Toppel Snuggie Fridays

Where's The Stuffing: Part 3

Written By Pallavi Pal

Are you staying in Miami for the Winter Break and Need Something to Do?

Even though it may be late in searching for and applying for jobs over winter break or even an internship, a great way to boost your resume would be through volunteering. Butler Center has a volunteer search engine where you can find your calling.

Whether it’s working at the Actor’s Playhouse or American Forests Association, there are exciting and fun ways that you can not only get involved with the community, meet new networking sources, but also enjoy your winter break doing something you love. On the Butler website there are options for every major and every field of interest at UMiami. For instance:

Art Majors
• Art Studio of Miami
• Gold Coast Theater
• GableStage
• Miami Art Museum

Science Majors may be interested in working at
• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
• Baptist Hospital
• Action for AIDS, Inc.
• Children's Cancer Fund

Pre-Law Majors may be interested in
• Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project
• Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
• Juvenile Justice Center School
• Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc.
• Guardian Ad Litem

Pre-Veterinary Majors may be interested in
• Miami-Dade Animal Care and Control Services
• Animal Rights Foundation of Florida
• Adopt- A- Pet

Where's the Stuffing? Part 1

Written By Priyanka Surio

How to make the most of your Winter Break

As University of Miami students, we get all the perks of a great school in academics, research, and athletics. We also enjoy a month and a half of winter vacation where we get to eat turkey, celebrate holidays with our families and relax. But this long break also finds students feeling anxious, bored and yearning to do something productive. So why not make the most of your five weeks at home!?

There are a multitude of opportunities, which include:

Traveling – getting an opportunity to travel abroad and explore other cultures
Learning – taking winter intersession classes
Preparing - getting ready for graduate schools, applications, tests (MCAT, GRE…)
Experience - gaining real world experience through internships and jobs
Service - giving back to the community and making an impact

Traveling:


If you plan on traveling abroad, first look at places that you find appealing from which you feel you could gain the most. Look into whether you have friends or family there. Find cheap tickets as soon as possible. Talk to the study abroad office on campus and receive advice on the different options you have. While you are abroad, look into the different fields and organizations that you are interested in and interact with the professionals working there; you are building your international network!

Study Abroad Office
International Education and Exchange Programs
Telephone: 305 284 3434

Cheap Flight Tickets

Toppel’s Resources
Create an account with CaneZone and browse through Going Global for internships or job opportunities abroad that fall into the time frame and place you will be visiting.


Learning:


Intersession Classes
UM offers countless Winter Intersession and Spring Break Intersession classes for those wishing to gain a head start in their college career.
Why else should you take an intersession course?
•Topics not normally offered during regular semesters
•Getting individual quality time with distinguished faculty members
•Sharing knowledge with other students

Check out the following webpage for more information http://www6.miami.edu/intersession/

Contact Information:
For on campus and domestic travel courses:
Sam Postigo and Carol Wilson
(305)284-6600
Sap.cstudies@miami.edu

For International faculty led travel courses:
IEEP office: (305)284-3434
ieep@miami.edu

What are the dates for InterSession/Spring Break?
InterSession: January 3-15, 2011
Spring Break: March 12-20, 2011

On the webpage is also a Quick Glance Brochure that will list all the courses, the school or subject area, the professor teaching, and the dates/times of the course.

Where's the Stuffing Part 2

Written by Priyanka Surio

Preparing:

Test Prep
Test takers, let Kaplan be your Study Prep for any important test coming up from the LSAT to the GMAT.
You thought Black Friday had deals, this holiday season, Kaplan reiterates its higher score guarantee through offering a plethora of test prep and review material at discounted prices.

Access their webpage to find out what deals and courses/materials they have available.
Kaplan
Get a head start on your competition now while you can.
Use this holiday season to get started on your path to a higher score.
Prep with Kaplan's flexible online options now before your peers get moving.

Graduate Schools
IF you are applying to graduate schools already or wish to visit some beforehand to help you decide on the right school, click here for tips and advice on how to prepare yourself for these visits.
Visit GradSchools.com to get the inside scoop on what to do before applying, what tests you will need for specific schools, how to apply and tips for your application, and further advice on what to do once in Graduate School.

Toppel’s Resources
Visit our main HireACane, click the Students or Alumni tab, and then click on the Graduate Schools tab.

Experience:


The “Search”
In addition to your CaneZone account create a UCAN Internship account if you wish to discover more job/internship opportunities than you can imagine. You can access the UCAN Internship page on CaneZone.

Toppel’s Resources

Be sure to refer to the Internships and Resources tabs on Toppel’s Main website.
Career LINKS: We have compiled a list of websites associated with career-related topics like healthcare, pre-law, business, etc. Select your topic of interest to see the corresponding websites.

Applying

Do not wait to apply to that summer internship, research position, study abroad experience or job. The earlier you apply the more you increase your chances of being offered your dream position. Utilize your break to research programs and opportunities and develop your application for the respective programs in your field of interest.
Be sure to get feedback on your application and any necessary personal statements or essays. Toppel has walk in hours Monday- Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to help students with their cover letters, personal statements, and resumes. Normal walk-in hours end December 15. Toppel is offering a modified schedule of walk-in advising on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:00-4:00 p.m. from January 3-14, 2011. Normal walk-in hours resume on the first day of classes, January 18, 2011.

