Get Familiar With HireACane

By: Oleg Ignatenko

It has recently come to my attention that many students are aware of HireACane but the problem is that they don't know how to use it and because of this they are missing out on the many great...no, incredible opportunities it presents to them.

If you are a University of Miami student and plan on getting a internship or a job sometime in the future, HireACane is something you should know and use.  Let's go over a few important steps in the process of setting up an account and using its services:

1.  Go to www.hireacane.com and click on Student (or Alumni/Employer, whichever applies to you)

2.  Click on Log-in
3.  Once you input your log-in information, you will arrive at this screen

You're going to notice a lot of different things jumping out at you but lets remain focused and do what needs to be done first.

4.  Click on the Profile tab and fill out as much information as you can (or at least the required areas) for both the Academic and the Personal sections.

5.  From here on you will go over to the next tab titled Documents.  Here, you can upload your resume, cover letter, a writing sample, etc.  Pretty much everything that you will need when applying for that job or internship.  Also, if you haven't done a resume or a cover letter, feel free to check out these amazing blogs from out Toppel peers such as "How to make your resume a masterpiece" or "The inception of cover letter writing".

6.  Set up an appointment with an advisor.  That's right, you no longer have to come in or call to make an appointment.  Instead you can make one right from the comfort of your room or basement or wherever you may be as long as you are in front of a computer.  You will find a link on the right side of the Home page under Shortcuts.  From here on you will select the reason for your appointment, who your advisor will be and what day and time it will be for.

                                                                    (Does it get easier than this?)

7.  Well, you're done! Sort of. Now that you are all set up with the basic stuff, don't stop here.  Keep exploring the site and make sure you click on these three tabs:

• Postings
• Networking 
• Events

 Utilize the site as much as you can and you will be setting yourself up for a successful future.

Good Luck!
                  

Toppel Stars: Priyanka Surio

Written by Oleg Ignatenko

This month Priyanka Surio is being recognized as one of the Toppel Stars.  She is originally from Lakeland, FL and she recently graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Political Science.  Currently, Priyanka is employed as a Medical Scribe through ScribeAmerica Program at Florida Hospital in Kissimmee/Orlando, FL.

As a UM student, Priyanka had several internships and research positions.  Some of her internships included the Health Policy internship on Capitol Hill with Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington where she learned firsthand the health needs of hospitals, organizations devoted to medical causes, and medical schools and how politics plays an important role. Her second internship was with Watson Clinic, LLP in Lakeland where she shadowed doctors and nurses and assisted several departments including Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Allergy. Her research positions have been with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital where she was able to learn about the endeavors of personnel and doctors in these institutions. She also learned how their research was helping benefit patients, hospitals, and doctors' efficiency.

Recruitment was very subtle. She learned about this program solely by observing someone at her local hospital and asking them about what kind of work they do. Then she looked up the website ScribeAmerica.com and applied to a few places in neighboring cities. The interview consisted of similar questions on the application as well as about her future career goals and availability.  Only a few weeks after applying, she received a call for an interview.  Priyanka ultimately chose the company because she believed it to be the perfect job to have before continuing on with her studies in Medicine.

This is her advice for other students.

"The main words of wisdom I impart on other job seekers is to never give up, never get too comfortable, and know what you are and aren't willing to sacrifice.  It is important to not put all your eggs in one basket and count on that one dream job reaching back to you in a timely manner. Personally I had a few job offers throughout my time after graduation but none seemed to appeal to my needs. I kept pursuing other options because I knew I was deserving of a certain salary, and that I wouldn't be able to relocate somewhere far, and also needed something flexible. Finally after about four months I was able to secure this ideal job."

