News

UCC is Hiring


Now Hiring

UCC is Hiring for Student and Professional Positions

The University Career Center is accepting applications for the following positions. 

 

Peer Career Advisor (2024-2025) - 2 positions

Peer Career Advisors (PCAs) play an important role in the delivery of career services in the University Career Center (UCC). They are trained to assist students with résumé and cover letter development, career center technology, and other online resources. As UCC ambassadors, PCAs assist with career fairs, host promotional tables on campus, and engage in other activities designed to promote student engagement with a diverse population of students. $15.00 hourly. 15 hours a week, Fall & Spring Terms.  Applications are accepted online through Cardinal CareersClick Here for full description. 

 

Graduate Assistant for Communication (2024-2025)

Research, create, edit, and deliver content for email newsletters, website, and hard copy communication that builds meaningful connections and encourages constituents to engage in career center programs and events.  Must be enrolled at UofL in a Graduate program. Click Here for full description and application directions. 

 

Graduate Assistant for Peer Career Advisor Program (2024-2025)

Recruit, train, and supervise 3-4 Peer Career Advisors (PCAs); coordinate all programming and scheduling of the program. PCAs are trained to assist students on a drop-in basis with resume and cover letter development, career center technology, and other online resources. PCAs promote and administer the online Document Drop program, assist with career fairs, host promotional tables on campus, and engage in other activities designed to promote student engagement. PCAs assist in creating and writing educational materials. The GA reports to a UCC professional staff member.  Must be enrolled at UofL in a Graduate program. Click Here for full description and application directions. 

 

Career Coaches - 2 Positions

Provide individual and group career coaching using effective counseling/coaching techniques and career assessment instruments. Develop, organize, and implement educational programming in assigned career areas, including workshops, industry panels, and presentations on career education topics. Promote career readiness across the full student life cycle including choosing a major, defining a career path, preparing for internships, and developing job search skills necessary for entry into field.  Proactively seek opportunities for outreach and collaboration with faculty, administrative departments, and student organizations to enhance outreach efforts. Collaborate with faculty on integrating career assignments into coursework. Applications are accepted through UofL Human Resources WorkDay System

Employers on Campus This Week for Career Fair

Communication, Media, and Sports Career & Internship Fair
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 | 1-4 p.m.
SAC Multipurpose Room (MPR)

This fair is for students interested in working in the fields of communication, media, and sports regardless of their chosen major. Employers in attendance will be looking to recruit professional interns and post-graduation full-time employees. Some common functions within these fields include journalism, publication and editing, event planning, content creation, sports marketing, recreation, coaching and training. This is a wonderful opportunity to look for open positions, explore career options, and network with industry professionals. If students would like information to help them prepare for this recruiting event, they can visit 
our Student Career Fair Resources page

Employers will include:

  • ADP
  • All About Kids Sports Center
  • Army ROTC Public Affairs
  • Bardstown Bourbon Company
  • Enterprise Mobility
  • KY Venues
  • Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
  • Markey's
  • National Parkinsons Institute
  • PGA of America
  • Spectrum News
  • Team Travel Source
  • The Backside Learning Center
  • The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown
  • Total Quality Logistics
  • US Army - Human Resources Command
  • WDRB Media
  • WLKY

New Student Resource for International Opportunities

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The University of Louisville is excited to announce a valuable addition to the online resources available to students: GoinGlobalThis innovative platform provides students of all nationalities with the tools to fast track their career exploration by offering full-time employment and internship opportunities, job search information, cultural advice, and more for over 120 worldwide locations. International students can use the H1B Plus database to research US employers who have hired international talent. The implementation of GoinGlobal at the University of Louisville is the result of a collaborative effort between the International Center, College of Business Ulmer Career Center, Speed School of Engineering Career Services & Cooperative Education, and the University Career Center.  

GoinGlobal is renowned for its constantly updated and expert resources designed to ease the transition into new locations, whether it is for moving across the world or embarking on a global adventure. By offering GoinGlobal to students, the University of Louisville is reinforcing its commitment to fostering global awareness and providing the resources necessary to empower students in their career pursuits.   

Paul Hofmann, Associate Vice Provost for International Affairs, believes GoinGlobal will introduce UofL students to job opportunities around the world 

“Given the interconnected nature of the global economy, UofL graduates will increasingly find themselves working for companies with worldwide operations,” Hofmann said. This platform will allow students to explore the wide range of employment opportunities that exist overseas.  

Some of the outstanding features that GoinGlobal offers include: 

  • Country and City Career Guides: Provides information for over 120 locations worldwide authored by local employment experts to provide invaluable insights into job markets and other information such as cultural practices, work permits, job searching, resume and curriculum vitae recommendations, and more. 

  • Global Job & Internship Search: Access to a vast database of over 16 million job and internship postings, updated daily, which can be searched in both the local language and English. 

  • Key Employer Directory: Detailed profiles and key contact information for more than 450,000 local and multinational companies spanning 196 countries. 

  • H1B Visa/OPT Resources: Assistance for international students in identifying US employers that have submitted H1B visa applications in the past, along with OPT-friendly employer records and guidelines. 

  • CultureWizard: Complimentary access to a culture assessment that assists students in effectively engaging across cultures. This platform offers self-assessment tools, quizzes, videos, webinars, and culture guides for 160 countries. 

Students at the University can now access GoinGlobal through multiple entry points by either logging into Cardinal Careers from anywhere in the world and navigating to the resources tab or by accessing online.goinglobal.com from any computer while on campus. 

Bill Fletcher, Director of the University Career Center, highlights the significance of GoinGlobal as a valuable tool for acquiring the essential career competencies as outlined in the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's 10 Essential Skills 

“The CultureWizard offered by GoinGlobal aids students in enhancing their cultural competency, while also fostering skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and collaboration,” Fletcher said. 

With this new tool, students can gain a competitive edge in their job search, study abroad planning, and international career exploration. The implementation of GoinGlobal marks a significant step forward in enhancing the global competencies of our students and opening doors to a world of opportunities. We are excited to witness the positive impact this resource will have on our student body as they navigate their paths to success. 

More information is on the UCC GoinGlobal webpage.  

Upcoming Career Fair: Public Health, Human Services, & Healthcare

Fall Public Health, Human Services, and Healthcare Career and Internship Fair  

Make sure to mark your calendars for the Fall Public Health, Human Services, and Healthcare Career and Internship Fair next week. Graduate and Professional Schools in these fields will also be in attendance. 

ALL majors are welcome at the upcoming career fair on October 4, 2023 from 1-4 p.m.in the SAC W215 Ballroom. 

Whether or not you may not be pursuing a degree in a major included in the title, we want to emphasize that these industries offer an array of diverse and fulfilling career, internship, and continuing education opportunities for students from various academic backgrounds. Whether you are majoring in Communication, Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Political Science, Education, or any other field, there is a place for you in the healthcare, human services, and public health sectors.  

Please make sure to bring your resume, research attending companies and dress appropriately for an interview. The University Career Center has lots of resources on attire, resumes,interview prep, and career fair tips available on our website. Additionally, you can schedule an appointment with your Career Coach for more assistance.  

Organizations attending include:

  • Adapt for Life 

  • American Senior Communities 

  • Bellewood & Brooklawn 

  • Commonwealth Pain & Spine 

  • Eastern Kentucky University Online 

  • Hanover College 

  • Harvard MedTech 

  • Home of the Innocents 

  • Kent School of Social Work and Family Science MSSW Program 

  • Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates 

  • KVC Behavioral Health Systems 

  • Lexington Fire Department 

  • Lighthouse Autism Center 

  • Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness 

  • Maryhurst 

  • Mattingly Edge 

  • Norton Healthcare 

  • Ohio State College of Public Health 

  • PharmaCord 

  • Rutgers School of Public Health 

  • Seven Counties Services 

  • Southwest Center 

  • Spalding University 

  • Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 

  • The Center for Women and Families 

  • Touro University Nevada 

  • University of Cincinnati-College of Allied Health Sciences 

  • University of Kentucky 

  • University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy 

  • UofL - Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute 

  • UofL School of Nursing 

  • UofL School of Public Health & Information Sciences 

  • Youth Villages 

For additional information on employers attending, click here and for graduate and professional schools, click here. 

Beware of Fraudulent Job Postings

By Morgan Flynn, Communication Graduate Assistant

As the fall semester kicks off, this period often finds some of you seeking part-time employment to support your education expenses, while others are about to graduate and embark on the journey to secure their first entry-level job. Consequently, the job market tends to be busy during this time of year, but it also brings a surge in fraudulent activities.  

While it is exciting to be launching your career, looking for your first internship or entry-level job, or graduating, it’s also a time for you to be vigilant. That’s because typically this is also a time of year when fraudsters circulate fake job opportunities.  

Most employment scams utilize the Internet and often involve email to potential victims.  Here are some signs that you should exercise extreme caution: 

  • High pay with little work 
  • Requirements that you cash checks and wire money 
  • Poor grammar or punctuation 
  • Offers of a job without even interviewing you 
  • “Website” is actually an email address 
  • The office listed does not exist by that name and/or no employer information is listed 
  • No telephone number or physical address is listed 
  • The presence of "USA" in the address suggests that the message may originate from a different location. 

Additionally, some of the some of the fraudulent emails will inaccurately mention receiving your resume or personal information from the Career Center or Cardinal Careers as a way to hook you into responding. The University Career Center does not share your resume or personal information.  

Ultimately, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. 

You can avoid becoming a victim by pro-actively searching for positions utilizing established career management platforms and job listings, and employing other savvy job search practices like networking. The UofL career centers including Business, Engineering, Law and the University Career Center urge you to think critically and be vigilant as you search for jobs or internships, so you don’t fall prey to scammers.  

If you receive a phishing or scam email through your UofL email account, you can report it to Information Technology Services (ITS) by following these steps: 

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the email 
  2. Choose Report option 
  3. Click Report Phishing 

Here are some resources to help you protect yourself:  

And, if you ever feel a position is questionable but you are not sure, please contact the University Career Center and ask! 


Transforming Trauma: A Student's Dedication to Empowering Children

 

By Morgan Flynn, Communication Graduate Assistant 

Sarah Spicer is a junior from Shelbyville, KY pursuing a double major in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, aiming to graduate in the Spring of 2024. Their academic journey at UofL has been enriched by coursework, professors, and on-campus resources that have assisted in preparing them for their future career. 

 One invaluable resource for them was their Career Coach, Erin Heakin, at the University Career Center, who guided them in identifying their ideal career path. "My Career Coach helped me figure out the career that I want to go into,” they said. 

In May 2022, Spicer started a new position as a Direct Care Worker at Maryhurst, the oldest nonprofit in the state of Kentucky that works to prevent abuse, restore hope, and empower survivors. This transformative experience helped to cement their passion for making a difference.  

As a Direct Care Worker at Maryhurst, their responsibilities include supervising and assisting clients during their daily routines. The most rewarding aspect of their internship was the profound impact they had on the lives of the clients they worked with. "Feeling like I have made a difference in the lives of the clients that I work with" was a source of immense satisfaction for them. 

Reflecting on their time so far at Maryhurst, they found every day to be unique, a testament to the importance of their work. This internship provided them with valuable insights, ultimately shaping their career aspirations.  

"I have learned so much about working and interacting with children who have experienced trauma and abuse, which has helped me figure out that I want to work with children who have experienced trauma and abuse as a therapist," Spicer said. 

Looking ahead, Spicer intends to pursue a Master's in Social Work and become a Child Therapist, using their experiences and knowledge to make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children. 

For fellow students searching for internships or jobs, they have valuable advice: "Reach out to your Career Coach and use the resources the Career Center offers."  

More information about internships and jobs can be found on the University Career Center website. Students can talk with theirprogram’s internship coordinator about possible internship opportunities and academic credit. Additionally, students can use Cardinal Careers to find current internship and job opportunities. 

Internship Empowering Future Community Advocate

By Morgan Flynn, Communication Graduate Assistant  


Aiko Jones is a current graduate student from Kingston, Jamaica with a unique academic background. She holds both a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Communication from the University of Louisville and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Communication. Alongside her academic pursuits, Jones is a member of the Volleyball team. Beyond her role as a student-athlete, she is committed to forging a career path that leverages various mediums of communicationto bring about meaningful change within her community. 

 Jones completed an internship in the Spring of 2023 as a Communication Intern at The Backside Learning Center of Churchill Downs, an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources for racetrack workers and their families. They offer programs centered around educational support for both adults and youth, health and wellness, human services and more. 

Her responsibilities included assisting the BLC team with event streaming and coverage, organizing records in Microsoft Excel, TikTok strategy and content, and managing the social media initiatives for the Purses for a Purpose program, an initiative providing horse owners a way to give back to those who are the backbone of the horseracing industry. 

Reflecting on her internship experience, Jones shared, "The most rewarding aspect of working at the BLC was contributing to the well-being of racetrack workers and their families, recognizing their often-unacknowledged contributions to the city of Louisville." 

Among the many memorable moments during her internship, one particularly stood out: a morning when she observed the horses' training and gained valuable insights into manual mode photography techniques. She called it a "two-for-one opportunity." 

Jones attributes her success during the internship to the guidance and teachings of her professors in the Communication Department. Their valuable insights equipped her with the skills needed to excel, bridging the gap between her diverse academic background and the requirements of the non-profit sector. She noted, "My professors in the Communication department provided me with skills applicable across various domains, including the non-profit sector. The well-rounded knowledge I gained from my courses enabled me to effectively assist underserved immigrant communities." 

In the future, Jones hopes to create meaningful change within the community through digital storytelling and content creation. “The BLC internship taught me tangible techniques and a great wealth of people skills that will help me as I continue to build my portfolio as a creator and storyteller.” 

She offers advice to students looking for an internship or job, “Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Be honest with your employer about your experience and be willing to learn new things.”   

More information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website. Students can talk with their program’s internship coordinator about possible opportunities and academic credit. Additionally, students can use Cardinal Careers to find current internship position listings/opportunities. 

Part-Time Jobs Fair 2023


Part-Time Jobs Fair – First Fair of the Year

The Part-Time Jobs Fair is a great opportunity for students to meet local employers interested in hiring for a variety of part-time positions. It is the first career fair of the year and will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, in the SAC Ballroom from 1-4 pm.

Review the list of registered employers.  Students can find more information on each employer by logging into Cardinal Careers and clicking on the 2023 Part Time Jobs Fair.

Summer Jobs Fair-2023


Summer Jobs Fair – Last Fair of the Year

The Summer Jobs Fair is a great opportunity for students to meet 32 local employers interested in hiring for a variety of summer positions.  It is the last career fair of the year and will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in the SAC Ballroom from 2-4 pm.

Review the list of registered employers.  Students can find more information on each employer by logging into Cardinal Careers and clicking on the 2023 Summer Jobs Fair.

 

2023 Summer Jobs Fair Wednesday, April 12, 2023 2:00-4:00 PM Student Activities Center (SAC) Ballroom See more details in Cardinal Careers: cardinalcareers-csm.symplicity.com

UCC is Hiring for Paid Student Positions


UCC is Hiring for Paid Student Positions

UCC is hiring

The University Career Center (UCC) is hiring Graduate Assistants and Peer Career Advisors for the 23-24 academic year.  This is a great opportunity for students to enhance their skills and earn income while working on campus.  Our student employees play an important role in the delivery of career services in the UCC to UofL students.

Peer Career Advisors - PCAs are trained to assist students on a drop-in basis with resume and cover letter development, career center technology, and other online resources.

Graduate Assistant for Peer Career Advisor Program - Recruit, train, and supervise 3-4 Peer Career Advisors (PCA); coordinate all programming and scheduling of the program. 

Graduate Assistant for Communication - Research, create, edit, and deliver content for email newsletters, website, and hard copy communication that builds meaningful connections and encourages students to engage in career center programs and events. 

Click on each title for a full description, pay, and how to apply.  More information on the UCC can be found on our About Us website.

Be Aware of Latest Scam!

Scam Alert

Be Aware of Latest Scam Targeting UofL Students

Several students have reported a fraudulent email they have received.  The sender claimed to be a representative of Universal Health Services and stated they were impressed with the student's recent resume upload into Cardinal Careers.  If you received this email, do not reply. They do not represent the employer and they do not have access to your resume in Cardinal Careers.

The fraudulent email encourages students to set up a Chatwork account and add their email address. In that process, it asked for banking information. Never, give out your banking or financial information in the job search process!

Other signs it is not legitimate:

  • Email addressed to "candidate" and not addressing student by name
  • Email does not disclose the name of the person sending it
  • The email address does not match the email address of that organization 
  • Email address ends in .org and real organization is .com
  • Salary is unrealistically high at $30.50 to $50.50 an hour
  • Misuse of capitalization
  • Position is not identified and only described as remote or on-campus, full-time or part-time

If you receive a phishing or scam email through your UofL email account, you can report it to Information Technology Services (ITS) by following these steps:

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner of the email
  2. Choose Report option
  3. Click Report Phishing

More information on Safe Job Hunting can be found at: https://louisville.edu/career/jobs-internships/safe-job-hunting.

If you have any questions about this or other questionable opportunities, please contact the University Career Center by email at ulcareer@louisville.edu or phone at (502) 852-6701.

Big Interview Advice

Big Interview


(Big) Interview Advice

Pamela Skillings, chief coach and co-founder of Big Interview, pinpoints her top five rules that you shouldn’t break when interviewing.

1. Don’t lie (and don’t over exaggerate skills or proficiencies)

The employer will figure it out and it will only end poorly for you. Instead of lying about your perceived shortcomings, emphasize how you plan to improve them.

2. Answer every question (don’t dodge or avoid)

Don’t dodge a question or answer with another question. Still, you want to make sure you know which questions are illegal for interviewers to ask you. Interview questions can sometimes be difficult to answer directly and fully, Interview Q &A can help you navigate those scenarios.  

3. Highlight your ROI  (ROI: return on investment)

Emphasize how you are the best fit for the position. Clearly communicate what you can bring to the table by incorporating key requirements and skills from the job description into your interview. Explain how your previous experiences allowed you to develop the desired qualifications.

4. Think about how you use “I” and “We” (teamwork matters but the interview is about you)

The ability to work well on a team is important, but you will need to be able to pinpoint your individual achievements that helped your team reach a goal. Tell a short story to describe a problem or obstacle and highlight how your contribution and/or initiative helped the team succeed.

5. Show your personality (be your best professional self)

Don’t hide who you are as this has the potential to come across as fake to your interviewer. Be confident and true to yourself. Only the companies that understand and appreciate you for who you are deserve to have you on their team.

 

Source: Skillings, Pamela. Big Interview email, Feb 14, 2023. “Job Interview Rules You Actually Need to Stick to”

Handshake Student Access Closing

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: Handshake Is Closing 2/1/23 at 12:00 pm 

FINAL NOTICE

Multiple email notices have gone out to UofL account holders in Handshake. Student accounts have been imported into Cardinal Careers and notifications sent regarding Handshake's closing.

The University Career Center is joining the Business and Engineering career centers in using Cardinal Careers powered by Symplicity. Currently enrolled students can log in using their ULink username and password to get started.

This change will better serve students and employers by uniting all opportunities under one universal career platform. Cardinal Careers contains all postings including full-time positions, internships, Federal Work-study, part-time jobs on and off campus, and mentored research. Additionally, it contains all career-related events and appointments including career fairs, career coach appointments, employer information sessions, and workshops.

Alumni can request an account by clicking on the red Sign Up button on the right of login page. A career center staff member will review each request to approve alumni accounts.

 

Handshake Closing

New Career Platform


Cardinal Careers Powered by Symplicity


The University Career Center has joined the Business and Engineering career centers in using Cardinal Careers powered by SymplicityThis change better serves students and employers by centralizing all opportunities under one universal career platform along with the Center for Engaged Learning.

Cardinal Careers contains all postings including full-time positions, internships, Federal Work-study, part-time jobs on and off campus, and mentored research. Additionally, it contains all career-related events including career fairs, employer information sessions, and workshops. 

Students should log in immediately using their ULink credentials and complete their profiles. All students are encouraged to have their resumes reviewed by their career center.  Students served by the University Career Center can use the Document Drop Program on the UCC's website. Alumni can click on the image below, then click on the red Sign-Up button to create an alumni account.

Cardinal Careers Student Login

Employers and campus departments who hire students can create their accounts by following the instructions on the UCC website. Campus Departments who wish to hire Federal Work Study students should follow the instructions from the Office of Financial Aid.

The Implementation Team for Cardinal Careers consisted of members from the University Career Center, Ulmer Career Management Center in the College of Business, Speed School Engineering Career Services and Co-op, Center for Engaged Learning, UofL Information Technology Services, and Symplicity Corporation.  The Implementation Team met regularly for the past eight months to achieve the January 2023 launch goal.  During this time, UCC staff was busy training on the new system.  Implementation team members from the four centers will continue to meet to refine policies and procedures and implement new features throughout the year.  

Now that Cardinal Careers is fully functional, the old Handshake platform will close for students on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 12:00 pm.

 

UofL Sophomore’s Internship Experience Points to a Passion

UofL Sophomore’s Internship Experience Points to a Passion

By: Kristen Dethloff

Some students enter higher education with a clear career path in front of them. Other students are less certain when it comes to their future and use their time in college to explore potential fields or careers. Internships can be an invaluable resource to students looking for direction, and they may be lucky enough to find an internship that clears up the confusion. 

 

Olivia Roth

Olivia Roth is a sophomore from Owensboro, KY majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. With her expected graduation date in May 2025, she has plenty of time to explore her career options. However, Roth is not one to let an opportunity for work experience pass her by. In the summer of 2022, she completed a 3-month, full-time internship with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security. “I was on the Workforce Planning Team which is a part of HR. It’s a mixture of IO Psychology and HR, but it’s really interesting and I really loved it.”

IO Psychology is the acronym for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, which centers on psychology in the workplace. Roth’s primary responsibilities were to determine the ideal competencies, qualities, knowledge, and skills a candidate should have for a position within the organization. With different positions come different criteria, which also meant Roth was able to dip her toe into IO Psychology research.