Stay tuned for more of the main course next time!

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Interviewing Skills
Wednesday, December 1, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Monday, November 29, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Tackling the Career Fair

Written by Marlo Wyant

Every year thousands of students attend career fairs at universities and national conferences in pursuit of their careers. Although, these days, the economy has made it more difficult for prospective employees to secure positions, the presence of career fairs across the nation demonstrates the existing needs of companies to recruit new talent.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) recently held their 60th anniversary national conference in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center. The highlight of this conference was, by far, the career fair. The fair had more than 5000 attendees and showcased over 220 employers currently seeking engineering, technical, and business-minded candidates. Companies included engineering giants such as GE and Caterpillar, financial institutions such as Deloitte and Goldman Sachs, non-profit organizations, and graduate schools. The fair provided networking opportunities galore for those daring enough to put themselves out there. There were seven University of Miami attendees who cumulatively secured nine on-site interviews and left valuable impressions on dozens of employers.
Some of the attendees of the career fair were in attendance for the first time. By asking questions and practicing, they were able to make the best of the fair:

What is the benefit of the career fair?

The primary purpose of the career fair is for a job-seeker to network and explore the types of opportunities available to him or her. One can perform web-searching and fill out online applications for weeks and never hear back. The career fair allows job seekers to speak directly with employers about their needs in the workforce. In turn, a career fair attendee can potentially secure on-site interviews, job offers, and general insights into the demands of the industry.

Don’t most employers tell me to make an online profile and send me on my way?

Employers will tell you to create an online profile in order to maintain equal opportunity-compliancy. However, putting a face to the online profile can make the difference. If the recruiter sincerely took an interest in you and would like to consider you for a position, it is possible for them to later look up your profile and personally recommend it to hiring managers. You will have the leg up on the mysterious face-less resumes they receive on a daily basis.

What am I supposed to do at a career fair?

1. Practice your pitch. When you go up to a company booth, you need to properly introduce yourself to a prospective employer so that you can concisely tell them about yourself and why you want to be considered at their company. Making a good first impression is what will set the tone of your conversation. Try starting out with something like this:
   
   “Hello, my name is _________ and I am an experienced ________major in my ________ year of study at the University of Miami. I have related work/project experience at ________ company/university and I am looking for a/an (internship/fulltime position) at _______ Company. Do you have a few minutes to discuss opportunities with me?”
   
   Don’t forget to shake the recruiters hand and ALWAYS ask for a business card if you felt the conversation went well. (If the recruiter does not have business cards to give you, it’s fine, but it can never hurt to ask).
2. Chart your path. For larger career fairs (100+ relevant companies), plan your intended path before going inside. Large career fairs can be distracting and disorienting, so planning is important to ensure that you talk to all of the employers that interest you. However, you can still leave time to speak with employers you have not considered before.
3. Do your homework. Although, employers attend career fairs in order to increase exposure to candidates, they prefer that one knows at least a little about what they do. Make sure to at least read the program book description about the company so that you don’t go up to ANYONE and ask “So, what does your company do?” Recruiters don’t expect you to be an expert on their company, but they want to see that you have some interest in their company.
4. DON’T ask for the onsite interview. Even though many employers host career fair interviews, they will decide when to offer the slots. If you work hard to make a favorable impression and closely match your experience to their desired qualifications, there is a good chance that you will be offered the slot. Be aware that these slots do fill quickly, and if you can’t quite make the slot at the fair, there are still opportunities with offsite and phone interviews with the company. If you make that good first impression, create the online profile the recruiters tell you to, and you may just be contacted later.
5. Keep an open mind. Read the career fair program book, listen to what recruiters have to say, and you might just consider working for a company or in a field that you had not considered before.

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Interviewing Skills
Monday, November 22, 5:00 p.m. (Edward Cruz)
Wednesday, December 1, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Monday, November 29, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Success Beyond UM

Written by Claire Arritola and Priyanka Surio

Working at the Toppel Career Center comes with many perks; it is considered one of the best jobs to have on campus. Being a peer advisor prepares us for the professional world in all aspects. This has been proven through the success of a former Peer Advisor, Steve Glasser ’10. Steve graduated last May with a major in Marketing and a minor in Sport Administration and went on to work for his dream job, ESPN! Always enthusiastic about the sports arena, it was only his destiny to end up as a Production Researcher for ESPN Stats and Information. He went from sharing football stats and information in the office to writing sports articles for ESPN New York. He made it to the end zone after much persistence, using the strategies he learned at our career center to score that touchdown. He is starting off his career to a great start and we only see greater things in his future; soon he will be hosting the halftime show for national football games, sharing his valuable and insightful input. We can’t wait to see what our future holds!

They're Not The Same Old Jets (So Far) - Written by Steve Glasser

Global Entrepreneurship Week Update

More information concerning Global Entrepreneurship Week we recently received.

I saw that you recently wrote about Global Entrepreneurship Week and hope you’re interested in a few updates, now that GEW is underway in 100 nations. Just a few GEW activities have the ability to unite entrepreneurs from around the world with shared experiences and healthy competition – one such activity is Global Innovation Game, the official online game of GEW.

