Sunday, October 31, 2010

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

Sunday, October 24, 2010

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

Friday, October 22, 2010

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.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

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

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

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