Roth secured this internship within a government agency partially by accident but has never looked back. She reports that she was mass-applying for internships on the University Career Center’s job platform and out of more than fifty applications, received only four interviews. “It was offered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education so I was contracted through them. They were offering a bunch of different internship positions and it was one of the few psychology openings I found so I was fortunate enough to get it.”

Before her summer experience, Roth knew that she wanted to pursue a career in psychology, but she was not quite sure which subfield was the right fit for her. “I’d never considered IO Psychology. I didn’t know what it was before this internship and now I’m really leaning towards pursuing it with a Ph.D. program after I graduate.”

In addition to steering her in a career direction, Roth’s summer internship has impacted other facets of her life. Olivia is also on track to become a Research Assistant with the Psychology Department at UofL after having such a positive experience with the Department of Homeland Security. She is the Vice President of the Kentucky Public Health Association as well as a member of the Commonwealth Policy Coalition on campus. Within both of these organizations, she is spearheading movements and influencing policies about work roles, which she believes stems from her internship experience.

“I would 100% recommend it to anyone. I think I’ve learned invaluable things through my internship, things I would never have experienced even throughout my whole career. It really opened my eyes and, I mean, it changed my career path. Also, I got to talk to a lot of different people across the department, the agency… I even got to talk directly to the director.” What advice does Roth have for fellow students when it comes to experiential learning? “Don’t be discouraged by the nos. You just have to wait and look for the one that is the right fit for you. It’s easy to fall down that path and get discouraged, but you’ll end up where you belong. I believe I got the best internship for me.” 

From Movie Set to Local News Station, this UofL Senior Utilized UCC Resources and Maximized Success!


FROM MOVIE SET TO LOCAL NEWS STATION, THIS UofL SENIOR UTILIZED UCC RESOURCES AND MAXIMIZED SUCCESS!

By: Isabel Abarca

Senior communication major, Haley Sullivan, spent the spring and summer of 2022 pursuing her dream career. Haley expects to graduate in December 2022 and her experiences during her senior year have helped shape her career aspirations for life after college.

Haley Sullivan

In the spring of 2022, Haley worked on a movie set as a production assistant where she supported the production office, manager, and producers. She also managed various administrative tasks that facilitated the success of the production. After the film wrapped up in June, Haley stepped into an internship role at the local news station, WLKY. She worked in the Creative Services Department and learned to create commercials for Louisville businesses as well as promotional ads for the station.

The internship with WLKY was acquired through Haley’s acceptance to the Emma Bowen Fellowship program, a program suggested by her Career Coach, Erin Heakin. Haley first met with Erin early in her junior year, and has continued to utilize the University Career Center’s (UCC) resources ever since.

“Erin is an amazing career counselor. She is always ready to listen to my frustrations with job hunting and offers good advice on how to move forward. She told me about the Emma Bowen Fellowship, a program that offers paid media and tech internships for students of color. After being accepted into the program, I interned with WLKY and was able to learn about commercial production and the television industry.”

Throughout Haley’s time on the movie set and with the local news station, she quickly learned the value and importance of making connections. “While I appreciate the skills I’ve learned during these opportunities, I mostly appreciate the people that I have met through them. Hearing their stories and advice on navigating career and life has helped me confirm my career path and opened the door for similar work opportunities down the road.”

These experiences have helped Haley look at her future with some clarity – she knows she would like to work in the television and film industry after college. Through these opportunities,

Haley is already booked as a production assistant for another movie, was nominated by WLKY for a new producer’s fellowship through Hearst Television, and has been offered a position as producer post-graduation.

Her advice to fellow students? “Always advocate for yourself. You know your worth, the skills you have, and why you deserve the best. Make sure you get the most out of an internship for your needs.”

New Faculty-in-Residence

 

Ime Okpokho joins the University Career Center at the University of Louisville as the Faculty-in-Residence. She prides herself in working collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to help students explore their career interests and develop professionally through internships and experiential learning opportunities. Ime’s passion for student success brought her to the University of Louisville where she is the Internship Coordinator and a lecturer in the Exercise Science program in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences. Prior career experiences include serving as the Director of Programs for the Food Literacy Project and the Associate Director of Community Integrated Health for the YMCA of Greater Louisville overseeing strategic partnerships with Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville Metro Government, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Kentucky Derby Festival.  

Ime Okpokho


Ime is taking over for Stuart Esrock who retired in June. She will collaborate with faculty to champion the integration of career services into the teaching mission of the University; coordinate the Internship Summit meetings; produce the annual Internship/Co-op census report; and provide advice to the career center on academic and internship issues. Ime will also take over the coordination of this listserv. 

Ime earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Public Health Education and a Master of Education in Community Health at the University of Louisville. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration. Ime can be contacted at Ime.Okpokho@louisville.edu

New Internship & Student Employment Coordinator

 

Kristen Dethloff started June 6, 2022, as Internship and Student Employment Coordinator in the University Career Center. Kristen is a UofL Class of 2021 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Criminal Justice.  

Kristen Dethloff

Kristen experienced first-hand the ins and outs of navigating internships and student employment with a full-time course load as an undergraduate college student. She held a part-time job with the Athletic Department as an Athletic Tutor while simultaneously interning long-term with Louisville’s two professional soccer teams, Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.  

Upon graduation, Kristen found employment with Chicago’s professional soccer team near her hometown in the suburbs of Chicago. She has a demonstrated history and interest in Community Engagement, Marketing, as well as Programming and Events. Her transition from the sports industry to higher education is driven by a compassion for advocating for students and connecting with employers. In her role at UofL, Kristen will focus on coordinating internships for students in the academic programs served by the University Career Center; developing part-time, off campus employment for students; and promoting these opportunities across the University community. 

Now that she has returned to Louisville, she enjoys attending various spectator-sporting events, consuming all true crime media, reconnecting with old friends, and visiting family when possible.   

Kristen can be contacted in the University Career Center at 502-852-5485 or Kristen.Dethloff@louisville.edu

Recent Graduate Uses Internship as Springboard to Career

 

RECENT GRADUATE USES INTERNSHIP AS SPRINGBOARD TO CAREER

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Before the spring semester of 2022, Oliver Kratholm was not sure of the direction he wanted to travel for a career, even though graduation was only months away.  However, after an internship with a mental health provider, Kratholm found his calling.

The Louisville native graduated in May with a BS degree in Psychology.  During the spring semester, Kratholm enrolled in the PSYC 407—Community Internship course and after looking into options, he decided to work with Seven Counties Services.  Seven Counties serves Louisville and surrounding counties with mental and behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment, and intellectual and developmental disabilities services.  

 Intern-Oliver Kratholm

Oliver Kratholm

Kratholm’s responsibilities included helping prepare therapy materials for counselors and therapists, organizing treatment guides, brainstorming/creating new therapeutic aids, and more. “A large portion of my time was also spent shadowing therapists and the psychologists in their work, which provided great exposure to different types of treatment plans and interventions.”

Kratholm said that first-hand exposure to the clinical setting was rewarding and enlightening.  “Being able to shadow professionals as they work with a variety of clients with different mental health concerns really sparked my interest for pursuing further education and a career in the field.” 

The relationships that Kratholm developed opened an immediate opportunity as well.  At the conclusion of the internship, he continued on with Seven Counties and also is doing work with a research lab at UofL Kratholm plans to eventually return to school to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Kratholm’s only regret is that he did not do an internship earlier in his academic career.  He suggests all UofL students take the plunge to do an internship or co-op. “While an internship might not be for everybody, I think it can be incredibly worthwhile for students who are unsure of where they want to take their education or career. There is no substitute for first-hand experience in an area of potential interest.”

If you want to hear about other student internships, the University Career Center posted a virtual session with a group of students talking about their internships and providing advice about how to make the most out of the experience.  You can find out more about internships on the UCC Internship website, plus review a virtual workshop Interning 101. If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.  

Good Fall Hiring Outlook

GOOD FALL HIRING OUTLOOK

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A new national study suggests a near-term positive outlook for students seeking internships and entry-level positions.  The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) indicates nearly 90% of respondents to a survey said they will be hiring for both full-time and internships/co-ops in the fall. 

NACE said the remaining 10% of companies/organizations reported they will be hiring either intern/co-op students or entry-level employees. There were no organizations who indicated they will not be hiring this fall.  

NACE said the forecast is improved over last year.  For fall, 2021, 83% of employers said they would be hiring interns and entry-level employees. The following chart shows the results from the NACE job outlook studies for the past two years.

 NACE Fall 2022 Hiring

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, is cautiously optimistic about hiring in this region.  “Right now, it is a job seekers market. However, with inflation at a 40-year high, the Federal Reserve is increasing interest rates in an effort to bring it under control.  There are several opportunities for increases between now and fall.  If they miss their mark and overcorrect, it could result in a recession. That would change the outlook for fall hires.”

Data for the NACE job outlook survey was collected between February 2 and March 11.  A total of 196 companies and organizations of all sizes from across the country responded to the survey.  

More Hybrid Work Positions

MORE HYBRID WORK POSITIONS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

More people have found themselves working remotely over the course of the last two-plus years as a result of the global pandemic.  And while the COVID public health crisis is easing and there has been a gradual return to in-person work, it does not mean that the move online is ending.  In fact, new research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows that an increasing number of organizations are giving employees the opportunity to work both in-person and remotely, something that is of particular interest to students seeking entry-level employment.  

Respondents to a NACE survey this spring indicated an average of 41% of their overall positions are performed in a hybrid manner and an average of 39% of their overall positions are fully in-person. But, 20% of their overall positions are still performed in a fully remote work environment. The results are very similar when isolating to entry-level positions that would be filled by recent college graduate.  See the chart below for full results of the NACE 2022 Job Outlook survey.

 NACE Modality of Work

NACE notes that the results of the survey are very different depending on the industry/field. For example, construction firms have an average of only 0.2% of their overall and entry-level positions performed in a fully remote manner. Additionally, engineering services report just an average of 1.3% of overall positions and no entry-level jobs that are fully remote.

The associate director of the UofL University Career Center, Kelly Atwood, said, hybrid positions would appear to be particularly attractive to students seeking entry-level employment.  “Hybrid work environments allow students and recent graduates flexibility with location and transportation while still giving them means to interact with their colleagues in person.”

The NACE findings for this study were based on responses from 196 companies of all sizes around the country between February 2 and March 11 of this year.   

 

Higher Levels of Education = Better Employment Situation


HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION = BETTER EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

There’s an old adage that “to get a good job, you need a good education.”  When it comes to salary and unemployment levels, there are absolute and clear benefits that accrue as level of education increases.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2021, education correlated with higher earnings and lower unemployment rates.  According to their Current Population Survey, workers age 25 and over who attained less than a high school diploma had the lowest median weekly earnings ($626) while workers with graduate degrees earned the most.  The following chart shows that even between a professional degree ($1924/week in median weekly earnings) and a bachelor’s degree ($1,334), there is nearly a 45% difference in earnings.  

 BLS Earning and Unemployment

Higher levels of unemployment also occur with the lowest levels of education.  The next table shows the unemployment rate was 8.3% in 2021 for those with less than a high school diploma versus 1.5% for doctoral degree, 2.6% for master’s, and 3.5% for bachelor’s degree recipients.

BLS Earning and Unemployment

More information about this study, education requirements and pay for hundreds of different job fields is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  For more information, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Gender Pay Inequity A Problem From Day One

GENDER PAY INEQUITY A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Women continue to earn less than their male counterparts. And a new research study indicates the gap begins as female graduates exit college and start their careers.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that overall, women earn 82% of what men make.  And now, research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) also shows a very similar entry-level salary gap of 18.4% ($52,266 on average for women in entry-level positions versus $64,022 earned by men). 

Given the entry-level salary gap mirrors the overall gap, NACE executive director Shawn VanDerziel said an important conclusion becomes obvious. “Our study dispels the myth that the gender pay gap results from women prioritizing family over career and thus begins later. We’re seeing the disparity right at the beginning of a woman’s career.”

The NACE study also shows that field of study does not fully explain why men earn more than women.  According to VanDerziel, “What we found is that academic major accounts for some but not all of the disparity. Moreover, one has to consider whether women choose lower-paying majors or whether certain majors are lower-paying because women dominate. There is a compelling case that gender discrimination underlies the gap.”

The Chief Economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Nicole Smith, describes the phenomenon of women pursuing degrees that pay less (like teaching and nursing for example) as “occupational segregation.”  Smith said, “Yes, it is a personal decision, but it’s also driven by socioeconomic challenges, and it is also driven by expectations about what roles women should play in society.”

Still, Smith like VanDerziel notes that gender discrimination appears to be a factor.  Supporting that conclusion, her team found that among individuals in the same industries with the same jobs and exact same level of education, women earn only about 92% of what men make.  

So, VanDerziel and other labor market observers urge organizations to take concrete steps to alleviate the gender pay gap.  “First, standardize pay and eliminate the discretion to set salaries for new hires. And, second, conduct an annual pay-equity analysis to determine if there are salary differentials correlated to gender or race/ethnicity, and, if so, take immediate action where needed.”

The NACE research about the gender pay gap comes from their analysis of 2020 college graduates’ first entry-level jobs. NACE received data from 342 universities across the nation, encompassing 750,000+ students (at the associate, bachelor’s master’s, and doctoral levels). 

Promising Job Outlook for 2022 Graduates

PROMISING JOB OUTLOOK FOR 2022 GRADUATES

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

Students who will graduate this year should find a better job market than their counterparts who graduated in 2021.  That’s according to a research study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 

Results of the 2022 NACE job outlook survey indicate employers across the country plan to hire nearly 32% more new graduates this year than was the case last year.  NACE said that result is consistent with current job market trends in the U.S.  For example, recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows 11.3 million job openings in the country, up 53% from one year ago.

The NACE study shows about 56%% of employers have plans to increase hiring this year, compared to just 16.5% last year. A full 40%+ say they will maintain hiring levels.  Almost 49% of organizations responding to the survey rate the overall U.S. job market for 2022 graduates as “very good” and 14% rate it as “excellent.”  That compares to 2021 respondents; only 4% rated the job market “very good” last year and less than 1% said it was “excellent.” 

The NACE research also shows a continuation of the trend toward more online work. While 42% of respondents to the survey anticipate that their entry-level positions will be fully in-person, 40% will be hybrid splits of in-person and online, and 18% will be fully remote.

The associate director of UofL’s University Career Center, Kelly Atwood, said the regional job market also looks promising. “We have experienced a rise in the number of employers attending career fairs and outreach regarding increased opportunities for UofL students. We are in a job seeker's market which means more experiential learning and post-graduation positions for our students.”

Results of the NACE job outlook study were based on responses from 174 companies of all sizes from across the nation.  Data was collected for the study during the fall of 2021 and this spring as well. 

 

Expanded Virtual Recruiting Points Toward Expanded Diversity and the SEC & ACC Virtual Career Fair

EXPANDED VIRTUAL RECRUITING POINTS TOWARD EXPANDED DIVERSITY AND THE SEC & ACC VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to more online/virtual work, and now it is also leading to increased remote job recruiting and interviewing.  The executive director of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) thinks that can make hiring practices more equitable.  

Shawn VanDerziel bases his assessment on an annual survey of employers and students. VanDerziel said, “We know that employers have been looking to diversify their workforce. And in order to diversify the workforce, they need to start with their entry-level positions. That is the future of businesses and that is the pipeline.”

According to the NACE research, online recruiting provides a better job-search experience to multi-cultural students than traditional in-person hiring. VanDerziel points out that marginalized groups, including 71% of Black students and 61% of Hispanic students, say that they learn more about employers virtually than in person; only 49% of their white peers said the same. These minority students also report better virtual interactions with employers and that they receive a more “authentic view” of a workplace virtually than in-person.

UofL students will soon have the opportunity to experience remote recruiting in a major national event.  UofL will be joining 28 other ACC and SEC schools on April 6, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, for the biggest career fair of the semester. Currently, 150+ employers are registered to participate in this virtual event, offering students full-time and part-time opportunities as well as internships.  Some of the participating companies include BMW, Hershey Entertainment, Morgan Stanley, Universal Studios, and the U.S. State Department to name just a few. Follow this link to register free of charge, start researching employers, and sign up to meet individually with employers.

 

 

 

SEC & ACC Virtual Career Fair Fits Emerging Job Market Trends

SEC & ACC VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR FITS EMERGING JOB MARKET TRENDS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

UofL is getting ready to take part in a big, virtual career fair with 28 other universities across the country.  And most experts think this type of event and virtual/remote hiring will become even more common in the future.

The SEC & ACC Virtual Career Fair is on April 6, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. More than 150 employers from across the nation are registered to participate in this virtual event, offering students full-time and part-time opportunities as well as internships.  Some of the participating companies include BMW, Hershey Entertainment, Morgan Stanley, Universal Studios, and the U.S. State Department to name just a few.   

Virtual career fairs like the upcoming event parallel the increasing prevalence of online technologies in every aspect of the global economy.  The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that just as remote work is becoming more normalized, so too will virtual hiring.  SHRM cites a recent LinkedIn survey in which 70% of respondents indicated hiring increasingly will combine virtual and in-person activity in order to achieve cost and time savings.  

SHRM also cites the work of Brazen, a virtual hiring platform that helped organizations streamline the process during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Brazen president Ryan Healy said, “…Virtual recruiting has earned its place in the ongoing talent acquisition strategies of nearly every industry across the country, and employers will continue to use virtual recruiting alongside more traditional in-person recruiting and interviewing.”

Offering further support for online hiring practices, job market consultant Isiah Hankel writing in Forbes magazine said, “Companies from every industry across the globe are increasingly interested in skills and characteristics that are difficult, if not impossible, to assess from resumes. But these qualities can be readily examined through virtual interviews. Further, because virtual interviews are now the norm and are easy for companies to conduct, the virtual interview seems to have displaced the resume as the first step of candidate screening.”

The SEC & ACC Virtual Career Fair on April 6 is a great opportunity for UofL students to move through this virtual screening process. Students can register here free of charge, start researching employers, and sign up to meet individually with employers.

Employers Think Students Lack in Key Characteristics

EMPLOYERS THINK STUDENTS LACK IN KEY CHARACTERISTICS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Students need to be working on some key traits that, according to employers, are lacking. That’s a key takeaway from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and their 2022 job outlook study.

NACE surveyed employers of all sizes from across the country about “career readiness competencies,” the importance of these attributes, and what they believe to be the level of student proficiency for each competency.  The study indicates that students should pay special attention to improving their critical thinking, communication skills, and professionalism, the three attributes with the widest gaps between employer perceptions of importance and student proficiency.

The vast majority of employers responding to the survey rated critical thinking and communication as “very” to “extremely important” (See Figure 1 below).  But only a little more than half of the respondents rated recent graduates either “very proficient” or “extremely proficient” in these competencies. (See Figure 2 below). The professionalism competency also showed a substantial gap between employer perceptions of importance and proficiency.

An assistant director/career coach at the UofL University Career Center, Mallory Newby, suggests that students begin their efforts to improve in these areas first with a healthy dose of self-reflection.  “We use various tools such as assessments (Strong Interest Inventory, Focus II, MBTI) to help students discover not only interests but also their innate preferences such as work style, learning environment, leadership style, and team orientation.  This helps students to not only discover more about who they are but also gives them the knowledge to share that information with their supervisors and peers. In addition, it will naturally help students to confidently navigate internship experiences and opportunities for improvement of critical thinking, communication skills, and professionalism.”

The NACE job outlook survey is a forecast of the hiring intentions of employers as they relate to new college graduates. Data from 157 respondents were collected from August 18, 2021, through October 1, 2021.  Full results of employer perceptions regarding the gaps between importance and proficiency are contained in the tables below.

Liberal Arts Majors Getting Into Technology

 

LIBERAL ARTS MAJORS GETTING INTO TECHNOLOGY

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Think you have to be a computer or math major to get involved in the technology field?  Wrong!  Increasingly, students with degrees in areas ranging from Art to Communication, Pan African Studies to Sociology, are finding opportunities in technology.

While some observers of the job market argue that getting a tech-oriented degree is the best way to thrive in the technology-driven economy, an increasing chorus of voices are suggesting that not everyone has to become a coder or software engineer.  Author Dan Schawbel, writing on LinkedIn, each year forecasts a list of workplace trends.  He foresees increasing demand for liberal arts students from majors like literature, philosophy and history to work in the technology fields.  

Schawbel said, “AI will automate technical skills and drive the demand for soft skills like creativity, communication and empathy. While there's been such a focus on recruiting STEM over the past several years, those majors will continue to lose relevance, while liberal arts majors will become more valuable to companies moving forward.”

But this trend is not just a prognostication; it is already reality.  Indeed, many tech-company CEOs today earned these types of degrees, relying on the critical thinking and communication skills they learned in liberal arts.

UofL students will have the chance soon to learn more about this trend and the technology opportunities that exist in the job market for liberal arts majors.  Hear from professionals that work in technology and have degrees in such majors as Biology, Art Education, History, English, Communication, Pan African Studies, Sociology and Anthropology. Learn about their professional journey, how they utilize skills from their undergraduate degree and advice on how to start a career in technology and startups.

Update:  

Wednesday, March 30th (new date)
4- 5:30 pm
Log into Handshake for more information and to register. 

 

Employers Looking for Students to Solve Problems

EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR STUDENTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

More than any other attribute, employers first and foremost are looking for problem-solving skills from entry-level job applicants.  That’s according to a new National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey of employers from across the country. 

NACE asked organizations what they are looking for on the resumes of students they are recruiting. A total of 157 organizations of all sizes responded to the survey. Nearly 86% of those responding listed problem-solving skills.  Analytical/quantitative skills came in second (78.6%), and ability to work as part of a team was third (76.3%). These same three attributes (problem-solving, analytical, and teamwork) were in the top three last year as well.

The biggest increase in what employers are looking for on resumes (compared to 2021 results) was for the attribute of detail orientation (up 6.5% from 2021).  Employers are also putting more emphasis on a strong work ethic, up 5.6% to 70%.  