GiG engages budding and serial entrepreneurs in solving real-world challenges through the lens of a social game and provides an online space in which they can connect and network beyond GEW. And now, a few top players have the chance to turn their innovative ideas into reality.

This week only – during GEW – game players will have the chance to win one of three prize packages consisting of expert advice to develop a business plan and market their startup to investors, assistance in identifying potential investors, and up to $750 for business tools to help get them there, such as a computer, printer or software. The packages will be awarded to the players who post the highest valued solutions in the game categories of energy, health and transport by 9pm on November 21, 2010, the end of GEW.

I hope you are able to share this news with your readers – I think that this game and these rewards are quite relevant to them. Full details and rules can be found at http://mercatorxxi.com/trends. The game can be played here: www.facebook.com/globalinnovationgame.

I've also enclosed a link to a recent news release detailing the official launch of GiG: http://pitch.pe/101576.

Ask the Law School Expert

Written by Pallavi Pal

Last Monday, November 8, 2010, Toppel Career Center hosted an Ask the Law School Expert session with one of the top Law School Admissions Consultants, Ann Levine. She is a University of Miami alumna and returned to give a speech and advice to students who are either considering attending law school or have applied to law school. Ms. Levine is the author of The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert and former director of admissions to two ABA law schools. More than 100,000 applicants have relied upon her advice to get into the law school of their dreams by reading her blog at here.

As a UM alumna, she has passion for the University and returned to speak to her Alma Mater regarding getting into law school. She addressed questions relating to creating an application, what type of information would be pertinent to include, specific questions on applications and advice on attaining scholarships. She explained the importance and how much value law school admissions place on LSAT and GPA scores as well as things one can do to counter a detrimental score. Her insightful and exciting manner of relating to students is stellar. The bonus of attending the session is getting a free copy of her book The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert as an audio recording. Now her advice is portable and can be heard at leisure.

To get more advice for law school or if you are unsure about whether you want to apply, set up an appointment at the Toppel Career Center with Alicia Rodriguez by calling 305-284-5451.

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Interviewing Skills
Monday, November 22, 5:00 p.m. (Edward Cruz)
Wednesday, December 1, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Monday, November 29, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
Ask the Law School Expert
Featured Speaker: UM Alumna Ann Levine
Storer Auditorium
Monday, November 8, 6:00 p.m.

Careers Involving Social Media
Tuesday, November 9, 6:30 p.m.

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Thursday, November 11, 2:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Tuesday, November 9. 4:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs - Veronica Soto
Tuesday, November 9, 12:30 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Wednesday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. (Megan Garber)
Monday, November 22, 5:00 p.m. (Edward Cruz)
Wednesday, December 1, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Friday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)
Monday, November 29, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Written by Monica Page

From Monday, November 15 to Sunday November 24, the University of Miami will be one of the host sites of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Organized by The Launch Pad, Global Entrepreneurship Week brings together young people and professionals from around the world to discuss the trends and developments in the field of entrepreneurship. Speakers provide the audience with knowledge, skills and practical insight that they have learned over time.

The appeal of Global Entrepreneurship Week is that expands farther than just those interested in entrepreneurship. Any major on campus can participate to gain knowledge about an important figure in their field of even to just learn more about a subject they are interested in. Last year one of the presenters during the University of Miami Global Entrepreneurship Week was Dana White, the founder of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Not everyone in the audience had dreams of running a mixed martial arts competition. There was a mix of fans and those who just found the event to be interesting.

In 2008, The Launch Pad was the #1 US partner of Global Entreneurship week and the top campus partner in 2009. This year, The Launch Pad has scheduled different programs featuring entrepreneurs in the field of technology, food and hospitality, fashion and entertainment. One set of programs will also feature women entrepreneurs.

Event highlights include:
Monday, November 15
5:00 p.m. Food fair opens - University Center Patio
TASTE of ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Explore entrepreneurship in the food and beverage industries and culinary arts. Over 30 businesses will be serving bites and sharing their story to success.
Please note, pre-registration is required at www.thelaunchpad.org/GEWregistration.

Tuesday, November 16
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - University Center Flamingo Ballroom A
Entrepreneurs in Sports
Mike Levy, Founder and CEO - OPEN Sports and Fantasy Live

Wednesday, November 17
8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast - Newman Alumni Center
WOMEN in ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Celebrate entrepreneurs and businesswomen in South Florida. Network with innovative leaders with girl power!

Thursday, November 18
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - University Center Flamingo Ballrooms A-B-C
Import Export Luncheon
Neal Asbury, CEO - The Legacy Companies and 2008 US National Champion Exporter of the Year
Conscientious Equity book signing
Please note, pre-registration is required at www.thelaunchpad.org/GEWregistration.

7:30 to 9 p.m. - Storer Auditorium
Technology Gadgets - Case Study
If you build a better mousetrap... presented by MIT Enterprise Forum and RefreshMiami

Friday, November 19
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Networking and Reception
An EVENING with FASHION ENTREPRENEURS
Celebrate the style of Miami with a showcase by South Florida's up-and-coming designers and trend-setters

For more information about Global Entrepreneurship Week and to view the complete list of programs, please visit The Launch Pad website or call 305-284-2789. For more information about other Global Entrepreneurship Events outside of the University of Miami campus, visit their official website.

