condoning that; just sharing. Perhaps your student has a job while at school and won’t ask you for a thing. Maybe that job is to pay for the extras; like nights out, a spring break cruise, or next semester abroad. My daughter worked during the summer to save money for exactly these types of activities. She pays for many extras and, I can honestly say, it has taught her to give thought to her purchases.

Eventually, they will find all the deals out there. When they can manage their money after college, they will thank you. Well, they probably won’t thank you, but knowing they are eating and sticking to a reasonable budget is thanks enough. By the way, don’t expect them to take you to these budget-friendly places when you visit. That is when they will be hoping for a meal at all the restaurants they presently can’t afford.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

I can vividly remember being in college and having to make the dreaded call home to ask my mom for money. I was the last of 3 kids she put through college, so she had heard it all. This was before cell phones (think wall corded phones) and, dare I say it, before the internet. Banking required you to wait for the statement to arrive in the mail. My mom would go through each statement to see exactly how I was spending my money. She used to joke all the time about that funny college saying “How can I be overdrawn I still have blank checks”…. Since we pretty much only spoke once a week (On Sunday night when rates were cheaper, again, no such thing as texting, emails or cell phones), having to mention needing money was not exactly what I wanted to talk about. During college breaks, she would sit me down to discuss why I bounced a check, how I need to learn how to live on a budget and other financial issues.

I had grants, student loans, and I also had work-study and worked during the summer. Finances were tight but somehow my mom made it work, but if I wanted to spend money and some extras I had to work while going to school. And, to be perfectly honest, I wasted a lot of money… on food, clothes, going out, drinking (the drinking age in Florida then was eighteen), and lord knows what else. I have no doubt that had I been more aware of where I was spending my money, I could have gotten by with a lot less. But that is part of what college is all about; learning how to navigate the real world. Becoming financially savvy is part of that.

When my older daughter went to UM, the tables turned quickly and now she would text or email when she needed more money (less confrontational than over the phone). She also had a credit card for emergencies only (and we defined what constituted an emergency – car breaking down, health issues, true emergencies- not a sale at a store or buying alcohol). She also has a debit/credit card that I can easily transfer money into at a moment’s notice. It also gave me access to her full banking account so I could see where she is spending the money. We were fortunate that she was awarded considerable merit aid but there were still plenty of other expenses that we needed to cover including her apartment/living in a sorority, gas for her car, books, and supplies, and an endless need for incidentals like Starbucks, Uber rides and Netflix.

And like I had to with my mom, every time she would come home, I would sit her down and line item the credit card because she was not adhering to her budget. By her senior year, she would have to go into her savings account for the money for incidentals we were unwilling to pay for. And, we wanted her to learn how to live on a budget because, while she is fortunate in that she has not had to endure any financial hardship, she would eventually be on her own and that is a real wake up call for many of our kids.

The question of how much money we should give them for, let’s call it a college allowance, generates a lot of responses, both positive and helpful, and some insightful posts (anonymity will do that). Having asked many of my friends and also having my younger daughter speak with her friends, the one thing I have quickly learned that there are enough varying answers to make your head spin. In addition, your family’s personal financial situation, your family’s values factor into this decision.

What I Will Pay For

What I can tell you is that I will not pay for alcohol. I am not sticking my head in the sand and pretending kids won’t go out and drink, but I don’t have to pay for it either. They can use their summer earnings for that stuff. Books and school supplies were to go on my credit card (which was also there for emergencies.) Food, depending on whether your student has a meal plan or lives in an apartment (even on campus) may vary.

I gave my daughter different dollar amounts per month depending on where she was living that year and if she had a meal plan. It ranged from $300 (living on campus with a meal plan) to $800 (Living off-campus with no meal plan) All freshmen that are not commuter students are required to live on campus with a minimum of 14 meals a week meal plan. Basically, at the beginning of each new school year, I created a reasonable budget, as I do for myself. This is to cover all of her expenses after rent, books, gas for her car. If she chooses to use her allowance up on pedicures and sushi, then peanut butter and jelly can help to balance her budget. The point here is that I am looking for her to learn to budget her money. It is my goal to not have to support her after college and optimistic this may ease her into that realm. Consider having your students get their own credit cards. It is a great way for them to start learning how to budget themselves while building their credit for when they are out on their own. Our credit card recommendations.

Mention to your student to take a look around campus for free activities. Many clubs and organizations have events out on the breezeway during lunch and other locations across campus during dinner time that provide snacks or even a light meal! Bagels, ice cream, free food trucks, pizza all the time, falafel happy hours at Hillel. There are so many places to grab fee grub at UM, your kid will most likely never go hungry. Getting involved in one or more clubs guarantees things to do and ways to socialize and fill an empty belly. Often club activities are included in membership and are fairly priced. Included with your Cane Card and with up-to-date and paid student activity fees, students are also permitted to see all the theatre and Frost School of music productions (on designated student nights), hear guest lecturers, listen to concerts, discover the Lowe Art Museum on Campus, see a movie at the Bill Cosford Cinema and stroll around the Beaux Art Festival that happens right on campus every spring.

Remember that the University of Miami is a hub of activity for the entire city. Many wonderful cultural, academic, and stimulating events and activities happen on this beautiful, vibrant campus daily. Game night and Movie nights are popular and also a fun option. I was surprised to find board games mentioned when talking to students (that lived off campus). They explained that some nights it was fun to just stay in with a bunch of friends and play. Of course, I am sure some turned into drinking games. I am not condoning that; just sharing. Perhaps your student has a job while at school and won’t ask you for a thing. Maybe that job is to pay for the extras; like nights out, a spring break cruise, or next semester abroad. My daughter worked during the summer to save money for exactly these types of activities. She pays for many extras and, I can honestly say, it has taught her to really give thought to her purchases.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Budget 101 appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

The University of Miami boasts 11 Schools and Colleges and offers more than 180 academic programs and majors. Many students begin college with an idea of what they wish to study, but it is not uncommon for a student to change majors. My own daughter changed her major early on from Communications to Political Science.  Changing is not always viewed as a poor decision; oftentimes an advisor or dean will encourage the change because it means the student found a career path that better interests them. Many of my friends have told me that their kids decided against a career in medicine after a few chemistry classes which, in turn, meant a major change as well.

Major Change!

Changing and choosing a major isn’t always easy. There are several ways you can support your student as they are trying to decide or as they consider possibly changing their major. One of the main reasons students reconsider or hesitate to declare is because they do not understand the career options associated with the major. This can be a tricky topic because a major alone does not always prescribe a specific career path; however, it is often helpful to read about options other students have pursued to get ideas for their future. Encourage your student to visit the Career Center or its website, to utilize online resources like Career Guides that walk students through selecting a major, Match Major Sheets that help students explore career options once they have decided on a major, and online databases for career outlook information.

The Toppel Career Center helps students every step of the way to career success. Whether students are looking to solidify interests or skills, to get ready for a job or internship interview, or to make connections that will launch their career, Toppel is there to help. The Toppel Career Center knows that everyone is at a different place when they come to UM. Their model–Explore, Prepare, Connect–gives them the flexibility to meet students where they are. Be sure to check out this comprehensive resource here.

There are so many classes out there that may change their lives, but they won’t know until they take them. Spending a little time surveying, investigating and exploring can lead to some eye-opening adventures and life-changing discovery.

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The post Choosing or Changing Your Major appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.