Priyanka also wanted to share a paragraph with Toppel, in which she described why she wanted to be a scribe on her application

My name is Priyanka Surio and I have obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Political Science from the University of Miami. I recently became aware of the Scribe America program through observing a few people working as scribes in the local hospital I volunteer for. After asking them about their experiences I knew that acting as a Scribe strongly aligned with my interests and prior skills as a secretary, health policy analyst intern, and research assistant for several years. A Scribe is someone who is efficient and effective in recording down the important information in a hospital to minimize the time it takes doctors to record data. I have often been given the name of “encyclopedia” not only for my efficiency in being able to relay information effectively but for continually being resourceful and extremely organized in my collection of important documents. Work ethic is an important factor in my ability to provide such efficiency. It is my work ethic that drives me to know more, ask more, and even demand more of myself so that I can continually help those around me and simplify complicated endeavors. Currently I am applying to Medical School but I have recently graduated and have some time off before starting medical school. Acting as a Scribe is exactly the type of experience I wish to accumulate before beginning a medical career.

Career Toolbox Series: Career Insider

By: Oleg Ignatenko
Part of the Career Toolbox Series

You are walking into an interview and you realize that you have no idea what that company does.  Has this ever happened to you?  Well, it shouldn't.  Especially not with the resources that are available today.  Fortunately, this week you are being presented with another chapter of the Career Toolbox Series: Career Insider.  Through the use of this site you will be able to find out the background information of the company, their high's and low's, their various rankings, featured reviews from associates and some helpful tips that might assist you in becoming a part of their organization.  Company information is not the only thing provided, Career Insider also offers career advice, guides, videos, blogs, discussions and other career related material that will help you develop a solid understanding and knowledge of information you need to succeed in the future. I will go over the top three areas that you should check out when visiting this site.

One of the best tools that Career Insider provides is their guides.  Career Guides are known as the premier resource for insider information.  Forbes Magazine calls them "Cliff notes for careers."  These guides provide information on resumes, interviews, employers, industries, and other career related topics.  By selecting one of these topics, you will have the ability to choose from a variety of different guides that focus on specific parts of that topic as well as have the ability to download it.  Popular industry guides include Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers, Career Launcher: Film, and Career Launcher: Fashion. Under Interview and Resume Guides, you can download Vault Guide to Advanced Finance and Quantitative Interviews and Vault Guide to the Case Interview. After reading any one of these guides, you will be one step closer to finding out which industry and company is right for you and how to get your dream job.

Another area that is extremely helpful is Company Research.  You will have the opportunity to view the most popular companies as well as research the companies by name, location or industry.  Depending on your career focus, you can also view the best companies to work for based on the type of industry you are looking for such as Accounting, Banking, Law, Consulting and other industries.  In each industry the firms are ranked by Vault and are usually listed in top 10 or top 25 order.  You will be able to view the rankings, the scores and the location for each of those firms in order.  Once you click on a company, you can also view their ranking in other various subjects such as Diversity, Prestige, Leadership, Benefits, etc.

The third area that you should definitely take a look at is Career Advice.  Here, you will find a variety of categories that can help you in your search for more career information.  Some of the categories include A day in the Life, Internships, Career Change, First Person, and Unemployment.  So, for example, take a look at the A Day in the Life category.  There are about 90 articles that you can click on and you will get a detailed description of what a specific person's daily activities on the job.  These descriptions will go by a time schedule and you will feel as if you are shadowing a person at their job.  Obviously, not every day will consist of communicating with the same clients or conducting meetings on the same exact topic but there will definitely be similarities and you will get a better perspective on how that employee or manager handles their daily activities and tasks.

So there it is, a little preview into the world of Career Insider by Vault.com.  To access your free Career Insider account, login to HireACane and on the Home page on the right side of the page you will see a heading called Additional Resources.  Under Additional Resources, click Vault Career Online Library: Career Insider and then create your personal account. There are many more tools and areas besides the ones that I discussed that are also very valuable and worth taking a look at.  It is almost like having your own personal career center on your computer.  Use it as often as you can to get the scoop on career advice and it will undoubtedly help you succeed in your future career endeavors.

Get Career Advice from Candid Career

Written By: Robert Vanisko
Part of the Career Toolbox Series

Don’t you wish sometimes that you could interview somebody in the field that you want to work in? Wouldn’t it be nice to know what your day-to-day life would be like as well as your responsibilities and required skill set? Now, there is an easy way to find out all of that information without leaving your computer.

