A Graduating Senior’s Reflection on Toppel

By Vinessa Burnett, Toppel Peer Advisor

As a senior who will be graduating in less than two weeks, I’ve been spending a great deal of time reflecting on all that I have been able to accomplish during my four years at the University of Miami. In particular, I’ve given much thought to the wonderful opportunities and the multitude of resources that have come my way since being here and how these will affect me in my post-grad life.

Of course, I’d be totally fooling myself if I didn’t acknowledge the impact that the Toppel Career Center has had on me, not only during my time here at UM, but will probably have on me for the rest of my career.

Let’s take it from the beginning shall we…

When I first arrived at UM I knew absolutely nothing about resumes. In fact, I remember uploading a five page resume, complete with photos and silly anecdotes about my high school experiences, to the HireACane website during my first semester. I was shocked a few days later when I received a resume critique notifying me that I would have to re-do my resume and then re-submit it, because the original one was not acceptable.

Although it was a simple critique, it felt like a big fat rejection letter. I took it personally, and because of that, I worked twice as hard to get my resume in tip-top shape. Not only did I revise my resume over and over again, but I also began to apply for summer internships. My friends, and even professors, offered mixed advice, suggesting to me that it would be nearly impossible to land an internship as a freshman. However, I was determined.

Through HireACane.com I learned about Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) internship program and attended an on-campus information session. It wasn’t long after the info session that I applied online through HireACane and was selected for an on-campus interview. While in the interview, the interviewer commented that I was the only freshman who had applied. And to make a long story short, I received an offer and interned as a Quality Assurance Analyst Intern for the summer of 2013 in FPL’s Feeder Reliability Department.

Since then I have been fortunate to intern with great companies, such as Teach For America as an Operations Coordinator and Goldman Sachs as a Summer Analyst. These internships were very rewarding and provided me with a ton of insight and “real world” experience in fields that interested me. It comes as no surprise that I found out about both of these internships through the Toppel Career Center as well and was able to apply directly through the HireACane.com website.

Aside from the internship experiences that Toppel has helped me receive, Toppel has also allowed me to gain exposure to different companies and resources that have greatly benefitted me. I’ve practiced my networking skills at events such as the Fall and Spring Career Expo as well as at the Global Careers Meet-Up. I’ve also been able to perfect my writing skills by participating in the “Writing the Personal Statement” event that was hosted in the fall of 2015.

My love for the Toppel Career Center led me to apply to become a Toppel Ambassador during my junior year. In this role I was able to represent Toppel by tabling regularly in the UC Breezeway and assisting with outreach events. Now as a senior, I am proud to say that I work as a Peer Advisor at Toppel, a role in which I am able to reciprocate all of the help that has been given to me unto my peers in the form of walk-in resume, cover letter, and personal statement critiques (P.S. I love my job!).

While I am excited about graduating and starting a new chapter in my life, I am sad that I will be leaving behind the wealth of resources, services, and inspiring mentors at Toppel that have gotten me to where I am today.  I am forever grateful for the Toppel Career Center and look forward to utilizing the skills that I have learned from it, both as a student and employee, as I move forward in my career.

Vinessa Burnett will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a major in Communication Studies and minors in Mathematics and Management in May 2016. She has accepted a summer internship with Southwest Airlines’ Human Resources division after graduation and will attend The Ohio State University in the fall of 2016 to pursue a Masters in Human Resource Management.

My New Job at the Toppel Career Center

 By Toppel Peer Advisor, Kelly Martin

Starting any new job, it seems natural to feel nervous and unsure of how you will begin to fit into your new role. However, as one of the newest members of Toppel’s team, I have been given no reason to be nervous—everyone in the office has made me feel nothing but comfortable and welcomed from day one. Now, two weeks into my new position as a Toppel Peer Advisor, I have already learned so much from the grad assistants, my supervisors, and the entire office, and I feel like a real part of the Toppel team.

Not only have I learned how to critique resumes and cover letters, and how to help students at walk in advising, but I’ve also learned about all the amazing resources that Toppel provides to students. From various workshops, to career fairs, networking nights, career advising, and just about anything you could think of career-related, Toppel seems to have an answer to it all.

Now, as junior (almost senior!) who is beginning to face the fact that reality and my future career are fast approaching, I can’t help but feel that I wish I had taken advantage of the resources that Toppel offered sooner, and know I will definitely utilize them over the next year before graduation! Everyone at Toppel is so friendly and genuinely cares about helping students, that nobody should be intimidated by coming into the office and at least checking out what Toppel has to offer, or seeking advice on more specific questions related to your career. Toppel can help you develop in so many ways, and put you on the right track towards finding an internship or job!

