The Blog

Caroline Redmond, Marketing Intern Your first week on the job is an awesome and exciting time but it can also be pretty scary because there are so many unknowns. We sat down with the Career Connections Center’s Matthew Cowley, Assistant Director for Professional Development and Experience, for tips on how to survive your first week on the job.

1. Take a breath and celebrate that you got the job

         A lot of people get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the first week that they forget to stop and take a moment to celebrate the fact that they got the job!  

2. Take care of the logistical things first

Before you even get on the job it’s important to answer questions like “what forms do I need to bring in?”, “how long does it take to get there?”, and “where should I park?”  

3. Get there early

Plan to arrive early during your first week. There are many factors that could make you late, like traffic that you might not be used to. You don’t want to be the last one to arrive!  

4. Know the dress code

Ask what you should wear before your first day. You don’t want to show up in business casual (see our “So what exactly is business casual?” post) when everyone else in suits.  

5. Get to know your co-workers and the work environment

It is important to learn how your co-workers like to communicate. Does your boss prefer when you call them? Or would they prefer you to come into their office and talk in person?  

6. Don’t try to start to early with actual work

Don’t get so excited with your new job that you forget about training.  

7. Be patient with yourself

Remember- this is new to you!  There can be a lot of pressure and it is easy to get nervous so it’s important to take it one day at a time. On average, it takes about one year to fully adjust to a new position so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be completely adjusted right away!   Our career planning services are open to UF graduates up to a year after your graduation. If you have questions about starting a new job, schedule a time to talk with our career planners in Gator CareerLink.

Preparation is the key to a successful interview

Kimberly Chin, Marketing Intern You've applied for a few positions and now you have an interview. So how do your prepare? Nadene Reynolds, Associate Director for Professional Development and Experience at the Career Connections Center, shared some questions you should think about before heading off to your next interview.  

1. What does the job entail?

Some people say “Yes” to a job without really knowing what they will be doing. Have an understanding of your tasks and responsibilities. Know what you are getting into and if you don’t, those questions need to be answered during the interview process. This will help you identify what skills to present to the employer. You can’t highlight your strengths and abilities if you don’t understand what you’re matching them to.  

2.  What questions do I have for the interviewer?

Don’t wait until the day of the interview to start thinking what you will ask. This is an opportunity to learn about whether this job and organization are right for you or not. Prepare questions ahead of time and practice the questions out loud or with a Career Ambassador at the center.  

3. What experiences do I have that translate well to the position?

Your resume got you the interview but it’s not enough to get you the job. Be able to talk through your experiences in a way that makes sense to a stranger who hasn’t experienced it. Tell the story of what you did and what you gained from your experiences. The employer might not be able to understand the depth and time commitment your roles took so make sure to communicate these well.  

4. What is the interview schedule?

If it’s an all-day interview or there is a facility tour be mindful of the shoes you’re wearing. You want to make sure that you’ll be comfortable the entire time.  

5. What do I need to know about the organization/job?

Do thorough research of the organization and find out as much as you can. Spend some time browsing the employer’s website and learn basic facts about them. Review the benefits of the job and identify the particular values you have that relate to where the organization is going.   Let us help you get ready for your interview. We provide face-to-face Interviewing practice for immediate feedback and evaluation. You can receive a mock interview at any time during our Express Drop In hours. For an online mock interview, log in to Gator CareerLink and click on the “Resources” tab.

Caroline Redmond, the center Marketing Intern

  If you are like most college-age students, you will be asked to arrive somewhere in “business casual”. Also, if you are like most college-age students this will be your face when someone says, “Attire for this event is ‘business casual’.”   When did business casual become this well-known phrase that everyone is just supposed to know what it entails??   Was there a worldwide seminar on business dress that we all missed? How are we supposed to know?   Is this business casual?? They are wearing a suit and a dress which is business-y but the denim really makes it more casual don’t you think?   What about this??   Should I wear a suit??   What kind of suit?? Does a superhero suit count??   We sat down with the Career Connections Center’s very own professional fashion guru Matthew Cowley, Assistant Director for Professional Development and Experience, to answer the burning questions that could be the difference between getting the job or not.  

