3.3 Locating Experiences
3.4 Preparing for Interviews
Locating experiences is about what you know and who you know. In order to get a successful start, begin connecting to the people you know and connect with new people and companies at campus networking and career events. You can also connect with employers as well as locate opportunities through many online resources. When beginning your job search, you need to consider factors such as location, financial expectations, and workplace culture. The only way to become aware of these things is to start researching the companies, people, and experiences that will help you learn about an industry. As you gain knowledge and experiences, it’s important to reflect on how they align with what you want and need in your future. This will help get you one step closer to a fulfilling career path. The following resources will help connect you to the places, people, and opportunities that can set you on your path. Resources • UW-Stevens Point has partnered with Handshake - a modern internship and job platform - to serve as your one-stop-shop in the search for internships, summer jobs, or full-time jobs. Use Handshake to discover employers and attend Career Fairs, workshops, and other career preparation events. The more complete your profile, the more focused the job openings, activities, and events will be on your page! Current students access their Handshake profile at uwsp.joinhandshake.com. • Quest is another excellent platform for getting connected to part-time jobs both on and off-campus. Our Campus Activities and Student Engagement (CASE) office oversees the platform and offers information and resources on their website. • Internships are one additional way to gain hands-on experience, learn more about industries and opportunities, and expand your network of connections. Internships can vary depending on the requirements of your major, the intern’s employer, and the expectations of the student, the campus, and the employer. Reach out to your major department’s Internship Coordinator to find out how you can get connected to these valuable hands-on experiences! • Don’t forget about your existing network! Use your existing network of Advocates, Connectors, & Experts (examples include: family, friends, advisers, and faculty) to help you connect to current positions or even positions that might not be posted yet! Your network can help connect you to so many more people and opportunities! • GoinGlobal is a great resource that helps you find opportunities both at home and abroad. Use this resource to get expert advice about finding a job or internship in your dream location whether abroad or closer to home. • Professional Organizations & State Licensing Entities are a great resources for finding posted jobs, internships, professional development opportunities, graduate schools, and career information. Your major adviser and professional student organization advisor can connect you to these helpful resources. • Visiting employer web and social media sites is sometimes the best way to find out about opportunities. Do your research and find out more about opportunities on company web and social media sites.
Preparing for an interview can be a daunting task. You can never know exactly what an employer is going to ask you, but there are a few best practices to make preparation more manageable. If you take the time to reflect on your experience (knowing yourself), carefully read the position description (knowing the job), and learn about the employer (knowing the organization), you will be prepared for the majority of potential questions. By knowing yourself, the job, and the organization, you will be able to anticipate some of the areas an employer will ask about. You’ll also have a stronger sense of your skills and experience, and you’ll be able to engage in conversation with your interviewers.
Three things you need to know:
• Take time to carefully review the resume and cover letter you used for the specific position • Think about what you are most excited about in the role • Identify specific experiences, projects, and tasks that are relevant to the position • Thoughtfully choose a professional outfit • Read through the job description and identify specific tasks, skills, and other requirements • Reflect on the position qualifications, duties, and requirements that overlap with your experience, knowledge, and skills • Consider the areas in which you don’t have experience or areas that are unclear; these areas can inform the questions you prepare • Read through the organization’s website to identify the mission, vision, and value statements • Research news articles related to the organization using sources such as LinkedIn, Handshake, and the organization’s website • Use your research to refine your potential interview answers and end-of-interview questions
Yourself
The Job
The Organization
Components of interviews can vary greatly. Anything from the size of the interviewing group (one-on-one or a panel/committee), style of the interview (one interview session versus multiple interviews with multiple people), or method (interview with people versus completion of a test or answering questions via video submission) can vary based on the needs and resources of the organization, program, or job. No matter the process or method, you will be asked to speak about your knowledge, skills, and experience at some point during an interview. Informing yourself about the types of interviews can help you better prepare!
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