Candid Career is a great service that posts video interviews from all different fields of employment.  These videos can answer many of your questions about the future jobs that you aspire for.  For example, if you wanted to go into Public Relations, like myself, you could link to Candid Career from HireACane and watch interviews from PR professionals talking about what their jobs are like and what you need to do to reach that position.  

Candid Career is also extremely easy to navigate. You can search by job title, major, industry, or just for general career advice.  The career advice section includes sections such as how to act at a career fair, how to catch the boss’s eye, and how to effectively write cover letters and résumés.

Overall, Candid Career can be a great tool to use if you need to find out information about a potential job in a short amount of time.  The interviews are detailed and come from professionals who have succeeded in their field.  You can access Candid Career through HireACane or by clicking here.

Don’t Buy Shoes or Pick your Career without Testing them Out

By Ali Rodriguez

If you want to buy a car, you typically do some research ahead of time. The same goes for renting an apartment, buying a new home, or taking that dream vacation. So why doesn’t everyone do a significant amount of research before committing to a career?

Research sounds boring, right? Think of it this way, research allows you to make informed decisions.  I can think of numerous occasions when alumni have come back to see me for career advising. They had this image of what a “real job” would look like after graduation. Oftentimes, the pretty picture they had painted was not realistic. They had seen their dream job on TV and pursued their college major based on a fantasy. My first piece of advice, do not decide to be an entrepreneur because “Two Broke Girls” are starting their own cupcake business and it looks cool!

When I think about research, my mind immediately jumps to networking.  We have all heard the term networking thrown around quite a bit. At times, this tends to elicit fear and intimidation. How do I get started? Who do I ask? What do I do once I get there? Pause, take a deep breath, and reboot! Networking is really about meeting new people and finding out more about their interests. And to be honest, most people love to talk about themselves, so it may be easier than you think. Networking is also a key part of your research when identifying people that you want to talk to about how your college career leads to the real world. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go at it alone. The Toppel Career Center is here to help you, and these tips will help you get the process started. My second piece of advice, visit the Toppel Career Center and utilize the fantastic advisors who are there.

When deciding on a major/career path, there are so many options, it may seem overwhelming. We all know there is great information online for researching potential careers, including the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O-Net. While this important, I believe that nothing can compare to actually talking to people who are happy and successful in their respective careers.  You can do this informally at networking events, but also during an informational interview. This gives you the opportunity to talk to a professional in a field of interest, and is a great way to find out more about what you may like in a job or career. It is also a good time to evaluate a specific company. Take a look at our handout for Informational Interviews. It includes questions how to prepare, questions you can ask, and how to follow up.

You are still struggling with whom to conduct an informational interview with, right? If you are shy, start with a family member or friend of the family to practice. Maybe it has been always been your dream to be an attorney. Set up an informational interview with someone you know, so you are not too anxious. Once you get one under your belt, you will be a pro! As I mentioned, Toppel staff can help you identify contacts, but you can also utilize an outstanding resource we have on HireACane.com called Career Shift. This search engine allows you to search for contacts based on industry, location, and company size. It also had a feature that allows you to search for UM alumni. I know that if I get a call from a student from my alma mater, the first thing I want to do is help them. I have never said to no to someone who wants to connect! You are students and we want to help mold you into wonderful professionals.

My third, and last piece of advice, is to take what you have gleaned from these professionals to learn more about yourself and the career you want to have. Informational interviews can help you when evaluating internship opportunities.  They may give you an idea of the type of work settings that are comfortable for you, especially if you visit the professional on-site. Do you like an office setting? Do you like to travel to visit clients? By learning more about others, you learn more about yourself and that is why informational interviews are your gateway to success. Happy interviewing!

Being a part of the "U"

by Oleg Ignatenko

As the spring semester comes to a close and there is only one more week left until the summer break, I wanted to reflect on the positives/negatives of the year and sum up what it’s like to be a Miami Hurricane. This has been my first official year at the University of Miami and I wanted to share with you my personal experience.