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
CANE Explorers: Gaining Internship Experience
Thursday, November 4, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Ask the Law School Expert
Featured Speaker: UM Alumna Ann Levine
Storer Auditorium
Monday, November 8, 6:00 p.m.

Careers Involving Social Media
Tuesday, November 9, 6:30 p.m.

Career Fairs and Events
Green Career Fair
Monday, November 1 to Friday, November 5
Virtual Fair on CaneZone
Click for more information

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Monday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 11, 2:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Tuesday, November 9. 4:00 p.m.

Advanced Networking and Dining Etiquette - Megan Garber
Monday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs - Veronica Soto
Tuesday, November 9, 12:30 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Tuesday, November 2, 4:00 p.m. (Frits Bigham)
Wednesday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. (Megan Garber)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Friday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
Careers in Marine and Atmospheric Science and Policy
Thursday, October 28, 6:00 p.m.
RSMAS Campus Auditorium

Career Fairs & Events
Road Trip Nation
Wednesday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Rock

Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
Wednesday, October 27, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
UC Lower Lounge
Click for more information

CANE Explorers: Gaining Internship Experience
Thursday, November 4, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Green Career Fair
Monday, November 1 to Friday, November 5
Virtual Fair on CaneZone
Click for more information

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Monday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 11, 2:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Thursday, October 21, 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 9. 4:00 p.m.

Advanced Networking and Dining Etiquette - Megan Garber
Monday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs - Veronica Soto
Tuesday, November 9, 12:30 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Friday, October 22, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)
Tuesday, November 2, 4:00 p.m. (Frits Bigham)
Wednesday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. (Megan Garber)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Friday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Etiquette Dinner: Expanding Our Horizons

Written by Pallavi Pal

There is always space for improvement and even though we do our utmost to be the best tool for students. Many times we are critiqued for only catering to one or a few career fields. In the spirit of raising the bar and being the best, we are working on expanding our reach to students of normally underrepresented career fields and majors.

That is why at the most recent Etiquette Dinner, Toppel not only partnered with Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) to further reach out to students of underrepresented backgrounds but also established Pre-Law and Pre-Dental tables for students in pre-professional fields to be able to network and interact with those who have been successful in their fields.

Many times we hear feedback that business students and engineers benefit the most from the Career Center’s resources so this time we decided to expand to pre-professional fields for the students’ benefit.

Along with the apparent goal of teaching how to interact with employers in a dining environment, Toppel and MSA encouraged students to diversify their experiences by networking with other employers outside of their fields prior to the start of the Etiquette Dinner. This is a great way to practice interacting with employers and also gain a broader understanding of the career world.

We had a great turnout of both employers and students and we encourage further collaboration with MSA to give UMiami Students a well-rounded and encompassing experience. Stay tuned to more updates from Toppel and RSVP to the Etiquette Dinner for next Fall!



Right-click "View Image" to see full-size.

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
CANE Explorers: Creating Your Resume
Monday, October 18, 5:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Etiquette Dinner
Sponsored by Toppel and Multicultural Student Association (MSA)
Tuesday, October 19, 6:30 p.m.
* Registration required on CaneZone under Events

Business and Government
Wednesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Careers in Marine and Atmospheric Science and Policy
Thursday, October 28, 6:00 p.m.
RSMAS Campus Auditorium

Career Fairs & Events
Road Trip Nation
Wednesday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Rock

Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
Wednesday, October 27, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
UC Lower Lounge
Click for more information


Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Monday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Thursday, October 21, 4:00 p.m.

Advanced Networking and Dining Etiquette - Megan Garber
Monday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs - Veronica Soto
Tuesday, November 9, 12:30 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Friday, October 22, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)
Tuesday, November 2, 4:00 p.m. (Frits Bigham)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Thursday, October 21, 5:00 p.m. (Edward Cruz)
Friday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)


All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Most Valuable Intern Contest

Written by Pallavi Pal



Did you do an internship this summer? Do you feel that you contributed a lot and made a difference in your internship? The Most Valuable Intern Contest awarded these interns that had fulfilling internships. Wednesday October 13, 2010 at 6:30PM at the Toppel Library is where the contest was held.

The turnout was great and the enthusiasm much appreciated. The student interns that presented were truly outstanding. From a Parliamentary intern to interns working for CBS, the students that presented had much to say. Some were in charge of working on briefs for Congressional offices, others pitched story ideas to newscasters, and still others worked under the direction of classical music stars.

The wide variety of internships and responsibilities that these students have really show that the University of Miami breeds talented young professionals. Their potential can be molded in the right direction and that’s what the Toppel Career Center is here for.

Make sure to keep this contest in mind as it will be a recurring annual program for years to come. Toppel wants to reward and show its appreciation for the student interns that have gone over and beyond the responsibilities at their jobs. Some of the prizes this year were a $75 gift card to the UM Bookstore for the grand prize winner and $20 gift cards to the Rathskeller as well two $20 gift cards for the first and second runner ups.

Congratulations to this year's contestants and to the winners! Hope to see you there next year!

