One of the best ways to learn about a prospective career is to do an internship. Most colleges will require at least one, paid, or unpaid. Regardless, it looks great on a resume. I had multiple internships being an education major, and they were essential to my maturing skills as a teacher. My internships also led the way to my first job teaching. Internships allow a student to decide if that is the actual career for them, as well as to make connections that are beyond valuable. So, how do you get an internship?

I’m not going to lie. If you know someone, now might be the time to put a word out, that your student is looking for. We tell our girls over and over: “It’s who you know.” My daughter is currently waiting on a confirmation for a position with a major sports team because a friend works there. It’s an unpaid internship but being able to use that team and position on her resume will be priceless.

Don’t know anyone on the inside that can help? Don’t worry, because USF has great resources. Career and Internship Fair Week is held in both Fall and Spring. The next Career & Internship Fair is Wednesday, February 5, 2020, from 10 am to 3 pm in the Yuengling Center (formally the Sun Dome). The Career Services office has a wealth of information offered. You must register through Handshake, which is basically Indeed for students. Remember to dress for business to all events and bring your resumes. More information on internships.

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.

We’ve got some great information on what to wear if you are attending one of the job fairs. Students may also sign up for an internship/practicum class offered in their major. These classes give you credits towards your degree while also connecting you with companies in the field.

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 on one of the above sites and then, by scouring LinkedIn, they can make a connection. 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.

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.

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

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When I attended USF, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to study.  I was so excited to start learning about something that I really didn’t know anything about.  As the classes started, I realized that maybe I wasn’t so sure. After my first year, I wondered if I should be looking into other options.  It’s a scary thought, but in reality, about 80% of college students change their major while in college. And that’s ok! Most kids graduating high school aren’t sure about “what they want to be when they grow up”.

USF provides so many wonderful colleges and majors.  With 14 colleges offering over 180 majors, sometimes it’s hard to commit.  USF’s Career Services is a wonderful place to get advice and help in planning a future career path.  They have tools to help narrow down searches and offer ways to explore majors, internships, and careers.  They even help with resume writing and preparing for interviews.

Your advising center will have advisors that will also help with your questions, searches, and course loads.  Make an appointment and have your concerns ready. They will make you feel comfortable to ease your mind about changing paths if needed.  I changed my major three times in college.  That may not the be norm, but with today’s resources, there is no lack of help with guidance and direction for our college students.  Take advantage of all that USF offers.

USF offers many events that help you explore different occupations.  They offer job fairs, Professional U, Career and Coffee time, employer events, and graduate and professional school fairs.  Take advantage of these great offerings. In the fall, check out the Career Kickoff Cookout.  This is a free event and a chance to meet with advisors.

Check the Career Center’s site for the Career Expo dates.  This is an event to meet employers, interview on the spot, and learn about different careers.  Make sure that you dress appropriately and have your resume ready to hand out. The Career Center will have other workshops to help you prepare for this event.  You may also have the opportunity to apply for internships as well.

It is important to dress appropriately and come with your resume as you will be speaking to professional organizations and maybe even your future employer. Students have many choices here from the USF’s Suit-A-Bull program, a free suit rental service for USF students with a valid Student ID card to Thrift Stores to taking advantage of retailers that offer discounts for students with their college ID. You can read about that list here.

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.

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Before you know it, you are walking across the stage at graduation, and with that last step, you are officially a Bull alumnus. You may be super excited and a little sad that your “Bull’s” life has ended. But it hasn’t! The first thing that you should do is to join the Alumni Association. By doing that, you have the chance to continue your Bull pride through contacts, fun events, and networking. And it always provides opportunities for you to show off your new alumni swag.

Like all alumni associations, they help keep the spirit of the school going, and the benefits are too good to pass up. My husband and I are both USF alumni and Life members of the association. Not only do we get access to incredible networking in the field that we studied, but we have also enjoyed the access to private events, both in town and out, traveling experiences, and being the “first to know” about special ticketed events and pricing. We also take advantage of the financial, insurance, and product benefits that the association offers.

HaveUHeard that all USF alumni have free access for up to twelve months after graduation to the many services offered by USF Career Services? Should you move to another city, you may find other activities there as well. It is a great way to meet people and find a realtor or roommate. Check social media for alumni group pages as there are quite a few.

If you decide to stay in the Tampa Bay area after graduation, you will find that the Alumni Association holds many events just for their graduates.  One of the best is the tailgate tent at the football games. It is huge, stocked with food and they usually give out alumni gear such as grad year stickers, beads, and t-shirts. If you are out of town, you have lots of watch party opportunities as well. You can also check out our watch party blog for more info.