With so many highlights throughout the year, it is very difficult to pick one specific moment that stands out more than the other. The first moment I walked through the University, I knew I had picked the right place to study. The modern facilities, the warm weather, the sense of pride in the air and not to mention the palm trees that stand as tall as the spirit of the Canes. If I could use one word to describe it, that word would be “paradise”. This isn't just your typical college where you dread going to class and can't wait for the semester to end. This is a place where you can't wait to be. Every day you wake up with a sense of excitement of what the day might bring. Every week there is a series of events or occurrences which you do not want to miss. Just to name a few: Dodgeball Tournaments, Festivals, Canefest, Homecoming, Video Game Tournaments, Workshops at Toppel, Art Shows, Fashion Shows, Lectures with keynote speakers and much more. Speaking of classrooms, they are not as boring as many of you may think. The professors at this university have a polished knowledge of the subject they are teaching and are always willing to help students who may be struggling.

During my first two weeks I was able to discover that UM had plenty of resources to help me gain more knowledge about what I had to take care of first and foremost as well as being aware of how to get around campus and locate other helpful places that may come in handy throughout my time here. It seems as if this university has everything a student needs to feel ready and confident about what they're doing and their future student experience. There is the Toppel Career Center which is a great place to get career advisement, to set up a practice interview, to have your resume and cover letter critiqued and to go to different educational workshops that will be extremely beneficial towards your professional future. There is the Office of Financial Assistance that allows students to get information on how to go acquire grants, scholarships, basic FAFSA information and be aware of their tuition and or housing expenses so they can keep track of what is happening. These are just a couple of the resources that are available to students but without going into much detail, here are some of the others that every student should know about: Academic Resource Center, Student Activities, the Wellness Center, Office of Student Employment, the Honors Program and the Office of Academic Enhancement.

Now, let's jump to the fun activities (not that the previous ones weren’t already mind-blowingly awesome). The first football game at the Sun Life Stadium was something that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Whether you tailgate or not, the atmosphere around the stadium is extraordinary. The barbecues, the music, the drinks (being that you are age appropriate) are just a few things that make this event something not to miss. Walking into that stadium, standing in the crowds, cheering for the team with everyone else you could sense that you were now a part of something special, that you were now a Miami Hurricane.

So what does it really mean to be a Hurricane? It’s not simply attending the University of Miami. It's getting involved in the hundreds of activities that this place has to offer each week. It's participating in events that will express your personality. It's communicating with your classmates, peers, teachers and advisors who all have their stories and experiences as former or current Canes. It's maximizing your knowledge about the campus, resources, and its history. Be a Miami Hurricane by participating in everything you possibly can while showing your spirit and your experience here will stay with you for the rest of your life!

UCAN get an internship too

by Oleg Ignatenko



The spring semester is coming to a close. This is the perfect time to prepare yourself to make sure that your summer won’t go to waste and what better way to do that than with UCAN. University Career Action Network is a shared database listing thousands of domestic and international internships, making it one of the most comprehensive internship resources on the Internet. Unlike searching for jobs on HireACane.com, UCAN is specifically utilized for finding internships. This database is shared among 22 universities and fortunately University of Miami is one of them.

So for many students the question is, should I try to find an internship this summer or should I just get a job at a local store and sleep in most days for the next few months. Let’s assume that we are all mature, dedicated students who want to take that next step into the professional world by choosing the first option. There is an incredible amount of benefits that come with having an internship. You get to experience what it’s like to work in an environment that is specified to the major that you are studying as well as getting an inside perspective of the processes of the company. Many employers will be much more interested in hiring you later based on the fact that you already have experience in the field. You will have a great opportunity to network with other employees who have been at the company and build strong relationships with those people who might later on be included in your references list. Even though many students might be concerned that they won’t make any money during an internship, remember that there are plenty of paid internship out there as well. Plus, many of the unpaid internships could be used to acquire credits that would go towards your major. But in my opinion the most important benefit of an internship would have to be being able to find out if this is the right career choice for you. There is no better way to find out if this would be something that you would enjoy doing for the rest of your life or if it’s a job that you think you would hate or get bored at. That’s why it’s essential to try and acquire at least one internship throughout you tenure at college.