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
Most Valuable Intern (MVI) Contest
Go to Hireacane.com for more information
Wednesday, October 13, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

CANE Explorers: Creating Your Resume
Monday, October 18, 5:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Etiquette Dinner
Sponsored by Toppel and Multicultural Student Association (MSA)
Tuesday, October 19, 6:30 p.m.
* Registration required on CaneZone under Events

Business and Government
Wednesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Career Fairs & Events
Road Trip Nation
Wednesday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Rock

Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
Wednesday, October 27, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
UC Lower Lounge
Click for more information

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Monday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Thursday, October 21, 4:00 p.m.

Advanced Networking and Dining Etiquette - Megan Garber
Monday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs - Veronica Soto
Thursday, October 14, 4:00 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Monday, October 11, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)
Friday, October 22, 11:00 a.m. (Alicia Rodriguez)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Thursday, October 21, 5:00 p.m. (Edward Cruz)

All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Confused in Career Purgatory

Written by Monica Page

There are three types of college students:

1. The totally lost: These are the students who signed up for college to figure out what they want to do with their lives. As of right now, that plan isn't functioning at its highest ability, because these people are still totally lost. This is not our focus today.

2. The people who are 100% prepared for the world: These are the students, who were preparing for their career path in the womb. Upon birth the first thing they did was pick up a text book describing how to become "insert career path here." Again, this is not our focus.

3. The people who know what to do, but have no idea how to do it: These are the students who are in the major they want, who know exactly what they want to do with their lives, but the path from point A to point B is an endless sludge of confusion.

For the people in the third group deciding your career path is equivalent to an undeclared student given a list of all the majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and being told to "choose one." Many people don't realize that although you are decided on what you want to major in and in the field you want to work in, actually deciding on a specific job and industry is an entirely different problem.

When I tell people what I want to do with my life they usually respond with, "How?" or "With what company?" An answer like, "Oh, I want to work in sports, but I don't know how or in what area" doesn't seem to compute with many people. Of course having a general idea of a future career path is a lot better than being totally lost, but at times it can be just as bad. Mixing personal confusion with the universal confusion of people who don't understand how you can not have your life planned out does not make life easier.

The best way to get out of this "career purgatory" is to just learn as much as you can about your field and attempt to apply your selected career path to an industry. Example: if you know for a fact you want to work in law, but are not clear on what type of law, take your interests and see what types of law are involved. Like music? Look into copyright law or perhaps law involving contracts between artists.

Too many times people don't know what they want to do, but they know for a fact what they don't want to do. This can be a double edged sword in that you not only limit yourself in available opportunities, but also discredit positions in which you may enjoy yourself. In college, you have the opportunity to have internships. Signing up for an internship is not signing a blood contract with a firm binding you for life with a company. An internship is meant to be a snapshot of a position in a chosen field. Take advantage of it.

So if you're lost, just look on the bright side: you're not TOTALLY lost and you haven't been preparing for your future from the womb. Being confused allows you to look at positions with a clear mind and experiment. Some things you'll like, some things you'll hate. It's better to take chances and discover the good, bad and weird, than remain pigeon holed in one position. If you're still upset about being in career purgatory, just stalk about the freshmen office in the College of Arts & Sciences, nine times out of ten they are all fifty times more confused than you.

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
Slice into your Career in Medicine
Tuesday, October 5, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Writing You Personal Statement for Graduate School
Featured Speaker: Anthony Coloca from Kaplan
Wednesday, October 6, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Most Valuable Intern (MVI) Contest
Go to Hireacane.com for more information
Wednesday, October 13, 6:30 p.m.

Career Fairs & Events
Road Trip Nation
Wednesday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Rock

Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
Wednesday, October 27, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
UC Lower Lounge
Click for more information

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Thursday, October 7, 4:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Thursday, October 21, 4:00 p.m.

How to Find and Apply for Government Jobs (Veronica Soto)
Thursday, October 14, 4:00 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Tuesday, October 5, 3:00 p.m. (Thaimi Fina)
Monday, October 11, 4:00 p.m. (Samantha Gil)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Tuesday, October 5, 2:00 p.m. (Thaimi Fina)

Career Programs for Business Students
Business and Government
Government is a place for business majors too! Learn about an industry where you can double your salary within the first couple of years!
Wednesday, September 20, 5:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center Library


All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Tax or audit? To be or not to be?

Written by Claire Arritola

Accounting is a broad subject area. If you talk to any business professional they will tell you that you can do a lot with this degree. With the accounting fair coming up this Friday, a very pertinent question is on the minds of UM’s accounting majors- Tax or audit? If accounting is so broad, then why do these options feel so limiting? When you speak to any recruiter from an accounting firm, this is the first question they will ask. I attended the career fair last year (as a junior) and was able to honestly say that I was unsure. I received varied responses from the recruiters. One said “Oh, you should make a decision.” Another said, “I admire that you say you are unsure, many students arbitrarily choose.” This year, as a senior, I can no longer pull this “I am unsure” thing. So what am I to do? I have spoken to several people about this, professors and professionals in accounting. They all have the same answer- just pick one, and stick with it. It turns out that accounting firms don’t like to see students flounder. So I will go to the accounting fair on Friday and PICK ONE…which one it will be…is still in the air…but I have a couple more days ;-p

Toppel Events for the Upcoming Weeks

Career Programs
Applying to Graduate Programs in Psyhchology
Tuesday, September 28, 6:30 p.m.
Flipse 526

Slice into your Career in Medicine
Tuesday, October 5, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Writing You Personal Statement for Graduate School
Featured Speaker: Anthony Coloca from Kaplan
Wednesday, October 6, 6:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center

Career Fairs & Events
Accounting Career Fair
Friday, October 1, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bank United Center, Multipurpose Room
Click for more information

Toppel Program Schedule
Internships 101 - Frits Bigham
Tuesday, September 28, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 7, 4:00 p.m.

