The Technical Job & Internship Search

Holly M. JusticeEngineering Career Counselor

Career Services259 Capen Hall

Agenda• Preparing for the search• Timeline • Job & Internship searching strategies• UB Career Services resources

Preparing for the Search• Professional Materials– Resume, Cover letter

• Research your industry and employers• Increasing your competiveness in the

employment market– Get experience!– Develop your network of contacts!

• Identify the industries/companies you plan to target & pursue

• Technical Interview Skills

Timeline

When do I begin to apply for opportunities?

Timeline• First year / Freshman • Second year / Sophomore• Third year / Junior

– Fall – Early Fall attend Tech Fair and begin applying to company opportunities

– Winter Break – Assess the progress of your Fall search, attend networking events, & prepare to search aggressively in the Spring

– Spring – continue to apply to companies

• Fourth year / Senior – Fall – Job searching, applying to graduate school, or

both

Job & Internship Search Strategies and Resources

The search is challenging…

For success, equip yourself with search strategies and resources…

Search Strategies • Find Opportunities • Target Companies

NETWORKING…

Search Strategy 1

Finding Opportunities

Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunities• UB Career Services Website / BullsEye

system– Internships posted & On-Campus

Interviewing– Additional Specific Job Search Engines– Professional Association websites– Career Fairs

• Career Fairs at other universities

Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunitiescontinued

• Commercial Websites– Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, hound.com– collegerecruiter.com, collegegrad.com,

aftercollege.com, craigslist.com– Engineeringjobs.net, core77.com – Indeed.com, simplyhired.com,

• Specific sites / companies you know– www.employflorida.com

• What about Recruiters/Headhunters/Staffing Agencies?*

Search Strategy 2

Targeting Companies

Search Strategy 2: Targeting Companies

• Identify companies and create a list of companies to pursue.–Review their website• if they currently have openings – Apply! • If no current opening - Submit your

resume to their database anyway where possible. • Create a profile on their site.

– Stay organized! Lots of passwords etc…

Search Strategy 2: Targeting Companies continued

Resources for Identify companies:• Your “professional” network of Faculty, Staff,

friends, family, acquaintances… • UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program• UB Career Services – “CareerSearch” tool • For International Candidates – H-1B visa database

– www.myvisajobs.com

• Professional Associations• Internet – Google, vault.com…• www.Linkedin.com

Search Strategy 3

Networking

Networking- the connections you have that will

help you reach your goals.

Networking- together each of us attains more.

NETWORKING

NETWORKING• Getting noticed by a potential employer

through someone that employer already knows and trusts.

• Employers use networking to recruit.• Don’t look for a job, look to meet people

who need your help.• Network by “Industry”

Search Strategy 3: Networking • UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program

(Bullseye)• Family, friends, friends of friends, etc.• Professors, guest lecturers • Professional Associations• Alumni Association• www.Linkedin.com – http://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-1

• Facebook – the dangers & usefulness• You already know someone who knows someone

who may know about a job opportunity…

Search Strategy 3: Networking

• www.Linkedin.com Groups– UB Mentor Program (hosted by UB Career

Services)– University at Buffalo (Name of your Department)

• Example: University at Buffalo Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

– University at Buffalo Engineering and Applied Sciences

– University at Buffalo Alumni Association

NETWORKING

How to get started…

Make at least one “call” a day.

Getting started…• Establish rapport or commonality– Ex. friend of a friend; alumni from same

institution; • Ask to follow up later– Be clear about what you’re asking for– Collect business cards– Leave the ball in your court

• Types of follow-up– Meeting in person (most effective)– Speaking via phone (effective)– Email exchanges (effective)

What to say• Prepare a “30-second commercial”,

also called the “elevator pitch”• Should contain:– Your name– Educational background– Summary of skills, experience,

strengths– Explanation of immediate goals– A question to keep the conversation

going.

NETWORKING TIPS & TECHNIQUES

• Be specific about your goals• Ask how they got started• Ask if there are any

projects/special events coming up that you can help with.

• Do class projects that can put you in contact with a potential contact/company.

• Combine two seemingly diverse areas of interest in your life

Think long-term

• Does this process seem like a lot of effort? - It can be.

• It’s never too early to start

• Don’t give up too soon• You’ll improve your

networking skills the more you practice them!

Search Strategies • Find Opportunities • Target Companies

NETWORKING…

UB Career Services

Services & resources to help you.

Career Services Resources• Individual Career Counseling* • Express Career Consult*

– 12:00pm-4:00pm M-F– 20 minute, Same day appointments

• Workshops & Seminars • Practice Interviews*• On-Campus Recruiting • Career & Job Fairs (www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu)• Resume & Cover letter critiques• Career Library • Career Services Website

– Including BullsEye and CareerSearch• Meet-A-Mentor Program

Individual Career Counseling• Resume creation & critique • Cover letter creation & critique• Discuss academic major • Internship & Job search strategies • Preparing for an interview • Strategies for Career Fairs• Post graduation plans– Job Market– Graduate School – Volunteer / Service – Other

Express Career Consult • One on one meeting• 20 minute same day

appointment• Monday – Friday 12:00-4:00• Call 716-645-2231 or walk-

in to the office (259 Capen Hall) to make an appt.

• Great for resume reviews, cover letter reviews, graduate school preparation, salary questions, etc…

Individual Career Counseling- Practice Interviews

• Make an appointment for a practice interview

• A Career Counselor will ask you interview questions while you are being videotaped.

• Then you and the Career Counselor will review the tape together to identify areas of improvement.

Practice Interview New Tool:*Interview Stream*

• Online tool to practice interviewing • 3,500 interview questions available,

in specialized categories including Job Fair Preparation, Engineering, Nursing, Business, etc..

• Access through UB Career Services BullsEye system

Career Fairs

Events• Career Fairs – Tech Fair - Fall semester – Part-Time Job Fair /On-Campus Job Fair –

Fall – CareerFEST – All Majors Career Fair –

Spring

• Career Conversations– Networking event with Alumni &

Students held in different cities around New York State

– Career Conversations in NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, & Albany

Where is theUB Career Services office

located?

(Raise your Hand! )

Quiz question!

ANSWER

259 Capen Hall(Behind Student Response

Center)

Contact Career Services• Contact us:

– 259 Capen Hall 8:30am – 5:00pm M-F – Call 716-645-2231 to schedule an appointment– Email us at jobs@buffalo.edu

• Website resources – www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

• Individualized appointments

• Express Career Consult • 20 minute same day appointment• Monday – Friday from 12:00pm-4:00pm• Call or stop by to make an appointment

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you for your time.

Good Luck!

Holly M. JusticeEngineering Career Counselor

Career Services 259 Capen Hall