Hopefully, you are now convinced that an internship is the right thing for you and you are eager to start looking for one as soon as possible. Here is a link to UCAN. If you are still unsure on exactly what type of internship would suit you or have any other questions, feel free to stop by the Toppel Career Center and make an advising appointment. You can also come to Toppel for walk-in advising with an Internships advisor: Mondays 2:00-4:00 and Thursdays 10:00-12:00.

Good Luck!

Toppel Stars - Monica Page

Written by Oleg Ignatenko



   Monica Page has been recognized as one of the first Toppel Stars. She was chosen after she had received a full time position as with TE Connectivity in Marietta, Georgia. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Miami in December 2011. Her majors were Public Relations and Psychology.
Through her work at the Toppel Career Center as a Peer Advisor, she had plenty of information about internships and had great opportunities to obtain them.  Monica certainly did not let those opportunities go to waste and as a result, she had held three different internships throughout her time at the University of Miami.  She was a Marketing and Concert Promotion Intern at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  She held the position of Editorial Intern for the Back/Slash Magazine.  Her last internship was at the Career Eagle company where she worked in the position of Social Media and Community Relations.

After graduation, with the help of her present employer, she had sent out a resume to TE Connectivity and had a phone interview the same day.  She then had a second phone interview with the manager of the department and three days later she went in for a in-person interview with the same two people that she had spoken to previously on the phone.  Three weeks later, she was more than elated to find out that the company had accepted her and wanted her to start immediately as their Corporate Sourcing Specialist.  Monica had previously held a very high interest in the technology industry so this position would not only give her the opportunity to work in a field that she loves but also will allow her to experience the day to day job of a Corporate Sourcing Specialist.  Her advice to other students who are seeking jobs and planning for the future is to “Use your time wisely while you’re at college to figure out what you want to do, so when it is time to graduate, you will be prepared for the "real" world”.

Establishing Your Personal Brand

Written By Monica Page


Branding, the buzzword that once described how to make the general public link “Coke” and “soda” has evolved to include a way to market and promote the person. Personal branding involves how to market yourself instead of a product or service. Since the most knowledgeable person about you is you, it is important to convey what you consider to be the best definition of “you.” Branding involves the way you present something to the world, so when it comes to yourself, you want to insure your best and most relevant qualities are put forward.

Find your niche

As with most things, it is easier to focus all your energies in one place versus spread across multiple areas. No matter how many interests you may have when it comes to creating a foothold in a certain area, it is best to initiate self-imposed “tunnel vision” on one specific area. The benefit of zoning in allows you to focus all your energy into entering a certain field and establishing your presence. Your niche needs to be more than just an area you like, but also one where you would like to work and establish your presence . Find the intersection between your personal likes and your career goals and hone in on that.

Construct your voice

Personal branding involves a lot more than just resumes and business cards; you also need to create a unique and personalized voice. Your “voice” is how you interact with others and present yourself to the outside world. It is important that when crafting your voice you make it unique and a reflection of who you are. If you put on airs in an attempt to fit in more with the status quo, people will ignore you. Convey who you are in your interactions while also fitting into the established order and culture. Stand out, but don’t make yourself an outcast.


Be consistent

It is important not to go around changing your opinion every three seconds depending on what choice is most prevalent in the news. Once your personal brand has been established to the point that people are listening to you and viewing you as knowledgeable in a certain area, you don’t want to become erratic. It isn’t rocket science; convey the opinions you have and only change when you see the personal, not professional need to. Along the same lines, you don’t want to publicize opinions that may cause you to become a beacon of unwanted controversy. Perhaps the best suggestion would be to establish your opinions, weigh those opinions on how appropriate they may be, and if they are appropriate, to convey them to the public in a way that is consistent and not wavering with the times.