Alternative Options After Graduation - Frits Bigham
Monday, September 27, 5:00 p.m.

Interviewing Skills
Tuesday, October 5, 3:00 p.m. (Thaimi Fina)

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Tuesday, October 5, 2:00 p.m. (Thaimi Fina)

Career Programs for Business Students
Job Hunting in New York City
Featuring Career Professionals in the New York Area
Wednesday, September 29th, 12:30 p.m.
Toppel Career Center Library


All events take place at the Toppel Career Center unless otherwise specified.

Any questions regarding any of these events, check the Toppel Career Center website or call 305-284-5451

Med School and the Career Center

Written by Pallavi Pal

The common misconception of Toppel is that only business or engineering students can benefit from it. That is far from true. Although we do have many opportunities for business students, there are tools that Pre-Medicine students can use to their advantage.

Check out the “Slice into your Career in Medicine” at 6:30PM on October 5 at Toppel to meet with doctors and health care-professionals and listen to their personal view on how the healthcare system works. It is a great chance to network with professionals already in the field and answer the questions that you have.

Come to the “Writing Your Personal Statement for Graduate School” workshop held on October 6 at 6:30PM at Toppel. It is taught by Kaplan’s representative, Anthony Colocca. You can direct questions in regards to personal statements and MCAT classes to him as well.

Medical school interviews are a source of panic and fear for many applicants. Overcome your fear by coming in for Mini-Mock Interviews. There is no need to set-up an appointment, just come in Monday 11-3PM, Tuesday 3-4:30PM, and Wednesday 11-3PM.

We also have walk-in advising hours for resume, cover letter and personal statement critiques. Stop in anytime from 10-4:30PM Monday-Thursday. A perfect resume and personal statement can make or break your application for Medical School.
If you need coaching for interviews, come into one of the many Interviewing Skills workshops. The schedule for the upcoming workshops are listed on CaneZone, under the “Events” tab and then under “Workshops” tab. We have many other workshops also listed under that same tab.

A great resource for more information for medical school, the field of medicine, or the specific job you are interested in check out Vault listed on the CaneZone homepage. Career Shift, another subscription listed on the CaneZone homepage, is also an amazing collection of information.

Know that the staff at Toppel is always willing to help. Just stop in with your question no matter how big or small. We are here for yoU!

Learning Another Language and Culture Can Make the Difference

Written by Marlo Wyant

In today’s global economy, learning a second language has become increasingly important for securing positions with American and foreign-based companies. Foreign-based companies with offices in the United States, such as Deutsche Bank (DE), HTC (TW), or Michelin (FR) actively hire hundreds of Americans every year. While these companies select candidates for positions primarily based on prior work experience, they also take language heavily into account.

I had the opportunity to use my foreign language knowledge to help secure an internship at BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg, South Carolina last summer. Although German language knowledge was not a requirement for the internship, I was able to use it to my advantage. The official language of the work place was English, however many colleagues in the office were German nationals. On occasion, meetings and casual office conversations would be conducted in German. Being able to participate in these bilingual meetings and conversations allowed me to become well-integrated into the team.

Speaking the language of the company’s country of origin not only allows you to communicate more effectively with your foreign colleagues, but it shows that you are more aware of the culture behind the company. Understanding the foreign culture can be very important when it comes to the etiquette of the workplace. Foreign colleagues might speak fluent English, but may feel more comfortable speaking to you if they know that they could also use their native language with you to fill in the linguistic gaps.

When you are applying or interviewing for a company that has significant foreign business, make sure to stress your language abilities, study abroad experiences, and participation in relevant clubs. Any connection you can make to the business culture, could be the make or break of getting hired. If you are currently a beginner at learning a language and are taking steps to achieve fluency, you can still mention this on a resume. Always: remember to never exaggerate how proficient you are in a language—the interviewer could just switch languages on you.

To get a start to your language and cultural endeavors:
1. Sign up for a foreign language class at UM, either as a full class (http://www.as.miami.edu/mll/undergraduate/courses.html)or as an independent study course (http://www.as.miami.edu/dils/)


2. Independently study a language via a program like Rosetta Stone, read literature and watch foreign language movies and shows


3. Visit the study abroad office website to see what is available at http://www.miami.edu/index.php/study_abroad

Discussion Question

Do you speak any other languages and how has it helped in your career development?

Mini-Mock Interviews and Resume Critiques

Mini Mock Interviews
Do you need to practice your interviewing skills but you haven’t attended an interviewing skills workshop? Come to Toppel for a mini mock interview where you will meet with a peer advisor for about 20 minutes; no appointment or workshop attendance required. Interviews can be tailored to jobs, internships, graduate or professional school. The peer advisor will ask you a sample of interview questions and then give you feedback about your nonverbal communication and interview answers. Simply stop by for a walk-in mini mock interview during the following times:
Mondays & Wednesdays: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesdays: 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Please bring an updated resume.