As I begin to reach the final chapter of my time at UM, I reflect on my time and experiences, and wonder what I might tell my freshman self if I could. Though I wouldn’t change much about my time here in Miami, I think I would tell the 18 year old me to take advantage of every resource and opportunity that UM offers to its students. So to any freshman who is hesitant to try new things, or even to seniors trying to make the most of the end of their time at UM: take advantage of everything! Including the Toppel Career Center; nothing but friendly, helpful staff will greet you and make your experience at Toppel productive and worthwhile.

Answering Impossible Questions

Written by: Oleg Ignatenko

Have you ever received a question in an interview that just seemed to come out of the blue with no relation to the job position at all?  Well, I have and let me tell you its a good thing that I knew how to answer them otherwise there would have been a extremely long and awkward silence.  So why are these questions even there to be asked?  Employers use these type of questions to see how quickly you can think under pressure.  They realize that sometimes you have done a lot of research and you are fully committed to professionalism but they try to approach different tactics to try and throw you off by using these "interview traps" which are designed to reveal more personal information than maybe you planned on initially revealing.  How do you answers these questions?  How do you compose yourself?  All the answers and more will be provided so keep on reading.

First things first, don't freak out!  Interviews can be stressful without those type of questions so this might set some people over the edge but remember, the main goal is to stay composed.  If you look a bit flustered, its understandable and the interviewer probably expects you to be.  At the same time, they also expect you to give a confident and a reasonable response.  So, lets go over some of these questions and how to properly answer them.

1.  Interviewer: How would you react if I told you that so far, this interview has gone horrible?
     You:  This is usually a test to see if you get flustered easily.  Ask politely why and for specific reasons of what  you have said or done to make such a bad impression on the interviewer.

2.  Interviewer: If you won the lottery, would you still work?
     You:  Try to be honest but maybe not too honest.  The best type answer is mentioning that while you would be obviously thrilled, you would still try to find a job that you find satisfying and that it would be have to be something that you love to do.

3.  Interviewer:  What was the last book you read?
     You: If you answer "I don't read books" or "I read 'It's a shore thing' by Snooki" you can assume that you won't get a call back.  Instead, try to mention a book that made a memorable impression on you and choose a reputable author that the interviewer has probably heard of.

4.  Interviewer:  If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you be?
     You:  This question might really throw you off but instead of saying things like "are you serious?" you should say something like "Italian of course, because I go with anything and I am favored by most".

5.  Interviewer:  If you were a superhero, what kind of super powers would you have?
     You:  This is probably not the best time to mention that you would have the powers of Magneto to take over the world.   Instead, mention a superhero that you like for their actions and someone who you respect.

 

If you've been asked a crazy interview question, you're not alone.  Here are some online articles with interesting questions candidates have been asked:

15 MORE Google Interview Questions That Made Geniuses Feel Dumb from Business Insider

20 Craziest Job Interview Questions and the Right Answers from CBS Money Watch

When preparing for an interview, make sure you check out Glassdoor.com's Interview Questions.  

Best of luck in your next interview!

 

UShadow at Zensah: The Employer’s Perspective

By: Ze'ev Feig CEO, Zensah Performance Apparel

As CEO of a fast growing sports apparel company, I need to be very efficient in how I manage my time. When I was contacted by the Toppel Career Center to participate in the UShadow program, I immediately accepted. There are a number of people who help mentor me, and I feel it is important to return the favor.

Daniel Englert came to visit my company, Zensah® Performance Apparel, and he showed a keen interest in everything related to apparel. His time at Zensah® was initially spent with me where he had the opportunity to ask questions on topics ranging from the founding of the company to our current day operations. He was able to gain valuable insights into what it takes to build an apparel company. The heartaches and the successes. I also had the opportunity to ask questions of Daniel, and learn from a young, inquisitive, and talented person. I definitely learned from Daniel.

After speaking with Daniel, I had him spend some time with our Director of Design, which is the area that most interested Daniel. He was able to learn how a product is created from concept to production.

Finally, after Daniel finished his time in the design department, I gave him a tour of our office and warehouse which gave him the opportunity to ask any more questions he might have had.

I believe the experience was mutually beneficial, and I hope to continue to participate in the UShadow program, as there are always opportunities to learn.