Homecoming is another big event for alumni. Not only are there activities almost every day of Homecoming week, but members have priority to the parade viewing, cocktail parties, concerts, socials, and more. The USF Alumni Association also has many chapters and clubs. Clubs vary based on special interests, the different colleges within USF, or differing locations throughout the country. There are even global alumni ambassadors in 19 countries around the world.

Another advantage of joining the alumni association is the chance to volunteer with fellow Bulls. You can also become a mentor to current USF students by bringing your talents and ideas to help others. Scholarships are also awarded to students through the association.

What better way to search for a job, or a reference than to use your USF connections. Being a member allows you access to job search coaching (free for the first year after graduation), including resume/cover letter help, interviewing skills, and job search strategies. Alumni can use Employ-a-Bull partnered with Handshake to post and job search. It is free for alumni. A lot of alumni in the business world will search for candidates from USF Handshake. For more help, you can also contact the USF Career Services.

Keep your Bull pride going with special discounts at the USF Bookstore. Alumni receive 15% off of logo merchandise inside the store. You’ll want to ride with pride with an official USF license plate so apply for one at your Florida local tax collector’s office. So, which membership is right for you? Go to the USF alumni page to see all of the options available. You won’t regret joining and remember to Go Bulls!

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As they get closer to graduation, one of the greatest changes our students are about to experience is abandoning their shorts, t-shirts and yoga pants, as they begin to dress for success in their new roles, or as my older daughter stated, for adulting. Dressing for success can be daunting in different ways, but the one that stands out most may very well be its cost.

Starting with the career and internship fairs students are attending, students need to put look professional. For the young men, this may mean a suit and tie and for the young women, while they have more options, it may mean a suit, pantsuit, skirt, and blouse or dress. That’s not to mention shoes. For students who may not have the means to go and purchase a new outfit, USF has Suit-A-Bull, a free suit rental service for men and women. It is open to all USF students with a valid Student ID Card. It is a donation-driven service so not all sizes and types of items may be available. Check out the Thrift Stores/Secondhand stores. From dresses to skirts, blouses and even jewelry, this is another affordable way to find suitable outfits for interviewing.

Students need to research the companies they will be interviewing with and eventually working for. Some companies are very conservative in their dress policies and require business attire, while others are more business casual. Trends change, but the basics still require that their look should be polished. Most department stores will have suit(able) options.

As they begin to upgrade their success wardrobe, they will be happy to know that student discounts are everywhere for the asking. Students can sign up online and download the app for Student Beans which will give them discounts for food & drink, fashion, tech and mobile, health & beauty, travel, study, and more. Check out our blog Student Discounts- Money Saving Resources. A similar student discount app is Unidays.

Welcome to adulting.

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Working While in College

To Work or Not to Work?

Working while in college is a very personal decision. Each family will decide on the needs of their students, but about half of all college students have at least a part-time job.  Most freshmen start without a job but then acquire one in later years, once they know how to manage their time. Some students must work to pay for their college, while others know that their school work is their only job.  And some, work to supplement their spending, housing, or even their Spring Break trip (see our Spring Break blog for more information on that).

USF has resources to help their Bulls find jobs both on and off-campus.  The Career Services department has a great system called Handshake.  It helps to power the Employ-A-Bull program and is an online career management system for all registered USF students. Accounts are created for students at the start of the first semester which they are enrolled.  To access their account for the first time, a student logs into MyUSF, then hits the My Resources tab, and then chooses “Find A Job (Handshake)”.

It is an easy format and is very helpful to students.  Another working way to search for jobs at USF is to go to AccessCareers@USF.  There is also a part-time job fair on March 28, 2019, at the Marshall Student Center from 11 am to 2 pm.

Some popular on-campus jobs are:

USF Bookstores – They are run by Barnes & Noble College and are on the main campus and in Health Sciences.

RA or CM – Resident Assistants live in the dorms and monitor one hall of students.  They provide instruction, advice, and help to those living in their community.  RA’s are provided a room and meal plan for compensation. A CM is the same thing as an RA, except they are a member of a specific Greek chapter, and work in the Greek communities.  CM’s receive a room and $2000 divided into bi-weekly payments throughout the year. Students must qualify and apply for the positions. Applications usually open in November and close in January for the following year.

Off-campus job suggestions:

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

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.

Hillsborough County Public Schools HOST Programs – These are before, after school, and summer programs held at schools.  Counselors help with academic programs and help with homework. Recreation activities are planned and counselors work on social/emotional development with students.

Fiverr –Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelance services that started in 2010 and got its name from the original price of jobs being $5 per task. This is a great place for students to list services they offer (or parents) or even find inexpensive tutors. 

