By Ali Rodriguez, Director of
Employer Relations
My favorite
ice cream is mint chocolate chip. But I also really love Cherry Garcia.
No...wait, chocolate chip cookie dough is delicious and makes a wonderful
milkshake. What I've learned over the years is that you don't have to just have
one favorite.
Think about
how you can apply this notion to finding a career you will find satisfying.
Have you ever worried about finding a career you will love? I know I did.
Having family members who enjoyed the work they did, I remember being in
college and trying to find that one thing that would resonate with me. We all have
different interests at various points in our life, depending on experiences and
life circumstances.
Try not to
put too much pressure on yourself to figure it all out in too short of a time
frame. Instead, open your mind to the variety of possibilities that exist. Look
carefully at the companies who recruit at the Toppel Career Center for
full-time jobs and internships. Consider things that are also a good fit: is
part-time work, freelancing, or starting your own business a better choice? Don't judge an
opportunity by the organization and/or job title alone. Often times, at smaller
organizations, you have the chance to get exposure and experience in a variety
of capacities.
Let me share
an example to illustrate my point. For the past several years, UM students have
consistently rated Google as the #1 company to work for.* It used to be that
Google did not recruit on campus (now they do), but the brand recognition was
so strong and company culture transparent that students ranked the company highly.
Now I will challenge you to think about the fact that for every Google, there's
a Jazwares. You may never have heard of Jazwares, (they invent toys and related products that are new to the
marketplace, featuring the licenses that kids want) but we have UM alumni working
there and the workspace fosters creativity. And what about the Miami Dolphins? The organization has provided internships for
numerous UM students over the years, and they have rated the experience
positively.
So, the next
question is, how do I get engaged? Of course, I am biased, but attending Toppel
events (such as career fairs, industry nights, and career programs hosted by
employers) is a great way to build connections.
I challenge you again to think of other ways to do that. Attend a Launch
Pad event. Talk to faculty and discover if any of them work in your industry.
Talk to family members. Try to get as much info as you can that will help you
make an informed decision and find your “fit.”
One
important aspect of my job is to bring companies and organizations to campus to
recruit at the U for jobs and internships. This keeps me busy! In my role, I
help expose students to the variety of options that exist. Google is like my
mint chocolate chip, Jazwares resonates with me like Cherry Garcia does, and I
can liken the Miami Dolphins to chocolate chip cookie dough. I don’t/can’t have
a favorite, there are just too many options!
Do you have
a company that you've always wanted to work for who doesn't recruit at UM?
Please don't hesitate to let me know by emailing me at alrodriguez@miami.edu.
*Source:
Universum survey
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