The 2013 Spring Career Expo: Your Career Superbowl

By Robert Vanisko

Now that the Superbowl is over, it is time for you to turn your attention to your very own Career Superbowl, the 2013 Spring Career Expo.  After putting in long hours of practice studying and honing your skills in the classroom, you now have the chance to be in front of dozens of employers looking to hire UM students.

Like Joe Flacco and Ray Lewis had to prepare for their Superbowl, you need to prepare as well.  Instead of practicing on the football field however, you are going to need to practice in other ways.  First, you need to make sure your resume is up to date and has been critiqued by the Toppel Career Center. In preparation for Career Expo, Toppel will be hosting Resumania on Monday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 12  from 10 a.m. -5 p.m. to get as many students’ resumes critiqued as possible. You should also be prepared by having numerous copies of your resume to hand out to all of those potential employers. Participating in a Mini-Mock Interview at Toppel could help prepare you for the questions these employers will be asking.   

No matter how good a football player is, they would not be able to play in the Superbowl if they did not show up in uniform, and the same goes for you. For the Career Expo, your uniform will be dressing business professional. For both men and women, that means wearing a suit, preferably black, grey, or dark blue. Men should have a matching jacket and pants, black socks, and a conservative tie. Women, if you are wearing a skirt suit, it should go to the knee. For more tips on dressing for success, click here. 

One of the best parts about the Career Expo is that you do not need to travel all the way to the New Orleans Superdome to get there. The Career Expo will be taking place in the Wellness Center on campus on Wednesday, February 13 from 3 - 7 p.m. We also promise that there will not be any blackouts to delay your job seeking experience.

While landing a prized job or internship may not be quite as exciting as winning the Superbowl, it is still a great accomplishment that can go a long way towards a future career. Good luck and perform your best at the Expo and you could be well on your way towards a rewarding career!

Quick Start the Spring Semester

By Oleg Ignatenko

The spring semester is in full swing and what better way to fully maximize your time and make something out of it than by getting involved and attending the many Toppel Career Center events that will occur throughout the upcoming months.

Many of you may have attended the Spring Kick Off at The Rock and got a chance to be introduced to Toppel, win a prize or get a slice of pizza.  For those of you who didn't, don't stress out because there will be plenty of other events where you will be able to get involved.

Lets focus on the next big event not to miss on February 6th - the EPIC Program (Employer Practice Interview & Critique).  During this event students will get an opportunity to receive a mock interview as well as get their resumes critiqued by various employers and it is a great way to prepare for the upcoming Career Expo.  Students will get the experience of being able to talk to the employer about their resume and find out what the employer will be looking for on certain resumes. During the mock interview appointment, the employer will conduct the interview and afterwards critique the student and allow them to ask any questions they might have on what they can do to improve.

Is your resume up to date, do you want to improve it or just create a brand new one and you don't know what to do?  Then make sure you come to RESUMANIA!  This is the biggest resume event we have all semester.  Students will have the opportunity to meet with peer advisers, members of the staff or the graduate assistants on a walk-in basis who will be ready to help in an instant with any questions about resumes.  

Moving on to the next event and it is the one you absolutely do not want to miss.  Get ready for the Career Expo!  This is the single biggest event that is sponsored through the Toppel Career Center.  This year there will be over 100 various employers looking to speak to bright and ambitious students with various aspirations in hopes of finding a good candidate for their company.  This event is specifically designed to expose University of Miami students to different career paths and allow them to network with professionals. Students will have a chance to meet with representatives from various companies and ask questions about the company and inquire what type of students they are looking for as well as internship, development, and other opportunities.  Don't forget to dress in business professional attire and bring plenty of resumes.  Career Expo is Wednesday, February 13 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the Herbert Wellness Center.

If you are not sure what to wear to the Career Expo, you can check out the How to Dress for A Career Expo blog by our star peer adviser Robert Vanisko.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the events and visit us at the Toppel Career Center! 
You can our calendar here.

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.

Use The Walking Dead to Survive During Your College Years

By Oleg Ignatenko & Rob Vanisko

So, you are probably thinking how in the world does the show about a zombie apocalypse at all compare to your college years.  Would you like to know?  Well, all the questions will be answered by the end of this blog. But for now lets take a look at the what brought you to this blog.  Is it internships, career choices, your major or possibly this awesome title that took me twenty minutes to come up with?  Either way you came here to learn something and we intend to make sure you don't leave "empty handed". 