A career coach at the UofL University Career Center, Rosie Shannon, said students preparing for the job market should pay attention to these results as they fine tune their resumes.  “Students should always tailor their resume to show the employer how they are a good fit for the job opportunity.  Most importantly students should read the job description carefully and make a list of the attributes/skills needed for that particular position, and then be sure to list those attributes/skills on their resume.  These attributes can be listed in the student's ‘summary profile’ section or listed in short bullet statements in their work experience section, highlighting their accomplishments utilizing these skills.”

The full results of the NACE study on important resume attributes is included in the table below. 

 NACE Resume Attributes

Public Health Job Market Looking Up

Public Health Job Market Looking Up

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The prospects for obtaining a job in the public health sector look excellent for the next decade. And while the global pandemic has caused massive disruptions in the global economy, it may also be playing some role in the improved outlook for students interested in a career in public health. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a very good outlook for public health jobs. Overall employment of health education specialists and community health workers is projected to grow 17% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, with an average of 16,000+ openings each year during the period. 

A study by Columbia University showed growth occurred during the initial stages of the COVID-19 health crisis.  Researchers at the university found more job postings for public health graduates in the COVID-era, compared to pre-COVID jobs. Pharmaceutical companies and insurance firms in particular posted notable public health job increases.

Columbia University reported the greatest growth in public health hiring since COVID first hit has been in statistics and epidemiology jobs. Other increases were noted in program management, computer‐related positions, community health workers, and individuals managing clinical trials or research programs.  

The associate director of UofL’s University Career Center, Kelly Atwood, said the increases and forecast for increased opportunities is not surprising and may at least partially reflect the importance of public health workers during the pandemic. Atwood said, “The significance of public health professions have been highlighted especially in the past couple of years with the pandemic. Not only the need and variety of roles, but also the impact on our communities.”

 

Good and Bad News on Salaries for Class of 2022 Graduates

 

GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON SALARIES FOR CLASS OF 2022 GRADUATES

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Undergraduate students who will be graduating this year will find a mixed bag when it comes to entry-level salaries.  That’s the news from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), based on their winter salary survey.

NACE salary projections for 2022 graduates range from an increase of 5.4% for math and sciences, and agriculture and natural resources majors, to a decrease of 14.8% for humanities majors. The overall outlook is not nearly as good as was the case for 2021 graduates when salary increases were forecasted for all majors at the bachelor’s degree level.

As was the case in 2021, NACE said computer science majors, at an average of $75,900, will be the highest paid group of majors after a projected increase of 5.2%.   Engineering majors are forecasted to be the second highest paid group at $73,922, a 4% increase over 2021. Increases are also projected for math and science, social science, business, agriculture, and natural resource majors. In addition to a significant decline in salaries for humanities majors, students with a communication degree are also forecasted to be down almost 5% from 2021.

Despite the mixed projections for 2022, the director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, expects these numbers will be up across the board in the coming year.  “Organizations of all sizes are having trouble now filling job openings.  That means more competition for talent across all disciplines. So students who are well-prepared for the job market should find salaries that are edging upward in the coming year.”  

A total of 124 employers of varying sizes from around the country responded to the NACE salary survey.  The full results of the NACE salary survey are in the table below.  

 

Internship Leads to Career and Possible Business Ownership

INTERNSHIP LEADS TO CAREER AND POSSIBLE BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Tina Nguyen is moving rapidly on a career path to own an insurance agency.  But when she first started an internship with a local insurance office, that idea never crossed her mind. 

 

Nguyen was a Marketing major at UofL with a minor in Management.  She had no real idea what she wanted to do with her degree when she found an insurance sales internship through a marketing class in the College of Business. Nguyen quickly found her footing working for Adam Waldner’s local State Farm agency. “I really liked how I was allowed to shadow people who were actually doing the job so I could see what it would be like. I liked that even though I was the intern, I was a front-line person and had a hand involved with the business because they allowed me to do the prospecting side to sales. I learned a lot from it, from learning to talk to people, to connecting and building a trust relationship with customers.”

Working as an intern with Waldner and his wife Megan Imel (a UofL BA in Communication/BFA in Studio Art, class of 2011), Nguyen finally found what she had been looking for. “I came to the realization during the internship that this sales role was for me and I did see myself making a career out of it.”

And when Megan Imel decided to open her own State Farm agency, she offered a job to Nguyen. Imel said, “Tina’s work ethic was leaps and bounds beyond any other intern or recent grad that I had interacted with. She came in each day ready to work, and when she was done with the tasks that we asked of her, she asked for us to assign more. She also had a great attitude when it came to being coached.”

Imel said that Nguyen’s internship was a major factor in her hiring decision.  Now, both Imel and her husband make most of their hires for full-time staff from interns who learn about the details and regulations of the business during their experience and then can hit the ground running as they start full-time work.  So, while Imel is a proponent of internships for that reason, she also looks at the internship experience from another perspective.  “I think internships are a great way for people to find out if they do NOT want to stay in certain industries after college. It’s a good way to try out careers without becoming the dreaded ‘job hopper,’ that employers sometimes steer clear of.”

So, Tina Nguyen graduated from UofL in December, 2019 after completing the internship and immediately started her first job. Now only two years later, she is on the fast track in the insurance industry. “My career plan moving forward is to own my own State Farm office in the next 5 years or so.” 

While not all internship positions like Tina Nguyen’s lead to full-time jobs and the possibility of your own business, there are many other reasons why you should think now about doing an internship this spring or summer. More information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website.  You should also talk with your program’s internship coordinator about possible opportunities and academic credit. And if you really want to get a jump on things now, look at some current internship position listings/opportunities on the UofL Handshake career management platform. 

More Research Highlights Importance of Internships

MORE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF INTERNSHIPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

We’ve heard repeatedly that employers value student internship experiences.  The results of a new survey clearly indicate that student internship experience can in fact become a deciding factor in hiring decisions.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveyed employers across the country during fall, 2021.  A total of 157 organizations of varying sizes responded to the survey.  Based on the results, NACE reports internships are the most influential factors in a hiring decision when a company chooses between two otherwise equally-qualified candidates.

The study actually distinguished between an internship with the company looking to hire and an internship within that organization’s specific industry. Those factors were the only two that employers consider to have “very much influence.” The full results of the study are in this table:

NACE said the drop in the influence of grade point average has been precipitous the last several years and that decline continued in this study, as did the influence of a candidate holding a leadership position.  NACE notes, however, that the influence of both internship attributes, while at the top of deciding factors, has also waned slightly since 2020.  

Nonetheless, the director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said this study again offers concrete evidence that students who want an edge in the job market need to keep internship and co-ops at the top of their to-do list. “There are many benefits to these experiences including exploring particular career paths, applying knowledge gained in the classroom, building skill sets, and networking to name a few. This study reinforces again that employers think internship-oriented experiences are highly desirable and provides yet another reason why UofL is giving more emphasis to ‘engaged learning.’”

More information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website. Students who are interested in an internship or co-op should talk with their program coordinator to discuss academic credit and potential assistance in seeking a position. Some current internship position listings/opportunities are available on Handshake

 

 

 

 

Intern Advances Medical Interest While Learning About Society

 

INTERN ADVANCES MEDICAL INTERESTS WHILE LEARNING ABOUT SOCIETY

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A UofL pre-med student has been able to apply what he learned in the classroom through his internship with an area medical clinic.  But he has also discovered important lessons about our society through the experience.  Thomas Seebold will graduate in May with a major in Anthropology and minor in Spanish, and he has been interning with the Mercy Medical Clinic in Shelbyville.

 

Thomas Seebold

The Lexington senior (who thankfully claims to be a long-time Cardinal fan!) is serving as a foreign language interpreter at the clinic. Even though his formal internship has ended, he plans to continue to volunteer there until graduation.

Through the internship, Seebold realized how important the clinic is to those who don’t have insurance.  “The most impactful aspect of my internship was seeing how much one clinic can impact a community. Before going into my internship, I had a general grasp on the healthcare disparities faced by the Hispanic/Latinx community here in Kentucky, but my experience gave me firsthand experience regarding the ways in which these disparities can be mitigated. It gave me the opportunity to feel like I was making a difference, even if it was just one person at a time.”

Seebold said the internship provided hands-on clinical hours for his resumé, which will benefit him as he applies to medical schools. Beyond that, “The experience gave me assurance that I belong in the medical field, and the connections I made there gave me even more motivation to succeed and achieve my goals of becoming a doctor. Before this semester, I didn't realize how much an internship could affect my professional and personal development. This opportunity gave me a window into my possible future and helped me develop many skills that I know will be useful regardless of my career path.”

Seebold advises any student, regardless of major or career goals, to take the time to do an internship. There are many internship opportunities available to UofL students, so you can have the same kind of great experience that Thomas had.  Be sure to talk with your program’s internship coordinator about possible opportunities and academic credit. More information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake. 

 

TV News Career Opens to UofL Grad After Internship

TV NEWS CAREER OPENS TO UOFL GRAD AFTER INTERNSHIP

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

As you read this, recent UofL graduate Ian Lewis is in the first few weeks of his career as a photojournalist for WHAS-TV in Louisville.  But Lewis would not have received this job, were it not for the internship he did in fall, 2021 during his last semester at the University.

  

Ian Lewis on the job for MetroTV

The Paducah, Kentucky native decided on majoring in Communication during his sophomore year. His Communication degree required an internship and based on his coursework, Lewis decided to look for a position in TV news during his senior year.  But first, he worked with the University Career Center to get prepared.  "In meetings with Erin Heakin, my career coach, we reviewed my resume, cover letters, and emails. We also searched for potential positions. The search started in late winter, early 2021, and ended in the middle of summer. It was a difficult process; many places didn't respond to me. But Erin helped me to continue to move forward.”

Lewis ended up with an internship with MetroTV, the broadcast branch of Louisville Metro Government. The experience was the epitome of the term, “hands-on.” Lewis said, “My internship with Louisville MetroTV allowed me to create my own stories on camera for the first time. The novelty never wore off. I was able to choose my stories with total discretion and offered complete creative control over the final product. Always, my mentors there provided support, guidance, and feedback whenever I needed it. And as someone learning a camera for the first time, I needed it a lot. Especially the feedback.”

When it came time to graduate, Lewis continued to work with Erin Heakin and the University Career Center to look for a full-time job, focusing on updating his LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to be professional. He found an opportunity with WHAS-TV and said he would not have received the job, were it not for his MetroTV internship. “The opportunity to develop a portfolio under the guidance of time-tested storytellers was invaluable. It was the portfolio that landed me a job with a local news station, but the career insights I received from my mentors were just as much a factor in pushing me towards the news industry.”

And so it should not be surprising that Ian Lewis thinks all students should pursue an internship, no matter the obstacles. “It wasn't easy. There were times when I worked two jobs at once to afford this opportunity. Without a doubt, it was worth it, and I recommend the experience to anyone considering it.”

You can have a great internship experience just like Ian Lewis. More information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website. If you are interested in an internship during the spring or upcoming summer semester, be sure to talk now with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and you can also potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

UofL Intern Helps The Community

UofL Intern Helps The Community

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

A UofL graduate is continuing her internship experience with a local non-profit before entering a graduate school program.  Heba Aljumaily from Louisville graduated with a B.S. in Psychology last May, but has continued working with the UofL Resilient Families Project since graduation. 

Heba Aljumaily

Heba Aljumaily 

The Resilient Families Project (RFP) works to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness as well as women in drug and alcohol recovery programs.  Aljumaily interned with RFP through a Psychology course taught by program director Dr. Lora Haynes. 

Due to the pandemic, she was initially involved in remote program planning and development and then later was able to serve as a lead in RFP's Adult Program. Aljumaily also traveled throughout the city to help our community’s needy.  “I helped conduct a ‘Homeless Shelter Experience’ survey among homeless individuals in the streets of Louisville through RFP. I loved the opportunity to serve the most vulnerable in the city. It's been a joy to lead and interact with the women of the program, and most importantly provide support and friendship at this point in their recovery journey.”

Beyond providing an important service to the community, Aljumaily benefitted personally from her internship experience. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in RFP because it has given me a sense of clarity to what I'd like to do regarding my career path. It's reassured me that I enjoy the field of psychology and I do want to enter a profession where I can help people.” 

And so Aljumaily has applied to various graduate programs, including UofL's M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Through her experience, Heba Aljumaily has become a big proponent of internships.  “I absolutely think every student should do internships or volunteer within their major or career field! This is an experience that every student should take advantage of to gain exposure to the real-world and see where their interest lies.” 

If you are interested in the Resilient Families Project, contact Professor Lora Haynes (lora.haynes@louisville.edu). More general information about internships can be found on the University Career Center website. If you are interested in an internship during the upcoming spring or summer semesters, be sure to talk now with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and you can also potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

 

Recent Graduate Capitalizes On Internship


Recent Graduate Capitalizes On Internship

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A December UofL graduate used a final semester internship to advance her interests in helping others while at the same time building on her foreign language skills. Shanga Mwenda immigrated from Kenya six years ago and just graduated with an individualized major in Intercultural Advocacy as well as a minor in Spanish.

 Shanga Mwenda

Shanga Mwenda

Mwenda did a social services internship at the Backside Learning Center, a non-profit that assists track workers at Churchill Downs.  “The Backside Learning Center provides educational opportunities and resources the workers need to thrive. My work mostly consisted of translation and assisting the staff in the social services department with case management, the food distribution program, and outreach to the community. 

Mwenda was especially appreciative of the opportunity to build on knowledge she gained in the classroom at UofL and working closely with the Center staff. “They are passionate about their work and happy to answer questions. It allowed me to learn a lot about the different roles and paths to working in a non-profit, which I hope to do in the future. My Spanish also greatly improved. This is a great skill to have in any field and is advantageous as a job or graduate school applicant.”

Mwenda was so successful during her internship that, “I did receive a longer-term full-time job offer, and I am excited to have more conversations about that with my superiors.”  In the meantime, she has additional plans post-graduation.  “In the spring, I plan to intern at my church and assist the college ministry staff in planning the summer missions program. In the fall, I hope to start my Masters in Counseling and Personnel Services at UofL.” 

Mwenda advises all UofL students to do an internship or co-op before graduation. “It exposes you to the field you are interested in and helps you discern your strengths, weaknesses, and values in the workplace. An internship also gives you the opportunity to see the ins and outs of the career you are interested in, which can be motivational to keep pursuing it, or could serve as redirection to another career path or passion.”

Shanga Mwenda had a great internship experience and you can, too! More information about internships can be found on the UCC Internship website. If you are interested in an internship during the fall or spring semester, be sure to talk with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and you can also potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

Hot Jobs and Salaries in the 2020's


HOT JOBS AND SALARIES IN THE 2020’S

 By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting new information on salaries and anticipated job openings in the coming years. Their study once again shows the benefit of a college degree and increasing financial gains as education levels increase.  

BLS said the median annual wage for all occupations in 2020 was $41,950.  That progressively increased at each degree level:   

  • Associate’s Degree: $55,870 
  • Bachelor’s Degree: $78,020 
  • Master’s Degree: $76,800
  • Doctoral or professional Degree: $110,160

According to BLS, most of the projected openings during the remainder of the decade will stem from the need to replace workers who leave their positions permanently, such as for retirement. But some openings are expected to result from newly-created jobs.

Here are some specific job categories where BLS anticipates job growth for the remainder of the decade.  For each sector, BLS designated a specific position as having the most job openings from now through 2030:

  • Business, management, and sales: business operations manager positions
  • Computer and engineering: software developers and software quality assurance analysts
  • Education, social service, and legal: elementary school teachers
  • Healthcare: registered nurses
  • Media, arts, and sports: coaches and scouts

You can find out more about the Bureau of Labor Statistics job opening projections for various college degree levels in their article "Projected openings in occupations that require a college degree.”

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook is also an excellent resource for students to utilize as they research various job fields.

Holidays Mean Job Opportunities and Job Scams


HOLIDAYS MEAN JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SCAMS 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The holiday season and the end of the semester are fast approaching.  That means some of you may be looking for part-time holiday employment to help pay for school, while other students will be graduating and looking for their first entry-level job.  So the job market is typically very active at this time of year, but that means that fraudsters are very active at this time of year as well.   

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said technology has made it easy for criminals to create fraudulent job opportunities. “There has always been scams involving job offers.  But the Internet has made it possible on a much wider scale for this type of fraud to become prevalent and students must be savvy job seekers." 

Fraudsters typically use mass emailing as a tool since it costs virtually nothing, and they can profit by victimizing only a few individuals. The following kinds of emails and offers should raise a red flag for you. 

  • High pay with little work 
  • Requirements to cash checks and wire money to apply 
  • Poor grammar or punctuation 
  • Offers of a job without an interview 
  • “Website” is actually an email address 
  • The office listed does not exist by that name and/or no employer information is listed 
  • No telephone number or physical address are listed 
  • “USA” is included in address which is usually an indication authors are from outside the country and potentially trying to scam you 
  • Claim to have received your name and contact information from a campus office  
  • Sounds too good to be true 

Fraudsters will often impersonate real employers. They can copy information from real websites and/or social media. Students should obtain complete information upfront about the employer including contact, address, phone number, and email address, and then research that information to verify these through other sources on the Internet.  Fletcher said, “If the contact's email address does not match the organization’s web address, that should warrant closer attention. It may not mean they are fraudulent, but you will want to check into it further.  Also, try to find the contact person on LinkedIn or on the organization’s website. If they don’t exist, that should be a red flag."     

Here are some resources to help protect yourself from job scams: 

Students who think they have received a scam email to their student email address should report it to UofL Information Technology Services

And, if you ever feel an opportunity is questionable but you are not sure, contact the University Career Center at ulcareer@louisville and ask!  

 

Update: 11/24/21 - Check out this new video from CandidCareer on Job Fraud Warning Signs

 

New Internship/Student Employment Coordinator Brings Extensive Experience

NEW INTERNSHIP/STUDENT EMPLOYMENT COORDINATOR BRINGS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

Kelly Atwood is a great example for students of someone who ends up with a successful career in an area that she did not necessarily anticipate. Atwood has joined the University Career Center as Internship and Student Employment Coordinator.

Atwood comes to UofL with 10-plus years of career development experience. But that was not the path that she initially started down when she graduated with a marketing degree as an undergraduate. Atwood thought she would become a real estate agent. “It was a good application of my knowledge and skills – pricing, advertising, communication, negotiating – but ultimately it was a way to help others find a home and change through the various stages of their lives. Although I did not stay on the real estate path, my career choices have always been rooted in the same fundamentals as when I was an undergraduate marketing student: effectively utilize my talents for professional growth while helping others.”

Atwood completed an MBA in 2006 at Oklahoma State University.  After a couple of positions working in the non-profit sector, she eventually returned in 2010 to her undergraduate home at Mississippi State University in the career center where she served in a variety of capacities working with students, employers and faculty.

At UofL, Atwood will focus her attention on helping to develop part-time employment positions for students, coordinating internship programs, and promoting these opportunities to the university community. Given the increasing prominence of engaged learning at the University, her internship work will be particularly visible.  Atwood said, “Internships and other experiential learning are the best ways for students to familiarize themselves with career options before graduating and moving full-time into their chosen field. Internships enhance students’ education as well because they are applying their academic knowledge in a real-world setting. Additionally, internships allow students to gain experience before graduation which makes them more competitive for jobs and they have a better understanding of what they want in a role and an employer.”

If you have questions about internships and part-time student employment or connections to employers who can make these opportunities available, please reach out to the University Career Center and Kelly (kelly.atwood@louisville.edu). 

Career Development Month Brings Employers to Campus

CAREER DEVELOPMENT MONTH BRINGS EMPLOYERS TO CAMPUS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

November is National Career Development Month to call attention to how important it is for students to consciously engage in the process of choosing a direction to travel, improving skills, and advancing along that career path as they move toward graduation. In recognition of the month, the University Career Center (UCC) is bringing several employers to campus to talk with students about opportunities.  

The Director of the UCC, Bill Fletcher, said career development is an ongoing and lifelong process.  We emphasize its importance in November so students will take advantage of the resources they have while in college. 

As part of Career Development Month, the UCC is sponsoring the visits of three employers to campus to talk with students from all majors about internships, part-time employment, and entry-level jobs.  Each employer will be in the SAC from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on the following days: 

November 16 - Pharmacord

November 17 - Cardinal Health

November 18 - Kroger

Making Remote Interviewing and Jobs More Comfortable

MAKING REMOTE INTERVIEWING AND JOBS MORE COMFORTABLE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

One of the outgrowths of the COVID-19 pandemic has been more remote/virtual work than ever before.  Along with that, more organizations are recruiting and interviewing job candidates remotely.  National consulting company Gartner reports 86% of organizations are now using video conferencing tools and other virtual technology to interview candidates.  

For some of you, it may be the first time interviewing remotely.  But some employers are now trying to make that experience comfortable for you.  LinkedIn says there’s a number of things organizations can do to make you feel good about them and minimize your virtual apprehension.  Here’s what you might encounter.  

Some organizations are increasingly offering support and guidance even before you apply for a position.  The information you find as you prepare to apply can greatly influence your perception of the organization in a positive manner.  Pre-application resources like tips on getting started in that industry and writing strong applications, and employees discussing team-building efforts, help to position the organization as welcoming and can help to encourage applications.

Another tool that is being employed is virtual office tours. LinkedIn reports the number one way that candidates want to learn about company culture is through an on-site visit.  Given the ongoing complications of the pandemic, companies can bring the office to potential hires in the form of a pre-recorded tour or a live online walk-through of facilities.

It’s also important for organizations to be candid about the current daily work climate in the midst of the pandemic.  While you may be interested in knowing what life will be like once the health crisis eases, companies should willingly talk with you about their culture of collaboration and communication in the remote work environment.   

LinkedIn reports some organizations are providing a helpful listing of resources to their remote job interview invitations. This might include an overview of what to expect, names of people you will meet, tips for excelling during the interview, links to learn about the company culture and organizational structure, and other resources to help prepare.  