Resume Critiques
Follow these steps to have your resume critiqued:

1. Register for CaneZONE
2. Complete registration data on CaneZONE
3. Upload a resume on CaneZONE

Once you upload your resume, it will automatically be forwarded to a career advisor to be critiqued. Your resume will be emailed to you with suggested changes within 3-5 business days. Once you receive your critique, make the suggested changes as soon as possible and re-upload the resume so that the corrected resume will be in our database. Once approved, you will be able to forward your resume to sign up for interviews schedules, internship listings and job listings.

You can also come in for walk-in advising, Monday through Thursday, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm (Monday through Thursday, 2:00-4:00 pm during the summer), or schedule an advising appointment.

Stuck in a Rut?

Ever find yourself stuck in a job search rut? Feel like you’ve looked at all the search engines and databases for any possible job or internship? Ever wonder if there was a faster, simpler way to have the information delivered right to your doorstep?

Look no further. There is a simple way to find out about internship and job possibilities. Log in to Twitter.com (if you don’t already have a Twitter Account, get out of the Stone Ages and create one!) and follow the following helpful “people.”

Once you follow them, they send tweet updates to your account with information about different jobs and internships offered all around the world, or specialized in one specific area.

Check them out and revolutionize your internship search!

@ToppelPeers

@nyinternships

@internships

@dcinternships

@internshipjob

First Day as a Congressional Intern

Written by Pallavi Pal

“Ah, the life!” Unfortunately, the life of a Congressional Intern cannot be described in such rudimentary terms. Found at the bottom of the ladder, the Congressional Intern does not have a life filled with excitement and energy. It is not filled with business meetings and making a difference in the community. It is not filled with esteem and power. What an intern can find, however, is the chance to learn and be taught from those older and much wiser. It is this experience and this knowledge that cause hundreds of interns to flock to DC and perform acts of menial labor.

Menial labor, what exactly do I mean by acts of menial labor? Well, to begin with, the intern will begin their day by sorting the mail, followed by answering phone calls, filing papers, working on excel spreadsheets in order to categorize data and then finally, if lucky, the intern can give Capitol Tours to constituents. The grandiose, more respectable tasks are handled by the Legislative Assistants and Chief of Staffs.

Although we are given rather tedious tasks, what an intern must remember is that we are a given a chance, an opportunity, an advantage among all our peers to get ahead in life and pursue our dreams. A Congressional Intern has the possibility to mix and mingle with the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill. Whether the career path the intern chooses is in a job on the Hill, a job in the government, a career in a non-profit organization, or even none of the above, the Hill provides interns the occasion to field their dreams by interacting and networking with those in these respective careers.

My first week on the job might not have been the most invigorating experience of my life but I have come to realize, out of all my three internship experiences thus far, working on the Hill has bestowed upon me the opportunity to meet those who have already fulfilled the dream that I have only encountered in my fantasies. Meeting such successful people, working both on and off the Hill, has transformed my visions and illusions into tangible goals. It has shown me that although I have made it this far, there is far more out there in store for me. I cannot wait to not only see my dreams but now to live and experience them.

Advice from Graduating Seniors

We can’t believe how fast these past four years have gone by and if you don’t believe us just wait and see for yourself. With this in mind, upon graduation we would like to leave you with some words of wisdom from Graduating Seniors:

Words to Live By
1. Don’t Stress—No matter how important that test or paper may seem, remember that college is about learning and growth. While it is important to always try your best, don’t worry so much about individual grades, and focus on the journey instead. Things are never really as bad as they seem, so relax.

2. Get Involved—the biggest regret we have in college is not getting involved earlier. Try as many different clubs and organizations out as possible to make yourself well-rounded and use this time as an opportunity to gain experiences and try things you will never be able to again. Also by having more activities and commitments, it will help you out with time management skills in the long run.

3. Get Experience—Internships are a great opportunity to learn more about what it is you really want to do with your life, and are also great for helping build your resume. It gives you a chance to build contacts as well and get an idea of what life may be like after school is finished.

4. Time off for good behavior—if you have the opportunity, take some time off after graduation and relax. You have earned it! Travel, see friends, and figure out what your next step is. It’s ok to take a step back before taking the next few steps forward. Don’t take life too seriously, be proactive but just remember things always work out for a reason.

Social Media, Your Online Image and Your Job Search

Are you on LinkedIn or Twitter? Have you ever “Googled” yourself? Have you checked the privacy settings on your Facebook account? If you answered no to any of these questions, you may be preventing yourself from finding that perfect job or internship.

More and more employers are using social media/networking to post jobs and to also get the inside scoop on candidates that they can’t get from a resume or interview. What does that mean for you? It means that not only do you need to have an online presence, but that presence has to be free of potentially damaging information!

Here are Toppel’s 6 Steps to Enhance Your Online Professional Image:
1. Create or Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile
2. Create and Use Your Twitter Account Effectively
3. Clean Up Your Facebook Profile
4. Google Yourself and Set Google Alerts
5. Create a YouTube Channel
6. Write and/or Comment on a Blog or Write Reviews
For more, click here.