So…what exactly is business casual?

  Matthew: “It’s almost literally removing some of the elements of business professional…It’s a more relaxed version of business professional. For young men it’s usually slacks or khakis and a button down. You can wear a tie or a sport coat if you want to but it’s not required. For young ladies it can be a wide variety of things: slacks and a nice blouse, a skirt with a nice top, or a dress with a blazer. For young women, business casual tends to start to look a lot like business professional.”  

Is it better to be over or underdressed?

Matthew: “It’s always better to be over dressed than underdressed. If you don’t know what to wear it’s always better to be over dressed. You don’t want to show up and be the only one who didn’t get the memo that it was business professional.”   **One special tip Matthew had for the guys was to wear a suit to an event if you don’t know the dress code. If you show up in a suit and everyone else is dressed more relaxed, it’s easy to take off the tie and/or jacket and be more casual! It’s easy to manipulate an outfit if you go over but not if you go under.    

If a student is going into an interview what should they wear: business casual or business professional?

Matthew: “First, go by what the employer specifies. If they say business casual, wear business casual. If they don’t specify anything, wear business professional.”   So there you have it. Now go forth, get that internship or job, be prepared for the workplace, you got this!

Six Ways to Take that Next Step

Kimberly Chin,

the center Marketing Intern

  Graduating from college is a major milestone. We asked Julia Fleming, Assistant Director for Career Development, for her advice for the Class of 2016. Here are her words of wisdom.  

1. Stop comparing yourself to other people

Understand you are not alone in this even though it may feel like you are.  

2. Create a vision (self-reflection)

Ask yourself if you were guaranteed to be successful, what you would be doing. Think about what you want your next step to look like. Go as far as deciding what you want to do in a typical day and where you would live.  

3. Think about your choices

After you figure out your vision, hopefully some choices have popped up in your head. Narrow down what you want to do and decide how you will move forward with it.  

4. Set a Goal

This is always important. I want to be doing this by insert date here or I will apply for insert amount here jobs a week. This really depends on your vision and what you want your next step to look like.  

5. Plan out action steps

A goal is just something out there and does not become reality until you take action on it. Make an action plan with small obtainable goals within the larger goal. Stop by the Career Connections Center to update your resume and CV. Figure out where you can find specific jobs. Be Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Realistic. Time specific when planning. Being time specific is really important because it will keep you on track.  

6. TAKE ACTION

Find an accountability buddy, someone who is in the same boat as you. Keep each other accountable and morale up. You will be more likely to stay on task.   As an alumni of the University of Florida, you can access our many services. You can attend career fairs (including Career Showcase), workshops and employer information sessions. Click the link below to access to job opportunities listed in Gator CareerLink.

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You know what career path you want to take, why not get started as quickly as possible.

Kimberly Chin, the center Marketing Intern

To get a job, you must have experience. Internship opportunities are a great way to develop the professional skills you can use to land a full-time opportunity. We asked Julia Fleming, Assistant Director for Career Development, to highlight some of the important considerations to make before going after that internship.

1. Figure out the industry or job type that you want. Do you want to work for a Fortune 500 company, a nonprofit or just any internship in your field of study?
2. Start big then narrow down your search. Look at specific companies. Ask yourself are you location bound. Decide on whether you would accept a nonpaid internship or only paid internships.
3. Use your network! This is the most underutilized approach and can be very helpful with your internship search. Talk to faculty members because they have had students in the past that have gotten internships. Talk to members of student organizations that you are a part of or even just classmates. They could give you advice on how they got their internship.
4. Don't be afraid to reach out to past internships if you have had them. Reach out to the supervisor and ask them if they know of any other internships. It’s a small world.
5. Come in to the Career Connections Center to get all your documents reviewed.
6. Go through the Gator Professional Series: Navigating Your Search track. It teaches you how to build a resume and cover letter, network, how to navigate the internship process and how to be successful on the job after you get the internship.

For a list of workshops, visit us here.  [/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]