Once hired, you will likely be made to feel part of the team at your new company via a social media posting.  This tactic is especially important now when an organization may not be able to welcome you in person due to the company’s COVID-19 protocols. 

Finally, if you are going to be working remotely, most companies are now being diligent about training and transitioning you seamlessly into a productive employee.  Organizations should ensure you have everything that is needed to hit the ground running but they can also take added steps to set a good tone from day one.  Accordingly, your new organization may send you needed technology and possibly some company swag so you feel wanted and a part of the team.  

The global pandemic has clearly affected the recruitment and hiring process as well as daily work life.  Companies always want to make a positive impression in order to attract applications, and to retain good employees, particularly in the current tight labor market. As LinkedIn reports, it means you will likely find these and even other welcoming tactics to make for a satisfying interviewing process and work life.

 

Employment Growth in the 2020s

 

EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN THE 2020s

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

More jobs will be created in the American economy during the remainder of the decade but the growth will be rather minimal. That's according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Students can use the data from BLS to help plan coursework and target promising industries for future employment.  

BLS said employment is projected to grow from 153.5 million to 165.4 million jobs from 2020 to 2030, reflecting an annual increase of about .7%.  Employment in the leisure and hospitality sector is projected to increase the fastest, with 7 of the 20 fastest growing industries.  This anticipated growth will be fueled by recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic since employment by restaurants, hotels, arts, cultural, and recreational businesses has declined precipitously during the public health crisis. 

Healthcare and social assistance is projected to add the most jobs of all industry sectors during the remainder of the decade according to BLS, with about 3.3 million additional jobs. Within healthcare, employment in the individual and family services industry will increase the fastest due to rising demand for the care of an aging baby-boom population, longer life expectancies, and continued growth in the number of patients with chronic conditions.

BLS reports that technological advancements are expected to support strong employment growth in professional, business, and scientific services industries including computer systems design and related services as well as management, scientific, and technical consulting.

One other sector that is expected to provide fast job growth is computer and mathematical occupations with strong demand for IT security and software development, in part due to increased prevalence of telework. Demand for new products associated with the “Internet of Things” and for analyzing and interpreting large datasets are also expected to contribute to fast employment growth for statisticians, information security analysts, and data scientists 

On the other side of the ledger, the retail trade is projected to lose 586,800 jobs over the decade, the most of any sector. BLS suggests the growth of e-commerce and subsequent decline in brick-and-mortar retailing is the driving factor in that anticipated job loss.

Manufacturing will have a mixed bag when it comes to employment in the decade.  While some recovery-driven employment growth in the sector is forecasted, manufacturing also contains 11 of the 20 industries projected to have the most rapid employment declines due to continued global competition and increased adoption of robotics.

BLS also forecasts declining employment opportunities during the 2020s for office and administrative support, sales, and production occupations due to increased automation.

You can find out more about these and hundreds of other occupations in the Occupational Outlook Handbook that BLS updates on an annual basis.  Each occupation profile includes an overview of work activity, wages, education and training requirements, as well as the projections for future opportunities in the field.  Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh.

 

Cultivate Your Professionalism

CULTIVATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

As you prepare for graduation and the workforce, the CEO of a talent development agency thinks one of the most important things you can do is to enhance your level of professionalism.  

Chelsea Williams heads up College Code, a company that works with education institutions, employers, and students to cultivate workforce development. She said that employers “…want to see how well the candidate is able to exhibit a sense of professionalism and lead their area of expertise on behalf of the department if they were left in a room full of executive leadership.” 

Employers look for a sense of professionalism through examples of collaboration according to Williams. “Sharing examples that focus on the candidate’s ability to influence and lead the right discussions to carry a project through the finish line shows immediate value-add.” 

Professionalism goes beyond these characteristics.  “Employers want new workers to be responsible, ethical, and team oriented, and to possess strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Wrap these skills up all together and you’ve got an insider’s view into professionalism.”  

Students should build on these skills throughout their college career.  And as early as possible you should learn how to articulate these traits to potential employers.  Employers can easily identify evidence of a candidate’s professionalism on a resume and cover letter by the way they organize their thoughts and the experiences they have had throughout their collegiate career. Mock interviewing also provides an opportunity for students to practice how to best verbalize leadership, collaboration, proven results, and professionalism.   

Your UofL career centers can assist in building your professionalism, learning how to communicate that to employers, and other steps in your journey toward a rewarding professional life after college. To find the career center for your major/academic program, check out this link.

 

Salaries Up For Grads Unemployment Rate Down

SALARIES UP FOR GRADS AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN

 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Average starting salaries for recent college graduates continue rising.  That’s according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and their most recent survey of class of 2020 graduates from across the nation.

Students from that class earned an average starting salary of $55,260 despite the ongoing complications in the job market caused by the pandemic.  That starting salary is 2.5% above graduates from the class of 2019. 

The highest starting salaries were reported for graduates from more technical majors including petroleum engineering, computer programming, and computer engineering. 

NACE also reports that some of the fields that reported salary increases were apparently impacted by the on-going pandemic.  For example, the increased demand for nurses likely fueled the 2.1% increase in the average starting salary for registered nursing majors, despite the overall salary of health sciences majors dipping 0.1% from last year.

Here’s the listing from NACE of the top 10 majors with the highest average starting salaries.

NACE Salary Report

In more news on the job front, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates has stabilized.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the August unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree graduates aged 20-24 was 7.3%, down from 13% one year ago and about the same as it was pre-pandemic in 2019.  According to NACE, “This is an initial indicator that the outcomes for the Class of 2021 should be better than they were for the Class of 2020; it also signals a positive outlook for the Class of 2022.”

From Belle of Louisville to Full-Time Employee

 

FROM BELLE OF LOUISVILLE INTERN TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Charlotte Mason’s career path became a victim of COVID when the professional internship program she was about to enter at Disney World in spring, 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic.  But little did Mason know at the time that this curve in her career journey would ultimately lead to a job that fit her professional goals.

 Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason

The May, 2020 UofL graduate (Individualized Major in Social Media Management with a Minor in Communication) from Mt. Washington had participated in the Disney College Internship Program during the 2018-19 school year at Epcot Center. “It was an amazing experience and I also had the opportunity to take Disney seminars as part of my program.” 

Mason had such a great experience that she applied and was accepted into the advanced Disney Professional Internship Program.  One can only imagine Mason’s disappointment when she found out the program was shut down in spring, 2020, just before she returned to Orlando. 

As Mason contemplated how to proceed, she received assistance from the University Career Center. “The Career Center and (career coach) Rosie Shannon were a huge help in my journey. I visited the Career Center several times pre-pandemic and then did video calls with Rosie once things closed down. She reviewed my resume, helped me network, and assisted me in looking for jobs. It was great knowing that the Career Center was there to support me!”

After graduation, Mason took a part-time position with a marketing agency, and then accepted a full-time position but that proved to be an ill fit.  So Mason began another search for a position that would move her more squarely toward fulfilling her career aspirations. 

In April 2021, Mason was finally able to put to use what she had learned during her time with Disney and her coursework at UofL when she landed a post-graduate marketing and hospitality internship with the Belle of Louisville riverboat.  “As the intern, I assisted the Community Outreach Manager with creating marketing emails, writing social media posts, etc. I also had the opportunity to ride on the chaser boat during the Great Steamboat Race to take photographs, which was an amazing experience! I further helped the Guest Services team by booking tickets, taking phone calls, and welcoming guests aboard the riverboat.”

Rather quickly after starting the position with the Belle, Mason’s internship converted into a full-time job. “It was amazing to be offered the full-time position, especially since it perfectly fits with the type of job I had hoped for after graduation. Since being hired full-time, many of my responsibilities have stayed the same like creating social media and blog posts, but I now have the opportunity to take on additional communication projects as well.”

Charlotte Mason’s journey from a cancelled internship with Disney to her rapid advancement with the Belle of Louisville shows the importance of students getting their “foot in the door” with a company.  Moreover, it also illustrates how important internship experiences have become in this day and age.  

More information about internships can be found on the UCC Internship website. If you are interested in an internship during the fall or spring semester, be sure to talk with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and you can also potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

 

Graduate Uses Internship to Springboard to Sports Industry Work


GRADUATE USES INTERNSHIP TO SPRINGBOARD TO SPORTS INDUSTRY WORK

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Internships are a great way for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom. But you can also use an internship to make connections that can lead to bigger and better things.  That’s exactly what May graduate Kristen Dethloff has done with the help of the University Career Center (UCC) and her internship supervisor.

Kristen Dethloff

The Chicago native received her BA in Communication (with a minor in Criminal Justice) last spring while finishing up an internship with the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville soccer clubs. “My responsibilities ranged from redesigning and circulating promotional game day emails to fans to distributing newly branded products to season ticket members, and becoming the go-to team member when it comes to the Louisville City FC app.”

Dethloff was actually somewhat hesitant about doing an internship in the first place. However, UCC career coach Rosie Shannon helped to lessen her fears.  “After expressing my worries and career anxieties, Rosie opened my eyes to the fact that an internship could be my ticket to calming those anxieties by getting my foot in the door to potential industries and allowing that experience to help guide me in my career goals. She also taught me the valuable lesson of getting out of my comfort zone when it came to applying for various internships.”

In addition, the lessons she has learned in that internship have been incredibly valuable.  “I have learned more about myself and what I hope to find one day in a permanent workplace. I learned that having a boss and coworkers you look up to and admire can make the difference between dreading a job and looking forward to it. I have learned that I am an individual who thrives on genuine interpersonal relationships and enjoys working on a team that values the importance of human interaction. I have learned that I am capable, driven, accomplished, dependable, eager to learn, and have a positive highly contagious personality.”

Last spring, Dethloff launched into a full-time job search with the assistance of UCC career coach Mallory Newby. “Mallory built me up to grow more confident in myself and the value that I would bring to a workplace. She has helped me with interview prep, the job search itself, applying for jobs, resume cleanups and even little things such as drafting follow up emails."

Now, Dethloff finds herself working part-time as a tutor for the UofL athletic department (where she has worked since 2019) and continuing her involvement with the Louisville FC and Racing clubs.  Since June, she has also been working in a new part-time sports industry position with the Chicago Fire from Major League Soccer, with the possibility of a full-time position this fall.  “I can directly cite my Louisville FC internship as the reason I received this incredible position. I had applied for a full-time position with the Chicago Fire back in March and had asked my boss at LouCity for advice on applying, resumes, etc. I came to find out that the moment I came to my boss for advice, she had begun networking on my behalf and searched the LouCity office for anyone who had a contact within the Chicago Fire. She found someone who knew an employee in the communications department and requested an introduction. Once connected to the Chicago Fire employee, she wrote a glowing and incredibly impactful letter of recommendation on my behalf that was sent to the hiring manager. Within a week I had an interview and while I ended up not being a fit for that particular position, they saw my potential so they hired me to the position I am in now.”

Perhaps most important, Dethloff has become firm in her career plans. “Now that I have had experience and a foot in the door at two professional soccer organizations (and loved every moment of it), I hope to one day work full-time for a sports organization or a sports-related company within their community outreach/engagement department. The idea of being involved in an effort like that gives me goosebumps”

Just as Kristen Dethloff found, internships are an important experience for all students. More information about internships can be found on the UCC Internship website.  If you are interested in an internship during the fall or spring semester, be sure to talk with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and you can potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at some current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

 

Career Fair Myths

CAREER FAIR MYTHS

 By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The University Career Center has several career fairs coming up this semester.  Some students think that only seniors should attend career fairs but UCC career coach Erin Heakin said that is far from true.  

According to Heakin, regardless of your class standing and whether you are sure about your career path or not, these events are a great way for all students to learn about different industries and the opportunities that are available. She said, “Don’t be afraid to approach an employer and ask a few general questions about different roles. Just let them know you are still exploring career options and make sure to be respectful of their time.”

Here are some other misconceptions about career fairs that Heakin points out to students:

I must dress up to attend:  FALSE. It is best to dress professionally or semi-professionally.  But Heakin said you don’t need a suit to get through the door.  As long as you are polite, friendly, and communicate in a professional manner, employers understand you may be coming from class and you can still make a good impression on them. Keep in mind that some industries may have different expectations.  For example, media organizations may be more casual than finance companies.

Employers are looking for one specific major - not mine:  FALSE.  Many times, employers are looking for students with specific skills, not specific majors.  Heakin said, “Some companies might list a few majors that would be a good fit, but that isn’t always an all-encompassing list.  Learn how to talk about the knowledge-base and skillset you have developed through your coursework and experiences.” 

I need to have a stack of resumes: FALSE. Sure it works to your advantage to have a couple of updated resume copies with you.  If not, and an employer asks you for a copy, get their contact information and follow-up in a timely manner to send one.  And Heakin suggests that it is a good idea to update your resume before a career fair if you have not done that recently.  Review the University Career Center’s online resume resources.  

I can only talk with recruiters about positions that are listed: FALSE. Employers typically are happy to talk about their organization and other possible positions.  If you have an interest in an employer and they don’t have your dream position listed, you should still talk with them. Heakin said, “Talking with the representative will give you the chance to ask questions you can’t necessarily find out through online research, plus they might have insight on potential internships or when opportunities might open up. Making a good impression will keep you top of mind, so if a position does become available you can follow up with them and let them know that you applied.”

The University Career Center has a number of career fair events planned for this fall including:

August 26, 2021 - Student Employment Fair

September 14, 2021 - Nursing Fair (Online)

September 15, 2021 - Career and Internship Fair

October 6, 2021 - Graduate & Professional School Fair (Online)

No matter where you are in your college journey, these career fairs can be a valuable experience.  The University Career Center encourages you to take advantage of the opportunities.  If you need assistance getting ready for a career fair event, contact your Career Coach

 

 

Student Finding Multi-Benefits to Internship

 

STUDENT FINDING MULTI-BENEFITS TO INTERNSHIP

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Internships provide important practical experience for students and can sometimes lead directly to employment.  But a UofL senior is using his internship as a prelude to further professional schooling while simultaneously enhancing his foreign language skills.

Nick Conces is from New Lenox, Illinois and is majoring in Biology with a minor in Spanish.  He will graduate this fall and then plans to attend dental school at the University of Maryland. Conces has already gained experience in the field, interning with Gentle Excellence Dental in south Louisville.

Nick Conces

Nick Conces

Conces helps the dental hygienists and assistants at Gentle Excellence prepare exam rooms for patients. But perhaps his most important functions involve his minor. “I interact with patients and workers, creating a welcoming, warm environment. The majority of the workers are from Cuba and many of the patients speak Spanish as their first language so it’s a wonderful place to practice my Spanish fluency. I help calm the patients by communicating with them and to reassure that they are in good hands.”

Although Conces plans to enter the dental field, his favorite part of the internship has involved speaking Spanish. “I have been able to learn more Spanish that is applicable for what I’ll be doing in future years to come. Naturally, many Spanish classes do not incorporate vocabulary used throughout the dental field so learning various terms and such was very nice. I have practiced my fluency and have noticed dramatic differences on how my Spanish has improved.”

Internships are an important experience for all students. More information about internships can be found on the UCC Internship website.  If you are interested in an internship during the fall or spring semester, be sure to talk with your program’s internship coordinator in advance since you may be eligible for academic credit and can also potentially get assistance in seeking a position. Finally, if you want to look at current internship position listings/opportunities, log onto Handshake.

Get Ready Now for the Internship and Job Market

 

GET READY NOW FOR THE INTERNSHIP AND JOB MARKET

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

As the 2021-22 school year approaches, many students will be seeking out internships and employment opportunities. If students want to be successful in their search, they need to think and act ahead. 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) advises that students who want to be successful will prepare in advance and practice.  NACE’s recommendations are based on conversations with university recruiters from across the nation.

First, NACE suggests that students know, and believe, in their “Value-Add.”  In their discussions with recruiters, NACE found that it is imperative students know what they can bring to an organization.  The start of a new school year is an excellent time for students to think about their past experiences, what has been enjoyable and challenging, and their core skills.

Next, NACE advises students to “refine a brand.”  Students should update their resume, elevator pitch, LinkedIn and any other online profiles focusing on their skill sets and strengths they realize are their Value-Add.  It is important to ensure consistency of message across all communication channels. 

Interviews are an important platform in which students communicate their Value-Add.  Students need confidence in discussing their strengths.  That’s where practice can come into play.  Rehearsing answers to a question like, “tell me about yourself” can help a student get used to talking about their Value-Add without feeling too self-conscious.  It can also help students to better integrate strengths into interview answers. 

Practice interviewing can further help students prepare for behavior-based questions that employers frequently utilize.  Students should think about examples of experiences they’ve had in classes, internships, projects, and summer jobs that highlight a particular strength.

NACE said students should prepare for the potential of virtual interviewing, given the on-going complications of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Students need a location with minimal distractions and a fairly neutral, unobtrusive background.  Students should also run a test to ensure lighting and sound quality are good. 

NACE next suggests students connect with employers by regularly logging into company websites and online job posting boards. Given the rollercoaster of the pandemic, many organizations have encountered a changing hiring landscape and employers that did not list job or internship opportunities in the spring might now do so in the fall. Students should follow up with employers they meet at career fairs, and attend employer-sponsored events when possible.

Finally, the recruiters NACE talked with said that students should research companies in which they have an interest as well as various roles within those companies. In addition to company websites, other possible information sources are classmates, alumni, and LinkedIn to name just a few. Talking with others familiar with the organization can help a student to uncover important information like culture and values as well as skills needed to succeed at that company.  

There are never any guarantees in the job and internship markets.  But, students who prepare and practice will maximize their chances for success this fall.  

Education Means Higher Wages & Less Unemployment

 

EDUCATION MEANS HIGHER WAGES AND LESS UNEMPLOYMENT

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

New research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) again shows there are substantial economic benefits to a college education.  In fact, workers with a bachelor’s level degree make almost twice as much on average as workers with only a high school diploma.

The BLS study of the 2020 job market shows bachelor’s degree recipients with median weekly earnings of $1,305, versus only $781 for high school graduates.  In addition, bachelor degree grads experienced a 5.5% unemployment rate last year, compared to 9% for those whose highest level of education is a high school diploma. Almost uniformly across the board, the higher the level of education, the higher the wages and the lower the unemployment rate.  The following table includes median weekly wages and unemployment levels for each level of education.

 BLS Earnings and Unemployment

BLS notes that unemployment rates were higher in 2020 than in 2019 at all education levels due to the pandemic.  But despite the labor market problems that COVID-19 created, weekly earnings actually rose in 2020 at all levels.  BLS attributes the increases to a large number of jobs lost by lower wage workers in 2020. 

Students can learn about median pay and job market projections for hundreds of different occupations at the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.  The website also allows users to search by the level of education that is required for entry- level positions. 

Importance of Internships Highlighted Again

  

IMPORTANCE OF INTERNSHIPS HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Universities around the nation are increasingly touting internships as a key experience for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in “real world” settings.  And now there’s additional evidence that students need internships to stand out against the competition as they enter the job market.  

New research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) indicates that internship experience is the most influential factor employers consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates. NACE based the finding on a survey of organizations across the country; 207 companies completed the survey.  Respondents said a job candidate having internship experience in that specific industry has an edge on other applicants. The advantage is even greater if the student’s internship experience is with the specific company doing the hiring. 

Other important attributes employers consider include the student’s major, leadership experience, general work experience, and involvement in extracurricular activities.  While a GPA above 3.0 remains somewhat influential according to NACE, the average influence rating has dropped compared to last year. Further reflecting the trend of less emphasis on grades, NACE said that only 56.6% of responding employers are now using GPA to screen college graduates from the Class of 2021, a steep drop from the nearly 75% that used this method two years ago.

The director of the UofL University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said the NACE survey reinforces the need for even more emphasis on internships.  “UofL’s new strategic plan calls attention to the importance of all forms of experiential learning including internships and co-ops.  We have known for a long time that internships provide students with a competitive edge in the job market.  Now we also know how these experiences help to round out the academic knowledge base of graduating students. The NACE study once again provides more direct evidence of how students benefit from internships.”

The table below shows the complete results of the NACE study.  

NACE Attributes

Increasing Wave of Remote Work Positions

 

INCREASING WAVE OF REMOTE WORK POSITIONS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly created a huge increase in work-from-home, but most observers of the job market wondered whether that trend would sustain as the health crisis eased?  So far, the answer is a resounding, “yes!"

New analysis by LinkedIn shows a 450%+ increase in paid job postings that offer “remote work” when compared to the previous year. That finding is based on two million job listings of all types in the past year. The media/communications sector is at the top of the pack in offering remote positions, not surprisingly followed by software and IT services. Overall, nearly 10% of LinkedIn listings involve remote work, up 2% from the previous year.  The following table shows the industries that now have the highest concentration of remote, paid job listings on LinkedIn. 

Linkedin Remote Work 

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, expects the trend of more virtual work to be a lasting outgrowth of the pandemic.  “As more people become accustomed to working effectively and efficiently online, and as companies realize some cost savings since they won’t have to pay for or maintain as much physical office space, or in some instances no space at all, we will see more virtual work.  This also opens the potential of more qualified candidates for organizations when they list openings, since geography is no longer a restriction.   While virtual doesn’t fit for some industries and organizations, there’s no question an increase in remote work is here to stay.” 

LinkedIn reports, however, that the trend is not uniform across all industries.  Remote work accounts for less than 5% of all job posts in sectors like consumer goods, manufacturing, design, and transportation/logistics, and less than 2% in the travel/recreation field. 

 

 

 

Employers Seek Team Work

 

EMPLOYERS SEEK TEAM WORK

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

As students look for their first entry-level job or internship, they would be wise to emphasize the ability to work in teams.  A new study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows more organizations look for that trait on the resumes of applicants than any other characteristic.  

NACE surveyed more than 200 companies during the spring and 80%-plus listed teamwork as a desired criterion.  Closely following were problem-solving skills and analytical/quantitative skills.   