Market yourself

Establishing all the facets of a personal brand is useless if you don’t work to present yourself to other people. To make your personal brand beneficial and not just a weekend graphic design experiment, you need to go out and present yourself to people. Whether its handing out resumes, going to networking events or even starting a blog and sending it to people in the specific career, you want to make sure all your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Create your personal brand and make sure you proactively use it to either increase your presence or establish it for the first time.

When looking at personal branding as a whole, you become the product. Every time a person tweets or makes a Facebook post about an actor, they are reacting to the person’s personal brand. No matter what career field you enter it is possible to establish your own personal brand, even if you will be marketing another. As the outward representation you are presenting to the world it is imperative that you consider your personal brand as an extension of yourself. Use it, but be aware of the image you are projecting. Just like a resume, it is okay to tweak and improve your personal brand to present the best representation.

Figure Out What Type of Career Fits You Best

Written by Oleg Ignatenko

It all starts with a simple thought “I’m not sure what I want to do with my life”. When a person expresses this statement they should know that they are not alone. Just type those exact words into the Google search engine and it will generate about 526 million results. The earlier you think about this statement, the better, but that does not mean this thought only comes up in the mind of an individual that is 16-28 years old. This is truly one of the most complex questions because the solution lies within many aspects of every individual person. Their interests, passions, personality, goals and aspirations are just some of the factors that could help determine exactly what type of profession an individual could be interested in. The feeling of not knowing what to do for a living can be very confusing and stressful times, but there are many ways of overcoming this obstacle. First, begin by asking yourself a few general questions:

1. What do I enjoy?
   (Many people get discouraged already by this stage as they begin to think “I like playing video games, ” “I like to travel” or “I like to pet animals. ” These are common activities that many people find enjoyable, but these are all important stepping stones that will factor into your decision about a possible future career.)
2. What type of salary would I be satisfied with?
   (This is also a big factor because some people wouldn’t mind having a career that pays roughly 50K and would be completely satisfied, while others consider money as a greater importance and strive for a significantly larger income.)
3. Where do I want to work?
   (Location is very important. While some people love to travel and work in a new environment, possibly in a different state or country, others prefer to be close to where they grew up or went to college so they can be closer to their families and loved ones.)

After looking over and reviewing these three questions, you should be able to narrow down your choices significantly. Now you are ready for the fun part. It is time to do a couple of career assessment tests. This is just another way of extensively narrowing your career choices down even further. These tests have been specifically designed to help identify a specific theme that you are related to based on your interest, skills, values and work activities. This theme will tell you more about yourself and give you a list of careers you may enjoy.
There are a variety of tests that are available online. Most notable are the assessment tests on the HireACane website. We are able to provide three different tests.

• The first is the Self Directed Search (SDS) Assessment Booklet. It is very basic and is a do-it-yourself way of determining future possible occupations. This booklet is available at the Toppel Career Center to any student or alum who is interested.
• The second is the TypeFocus Career Assessment Tool. It provides an extensive questionnaire that will provide you with a deeper insight through the assessment pertaining to your personality, values, and interests. This tool is available on your HireACane account. (After logging in, scroll down on the homepage to find it)
• The third is the Strong Test. This is the most in-depth assessment test that is offered through Toppel. The Strong Test is organized through six sections that organize your results and gives you the best possible outlook on your future possible careers. This test costs ten dollars and is also offered at the Toppel Career Center.

After completing these tests, the next step is to set up an appointment with an advisor. This way you can talk about your results and options with someone who has experience with helping students choose the right path to success. This would also be a great opportunity for you to ask questions about certain areas and also a way to analyze those career choices to get a better understanding for what steps you will need to take to start the process of setting yourself up for success.

If you have taken all these steps utilizing this information, having analyzed your decisions, you should now be on your way towards a career with some sort of goal in perspective. Remember that if you get stuck, there is always help available at the Toppel Career Center and there is no need to panic if you’re having difficulty deciding what you want to do for a living. Give yourself time and follow your passions and you will surely find a career that will be satisfy you.


As you can see even the brightest people of our generation at one point had no idea what they wanted to do in their life and the only way to overcome this problem was continuing their pursuit to find happiness through trial and error and through failures and ultimately success.