US Peace Corps

Ever wonder what it’s like to be in the Peace Corps? UM Alum Tim McNaught is currently a Peace Corps volunteer in Azerbaijan. Watch his video to see what he has to say about his experience.

Welcome Back!

We are glad to have you guys back on campus! I hope you had a happy, productive and fun summer. Now it is back to business! Now is the time to start thinking about the that next position that you are interested in. We have a lot of really exciting programs and events coming up and you should definitely take advantage! Toppel has the usual, great offerings of Interviewing skills, resume and cover letter writing, junior/senior and freshman,sophomore orientations. We also offer workshops on networking and dining etiquette, finding government jobs and internships. Along with all of these workshops there are also a lot of special programs and events coming up in the month of September. We have the EPIC (Employer Practice Interviews and Critiques) program occurring on September 8th 9AM-4PM. This program allows you to interact with employers and get direct feedback about your resume and interviewing skills (Visit CaneZone for more info and to register). Need your resume critiqued? Come to Resumania on September 13th from 10AM-4:30PM. Our main event int he month of September is the FALL CAREER EXPO on September 15th from 11AM-3PM. Before you attend the expo go to the Pre-Expo Reception on September 14th at 6PM at the Rat to get a leg up and interact with employers before the fair.

As you can see, September is a very busy month for Toppel. Remember that many full time and internship positions require you to apply way in advance in the fall! Don’t miss a great opportunity! Come on by our events and start the fall 2010 semester off on the right foot :)

Do You Want to be an International Intern?

Trying to go abroad? Want a great position as well as ability to travel to a foreign country? Look no more because currently there are many opportunities for undergraduates to go abroad and intern at a great firms. The only difficult part of the search is weeding through the scams to find a genuine opportunity. Take it from me, I’ve searched long and hard to find that great chance to go abroad and do something different and creative with my summer.

I started out with the typical Google search “intern abroad” and “summer 2010 abroad” and these searches elicited many sites but most of them weren’t ones that caught my attention. As a typical college student who is strapped for cash, I was looking for an internship that would not cost me a couple thousands of dollars. Many study abroad trips are in the thousands and my perspective is that if someone is going to be working for a company and dedicating their time to the company, then paying a couple thousand is futile. Regardless, if interested some great sites are Intern Abroad, Transitions Abroad, Education First, and AIESEC. Plenty more can be found if one is willing to pay.

When I couldn’t find any opportunities that cost me, I thought that I should just throw in the towel and start looking for internships closer to home. That was when I was searching the UCAN website and found paid positions listed for working in Germany. My interested was once more ignited. I had half-heartedly checked the UCAN website after one of the Toppel Advisors referred me to it. I clicked on the banner on the homepage of CaneZone and it directed me to a variety of internships compiled from several universities all over the country. Not only is it a great site for internships abroad but also for internships within the United States. Other great sites listing international jobs are University of Denver Career Center, Public Policy and International Affairs Program, and JET Programme (Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme).

When I talked to the Graduate Assistants at Toppel they directed me to other opportunities specifically for undergraduate students. For instance, teaching English abroad is very sought after. Many from foreign countries would love to learn English by a Native English speaker so that they can develop the correct pronunciation, phrases, and idioms specific to a Native English speaker. Some programs require that one is certified, usually TEFL certification, but there are some that do not require experience or certification. A good place to start the search would be Teach Abroad but be careful to weed through the positions because some you have to pay for and others require a TEFL degree.

These ideas are simply a jump-off point to help you get started on your search but much more can be found with thorough research. At the end of the day the work you put into finding these internships will pay off because it is a once in a lifetime experience and many whom I have talked to about their experiences would never change a thing about the internship. Good luck on your search!

What's a New Internship Really Like?

One of the peer advisors, Pallavi Pal, is interning with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. in Washington, D.C. The CBCF interns have their own blog, and Pallavi had contributed 2 posts so far. Click here to read how the first 2 weeks are going:

Week 1: The Disorienting Orientation

Week 2: Week 2

To see the entire CBCF Internship Blog, click here.

Want a Job? Three Steps to Take Today

* Use Optimal Resume to Perfect Your Resume and Interviewing Skills



Once you create an account, Optimal Resume provides you with guidance to create resumes tailored to specific industries and experience levels. You can also practice your interviewing skills using video, audio, or written options. These practice interviews include behavioral-based, panel, final interview questions, and more! To access Optimal Resume, log on to your CaneZone account, look for the Optimal Resume logo under the Announcements on the Home page, and follow the instructions.

* Participate in the Summer Virtual Career Fair

Find and apply to internships and jobs in a variety of fields and industries! Right now 69 employers, including Bank of America, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environment America, Hip Hop Weekly, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Peace Corps, and WPBT2 are looking to fill open positions with talented University of Miami students and alumni. Don’t wait- login to CaneZone, click the Events tab, and attend the Virtual Career Fair now!

* Nothing beats networking in person: Attend Tuesdays with Toppel

Don’t miss Tuesdays with Toppel: the Search Party, July 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Sawa Restaurant & Lounge at the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables. RSVP on CaneZone, on the Events Tab. Tuesdays with Toppel events provide opportunities for local alumni and employer representatives to network informally in a variety of settings.