There were some notable differences in what employers are looking for between this set of results and the results from a similar survey last year. Verbal communication moved up from seventh last year (69.6%) to fourth this year (73.2%), and written communication was also highly desired (72.7%).  On the other hand, work ethic fell from third last year to tenth this year.  

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said students can use the listing for guidance as they revise and tailor resumes before applying for positions. “Students should emphasize internships and part-time jobs as well as specific academic knowledge and coursework that indicate teamwork, the ability to solve problems, and analytic skills. It is crucial students carefully edit their resumes to ensure clear, concise writing since that is always something employers examine carefully.”

Here is a full listing of NACE’s desired resume traits. 

NACE Resume Attributes

Job Market Recovery Notable in Some Sectors

 

JOB MARKET RECOVERY NOTABLE IN SOME SECTORS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The American economy added more than a half million jobs last month as the recovery from the pandemic rolls along.  And according to the U.S. Labor Department, the bounce in employment was concentrated in several sectors.

The Labor Department reports 559,000 jobs were added in May, almost double what was added in April.  Bars, restaurants and hotels re-hired large numbers of laid-off workers, accounting for a big part of the growth.

Employers hired nearly 300,000 workers in the leisure and hospitality sector in May to lead the way.  Restaurant and bar employment grew by 186,000, arts/entertainment/recreation employment jumped by 72,000, the amusement/gambling sector added 58,000 positions, while hotels added more than 34,000 positions. 

This growth suggests a return to normalcy with more vaccinations and an easing of pandemic restrictions, leading more Americans to travel, recreation, and dining out. 

Other hot job sectors were education services (41,000), professional and business services (35,000), transportation and warehousing (23,000), social assistance (23,000), health care services (22,500), administrative and support (18,000), and accounting/bookkeeping (14,000).  New government hires at the local, state and federal level accounted for an additional 67,000 hires.

Despite a boom in some construction sectors like residential, the industry actually lost 20,000 jobs in May.  And retail employment fell by nearly 6,000 workers. 

Louisville Job Market Rebounding from Pandemic

  

LOUISVILLE JOB MARKET REBOUNDING FROM PANDEMIC

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The metro Louisville area has regained many of the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.  That’s according to a new research study by Kentuckiana Works.  And that spells good news for recent UofL graduates who are looking for employment.

Kentuckiana Works is a local workforce development agency.  According to their research study, at the height of job loss during the pandemic, the region lost 105,000 positions.  But close to 70,000 jobs have now been regained in a rapid rebound.   The recovery is much quicker than what occurred after the last major job losses in the region during the recession of 2008-09.

As a further sign of recovery from the pandemic, the region’s unemployment rate quickly dropped after peaking at 17.4% in April of last year.  The rate is now back down to pre-pandemic levels of about 4.4%

Kentuckiana Works reports that six industries now account for about two-thirds of local private sector jobs.  Those industries are:

  • Health care and social assistance
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail trade
  • Transportation and warehousing
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Finance and insurance

Kentuckiana Works says the pandemic has altered the employment landscape to some extent with shifts in consumer spending increasingly moving to the online environment and a subsequent increase in automation.  That and the move to increasing online/virtual work means the need for a workforce that possesses advanced digital skills, something that plays directly in favor of UofL graduates.  

The director of the University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said the improved job outlook for UofL grads and students is noticeable.  "As we wrap up our jobs reporting for last academic year, our total postings were up 40.8% and our local internship postings were up 41.8%."  Fletcher also encourages students to look at different job functions within the top industries listed in the Kentuckiana Works research. 

Kentuckiana Works provides a variety of services including research, coordination of employer discussion groups, career center services and a program to help people overcome barriers and go to college.  Find out more about Kentuckiana Works at: https://www.kentuckianaworks.org

 

Good Work Setup at Home

 

GOOD WORK SETUP AT HOME

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

As we slowly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, more students are doing remote internships and co-ops, or hybrid positions that combine work in an office with virtual interaction.  And, more newly minted college graduates are taking remote positions as their first entry-level job. That means an increasing need to address the work-at-home environment.  

An uncomfortable workspace can adversely impact productivity.  And any of us who have tried to work from a couch or while propped up in bed know that doesn’t work very well.  So, it is imperative that you have a good work setup at home for remote internships or jobs.

Your virtual workplace, if possible, should be a dedicated space that is set up to be distraction-free. You will want to be away from other household members, a TV, or other things that might interrupt or keep your attention diverted from the work that is at hand. 

Hopefully you have some kind of ergonomic desk and chair that allow you to work efficiently.  Poor posture can create a variety of muscular injuries, pain, and other health problems including headaches and vision issues. Adjust your chair so that you have good back support, your feet are on the floor, the keyboard is directly in front of you, and the screen is at eye level facing straight at you. Your wrists and forearms should be straight and parallel with the floor, elbows rested by the side of your body and at a 90-degree angle at the elbow joint.  

Don’t sit in this position too long. It’s important to get up and move for a few minutes every half hour. Long sessions at the keyboard not only can produce increasing tension in the body, staring at the screen for too long produces tremendous eye strain. 

Part of creating a good home work setup also involves other issues besides the physical environment.  You should have a structured routine in which you get ready for the work day as if you were going into the office.  Establish start and end times, set daily goals, and schedule a specific lunch break. When the work day is completed, put things away. And while it may be tempting, avoid going back online later to check on things - it can be easy to get sucked into the black hole of working or being on-call round-the-clock.

You also want to make sure that you don’t become isolated in your virtual work.  Some of the biggest problems reported by remote employees are collaboration, communication, and loneliness.   So, it’s vital to make a concerted effort to keep in touch with work colleagues and clients. Have scheduled communication and meetings on a regular basis with co-workers and ensure that you have contacts in place when you want to brainstorm or need help to solve a problem.  Be sure you are comfortable with the communication platform that is favored by your organization, whether that’s Teams, Slack, Zoom or a variety of other online tools that are commonly implemented.  

Virtual employment can be challenging, but an increasing number of people around the country find it to be a great way to work once you get into the swing of it.  More information about working at home can be found on this website.   

 

 

 

Increased Hiring Forecast for 2021 Grads

 

INCREASED HIRING FORECAST FOR 2021 GRADS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A new research study projects an improved job picture for college graduates across the country.  The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveyed employers of all sizes and forecasts hiring will be up 7.2% for the Class of 2021 when compared to last year’s graduates. The projections are also up significantly from last fall’s forecast of a reduction in college hiring.  

Although not as strong as the job situation back in 2019 prior to the pandemic, NACE said the survey points toward a brighter outlook as a result of the re-opening of some shuttered businesses and increasing COVID-19 vaccinations. 

As the below table indicates, about 30% of companies responding to the survey plan to hire more new college graduates, almost double what was reported last fall.  And while nearly one-third of employers planned to decrease hiring last fall, that number has now dropped below 10%.

NACE JobOutlook

The director of UofL's University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, said the career management system they use indicates an even better hiring picture across the nation.  “In the four years we have used the Handshake platform, there has been a significant increase in job postings each year.   And with about a month left in the current reporting year, even in the midst of a pandemic, the number of positions available to UofL students is up 33% compared to the previous year.  That is encouraging.”  

More Hybrid Internship Programs this Summer

 

MORE HYBRID INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS THIS SUMMER

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Internships that combine virtual and in-person/on-site work will become more commonplace this summer as the nation slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.  That’s the finding of a new research study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

A poll of NACE members in April included 310 responses from organizations of all sizes across the nation.  As the table below indicates, hybrid programs were the most popular option with more than 40% of respondents planning these types of internships.  The poll also showed the second most popular option, virtual internships, will be considerably more prevalent than in-person/on-site positions.

Employer Internship Plans 

Most respondents, whether hybrid, virtual, or on-site, plan to make extensive use of online technology to keep interns connected to each other; 84% plan to use messaging software like Slack for communication between interns about work projects, and 83% will have virtual social events for interns. 

Employers will also feature online technology this summer to keep interns in contact with their supervisor and the organization.  While almost 85% plan to pair their interns with a mentor, 83% will utilize Slack, Teams or other messaging software.  And, it’s important to note that 70% plan daily supervisor contact for interns.  

The NACE poll also gauged employer preferences for fall recruiting efforts.  Based on the results, it appears there will be continued emphasis on virtual career fairs.  While 45% plan to take part in both virtual and in-person career fairs, a full 39% of employers are planning only for online fairs.  

 

New Grads in Job Market Need to be Aware of Scams


NEW GRADS IN JOB MARKET NEED TO BE AWARE OF SCAMS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

While it is exciting to be graduating, launching your career, and looking for your first entry-level job, it’s also a time for you to be on-guard. That’s because typically this is also a time of year when fraudsters circulate bogus job opportunities. 

Most employment scams utilize the Internet and often involve email to potential victims.  Here are some signs that you should exercise extreme caution:

  • High pay with little work
  • Requirements that you cash checks and wire money
  • Poor grammar or punctuation
  • Offers of a job without even interviewing you
  • “Website” is actually an email address
  • The office listed does not exist by that name and/or no employer information is listed
  • No telephone number or physical address is listed
  • “USA” is included in address which is usually an indication authors are from outside the country and potentially trying to scam you
  • And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true

You can avoid becoming a victim by pro-actively searching for positions utilizing established career management platforms and job listings, and employing other savvy job search practices like networking. The UofL career centers including Business, Engineering, Law and the University Career Center urge you to think critically and be vigilant as you search for your first job, so you don’t fall prey to scammers. 

Here are some resources to help you protect yourself: 

And, if you ever feel a position is questionable but you are not sure, please contact the University Career Center and ask!

 

 

 

Internships Down Optimism Remains


NATIONAL INTERNSHIP AND CO-OP OPPORTUNITIES DOWN...BUT LOCAL OPTIMISM REMAINS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

New national research indicates that internship and co-op opportunities will decline slightly across the country in 2021.   In its research report, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) indicates the decline is a reflection of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

According to NACE, intern hiring will be down about .5% in 2021 while co-op hiring will fall nearly 3%.  While noting the decreases, at the same time NACE points to the rather slight declines as an indication that most employers continue to value internships and co-ops, and that many have made accommodations to these programs to account for the public health crisis, primarily by shifting work online.  

The director of the UofL University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, thinks the outlook is promising, despite NACE’s projection of declines in 2021 for internships and co-ops.  “That is not bad news for being in a global pandemic.  Even more promising is that we are seeing increases in internships posted in the Handshake career management platform this year over last year.  Nationwide internships in the system are up 16.4% and internships within 60 miles of Louisville are up 18.8%.  Those total numbers are 8,289 and 382 respectively.  Plus, we still have over 2 months left in this reporting year to increase the totals.”   

Among employers that are changing their intern and co-op hiring, NACE said a full three-quarters cited the needs and resources of the organization while half pointed to the pandemic.  Meanwhile, 37% indicated the economy drove changes. 

The NACE research on internships and co-ops was based on a survey of member organizations during the winter with 227 respondents; another 39 non-member companies also completed the survey.  For a look at national trends in internship/co-op hiring over the course of the last several years, see the table below.

 

Internship Opportunities

Intern Benefits from Knowledge in Multiple Academic Disciplines


INTERN BENEFITS FROM KNOWLEDGE IN MULTIPLE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

In most internships, students typically focus on applying what they have learned in their academic major. But a UofL Public Health major used her recent internship to also apply foreign language skills she picked up from her Spanish minor.

Charmi Shah from Louisville will be graduating soon, having greatly benefited from her internship with the Family Community Clinic, a non-profit organization in Butchertown that opened in 2011 with a mission to improve the health of the medically uninsured in the area. Shah saw her responsibilities expand over the course of the semester including scribing notes for the doctor and calling in prescriptions to pharmacies, acting as a Spanish interpreter, helping with triage, scheduling new appointments, taking essential vitals for patients, and charting their data.

 

 Charmi Shah

Charmi Shah

 

Shah’s internship initially involved both in-person and online communication; she worked directly with staff in the clinic offices, but patient contact was virtual.  “By March things were running fully in-person as all the volunteers and staff were able to get vaccinated. Getting to see patients in-person is definitely a better experience for them, and for us. We get to take their vitals and truly assess them as a whole rather than make decisions off of blood lab results. While I'm grateful we could care for our community via telehealth during the pandemic, I loved when our clinic started operating fully in person again and we could see our patients face-to-face and provide them with a higher quality of care.”

Shah said the best thing about her internship was the people she worked with.  “Everyone that volunteers at the clinic is so welcoming and friendly, and always challenged me to do and learn more as I was comfortable with it. I gained valuable experience that will be useful in my future, learned more about the Hispanic and medically uninsured population in Louisville, built connections and networked with the doctors, nurses, and other volunteers, and made a real difference in my community.”

She also found it highly rewarding to apply what she learned in her minor.  “I'm excited to use my Spanish to be able to communicate independently with Hispanic patients and help them feel comfortable without the need for a translator.”

Charmi Shah continues to volunteer with the Family Community Clinic and will be attending the UofL School of Medicine this fall with plans to be a pediatrician.  She hopes to eventually spend time practicing medicine globally and serving those who need it the most in developing countries.

Find out how you can benefit from an internship or co-op experience:  

  • The recent virtual workshop, Interning 101, provides basic information about internships and how to move forward. 
  • The Internship Student Panel is a virtual session with a group of UofL students talking about their internships and providing advice about how to make the most out of the experiences.  

Long Term Impacts of Pandemic on Job Market Sectors

LONG TERM IMPACTS OF PANDEMIC ON JOB MAKRET SECTORS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the internship, co-op and job market for more than a year.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is now reporting the effects could continue to be felt in some job sectors for the coming decade.  

BLS has developed projections taking into account how pandemic-related circumstances are expected to affect long-term employment during the next 10 years. The forecasts assume the pandemic creates structural changes to the future job market in some industries. For example, BLS thinks there is ample reason to believe that a continued need for medical treatments and vaccines will spur demand for workers in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing.  As another implication of the pandemic, increased online/virtual work would negatively affect employment in office building construction.

The data in the chart below is based on a scenario where the pandemic has a moderate-impact on the job market. BLS cautions that the projections are not intended as precise estimates of employment change over the 2019–29 decade; instead, they identify industries in which employment is subject to the most pandemic-related uncertainty. The top two industries where changes could be most pronounced in a positive way are computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing, and pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing.  On the negative side, it’s expected that employment in non-residential building construction and food service and drinking places will be most adversely impacted.   

Industries Affected by Pandemic

Beyond this moderate-impact forecast, BLS also has projections based on a scenario that assumes COVID-19 has a “strong impact” on the job market.  You can look at those projections at this link: https://www.bls.gov/emp/publications/pandemic-scenarios.htm.

Experienced Career Coach Joins UCC Staff

 

EXPERIENCED CAREER COACH JOINS UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER TEAM

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The newest member of the University Career Center staff comes to UofL with extensive experience in helping individuals on their journey to a successful career.  Erin Heakin has more than six years of experience providing strength-based career counseling, coaching, and education advising.

Erin Heakin

Erin Heakin, M.Ed.

Heakin holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Community and Justice Studies and Women’s Studies from Guilford College in North Carolina, and she earned her M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services from UofL. During her work with Jewish Family and Career Services as well as most recently Schultz Consulting, she has had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of individuals -- from mid-career professionals and New Americans to youth working towards their GED and college students. 

Here at UofL, Heakin will be working with students from the departments of Anthropology, Communication, Criminal Justice, Geography, History, Pan-African Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Sustainability, Urban and Public Affairs, and Women’s and Gender Studies.  

Heakin is excited about her new position with the University Career Center. “I have a passion for assisting young people prepare for their careers and life after college. Students need to understand how their knowledge and skills can be used to help them both obtain employment as well as advance their career. So, I am really looking forward to speaking with students in classes and during appointments to help them take advantage of what they are learning.”

Heakin is happy to call Louisville home after residing here for 12-plus years. When not chasing after her toddler, Erin volunteers with YouthBuild Louisville and various social causes.  Her contact information can be found on the UCC About Us web page. 

 

Prepare for the Virtual Career Fair

 

PREPARE FOR THE VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The ACC/SEC Career Fair is coming up soon.  Like any career fair, you need to get ready for the event if you are going to maximize the potential of obtaining interviews for full-time or internship/co-op opportunities.

But, as has been the case during the COVID pandemic, this career fair will be a virtual event.   That means some additional preparation is necessary beyond what you would do to get ready for a face-to-face career fair.   Since you may not have participated in a virtual career fair, or even a face-to-face career fair, experts recommend that you be sure to follow these tips for what to do before, and during the ACC/SEC Fair:

  • Register for the virtual career fair ahead of time
  • Update your resume and social media profiles, especially LinkedIn, and be sure to upload an updated personal profile to the virtual career fair website
  • Research participating companies in advance, plan who to visit with and prepare questions
  • Schedule individual appointments with employers in which you have an interest
  • Practice your pitch
  • Check your technology in advance to be sure everything will be working when the virtual career fair starts
  • Pick a quiet, distraction-free location
  • Dress professionally as if you were going to be meeting in-person
  • When meeting with employers virtually, be sure to employ good non-verbal communication with attentive body language and eye contact
  • When talking to employers, take notes, get contact information to follow-up, ask about next steps and always be sure to send thank you notes the following day

For more information on how you can stand out from the competition in virtual career fairs, check out these articles:

And, don’t neglect that important follow-up.  Here’s an article on what you should do after the ACC/SEC Career Fair.

Remember, the campus-wide, all-majors ACC/SEC Career Fair is on April 6, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  More than 150 employers will be involved.  All UofL students and alumni can register on CareerEco and schedule chat times with recruiters.  

 

Please note that because this is a consortium career fair with 28 other universities, registration is through the CareerEco website, not Handshake.  

 

Student Converts Internship into Part-time Job

 

STUDENT CONVERTS INTERNSHIP TO PART-TIME JOB 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the internships that many students had to online/virtual work and in some cases, forced the cancellation of the experiences.  But one UofL student took advantage of the situation to convert her internship into a part-time work experience.

Emily Burden is a graduate student in Social Work from Grand Blanc, Michigan and she will graduate this May.  She had been working as an intern for Uniting Partners (UP) for Women and Children for several months when the public health crisis worsened last spring and halted her academic internship. UP is an agency that works with homeless women and children.  But, with the end of her on-site learning experience, UP hired Burden as a part-time case manager.  Today she is still an employee with UP, as well as now using the experience as a work-based practicum course in the Social Work graduate program.

Emily Burden

Emily Burden

Burden works on-site two days a week with UP clients. She is also doing advocacy and social justice-related work remotely. “For example, once a month I meet with community members to discuss Identification/Driver’s License reform in Kentucky for those experiencing homelessness. I like remote meetings like these because I can engage with our partnered agency members.”  But Burden also finds the remote work experiences challenging because, “I do better in a physical space with my co-workers, peers, and clients. I really like the hands-on learning and first-hand experience. I also struggle with time management so, working from home has its challenges.”

Burden is finding her work experience with UP personally rewarding.  “I like meeting women and their children who are experiencing homelessness and watching them work towards obtaining housing, all while providing services and motivation so that they may become empowered and self-sufficient to maintain their new home and take care of their families.”

At the same time, Burden is gaining important experience that furthers her ambition.  “My practicum fits into my career/professional plans as I want to learn more about marginalized populations, advocacy, grant writing, nonprofit management and policy reform. I have the opportunity to experience all of these things at UP and I’m so fortunate.”

Burden hopes other students will take the initiative to get practical work experience while they are students at UofL.  “My advice for those that are interested in doing an internship or practicum but are somewhat hesitant or nervous about it is to just jump in. Just go for it. You really have nothing to lose, you will only have vast opportunities to gain experience, knowledge, and maybe even a paid job in the end!”

If you want to hear about other student internships, the University Career Center has posted a virtual session with a group of students talking about their internships and providing advice about how to make the most out of the experiences.  You can find out more about internships on the UCC Internship website, plus review our recent virtual workshop Interning 101. If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program

Mega Career Week

 

MEGA CAREER WEEK

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Get ready for the upcoming ACC/SEC Career Fair!  Mega Career Week is March 30 through April 2 and the University Career Center (UCC) has a variety of virtual events to set you up for success.  

Career fairs like the ACC/SEC event, provide a great opportunity for you to explore the job and internship markets. But there are nuances to virtual fairs (as opposed to face-to-face career fairs) for which you need to be prepared. 

Mega Career Week events will help you get ready as you pursue opportunities. Here is the lineup:

For more information and to register for events, check out our Mega Career Week web page.

And don’t forget, the big ACC/SEC Career Fair is on April 6, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  More than 100 employers will be involved.  All UofL students and alumni can register on CareerEco and schedule chat times with recruiters.  

 

Workshops on Work Life for Diversity Groups

 

WORKSHOPS ON WORK LIFE FOR DIVERSITY GROUPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The University Career Center (UCC)is getting ready to present a series of workshops for several diversity groups on campus to discuss work-related matters.  The “Working While” series will feature representatives of various companies who will offer advice to students about navigating work life.

The goal of these Q&A sessions is to facilitate an open and candid conversation between students and company representatives on matters like salary negotiation, family-friendly company policies, harassment in the workplace, and other issues.  Each event will be focused for students from one specific diversity group on the UofL campus.  

UCC Associate Director Donna Lee developed the workshop series. “We have previously coordinated diversity career fairs.  But, the 'Working While' series enables the UCC to have an even more intentional focus on maximizing the success of students in various diversity groups. These panels of working professionals allow us to show the students that the world of work reflects them.”

The first two events in the “Working While” series are:

  • Working While LGBTQIA+: Tuesday, March 23, 4:00pm-5:00pm
  • Working While Female: Friday, March 26, 2:00-3:00 pm

  Working While LGBTQIA+        Working While Female

 

The UCC will soon announce dates and times for two additional “Working While” virtual events:

  • Working While Having a Disability
  • Working While Black or LatinX

 For more information on these sessions and to register, please visit our Working While web page.   Some of these workshops will be recorded and available on-demand for later viewing.  To view those recordings, additional past online sessions and workshops, and other career-related content, go to the University Career Center Virtual Workshops web page.      