Here are some of the most important lines from the show that will keep you on the right track during your college years that way you will be able to avoid the walkers (challenges, problems, possibly crazy ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends) that could stand in your way of survival (reaching your goals):

Rick: "There's us and the dead.  We survive this by pulling together, not apart"

There are successes and failures.  How you approach them will eventually determine your future.  But since you are at a University where there is so much spirit and connection between students and faculty, try to "pull together" and use the help of your classmates and professors to gain information and figure out what's best for you.  I guarantee they will gladly do their best to help you out in your career survival.

T-Dog: "Guess the world changed" 

Guillermo: "No. It's the same as it ever was: the weak get taken"

 Don't be a weak link.  You need everything you can get in order to survive.  You wouldn't want to bring one small knife to take on a herd of walkers, instead you want an entire arsenal of weapons at your disposal.  The Toppel Career Center can provide you with all those tools and services that will help you in your path to survival.  You can find all of these weapons and more in the Career Toolbox.  Some of the weapons that you will be able to find there are Glassdoor, Pathbrite, LinkedIn, etc. 

Andrea: "No crying in the boat. It scares the fish"

Keep you head, especially in times of failure or if one of your friends is taken by the walkers or becomes one of them.  There are many struggles that you will have to overcome during your "survival" through the career search.  One thing to remember is to not give up.  You will face a lot of  rejection in your career search but don't let it affect you.  There are many different circumstances when applying for a job that are outside of your control, so don't take it personally and use this as an opportunity to improve and better yourself in order to succeed next time.

Dale: "I see a chance to make a new start"

Each job you will apply for is a chance for you to prove yourself worthy of this particular career choice.   Separate yourself as a leader in this post-apocalyptic world run by "walkers," stand your ground and put your best foot forward towards your future career.

Finding Time to Relax & Unwind

by Oleg Ignatenko

College life tends to revolve around heavy study sessions, hard work, pulling all nighters, and consumption of lots and lots of coffee and energy drinks to keep yourself functioning.  This refers not only to those who constantly get kicked out of the library at 2 am (you know who you are) but also to those who feel like "free time" is an expression that has long ceased to exist.  The truth about free time is that it does exist and I am not talking about that time when you are going to sleep for 3 hours or the time when you are walking across campus to get to your class, or the time when you are driving home from work or school.  Free time is when you let your mind relax and let go of all worries for the time being.

Depending on what type of personality you have, there could be a number of options that you could consider doing.  The most popular one is going to the gym.  There is nothing that allows you to let go of worries better than running, lifting, and exercising.  You may also want to get involved with some clubs such as cycling, tennis, kiteboarding, volleyball, etc.  One popular choice for a relaxing exercise is yoga.  Personally, I have a fear that if I try any of those yoga positions, my body might either break or my limbs will get tangled and I will stay that way forever but who knows, maybe for you it will be a relaxing and calming experience.  Maybe, you want to get all Brazilian and join a Jiu-Jitsu club and really take it out on somebody or if you are still re-reading Harry Potter books and running around your kitchen on a broom, why not join the muggle quiditch club which is by the way one of the top ranked teams in the nation.  Here is a link to all the club sports that are available to the Canes. All in all whatever activity helps you relax and find that peace of mind is yours for the taking.

Other ways that help people relax are spending time with their family or friends.  The family part of course is kind of tough since most of our old folks live hundred of miles away but where there is a will, there is a way and if using Skype does not fulfill your needs of communicating with the people that are close to you, you could probably find a cheap flight on Spirit or JetBlue airlines so they can come bother you for a weekend and then be on their way.  Some great places to hang out with friends are the Rathskeller, Segafredo, Casolas (if you're in the mood for a ginormous slice of pizza or chicken wings that are the size of you hand) or even such a place as Starbucks could provide a nice and refreshing atmosphere for a night of relaxing with your friends.

While I do think that a lot of those other options are very interesting and stress relieving, I would like to add another option that in my opinion is very underrated and that does not require you to go anywhere or do much.  My option (which has worked for me in the past) is having the ability to come home, shut off all electronic devices, that means no background music or the turning on the TV (just because), no laptop, and most importantly shutting off your cell phone.  Once all of this is done, I would simply lay down either on the couch or my bed and just close my eyes without going to sleep but instead just having that time of about 20-30 minutes to lay there without any distractions or noise and think about the stress you have been having and slowly and methodically think about how you are going to overcome or solve those issues that have been causing your stress.  You may also consider just laying there and trying not think think at all and just allow your mind to wonder freely.  Doing this type of exercise a couple of times a week will greatly reduce your stress levels.  Main thing that you should avoid doing is allowing yourself to get distracted with thoughts that you are wasting time or that there are other, more important things to do.  Convince yourself that this is healthy and that it will be beneficial for you.  Try this out a few times and you will feel great afterwards and feel like you are still in control of your free time.