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

Retail – Many shops and boutiques are always looking for reliable students.  Check out Westfield Brandon and Wiregrass Mall.

Rover – Wanna play with dogs and get paid for it? Join Rover and get paid to pet-sit and have access to the largest network of pet parents.

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.

Studies/Focus Groups – There are always opportunities to get paid to participate in a study or focus group on campus.  They are usually advertised around campus.

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It is that time of year when students receive notifications that they have made a collegiate scholar society. The cream-colored linen envelope arrives with its gold embossed logo of said scholar society organization makes me smile just thinking about it. As a parent, you do a mental cartwheel as you see the invitation; as you should. Then take a breath and read the fine print carefully. There are many Honor Societies and it is important to be aware of what stands behind each of the various invitations to join. Educate yourself as to what they provide in exchange for this membership. Honestly, there are many organizations on campus that your student can get involved with that will be far more beneficial to their resume and postgraduate application than membership in a society that profits from the fees they collect. Read their annual report to see how much of their revenue goes toward administrative fees, just as you would with a charity you are vetting.

I am not trying to diminish the euphoric moment you are feeling. The question is at what cost should you be pleased and will it make a difference when they graduate? Every college at USF has a dean’s list with differing requirements. You do not pay money to be on this Dean’s List. When your student graduates, if their overall GPA is 3.5 or higher, they will be eligible for a color chord (which you will then pay money for them to wear and ultimately keep).

Bragging Rights

It is wonderful as a parent to be able to brag about our kid’s achievements. How many times, when your child was in elementary school, did you see a car adorned with the My Kid Made the Honor Roll at (fill in the blank) Elementary School?  And your child was proud and perhaps you made it a big deal. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with rewarding a student for a strong performance. But, aside from having to pay for the bumper sticker/pennant/keychain or whatever specialty items you bought so that everyone would know your student’s achievement, it did not cost you any additional monies.

If it is important to your student (and you) to accept membership because the benefits outweigh the costs, by all means, go ahead and join. USF also has several chapters of national honor/scholar societies (most of which do not cost or have a small fee upon induction).  Various honor societies are listed here, but each college has their own.  The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is one of those which invite freshmen and sophomores with at least a 3.4 GPA and be in the top 20% of their class, into their society. The lifetime membership fee is $95 paid only once and allows access to career resources, networking, special programs and discounts for specific services and products as well as scholarships; according to their website.

USF also has the USF Green and Gold Scholars Award.  This is actually a scholarship that awards up to $6000 a year.  It is recognized at graduation as well.

Have we gotten to the place where we are willing to pay money to legitimize our students’ scholastic efforts? I would like to believe not, but then again, they are of the generation where everyone receives a trophy just for participating. USF offers plenty of opportunities to qualify for one of the many honor societies, but we also cannot discount being able to graduate from USF as one of the honor levels including cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude will not cost you any money and will give you and your student bragging rights.

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You’ve graduated from high school and have chosen to go to USF. The most popular question asked to you will be, “what are planning on studying?” or “what are you going to major in?” This can be very intimidating to some because not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up. And that is ok! If you know you want to be a nurse/doctor, a teacher, or a business person, you will start taking some of your first major-related classes along with those required ones. If you are not exactly sure what you want to study, USF will help you to plan.

My daughter started college wanting to major in Psychology.  Although she still likes it, she decided to change her major to Marketing with a concentration in Sports and Entertainment Management. It is a much better fit for her, and with 180 majors offered at USF, she was able to change easily with help from her advisor. She has had friends decide against careers in medicine, after taking some really intense chemistry classes. That meant changing their majors as well.

USF allows students to register for up to 36 credit hours before they must declare a major. This allows for plenty of opportunities to try some different classes out in different areas of study. (ECM) Exploratory Curriculum Students are those that aren’t completely sure what they want to major in. They can choose tracks from Arts & Humanities, Business, Global and Social Sciences, Health & Natural Sciences, and Math, Engineering, & Technology. These will help guide them to what they like and are interested in. Advisors for ECM students also educate students on jobs, and careers in different areas.

It’s not always easy to change a major, and it can mean that you may need to add another semester or so to your college plans. But the best thing to do is to meet with your advisor. They will help to specify requirements, needs, and resources to make the process easier. Some colleges allow you to change your major by filling out paperwork online. Others will require you to meet with that college’s advisors. The list of colleges and their links is here.

Another tip for helping you choose a major is to explore the Career Services at USF. They offer seminars and meetings to not only help find you a job but to educate you on the careers out in the working field.

There are so many classes out there, and hopefully, you will have space to explore some that are different for you. You never know what spark may be lit inside of you from learning something new. Being in college is the time to explore and learn all that you can.

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