 

Employers Hiring at SEC/ACC Career Fair

 

EMPLOYERS HIRING AT THE SEC/ACC CAREER FAIR 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

UofL will be joining twenty-eight other SEC and ACC schools on April 6, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, for the biggest career fair of the semester! Currently, 118 employers are registered to participate in the virtual event.  The director of the University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, is excited about the quality and diversity of employers. Fletcher said, "This event provides our students with access to many recruiters who may not normally recruit on campus."

 

SEC/ACC Fair 

 

National service employers AmeriCorp, CityYear, and Peace Corp will be recruiting.  Some of the top corporations registered include Cintas Corp., Cerner, Dollar General Corp., Enterprise, Lumen, and UPS.  Many federal agencies are recruiting including Dept. of Energy, Dept. of State, FBI, Fish and Wildlife Services, and Secret Service.  Noted research organizations include Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  There are opportunities in Business and Commerce, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Education, and Criminal Justice, plus more. 

Employers are still registering for the event.  Students and alumni should go to the CareerEco website and register free of charge, start researching employers, and sign up on schedules to meet with employers.   

Students can also utilize your UofL career center to prepare for the event.

 

 

Communication Students Get Experience Producing Internship Video

 

COMMUNICATION STUDENTS GET EXPERIENCE PRODUCING INTERNSHIP VIDEO

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

One of the best ways to advance your career ambitions and develop important professional skills is to do an internship or co-op.  But as a pair of UofL students recently discovered, that’s not the only way to get important experience.

Sarah McDowell and Annabeth White are members of the Young Communication Professionals (YCP) chapter in the Department of Communication.  In recent years, YCP has coordinated a very successful internship fair in the spring. But when the COVID pandemic interfered with this year’s plans, the chapter looked for an alternative to promote the idea of internships to students.  They decided on producing a video that featured students talking about their internship experiences.

 

 Sarah McDowell    Annabeth White

Sarah McDowell and Annabeth White


YCP faculty advisor, Professor Mary Ashlock, said it’s important that students can gain practical experience from not only internships, but also projects like this.  “Annabeth and Sarah created and produced a quality internship video that can be featured on their resumes and digital portfolios.  Employers are impressed with students who have something tangible to show them. Students stand out from others when they are able to feature a project and discuss their work.”

McDowell, who is from Muncie, Indiana, plans to graduate with the class of 2022 and after graduation, she hopes to work as an event planner/fundraiser for a nonprofit. She said working on this project was a valuable experience. “There is a difference between learning about something and learning how to do something. Real world experience allows students to not only apply what they learn in the classroom, but also see firsthand what it is like to work in their field from mentors and coworkers.”

White is from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and she, too, plans to graduate in spring of 2022.  White hopes to work in advertising or video production.  In addition to appreciating the practical experience of working on this project, she points out the benefit of working with a group like YCP. “More involvement with organizations leads to more connections and that is a really great way to find out about internships, job opportunities, and more.” 

Take a look at the video about student internships produced by Sarah McDowell and Annabeth White.  You can find the video posted on the University Career Center’s website.  

 

Salaries for Class of 2021 Moving Upward

 

SALARIES FOR CLASS OF 2021 MOVING UPWARD

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The average starting salary for all categories of majors in the class of 2021 should be higher than previous years. That’s the finding of a new research study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).  But, the study also reveals some of the increases will be rather small.  

NACE bases its salary forecast on a national survey of employers that was conducted from September 14 through November 30, 2020.  A total of 139 surveys were completed. The figures reported are for base salaries only and do not include bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits, or overtime rates.  NACE also acknowledges the limitations of its study; in some of the majors, projected increases look high but are based on limited data.

NACE forecasts the highest starting salaries for computer sciences at more than $72,000, an increase of 7% over what was projected for the class of 2020.  Research indicated the biggest increases of 11% for the humanities category with an average starting salary of $59,500.   Much smaller increases are forecast in engineering, math & science, and business. Full results of the NACE study are in this table.

NACE Salaries

 

The director of the UofL University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, expects entry-level salaries in this region to be lower than national averages due to the lower cost of living in the area.  Fletcher said, "Averages are just that, averages. Some offers are higher, some lower. What is more important is the cost of living.  An offer of $45,000 in Kentuckiana has a lot more buying power that the same offer in the Northeast or West Coast."

NACE said it is important to note that although each broad academic category in its study are projected with increases, that is not the case for all academic majors within each category.  For example, while the overall average salary for the math and sciences category is expected to increase 1.3%, chemistry majors, who fall into this category, are projected to see their average salary drop 3% while math majors are expected to move upward by 4.5%.

NACE also makes it a point to suggest the strong benefit of any college degree when it comes to employment.  It cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2020 that indicate a 10.2% unemployment rate for high school graduates, an 8.8% rate for those with some college but no degree, and a significantly lower 5.1% unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. 

 

Students to Press on with Internships

 

EMPLOYERS SUGGEST STUDENTS PRESS FORWARD WITH INTERNSHIPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Career development staffers have been suggesting that students should not use the excuse of the global pandemic to sit back and do nothing now to advance their professional interests. But it’s not just this group that is offering the advice to move forward. Here are several employers who all have extensive experience hiring interns from UofL in the past. All agree students can make significant advancements in their professional development now, despite coronavirus fears and the economic fallout. And one of the best ways to do that is through an internship.

Madison Hardy is a partner at the J Wagner Group, a full-service events and marketing agency here in Louisville. She says internships provide a great hands-on learning experience for students, while also providing an important benefit to their agency. “Interns are great assets in the creation process as technology and new ways of thinking from usually younger interns help us reach different levels of success.”

Aaron Rosenberg is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Oasis Solutions and a UofL Alum (Communication BA, 2005). He remembers his own internship experience as a UofL student and the pivotal role it played in his development. “It taught me so much more about the practical aspects of what I was learning and being taught. It allowed me to understand what I liked and what I didn’t like before getting too far down a career path that would be more difficult to alter. So I try to provide the same opportunity to the interns I work with. Providing them with more of a wide-ranging holistic experience.”

Sherry Stanley is the Executive Director of the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs, which provides services and support to staff at the track’s stables as well as their families. She points out that internships, in addition to professional development, provide an important cultural perspective. “From a societal standpoint, it is important for young people to gain exposure to people and situations that will help them have a broader view of the world and that will contribute to a more compassionate generation. I think all of us have had experiences when we were younger that were transformative and contributed in a small way to where we are today.”

Hardy said the best interns that J Wagner has hosted have jumped in with both feet and not been worried about how much time they have to work. “Our job is usually not 9 to 5 so having a good attitude and willingness to help is key. This is something we try to evaluate during our interview process as we believe you are only as strong as your team and that includes interns at JWG. We have weekly meetings with interns where we encourage questions, no matter how small or crazy, be asked. Good interns should never be scared to vocalize questions or concerns. Learning on your feet and retaining information is vital in a fast-paced event world.”

For Rosenberg, the key is for the intern to be eager. “The best interns are really just like the best employees. Humble and hungry! They aren’t too big to complete the small tasks nor are they too shy to tackle a large project or offer up a big idea. They want to learn and ask a lot of questions. Throw themselves into opportunities and try their best.”

Stanley looks for her interns to be jacks of all trades. “At least at our organization, it is important for students to be flexible, since at most smaller non-profits, everyone has to do a bit of everything, from IT support to direct services, teaching English, and taking out the trash!”

So what should students be doing now as we continue to inch forward out of pandemic lockdowns into an unknown and wildly fluctuating economy? Madison Hardy of the J Wagner Group said students should be calm and creative. “We, more than most, understand the impacts 2020 is having on the world and could only imagine the pressures of graduating during these times. We would recommend staying hopeful as the world, especially in events, will take time to work itself out. Don’t let your brain waste, continue reading and learning. We all have the responsibility to create a new world or way of doing things so let’s get out of the box and try new ideas, especially related to events and communication for ourselves and clients.”

Aaron Rosenberg from Oasis Solutions suggests students look particularly at remote opportunities. “My advice for students would be to target opportunities that had a well-defined work-from-anywhere-workforce and policies in place prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Somewhere that has been well-equipped to help interns get onboarded and be successful in a remote situation.”

And Sherry Stanley from the Backside Learning Center said students applying for internships should think about personalized contact with decision-makers. “Please reach out and don’t be afraid to be persistent. That is actually much appreciated since we are all juggling multiple responsibilities, and shows employers that you are really interested. If you don’t hear back from an email, pick up the phone! This is something that we feel almost shy about in these days of texts, emails, and social media but it is refreshing and a nice personal touch when you actually hear someone’s voice that cannot be communicated through a keyboard.”

You can find out more about internships on the UCC Internship website, plus review our recent virtual workshop Interning 101.  The University Career Center has posted a virtual session with a group of students talking about their internships and providing advice about how to make the most out of the experiences.  If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.  

Social Work Intern Building a Better Future for Kids


SOCIAL WORK INTERN BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR KIDS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Internships and co-ops can certainly help students advance their career ambitions. But in many instances, these work experiences also provide important benefits to our community.  Kayce Dallas is continuing an internship that does just that.

The Henderson, Kentucky graduate student is working toward an M.S. degree in Social Work and will graduate in May.  Dallas has been interning with Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA) for more than a year now. KYA advocates for policies in the state that benefit and protect children.  Dallas has worked on initiatives that address problems with child abuse, neglect, and other “adverse childhood experiences.” Her internship has included research, focus groups, website, and blog work, drafting grant applications, and helping to plan “Child Advocacy Week.”

 

Kayce Dallas

In the midst of a global pandemic, Dallas, like many other students, has been doing her internship work remotely and she said that brings some added challenges beyond her workload. “It is hard sometimes to find motivation and zoom fatigue is a real thing! I have also found that it is harder to separate myself from the work.”  On the other hand, Dallas said, “I love the work so much that I continue to do assignments even after my office hours are over. And, I like being able to work from home because I don’t have to drive 30 minutes to the office and I can develop my own schedule.”

Dallas said the internship has helped her to find a niche in the social work field that she wants to pursue after graduation.  "Originally all I wanted to do was microwork. I wanted to help children who had been through trauma. Although that is still a passion of mine, I have now fallen in love with macro social work. I love working with many different partner organizations on a common cause. I love to watch how policies come to the table, choosing bill sponsors, and then seeing the testimonies in session.”

Dallas is greatly appreciative of the opportunity that has been afforded to her.  “I love how supportive Kentucky Youth Advocates staff are, no matter what their role. I know I can reach out to any of them for help with school assignments, to talk about my resume, or discuss job opportunities. I also love how I can wear many different hats. I am getting a well-rounded experience at Kentucky Youth Advocates that I do not think I could get anywhere else.”

Dallas thinks other students can utilize internships to build relevant experience and to try out something new.  “I already had so much experience in the micro field that I wanted something different. Do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try interning at an organization you are passionate about, but is outside your usual realm. The worst that can happen is you get experience and learn that is not what you want to do.”

If you want to hear about other student internships, the University Career Center has posted a virtual session with a group of students talking about their internships and providing advice about how to make the most out of the experiences.  You can find out more about internships on the UCC Internship website, plus review our recent virtual workshop Interning 101. If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.  

 

 

UofL Micro-Internship Initiative

  

UofL Micro-Internship Initiative

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

UofL is launching a collaboration with a national organization to promote so-called “micro-internships” with short-term, paid work experiences. Over the course of the last five years, Parker Dewey has connected thousands of students to these project-based, mostly virtual opportunities, involving employers from across the country.

The internship coordinator for the UofL University Career Center, Maddie McNabb, says there are a number of reasons why students should consider micro-internships. “Micro-internships are a great professional development opportunity, as they can give students an idea of what an entry-level job in their desired field might look like without the commitment of a summer- or semester-long in-person internship. On top of that, every project posted on Parker Dewey’s website is paid, and students can create a connection with top-tier companies they may want to work for in the future.”

Through micro-internships, students can demonstrate skills and explore career paths. Unlike a traditional internship, these paid opportunities typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and most can be completed remotely.  Project deadlines normally range from one week to a month.

The average project pays $360 at an average rate of $15-20/hour. Each micro-internship is vetted by Parker Dewey to make sure that it is appropriate for college students/recent grads and compensated fairly.

While micro-internships are not as ideal as full-scale, onsite internships, they do provide a way for students to connect with employers and network with professionals. In addition, students can enhance their track record of work experience, enhancing applications for future internships and career opportunities.

Parker Dewey reports micro-internships can result in offers for internships and full-time jobs from the host company, and are even used as a recruitment tool on occasion for those opportunities.  Employers who have implemented micro-internships recognize that although the project may be short-term, the projects can be a great way to identify students’ potential and evaluate skills like problem solving ability that is difficult to assess during a traditional recruiting process. 

In a time of a global pandemic and an uncertain job market, McNabb said micro-internships provide a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain professional experience. “Parker Dewey has cited an increase in activity on their platform during the months of March and April, and I imagine this uptick will continue throughout the summer. I predict micro-internships will continue to remain prominent post-pandemic due to the low-risk career exploration opportunity they provide and because the short time commitment required will be beneficial to students who cannot otherwise commit to a full-time internship.”

Parker Dewey micro-internships can include projects across all departments.  The most prevalent opportunities include:

  • Sales
  • Human Resources
  • Strategy
  • Marketing
  • Research
  • Operations and Support
  • Finance and Accounting

Students who want to apply for Parker Dewey micro-internships create an account on the company’s website including information about their experiences, education, a resume, and other possible materials like work samples.  Once they have completed their profile, students have access to all opportunities currently available on the site and can then apply for projects.

Students who get an offer receive support for their micro-internship in a variety of forms.  They will receive the contact information for representatives from the company hosting the project as well as from Parker Dewey’s “Client Success” team.  Students also receive a number of onboarding emails as well as resources from Parker Dewey. And at the conclusion of the project, students get feedback on their work. 

To learn more and apply for micro-internships, visit the UofL - Parker Dewey website. UofL students who obtain Parker Dewey micro-internships are encouraged to in the University Career Center to tell us about your experience.

Get Academic Credit For Your Internship or Co-op


GET ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR YOUR INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Sure, internships are important for a variety of reasons.  But the Internship Coordinator for the University Career Center suggests that beyond career and professional development benefits, students should use these experiences to apply what they have learned in the classroom.

Maddie McNabb said internships offer the kind of real-world experience that employers are looking for.  “According to survey data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers report finding recent university graduates least proficient in several essential areas including critical thinking/problem solving, professionalism/work ethic, and oral/written communication. Internships provide a crucial opportunity for students to develop those essential skills and make themselves a more competitive candidate on the full-time job market.”

In addition, McNabb points out that students can use internship and co-op experiences to test-drive a potential career field. “As someone who shifted their career trajectory because of an internship, I can speak to the value internships provide in career exploration. Finding out you don’t want to do something after completing an internship is just as valid an experience as an internship solidifying your career goals. You will still leave that internship having gained valuable professional development.”

Another reason that internships are important is because they provide excellent opportunities to network.  And networking is imperative since 70% of students find their first entry-level job via a contact.  “Networking is a crucial point that students often don’t think about when searching for an internship. There is sometimes the possibility for an internship to lead to a full-time job, and even when it doesn’t, an internship supervisor is a great professional reference to have when applying for full-time jobs. They will be able to speak more to your professional skillset than a professor or other academic-related reference.”

Beyond these reasons, McNabb said there are academic credit possibilities for internships and co-ops since students are using the knowledge they gain in their UofL classes.  “Being able to earn academic credit needed to graduate while completing an internship (and possibly getting paid to do so) is a win-win in my book. While everything students learn in the classroom is important, there are some things that just can’t be taught and learned in the classroom setting, and that’s where internships come in.”  

There are numerous academic programs at the University of Louisville that offer credit for internships and co-ops. But each program has varying requirements and/or prerequisite courses before students can enroll.  McNabb said, “It’s absolutely imperative that before you accept any internship position, you contact your academic program/department to find out the process for approval and enrollment."  

If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op-, contact your program coordinator/director from this list.  

Psychology Student Intern Learning to Work Remotely

 

PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT INTERN LEARNING TO WORK REMOTELY

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A UofL Psychology major is using her current internship to not only advance her career interests, but also to learn how to adjust to the increasing remote work environment.  Marissa Robertson is a Louisville senior with plans to graduate this May.

 Intern Marissa Robertson

 Marissa Robertson

Robertson has been working during the spring semester as an intern at Seven Counties Services. Seven Counties provides mental health and addiction recovery services to adults and children around the region.  Robertson has been doing online research for best practices in therapy worksheets.  She has also been creating a “Virtual Therapy Room” that clients can use during the pandemic. 

Because of the pandemic, all of Robertson’s internship work has been online.  “It’s been a bit of a learning curve for me, as I’ve had to familiarize myself more with some of the online services being used, but I believe the online experience has been just as rewarding as it would have been in-person.  I like that I am able to do the work on my own time since it’s online, but I do sometimes miss the in-person interactions with people, and I think it would have been interesting to see what day-to-day work is like outside of the pandemic.”

After graduation, Robertson plans to go to graduate school and eventually get a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.  She hopes to eventually do the kind of work that is done at an organization like Seven Counties, and Robertson’s internship is moving her firmly toward that career goal. “I love the real-world experience I am able to get in the field.  It’s also been so interesting for me to see what it’s really like in the mental health field and to get to know some of the people who have been working in it for many years.”

Robertson thinks other students would similarly benefit from an internship or co-op experience.  “Do it!  I was extremely nervous going into my internship, but I am so glad that I did it.  I’ve learned so much already.  It’s such a rewarding experience and anyone who does it will not regret it.”

You can find out more about internships on the UCC Internship website, plus review our recent virtual workshop Interning 101.  If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.  

 

 

Maximizing Your Internship & Career Development

 

MAXIMIZING YOUR INTERNSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The CEO of a prominent college student services organization says interns can consciously do some things to stand out and maximize their experience. Dan Rosensweig heads up Chegg, which was founded in 2000 and now provides textbook rentals and online tutoring to college students.

Rosensweig has found previous success over the years at a number of technology companies.  These included president and CEO of Guitar Hero, chief operating officer of Yahoo, president of CNET, and CEO of ZDNet. He took the helm at Chegg in 2010.

Rosensweig says there are three keys for an intern to stand out during their experience. “Come in with curiosity.  Assume good intent until somebody proves you wrong, which means don’t go looking for someone to create a problem for you - assume they don’t mean to.  And then if they do, talk to them about it but assume goodness until they prove opposite.  And, just be positive!”  

According to the Chegg CEO, interns should get to know people at their host company by introducing themself.  He also urges interns to take risks and try things they think they might not succeed in, in order to learn.  He adds students should not expect that employers think their interns know what to do all the time. “You are an intern for goodness sakes.  I am a CEO. I call my friends who are CEOs of even bigger companies because I don’t always know what to do all the time.  The goal is to get it right, not to know the answers all the time.” 

Rosesweig thinks most students mistakenly think of networking as a short-term, transactional concept where people reach out to others they think can help them get something they want.  Although he admits that can have tangible benefits, instead he suggests a longer-term, wider-ranging perspective about networking.  “Networking is not a means to an end. It is the end itself.  That’s a person I would like to have in my life and I would like to be in their life.  And that changes the relationship dramatically.  So you check in with people - there’s no agenda.  And 10 years later, all the sudden it’s amazing how what you are doing and they are doing comes together and amazing opportunities happen.” 

So how should students approach a job market now that is, at best, uneven? “If you can’t get the exact job you want, try to get the company you want and try to get a manager that is going to invest in you.  Those two things will matter more than the job itself.”  Rosensweig says finding a great manager who invests in you and your development is a “game changer, moreso than your first job…find a boss and a company that is growing and in your direction and the rest will work itself out over time.” 

Rosensweig urges students to be flexible as they move into the job market. “Life is about attitude. It is about being open to possibilities.  It is about be willing to seize those opportunities whether you think you are ready or not. Life is not a straight line. It is serendipity.  If you find yourself in a situation where an opportunity opens up, then you have to be open to considering it.”

He said students need to be willing to fail, but then must be resilient to get back up and try again.  “Enjoy the path because it is not always easy.”

Dan Rosensweig was the featured speaker for a recent virtual lunch and learn session, sponsored by WayUp, a job website and mobile app for college students and recent graduates. Find out more about WayUp.  

 

 

 

Making the Best of Remote Internships

 

MAKING THE BEST OF REMOTE/VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS AND CO-OPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A large number of UofL students found their recent internships and co-ops changed to online work.  As we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak,  many of these experiences continue to be either fully or partially virtual/remote.  That means adjustments need to be made so that students have a good, meaningful experience.  But the Graduate Internship Manager for the UofL College of Business, Jennifer Applebee, believes students and employers can both adapt to make the best of the situation. 

Applebee says for students to get the most out of the remote experience, they should be willing to ask as many questions as needed and also be able to self-manage. “It is important for students to be disciplined in working their scheduled hours and completing the work while not getting distracted by other things that pop up.”

To that end, remote internship students should find what type of work environment works best for them. “Having a designated, focused workspace where they go to ‘work’ also ensures they will be successful in their internship.” 

Applebee says regular communication with the employer is vital in a remote internship.  Employers should have a designated supervisor who is comfortable managing remote interns and who is able to ensure that instructions/projects are understood. “Even though interns are working remotely, they should still find ways to connect with their team members and supervisor. The companies we work with have individual one-on-one daily calls between the supervisor and the student but they also have weekly calls between the whole team. These calls are usually done on virtual platforms where everyone can see each other.” 

Because different technology can be tricky, students should orient themselves with the software and virtual platforms that the company uses. Applebee says, “The supervisor/company should hold orientations where they go over the necessary technology and allow students to practice using the technology before starting work. Students who are working remotely should also ensure their equipment is compatible and they have all they need, such as internet capability, to be able to access all required materials.”