I am a Junior and I have not done an internship yet! What do I do?

By: Robert Vanisko

Once you become a Junior and realize that you are over half way done with college, it can be a startling realization that there is not much time left until you are out in the real world.  But for some of you, there is one problem; you have no internship experience yet.  Sure, you worked in that restaurant during high school or have an on campus job at UM, but internships are what is important… right?

Luckily for you, there is still plenty of time to get that experience before you have to apply for real world jobs.  The Toppel Career Center has tons of great resources to help you find what you are interested in, identify possible internships in that field, and get you started on applying for them. 

The first and most important step is identifying and defining what field you are interested in working in.  Many of you will pick something in-line with your major, but others of you are less sure.  For those of you who don’t know what field you would like to work in, Toppel offers three different career assessments that you can take to determine what you want to do, the Self Directed Search, the Type Focus, and the Strong Interest Inventory.

Once you determine what type of internship you want to do, the next step is to search for available internship opportunities that you want to apply to.  Using your HireACane account, you can search for internships on your account or create a UCAN account.  UCAN, which stands for the University Career Action Network, is a database of internships posted by the University of Miami and the 21 other universities involved.  Currently, there are more than 1,300 UCAN internships available and more than 900 jobs and internships available on HireACane.

Once you have picked out the internships that you want to apply for, you have to prepare yourself to apply.  Toppel has plenty of resources to help you create and edit your resume and cover letters, and prepare you for your interviews.  They offer Effective Resumeand Cover Letter Writing Seminars as well as written guides to help you create these documents.  Toppel also offers Interviewing Skills Seminars as well as Mock and Mini-Mock Interviews.  It is very important to practice your interviewing skills before you go in for a real interview, so be sure to make use of these programs.

While finding a summer internship may seem like a daunting task while trying to balance the academic life and social life of junior year, it is actually quite simple as long as you follow the steps listed above.  For more information on all of these programs, be sure to visit hireacane.comhttp://www.sa.miami.edu/toppel/mainsite/Students/Home.aspx.  

Forming Great Note-Taking Skills!

by Oleg Ignatenko

Lately, I have come to the realization that many times students struggle (including myself) with exams or understanding the material in certain classes due to bad note-taking and lack of a focused and clear study guide. It seems that often when students take notes in class or notes from the book, they tend to focus on areas that are not that important which becomes very unhelpful to them as well as time consuming. The entire point of taking notes is to have a clear visual and an understanding of the given material without having to carry around a bunch of 25 pound books and then having to list through them to find a specific line to read or a definition to recall. Since this is becoming sort of an epidemic, I am here to give you some advice to help you ease your way into the course by developing great note-taking skills.

First, let’s all agree that copying word for word from the book does not work for everybody. Sometimes the way an author may explain or define something might seem like they are using a completely different language. So what would be the point of you jotting down their exact words? Instead, try to understand the straightforward meaning of their words and write it down in your own words.

Second, another extremely helpful method is to use different markers, pens or highlighters when taking down notes. During a lecture many of us don’t have time to organize our notes due to the fact that we must consistently write things down until our hands feel like they are about to fall off. With the use of the highlighters or markers, you can set up a system of colors in which you know what area relates to a specific topic and definitions that you will more than likely will need to know for the upcoming exam. It is just another way of making an outline but by using this system it will save you a lot more time.

Third, this is most likely the most important rule that is usually overlooked. Learn and understand the way your professor conducts his or her lectures. This is something that you should get used to by the end of the first two weeks of your new class. Each professor uses his own developed way of teaching and communicating with the classroom. Once you realize that he or she focuses on specific details or that literally everything he or she  discusses will be on the test, you will have a much greater advantage and understanding of what type of notes you should be jotting down. Many times students realize this after the first tests, depending on what type of questions will be asked, but instead of adapting to their professors way of teaching, they will still continue taking bad notes and struggle on exams.

Here are some other quick hints when taking notes:

• Take notes on only one side of the paper

• Use pictures, diagrams and tables to help you visualize and relate ideas

• Before the upcoming lecture, read the chapter that you will be focusing on next

• Go back and make sure that you didn’t leave any blanks, and if you did, remember to fill them in

Lastly, don’t forget to use your notes when it comes to exams and other assignments. If you took out the time to write all of this information down, make sure it goes into something positive. It is so much easier to learn something and to remember it when you have it clearly and precisely written down.

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!