Part of the reason why practice is necessary is the wide variety of tools and platforms that can be used for remote work.  Robert Shindell, the president of InternBridge which consults with employers, says a number of technology platforms are used for virtual internships.  These include:

  • Meeting platforms like Zoom, GoToMeeting, Facetime, Skype, Cisco WebEx, Zoho, Slack, Instant Messenger, and MicroSoft Teams
  • Work sharing sites like Google Docs, Dropbox, SharePoint, Box, GoFile
  • Project management tools including Asana, MSoft Project, and Monday.com/Task

Finally, Applebee wants remote internship and co-op students to realize that even though they are working in a virtual environment, they are not alone.  “Remote interns are still part of a team that wants them to get the most out of their internship and experience and to be successful.”

The article, 6 Ways to Make the Most of a Remote Internship, has more advice on having a good remote internship experience.

UofL Students Excelling in Internships

  

UOFL STUDENTS EXCELLING IN INTERNSHIPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

In the midst of Internship Month, it’s important to recognize UofL students who have already had stellar internship experiences that clearly impacted their career and professional development.

But equally important, this group of students has also made significant contributions to the betterment of Louisville and the state of Kentucky.  Here’s just a few of these students we can all be proud of, along with links to the story behind their internships.

  • Josh Osborne - Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs 

 

Employers Advise Students to get Real-World Experience Through Internships

  

EMPLOYERS ADVISE STUDENTS TO GET REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE THROUGH INTERNSHIPS

By Stuart Esrock

The University of Louisville is placing a greater emphasis on internships and co-ops that require students to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.  But beyond making connections between academic knowledge and the work-world, a group of Louisville businesspeople with ties to UofL believe internships and co-ops provide crucial hands-on experiences that are an important gateway to full-time employment.   

UofL graduate Megan Imel owns a State Farm Insurance agency.  She did several internships before she graduated and has now hired interns into her own business. Imel said, “Internships give you an opportunity to build your resume, but also learn what a certain industry or role is like before you commit full-time. Our internships are sales-based, so our students are earning extra money while getting real life sales experience that has proven to be valuable when they go through the interview process for their first ‘real’ job.”

Joey Wagner heads up the highly successful J. Wagner Group, a full-service marketing agency, as well as teaching a popular Communication class at UofL that focuses on development of special events. He, too, has hired multiple UofL students for internships. “Internships are important for you to grow, learn, and become successful. I am a big believer in doing as many internships you can to get real life experience and learn from experts in the field you want to go in.”

Travis Kerns quickly transitioned from his UofL undergraduate degree into a successful career as the Director of Foundation and Workforce Development for Trilogy Health Services. “During my next to last semester in college I interned with a company looking for the ability to apply my education professionally. Nine years later, I still work for this company, and I have been able to grow personally and professionally with them. I currently lead two teams, and each member of these teams started with my company as an intern.” 

So what do these professionals look for in a potential intern?  Imel said, “When someone expresses to me that they desire to try new things and take on as many tasks as they can, that is appealing. When someone comes to me stating that they are actually interested in the work, not just getting credit hours, that is also appealing.”  

Likewise, work ethic is also a key for both Wagner and Kerns.  Wagner said, “We want interns who are dependable, hard-working, and are willing to learn.” According to Kerns, “I look for desire and willingness. You may not know yet how to do everything that will be asked of you, but a willingness and desire to learn is important to success. I also look for people with strong interpersonal communication skills who are willing to be open with their thoughts and engage in problem-solving.”

Once a student obtains an internship, it’s really up to them to get the most out of the experience.  Imel advises students to treat their internship like a career move.  “Our most successful interns show up every day and give 100% and they view themselves as part of the team, not ‘just an intern.’ Ask for tasks, be proud of your work and treat it as though success there is an important part of making your way to your dream career.”

Wagner said, “Work as much as you can. Ask questions. Take great notes. Ask your supervisor if you can go to meetings with them. Meet as many people as you can while interning to grow your network.”

Kerns said treat your internship seriously and as an investment in yourself. “Learning how to operate at a high level in a professional environment is a learned skill. This includes how to best communicate with your peers and supervisors. Do not be afraid to share your interests and passions, as new opportunities can often be identified through a simple conversation. Seek out leaders in the organization and politely ask if they would be willing to share some of their experiences with you. Many will be excited to share advice.”

You can find out more about internships on the University Career Center's website.  If you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.  

 

February Is Internship Month

February Is Internship Month 

 By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

The University Career Center is getting ready to focus in February on the importance of internships for students as they progress toward their chosen career.  “Internship Month” will include a variety of virtual events and highlight different forms of content to encourage UofL students to involve themselves with internship experiences.  

UCC Internship Coordinator Maddie McNabb said, "data from Handshake indicates that the UCC receives by far the most postings from employers during January and February, which tells us that most employers are hiring for their summer internships during those months. Students should conduct their summer internship search on the same timeline. Internship Month programming will prepare students to take advantage of the great opportunities available and land their dream summer internship".

Internship Month events include: 

  • Interning 101 - Thursday, February 11, 12 noon to 1 pm: Learn more about the best methods for landing an internship, why internships are important, how to succeed in your internship, and more. Register here through Handshake.
  • Student Internship Panel - Thursday, February 18, 12 noon to 1 pm: Hear from current UofL students about their internship experience, from searching and applying to landing and completing their internship. Register here through Handshake. 
  • Faculty/Staff Internship Panel - Thursday, February 25, 12 noon to 1 pm: Get information about internships for academic credit and the importance of internship participation right from the source - faculty and staff. Register here through Handshake.

If you can’t make a session, all workshops/panels will be recorded and posted for on-demand viewing.  You can find out more about internships here. You can find out more about internships now. 

 

And, if you are interested in obtaining academic credit for your internship or co-op, be sure to reach out to the coordinator/director in your UofL academic program.

Top 100 Companies for Remote Work

 

TOP 100 COMPANIES FOR REMOTE WORK

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has required more of us to become increasingly reliant on communication technologies.  Most students are now taking at least some remote courses.  And many folks across the country now find themselves working remotely.  While certainly we all hope for a return to the classroom for face-to-face instruction, the move to remote work may have longer lasting implications. 

With that in mind, FlexJobs.com has released its list of the top 100 companies to watch for remote jobs in 2021.  FlexJobs is a job-search website and its rankings were based on an analysis of remote-job postings for 57,000 companies.  Companies with the most remote-job opportunities made the list. 

This is the 8th time that FlexJobs has posted the list but despite the increasing prevalence of remote work, the website notes not much changed since 2020.  FlexJobs career development manager Brie Reynolds said, “It’s interesting because the list, over the years, has reflected the leaders in remote work, the companies who do it really well and do it often. If anything, the pandemic has strengthened those companies’ commitment to remote work. It’s really shown them to be the leaders in this area.”

The top fields for remote job opportunities, similar to last year, were computer/information technology, medical/health and project management. Fastest growing remote job opportunities were noted in marketing, administrative and human resources/recruiting. 

It’s expected that more companies will move toward telecommuting and/or make a permanent move to online technology that was prompted by the pandemic.  Remote work offers many benefits to companies including saving on office space and supplies as well as the ability to hire from a more diverse pool of candidates.  Employees enjoy a better work-life balance, reduced stress and other health benefits. 

Here are the Top 10 from the FlexJobs listing.  See full listing of employers. 

  1. Lionbridge
  2. TTEC
  3. Liveops
  4. Working Solutions
  5. Kelly/KellyConnect
  6. Williams-Sonoma
  7. TranscribeMe
  8. Sutherland
  9. Robert Half International
  10. Transcom 

 

Internships Carve Path for Grad Student's First Job In Golf

INTERNSHIPS CARVE PATH FOR GRAD STUDENT’S FIRST JOB IN GOLF

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Sports Administration graduate student Richard Praszkier did not leave anything to chance when it came to his dreams for a career in the golf business.  And after five golf-related internships, Praszkier realized his ambition, recently landing an entry-level position as the Coordinator of Junior Golf for Golf House Kentucky.  

Richard Praszkier

Richard Praszkier

The master’s degree student from St. Louis finished his undergraduate degree in Sports Administration at UofL in May. During his undergraduate program, Praszkier was determined to get as much industry-related experience as possible. “Internships are essential to personal and professional development. A good internship will give you opportunities to learn but also make mistakes.  The other part about internships is that it gives someone an opportunity to work on hard and soft skills. I have learned a wide variety of technical skills through my internships, but the soft skills and communication skills are equally, if not more important.” 

Praszkier worked with University Career Center assistant director Mallory Newby before looking for his internships, gaining assistance with his resume and cover letter as well as practice/mock interviewing. His preparation and practice paid off: Praszkier ended up doing undergraduate internships with the Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, Polo Fields Golf and Country Club, Oxmoor Country Club, and Quail Chase Golf Club before then doing a post-graduate fellowship with the Indiana PGA.

Praszkier’s experience with multiple facets of the golf industry made him an obvious choice for the position with Golf House Kentucky.  As Coordinator of Junior Golf, he will oversee Kentucky’s Drive, Chip & Putt Qualifiers and PGA Jr. League, assist with tournaments on the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, and will play a key role in facilitating high school tournaments around the state.  

Praszkier is ecstatic that he has launched his career doing exactly what he had hoped to be doing. And based on the lessons he learned in preparing for his first job, he thinks other UofL undergraduate students can similarly benefit from internships and the relationships that are built within these experiences. “Always continue building your value while also cultivating relationships. You never know when you will need a reference or guidance from a mentor, former employer, or co-worker.” 

Praszkier also says students approaching the job market need to have an open mind. “Be sure to look in as many different markets as possible and ask questions during the interview process. Be sure to understand the job responsibilities but also the work culture. Once you have found the right position and the right fit, you have found something that is very special and rare. Just remember, you have found the right job/career when your position is something you are good at, you have passion for it, and it gives you self/personal value.”

 

Job Seeking and Diversity Equity Inclusion

 

BIG PICTURE JOB SEEKING AND DIVERSITY-EQUITY-INCLUSION

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The CEO of a company that partners with organizations to develop and retain the youngest members of the workforce thinks students should change their mindset from just getting a job to actually seeking an opportunity that aligns with their big picture.  And for the increasing number of students who are becoming keenly interested in racial justice issues, Chelsea Williams says they need to seek companies whose values and goals match theirs.

Williams founded College Code to provide workforce development and career coaching.  She recommends that concerned students ask specific questions during job interviews about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as actions that organization have taken supporting that commitment.

Williams has a list of questions students can use to differentiate between organizations that may only talk about DEI, versus organizations that are making active progress on these important issues.

  • How does your organization define diversity? What lenses of diversity has your organization made a direct commitment toward? 
  • Does your organization have a chief diversity officer (CDO) or a designated leader to drive DEI and engage internal and external stakeholders?
  • What social causes does your organization support?
  • Does your organization actively support diverse suppliers, contractors, and small businesses?
  • Has your organization made any formal commitments in support of racial equity?
  • How does your organization center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging?
  • Does your organization offer any formal employee training around biases, anti-racism, or general DEI?
  • How has your organization prioritized executive accountability toward DEI advancement?
  • Does your organization have any affinity groups or committees to support diverse populations? If so, how do these groups contribute to the culture of the organization?
  • Does your organization complete annual compensation equity analysis?
  • What resources has your organization provided to its employees in support of COVID-19 and racial injustice?

While DEI is not an important value for all students, for those invested in the concept, the answers to these questions can help guide whether to continue pursuing an opportunity with an organization. Williams says some clues that an organization is invested in DEI include: commitment to a safe and healthy work environment; representation across all levels and titles; all leaders, managers and employees are held accountable for actions; equity is the driving factor in all aspects of recruitment, training, promotion, pay, and benefits.  

To find out more about College Code and some of the resources it offers to students, go to this URL: https://www.mycollegecode.com/earlycareerpro

 

Flat Job Market and Virtual Hiring Forecasted

FLAT JOB MARKET AND VIRTUAL HIRING FORECASTED

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A new national study indicates that while employers will continue to hire Class of 2021 graduates, there will be little near-term growth in the job market.  The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has released results of its annual "Job Outlook" survey and reports that overall in 2021, organizations will maintain hiring nearly equal to 2020 levels (-.1% is forecasted).  

NACE terms the outlook as better than expected given the continuing impact of the COVID-19 crisis and an uneven economic recovery.  While close to 53% of respondents to NACE’s survey plan to maintain their hiring levels, only 16.5% will increase and 31% plan to decrease. Those planning drops cite reductions in their business, budget cuts, and the uneven economy that have all been impacted by the pandemic. 

Most of the projected increases in hiring will come from larger companies. NACE reports that only companies with more than 10,000 employees will increase new graduate hiring with the largest forecasted increase of 6.3% for employers with 20,000+ employees.  The largest decrease of 28% is reported for companies with 5,000 to 10,000 employees.

Although a limited number of companies in various industries responded to the survey, the biggest increases in 2021 hiring are projected for chemical manufacturing, miscellaneous support services, and the information industries.  The following chart includes expected changes in hiring between 2020 and 2021 for the 16 industries that had the largest number of respondents to the NACE survey. 

 

Virtual/online technology will be the norm for the hiring process according to NACE. 54% of respondents will rely on that technology for the entire year, while another 16% used virtual/online in the fall but will try to transition to in-person hiring in the spring.

Nearly 90% of companies in the study indicated they have a diversity recruiting strategy for 2021.  NACE said only its 2018 study reported a higher level of diversity recruiting.  All employers with more than 20,000 employees reported diversity initiatives. 

The picture is not great for 2021 graduates when it comes to starting salaries.  While more than two-thirds of companies said they would increase starting salaries in 2020, the 2021 survey indicates just 42% will hike initial compensation at an average increase of 3.3%. 

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, agrees with the NACE assessment of the 2021 job market.  “National positions posted in our Handshake career management system are down about 20% this year when compared to the same period last year.  That said, there are employers who are hiring entry-level talent so students should utilize their career centers to be prepared for the job market. It is competitive but good opportunities clearly exist.”

The NACE 2021 Job Outlook was based on data collected in July, August, and September of 2020.  The results include surveys from 158 NACE member companies and 69 non-members. 

Interns Assist Louisville Hispanic Community

INTERNS ASSIST LOUISVILLE HISPANIC COMMUNITY

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Internships are important experiences for students for a variety of reasons.  But often, internships simultaneously provide important services to our community. A group of UofL foreign language students recently completed internships that provided great benefits to the Hispanic population in Louisville.

Spanish professor Clare Sullivan directed the internships during the fall and her students successfully and safely completed their experiences, even in the midst ofthe pandemic.  Two of Professor Sullivan’s students interned with the Backside Learning Center (BLC) at Churchill Downs, a non-profit that assists workers at the racetrack who are primarily native Spanish speakers.

Maegan Helm is a Louisville senior majoring in Spanish and Global Communication.  Her work at BLC involved helping the young children of track workers navigate online learning, communicating with teachers and parents, and encouraging PPE and safety.  Helm is most appreciative of the opportunity to work with a group of “…caring and compassionate people. My internship has allowed me to see the ins and outs of a successful non-profit making change in their community. This is something I plan to take with me, and share with other people and communities, no matter where I travel.”

Maegan Helm

Hannah White, a senior History major from Eddyville, Kentucky who is minoring in Spanish also worked with elementary school students at the BLC, many whom were beginning to learn English.  White hopes to teach English abroad and eventually become a history professor, so she greatly benefited from her internship because it was her first teaching experience. “The best thing about my internship experience with Backside was definitely the students. I looked forward to their whirlwind of energy. They taught me patience and flexibility and were just a never-ending source of excitement and fun!”

  

Hannah White

Professor Sullivan also directed an internship for Nashville senior Mia Isabel Rodriguez who worked with Gentle Excellence Dental. The clinic has a mission to provide treatment regardless of language or financial barriers.  Rodriguez is a pre-dental student so her internship fit nicely with her long-term career ambitions in that she assisted the dentists. But the Spanish minor also found herself serving as an interpreter between employees and the patients who rely upon, what she calls a “remarkable facility” that serves a largely Spanish-speaking clientele. “Immersing myself in a Spanish-speaking environment has exponentially increased my communication skills, but the best part has been meeting people from countries all over the world and learning their stories.” 

  

Mia Isabel Rodriguez

That applied knowledge aspect of internships is clearly important for professors like Clare Sullivan. Equally important, she was proud of her students for their efforts to benefit others. “In spite of all the restrictions, my internship students greatly impressed me this semester. They managed to help our community while they improved their own understanding of language and culture.”

Real world experience and applied learning are certainly important and tangible reasons for students to do internships.  However, the importance of internships becomes even more magnified when the community can also benefit from the work of students like Maegan Helm, Hannah White and Mia Isabel Rodriguez. 

 

Advice for December Grads

 

ADVICE FOR DECEMBER GRADS SEEKING ENRY-LEVEL EMPLOYMENT

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

If you are getting ready to graduate, congrats!   Hopefully you have been building to your big day and getting ready for the job market. What can you expect in the midst of the pandemic as you continue the process of launching your career?  The career coaches at the University Career Center (UCC) who work directly with students on career development issues have several thoughts for you to consider if you are getting ready now to jump into the job market.

First, you are likely to encounter a hiring process that is virtual/remote.  Until the pandemic eases, almost all employers are recruiting, accepting applications, and interviewing online.  

Mallory Newby of the UCC said students should treat a video interview just like you would an in-person interview with some additional considerations. “This means dressing professionally, researching the company and interviewer, and having questions prepared in advance.  Be sure that your technology is working properly (video camera and audio) and familiarize yourself with the platform that is going to be used (i.e. Zoom, Teams). Have your computer or webcam at eye level to avoid looking up or down at the screen. Be mindful of your background and ensure that your area is neat and tidy with as little distractions as possible.  And practice in advance; you can use a tool like Big Interview."

Given the lack of face-to face-contact, you might also be asked to take part in more interviews and conversations than might be normal.  It’s all an effort on the part of employers to get to know you better. Since they are losing some of the quality of in-person communication, some organizations will try to make up for that with quantity.

Also in the midst of a pandemic, there’s a chance that you will start work virtually/remotely once you get a position.  That means employers are looking for candidates who exhibit self-motivation, an ability to communicate effectively in the online environment, and have a track record of digital collaboration.  UCC assistant director Rosie Shannon said to meet those desired qualifications, students can highlight their experiences with virtual coursework on the UofL Blackboard platform. “Many students are taking some, or all, of their courses on-line and therefore must communicate with both classmates and instructors through class discussion boards, blogs, virtual live discussions, virtual presentations and emails. A student could give a few examples of their assignments that are submitted through these online media and any virtual live presentations they have completed for course assignments.  All of these help the student develop written and oral communication skills, body language, active listening, respect, manners and friendliness.”  

The pandemic has certainly been a challenge for everyone - those already in the work world as well as students. UCC assistant director Karen Boston says that is one more thing that students can emphasize in their applications. “Resiliency, or the ability to recover from difficulties, is a strength that employers are seeking and one which every new graduate can use to describe themselves. Our new graduates have faced challenges, because of the pandemic and civil unrest, unlike any other graduating class and have demonstrated skills in flexibility and adaptability that will continue to serve them well in their future workplace.”

Do realize at the same time the pandemic has created difficulties for students, it has also complicated things for hiring managers at the companies in which you have an interest.  So the hiring process might not move as quickly or smoothly as you hope.  Be patient during the process.  But don’t be afraid to reach out and communicate to let organizations know you are still interested and to ask questions.

One final thing to remember at this point - there are opportunities out there, but at least to some extent the job market is tight and highly competitive because of the pandemic.  You need to be proactive and utilize all of the resources available to you as you press your search for an entry-level position.  Use all of the online tools and platforms available to you, and be sure you are networking since most students find a lead for their first job via a contact.

Help is available to you through the career centers at the University of Louisville: 

All other students are served by the University Career Center.  

 

Recruiters Offer Advice

 

RECRUITERS OFFER ADVICE TO STUDENTS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Social media will increasingly be an important tool for those seeking employment.  That’s an important finding from a national survey of corporate human resource and recruitment professionals.  Jobvite conducts the survey on an annual basis to determine priorities and concerns of recruiters.  The results reveal important information as well for job seekers.

According to the survey, nearly 80% of respondents said they will increasingly invest during the next year in social media as a recruitment tool and also to screen candidates. Jobvite reports that result extends an already apparent trend; social media has steadily risen over the last three years for recruiting purposes. Social media channels most used for recruiting are LinkedIn (72%), Facebook (60%), Twitter (38%), Instagram (37%), Glassdoor (36%), and YouTube (27%). But other social media channels like TikTok and Snapchat are also being used for positions that are more targeted toward younger job candidates.  Jobvite advises job seekers interested in larger corporations to monitor LinkedIn since bigger organizations are more likely to use that platform. 

The second biggest source for hiring among organizations surveyed was employee referral programs.  Jobvite said that’s just another reason to directly ask your friends and professional network about opportunities within their companies; those contacts can potentially refer you for a job via their company’s referral program. 

If you get an interview, Jobvite reports there is a good chance in the midst of the pandemic that it will be virtual.  The survey indicates two-thirds of recruiters are interviewing using video, and 40% of recruiters believe virtual interviews will be the default moving forward. If you get a virtual interview, recruiters warn you to watch out for several big problems including poor internet connectivity (cited by 37% of respondents), inappropriate attire (25%), and poor eye contact (23%). Remote interviews are also a great opportunity for job seekers to show, first-hand, they are comfortable in the online environment. That’s important since 50% of those surveyed said that open roles at their organization are being hired as remote workers.

The Jobvite survey includes good news about diversity initiatives. A majority of surveyed companies have specific goals for diversity in hiring with respect to race/ethnicity (63%), gender (54%), age (37%), veterans (33%), LGBTQ+ (29%), immigrants (28%), and disability (25%).

Jobvite is an organization that helps companies attract, engage, hire, and retain the talent that will help them grow and succeed.

 

Hot Job Opportunities for the Next Decade


HOT JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT DECADE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

General and operations managers, and nurses top the list of job opportunities for bachelor’s degree students during the next decade.  That’s according to new research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also suggests a strong job market for lawyers.  

The Bureau forecasted the long-term job market up to the year 2029 for 800 different occupations at all education levels.  More than 17 million job openings are projected across all occupations annually during the time period. These openings come from two sources: when new jobs are created from employment growth and when workers leave an occupation permanently, such as to transfer to another occupation or to retire.

The following table shows the 10 occupations (and median annual wages) with the most forecasted opportunities for undergraduate students:

Occupations for Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Projected to Have the Most Openings

(Click on image for larger PDF version)

Occupations for Bachelor Degrees


About 40% of all openings projected in the bachelor’s-level group are in the occupations in the above table. Each of the occupations in this table had wages that were higher than the median for all occupations. 

The next table shows the occupations with the most opportunities for master’s, doctoral, and professional degree recipients:

Occupations for Master’s/Ph.D./Professional Degree Recipients Projected to Have the Most Openings

(Click on image for larger PDF version)

Occupations for Graduate Degrees

 

The occupations in this table account for about 46% of all openings projected in master’s, doctoral, and professional degree-level occupations. At the top of this list, the law profession openings are expected to be from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.

You can learn more about all of these occupations and hundreds of others in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OOH has great detail about career fields, including what workers do and their pay, job outlook, and typical education requirements.


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Hiring Class of 2021 Forecasted to be Better Than Expected

HIRING OF CLASS OF 2021 FORECASTED TO BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED 

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

While some forecasts suggested 2021 college graduates would face a terrible job market because of the pandemic and its impacts on the economy, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is projecting otherwise.  And while the outlook is certainly not rosy, NACE research indicates that as opposed to reducing, employers will maintain their 2021 hiring at 2020 levels. 

That is in contrast to what happened during the Great Recession in the late 2000s when most employers substantially reduced hiring. NACE said that this time around, most employers now “understand the need to continue their college recruiting efforts so they do not lose ground in the market and have to restart their college recruiting at a disadvantage once the economy recovers.” 

According to the NACE “Job Outlook Survey,” 2021 hiring will be, “more positive than expected given that the pandemic shut down the economy, plummeted the stock market, and raised the unemployment rate.” Nearly 17% of organizations responding to the NACE survey plan to increase their hiring levels of 2021 graduates (compared to 2020 graduates), and about 53% plan to maintain their level of hiring.   

NACE said that several employment sectors will increase their college hiring during the coming year.  Some of the areas of expanded hiring activity include chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing, miscellaneous support services, information, and wholesale trade. 

The director of UofL’s University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, is encouraged by this report.  He adds, “This is in line with the advice we have been providing to students throughout the pandemic. Whereas the economy is not ideal, there are still positions but it is important that students stay engaged in the job search process, whether for full time jobs or internships.” 

Data for NACE’s Job Outlook 2021 survey were collected from July through September. A total of 227 surveys were returned; 158 were NACE members and the remaining 69 were nonmembers. 

Watch Out for Job Scams During the Holidays

WATCH OUT FOR JOB SCAMS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D. 

While the holiday season is a joyous time, unfortunately it is also a time of year when fraudsters become very active.  One type of scam that students need to be aware of is a fraudulent job offer. 

Scam Alert

Most employment scams are perpetrated on the Internet and typically involve email.  These scams have occurred for years due to the ease of mass emails, since a fraudster can reap financial gains if only a few people fall prey. You can avoid becoming a victim by thinking critically and employing savvy job search practices.

In particular, beware of emails/offers of employment that include:

  • High pay with little work
  • Requirements that you cash checks and wire money
  • Poor grammar or punctuation
  • Offers of a job without even interviewing you
  • “Website” is actually an email address
  • The office listed does not exist by that name and/or no employer information is listed
  • No telephone number or physical address are listed
  • “USA” is included in address which is usually an indication authors are from outside the country and potentially trying to scam you
  • Sounds too good to be true

These are just a few of the "red flags." Here are some resources to help you protect yourself.

Students who think they have received a scam email to their student email address should report it to UofL Information Technology Services.

And, if you ever feel a position is questionable but you are not sure, please contact the University Career Center (https://louisville.edu/career) and ask! 


Entry-Level Salaries Higher for Class of 2019

 

ENTRY-LEVEL SALARIES HIGHER FOR CLASS OF 2019

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Students from the class of 2019 who obtained their first entry-level job made almost 6% more than their counterparts from the class of 2018.  That’s based on a national study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).  

The final NACE salary report on the class of 2019 includes results from nearly 730,000 students, representing 356 colleges and universities from across the nation.  Results were reported for students at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels.

NACE reports the overall average starting salary for the class of 2019 was $53,889, up 5.8% over the average starting salary of $50,944 for the class of 2018. This is the highest increase in starting salary reported since NACE began these studies in 2014. That class earned an average of $48,127.

Students in computer-related fields remain near the top of the class for the fourth consecutive year when it comes to average starting salary according to NACE.   Average starting salary for these graduates was $76,986, 7.8% higher than 2018 computer-related graduates. 

Engineering graduates in 2019 received a significant hike in starting salaries when compared to the class of 2018. Their overall average of $70,219 was up 5.4%. Electrical and computer engineering were the highest paid, with an overall average starting salary of $86,655. Petroleum engineers, who were the top-paid 2018 engineering majors, had an average salary that was up 8.8% in 2019.  Computer engineering students received a 2019 starting salary of $82,534, up 7.4% from 2018. 

As a group, Class of 2019 mathematics and statistics majors saw the largest increase in average starting salary. The average salary for mathematics graduates grew 8.8% from 2018’s class to $64,914. Statistics graduates saw a strong increase in their average starting salary, up 5.3% to $70,705 for the class of 2019. This is the second consecutive year that their average starting salary showed strong growth, as the class of 2018 average ($67,161) was an increase of almost 8% over 2017. 

The reported average starting salary for class of 2019 business majors was up 4.5% to $54,399, after having slipped about 1% in 2018.  Finance majors jumped 5.4% to $58,125, business administration/management majors were up 3.5% to $53,944, and accounting graduates saw an increase of 3.6% to $53,652.  Marketing ($47,777) and management sciences majors (actuarial; $60,492) posted increases of nearly 5%. Management information systems graduates have one of the highest average salaries within the business category, but their average salary rose just 1.6% to an average of $61,122. 

Graduates who earned health sciences degrees in 2019 received an overall starting salary increase of 2.6% to $53,425. That is in contrast to a decrease of 3.3% for health sciences majors in the class of 2018.  Most of the health science group is represented by registered nurses whose starting salary in 2019 was $57,416, up 1.1% from 2018.  Next year, NACE forecasts the outcome could be greatly improved since registered nurses have been essential providers of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting salaries for social science graduates bumped up 7.1% in 2019 to $50,099.  Near the top of the list in increases are political science majors, up 7.8% to $45,676. 

Meanwhile, NACE reports that both psychology and visual and performing arts majors saw improved starting salaries in 2019 when compared to 2018.  While 2018 psychology majors were down 1.1%, in 2019 their starting salaries increased 6.7% to $37,653.  Visual and performing arts starting salaries in 2018 were off 1.4% but jumped 5.5% in 2019 to an average of $39,358. 

Part-Time/Holiday Job Fair

 

PART-TIME/HOLIDAY JOB FAIR

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Students who need to make some money to help pay for the cost of school should take advantage of an upcoming event.  The Part-time/Holiday Job Fair is coming up on Thursday, November 12, 11 am to 2 pm.  Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, this job fair will be held on a virtual/remote basis. 

This event is a great opportunity for you to meet with employers who have part-time positions available during the holiday season and beyond.  You will have opportunities to meet in larger group/information sessions with employers and can set up individualized meetings.

In order to take part, you will need to register and then sign up for group sessions and/or individual meetings using the Handshake career management system. If you have not used Handshake previously, you will need to set up your account and update your profile using your ULink user ID and password.  All currently enrolled students can log into Handshake

Once logged in, you will be on Handshake’s homepage. Select the “Events” tab near the top of the page.  On the “Events” page, select “Career Fair” located at the top.  On the “Career Fair” page, you will see the Holiday/Part-Time Job Fair and select that. Scroll down the page to see all information including the employers that are participating. Return to the previous page with the description of the event and scroll up. Select the blue “Register” button on the right. 

If your Handshake profile is set to private, a window will appear instructing you to change profile visibility to participate in the fair. The “Community” setting will allow you to participate in both 1-on-1 and group sessions.

After registering, you will receive an email from Handshake confirming you have successfully registered. You can click on the link in the email to select sessions in which you have an interest and to meet individually with employers.

In the days prior to the Part-time/Holiday Job Fair: 

  • Make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date and privacy setting is on “Community.”
  • Have your resume reviewed by the UCC and uploaded into your Handshake account.
  • Ensure your webcam and microphone work.
  • Research programs for which you have scheduled sessions and have two or three appropriate questions ready to ask.
  • Dress professionally for your webcam session.

For detailed instructions, please review our handout Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs.  For additional tips about virtual career fairs, please visit our Career Fair website.  

 

 

Student Gets Work Experience Through Micro-Internship


UOFL GRAD STUDENT GETS WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH MICRO-INTERNSHIP

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A UofL graduate student recently completed a micro-internship and thinks other students at the University can benefit from these types of experiences.  Christian Covyeau is from Chicago and is finishing his masters degree in sports administration in December.  He found his micro-internship through Parker Dewey.

Intern Christian Covyeau

Christian Covyeau

Parker Dewey connects students to employers across the country for short-term, paid project work.  Most micro-internships are virtual and typically involve 5 to 40 hours of total work at an average pay rate of $15 to $20/hour.

During his micro-internship, Covyeau worked with an executive search consulting firm based out of Chicago. The company helped startups and tech companies place candidates for specialized executive roles. “My role was primarily in person but allowed for flexibility with occasional remote opportunities. I had a great experience due to the awesome people I worked with. The company was small and the founder was very involved in every project I worked on, which was extremely helpful.”

While Covyeau had a positive experience with Parker Dewey, it took very definite persistence to acquire his micro-internship.  “I only received one micro-internship opportunity after submitting 20-25 applications. I believe as the opportunities with Parker Dewey continue to grow, it will prove to be a valuable resource for students looking to gain paid experience through micro-internships.”

Given the competition, UofL students interested in micro-internships should not get discouraged since, like Covyeau, you likely will have to submit multiple applications before you get the go-ahead on a project.  Still, Covyeau thinks students should jump in on Parker Dewey.  “I would encourage other students to give the platform a try and to take the time to complete your profile as it will make you stand out among other candidates.”

To learn more and apply for micro-internships, visit the UofL - Parker Dewey website. UofL students who obtain Parker Dewey micro-internships are encouraged to email Maddie McNabb in the University Career Center to tell us about your experience.

Fast Growth Careers

 

FAST GROWTH/HIGH WAGE CAREERS FOR THE NEXT DECADE

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified job areas that it predicts will see a high number of opportunities and strong wages during the next decade.   

The chart below highlights occupations the Bureau predicts will have thousands of openings each year from 2019 to 2029.  Occupations in the chart are forecast to have growth that will be greater than a 4% average for all occupations nationally over the next decade.  These positions also had wages that were more than double the median annual wage of $39,810 in 2019.

 

 

The greatest growth is projected for software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers with an average of about 131,000 opening per year.  Nurse practitioners is projected to add jobs at the fastest rate (52%) over the decade. Of the positions listed in the chart, computer and information systems managers had the highest median wage ($146,360) in 2019.

Learn about entry requirements, job outlook, and more for these and hundreds of other occupations in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

 

 

Minority Students Less Likely to Get Paid Internships


MINORITY STUDENTS LESS LIKELY TO GET PAID INTERNSHIPS

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is reporting that minority students are at a disadvantage when it comes to internships.   The problem particularly impacts black students.

NACE research of the graduating class of 2019 shows black students accounted for 6.6% of graduating seniors, but just 6% of paid internships.  At the same time, black students accounted for 7.3% of unpaid internships, meaning they are underrepresented as paid interns and overrepresented as unpaid interns.   NACE further reports exactly the opposite for white students; overrepresented in paid internships and underrepresented in unpaid positions.  

Disparities in internships extend to other groups.  NACE research shows Hispanic students are overrepresented in the group who has never had an internship, and multi-racial students are overrepresented as unpaid interns and also those who have never had an internship.   Likewise, first-generation students made up 22% of the research sample, but accounted for just 19% of paid internships and this group also was overrepresented with more than 25% having no internship at all.  This table shows results for various groups in the study.

The director of the UofL University Career Center, Bill Fletcher, is troubled by the research report and is working to mitigate the problems.  He has developed two proposals to assist with minority internships and stipends for unpaid, non-profit internships.  “I have always discouraged unpaid internships for this very reason; it creates a disadvantage for under-represented minorities, low income, and first-gen students who can't afford to pay tuition and work for free.”

NACE also points out that career centers can play an important role in correcting the inequities.  Executive director Shawn Van Derziel said, “NACE data show that, overall, black students use the career center more than other races/ethnicities, not only in total number of visits, but also proportionally. These results suggest that career centers can be an important campus resource for employers to use to reduce inequities that exist in their internship programs.” 

 

Poly Sci Major Making the Most of Internship Experiences

POLY SCI MAJOR MAKING THE MOST OF INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

A Political Science major who has already completed several internships will next use those experiences as the springboard to helping to coordinate an important UofL internship program.   Dillard Collier is a senior from Danville, Kentucky who will graduate in May. He is currently completing an internship with Louisville Metro Government and councilwoman Keisha Dorsey, working on canvassing, voter registration, and several civic projects.

 Dillard Collier

Dillard Collier

Collier previously took part in the Department of Political Science Frankfort Internship Program, working with state senator Perry Clark in the spring of 2019.  This past spring he lived in Frankfort for four months, working as an intern at the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission with varied duties including review of fiscal legislation, staffing revenue subcommittees, and contributing to budget meetings/proceedings.   

Collier’s multiple internship experiences were clearly attractive to Political Science Professor Jason Gainous, who directs the Frankfort Internship Program.  Dr. Gainous selected Collier as the Student Coordinator of that internship program for the upcoming Spring, 2021 semester. 

Collier is, quite obviously, a big proponent of internships. “I think they serve as direct channels for career assessment and networking. Internships expose students, and others, to professions and skill sets commonly required in the job market. Personally, these opportunities facilitated my exploration of public service careers and helped expand my personal and professional skills. My experience with these various public employees and government positions was profoundly educational and invaluable.”

Collier’s internship work has proceeded, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, he said his internship work has, for the most part, been unaffected by COVID-19.  “At times, I've been sent home for virtual work sessions, but I generally work in-person. I do prefer the traditional internship setting. This is because remote internship obligations tend to involve less active participation in the work process and prompt a slight disconnect for me from the agency/institution that I'm observing.”

Collier hopes to continue his work in the public sector upon completion of his degree in May.  “I'm planning to attend graduate school to pursue a master's degree in either Public Administration, Public Policy, or Political Science. I'm interested in a career as a specialized legislative assistant, policy advisor, or some other similar position within the policy process.”

Dillard Collier has clearly taken great advantage of internship opportunities to build an impressive track record of experience that will benefit him as he launches his career in the public policy sector. If you are interested in opportunities in the Frankfort Internship Program like those that Collier seized on, contact in the Department of Political Science.

Get Ready for the Graduate & Professional School Fair

 

GET READY FOR THE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

The Graduate and Professional School Fair is coming up on Wednesday, October 14, from 11 am to 2 pm.  Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, this event will be held on a virtual/remote basis. 

This event is a great opportunity for you to meet with graduate programs, business, law, medical, and public health schools. Universities of all sizes from around the region will be taking part including UofL, Bellarmine, UK, and IU as well as prominent national programs like Columbia University, Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Wisconsin to name just a few. Review the complete list of Registered Graduate and Professional Schools

In order to take part, you will need to register for the fair and then sign up for group sessions and/or individual sessions by Monday, October 12, 9:00 am.  Registration and sign-ups are made through Handshake career management system. If you have not used Handshake previously, you’ll need to set up your account and update your profile using your ULink user ID and password.  Log into Handshake using the UofL portal.  

Once logged in, you will be on Handshake’s homepage. Select the “Events” tab near the top of the page.  On the “Events” page, select “Career Fair” located at the top.  On the “Career Fair” page, you will see the Graduate and Professional School Fair and select that. Scroll down the page to see all information including the universities/programs that will be attending. Return to the previous page with the description of the event and scroll up. Select the blue “Register” button on the right. 

If your Handshake profile is set to private, a window will appear instructing you to change profile visibility to participate in the fair. The “Community” setting will allow you to participate in both 1-on-1 and Group sessions.

After registering, you will receive an email from Handshake confirming you have successfully registered. You can click on the link in the email to select sessions in which you have an interest and to meet individually with program representatives.

In the days prior to the Graduate and Professional School Fair: 

  • Make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date and privacy setting is on “Community.”
  • Have your resume reviewed by the UCC and uploaded into your Handshake account.
  • Ensure your webcam and microphone work.
  • Research programs for which you have scheduled sessions and have two or three appropriate questions ready to ask.
  • Dress professionally for your webcam session.

For detailed instructions, please review our handout Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs.  For additional tips about virtual career fairs, please visit our Career Fair website.   

After the Career Fair

  

AFTER THE CAREER FAIR, WHAT’S NEXT?

By Stuart Estock, Ph.D.

The fall career fair has come and gone. Hopefully you took part in the event, obtained good information about a number of employers offering entry-level positions or internships, and had some constructive conversations.  Now what?  Whether a traditional, face-to-face career fair or a virtual event, your work is not done yet if you are serious about trying to obtain an internship or entry-level position.

The first thing you should do is get organized.  Hopefully you took some notes for each group session you attended or individual meeting/conversation.  If not, do not wait - write some notes now about the conversations and meetings you had that were of interest.  Remember as many points as possible and be sure you have included contact information including the name and title of people you met.

Next, you will want to follow-up with the companies and organizations in which you have an interest.  You should send personalized thank you notes or emails and if possible mention something you discussed specifically during the career fair event.   And do not wait to do this—your follow-up communication should be sent a day or two after the event. 

If you received feedback on your resume and/or LinkedIn profile during the event, use that information to update both.   Again, do not wait—make that a priority.  And use the opportunity as well to connect to those specific employers and recruiters on LinkedIn.

If you are seriously interested, it’s time to apply for positions you found out about.   A timely application subtly indicates that you are very interested in the opportunity.   If you are submitting a cover letter with your application, proof read, proof read again, and then have someone else proof read; typos and grammatical errors can spell doom for your chances of getting an interview.  Again, if possible, cite something specific from your career fair meetings in your application in an attempt to stand out from other applicants.

Hopefully your work will bear fruit and you will obtain an interview.  You should work continuously on your interviewing skills.  The more you interview, the more comfortable you will get and the better the impression you will make.  Find out more about interviewing, and the University Career Center’s online interviewing practice platform Big Interview.

The job and internship market is only going to become more competitive in the coming months as the nation fights the COVID-19 outbreak and the economy slowly recovers.   Taking part in career fairs and then making a concerted effort after the events will maximize your chances of obtaining a job or internship that you desire.

More Work Hours During the Pandemic

 

MORE WORK HOURS DURING THE PANDEMIC

By Stuart Esrock, Ph.D.

Working from home during the COVID-19 crisis in some ways has been a blessing.  But remote work is also a double-edged sword that could have longer lasting implications even as the pandemic eases.  

Calvin Coker, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication who teaches a course in communication technologies, thinks we must acknowledge the positive impact of things like the Internet, computers, email, and conferencing apps during the pandemic. “Though this doesn’t hold true for many of the most essential workers in the economy, communication technology has allowed some folks to continue to work even through rigid social distancing requirements that make physical offices impossible. A segment of the population has been able to keep humming along even in the face of social distancing and COVID-19, largely because of technological connection.”  

Working from home obviously protects workers from COVID-19.  And, flexible at-home work schedules afford opportunities to take breaks and step outside, attend to medical appointments and personal matters, and work at times of day when feeling most productive.  

But work-from-home also blurs the lines of work and private/home life.  In so doing, it portends the potential of overworking and the National Bureau of Economic Research sees signs of that happening already. 

The Bureau conducted research on more than 3 million workers and found that since the COVID-19 crisis emerged, the average work day has grown by about 48 minutes. The same thing seemly happened during the “Great Recession” a decade ago when one-third of workers reported the economy had worsened their work-life balance as they took on more hours. 

Professor Coker thinks the current increase in at-home work hours results from two factors.  “First, a constricting job market creates fear for security. People end up working longer hours and taking on more responsibilities to make themselves invaluable, or to compensate for reductions in workforce. The second pressure corresponds with moving remote, and communication technology. We’d already been moving towards expectations of employees being ‘always on’ because of email or work chats on phones, and the pandemic has exacerbated that (rather toxic) trend with work being placed squarely in the physical household. The technology facilitates both surveillance of the employee, and increased workloads in the form of learning new interfaces and shifting expectations in the face of crisis.”

In addition to longer work hours, the Bureau’s research study shows workers are now sending more emails and holding more meetings. However, the meetings were shorter than usual, with the result that total time spent in meetings has actually decreased.

Longer work days may be a longer-term trend.  More companies have announced plans to keep employees working from home, even as the pandemic eases and society returns to a more normal daily existence. For example, Twitter’s 5,000 employees are being given the option to permanently work on a remote basis, and Facebook plans for half of its workforce to be working remotely within the next few years.  They are not alone. A new study by Gartner, a leading national consulting firm, shows 80% of companies surveyed plan to have their staff work remotely at least part-time.

Given that potential, is there something that employees can do to protect themselves from overworking?  According to Coker, “Though the temptation may be to lean into new technology adoption, consider making rigid boundaries which were previously set by the work day. Email or Slack on your phone inadvertently extends time working, especially when you are ‘off the clock’ at home. Physically distancing yourself from the technology will keep the compulsion to work longer hours at bay. Delete the apps if you can, or silence their notifications when you are nominally off duty.”