Career Development Resources

UMR offers resources around jobs and internships, but also wanted to highlight information most relevant to the virtual environment. Be proactive with a job and internship. Depending on the current economy, consider staff agencies for employment after graduation or for events during the undergraduate experience. Exploring meaningful ways to engage in the community can be another great avenue to explore. These experiences may be in a remote working environment. Work closely with the supervisor to understand expectations and resources related to the role.

Resources

• Handshake: Student FAQs and Tutorials
  • The best way for students to search for remote opportunities is to use the keyword search box and type in the word “remote”
• University of Minnesota Undergraduate Business Career Center for Carlson School of Management has created a list of staffing agencies by industry
• Consider government opportunities
• Find meaningful ways to engage in your community to gain valuable skills and experience
• 6 Ways to Make the Most of a Remote Internship (Handshake)
• Resources for Remote Work During COVID-19 (Move Minneapolis)
• Remote jobs is the focus of www.flexjobs.com, an employment database for professional remote and flexible work opportunities.
• Article: 6 Tips for Job Searching During Difficult Economic Conditions (University of Denver)
• Organizations still hire in during economic downturns: List of Companies Currently Seeking Employees in Minnesota (CBS) and Companies Are Still Hiring During COVID-19 -- Here are 28 that want your applications now (The Muse) 
• Monitor job trends (NACE)
• List of Internship Statuses (Github)
• ScitechMN Internships
• Online internships (UW Resource)

Practice is still important. Phone or video interviews should be taken just as seriously as in-person interviews. Research and understand the organization and the role. Be ready with questions for the interviewer(s). There are additional considerations when moving to a virtual interview, but many of these can be an advantage. SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, recommends selecting a quiet, well-lit room for virtual interviews. Double-check the time and properly adjust for different time zones if needed. Ensure access the videoconferencing technology and have the appropriate software downloaded ahead of time. Test the camera and microphone on the device in advance.

Resources

• Common Interview Questions with Coaching Videos (LinkedIn)
• Interview Stream (free video interviewing practice service)
• The 3 Questions Recruiters Expect You to Answer During a Phone Interview (The Muse) 
• 22 Phone Interview Tips to Help You Nail the Call (and Move to the Next Round) (The Muse)
• Video interview guide (Indeed)
• 4 Pro Secrets to Rocking Your Video Interview (The Muse)
• The Best Way to Set Up for a Video Interview (So You’ll Look and Sound Like a Winning Candidate) (The Muse)
• CLA Best Practices for Zoom (CLA)
• Zoom basics (3 min video - Zoom)  
• Participant’s guide to Improving Your Zoom Experience (Zoom)
• Virtual Interviewing Tips (Candid Career)
• Make a Phone Holder, Zoom Better! (CDes Fabrication Lab-Molly Sanford)
• How To Rock a Virtual Career Fair (Careercast.com)
• 12 Ways to Make the Most out of a Virtual Career Fair (Rasmussen)

Mentorship and networking are important in all environments, including virtual. Consider the current economic situation and show consideration and thoughtfulness as organizations navigate through uncertain times. Given the recent COVID-19 global issue, note that delays may occur. Professionals will appreciate patience and empathy as they navigate their new professional environment as well. Be familiar with mentorship opportunities that exist at UMR. In a virtual environment, consider using professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook to find professional groups to join. Participate in conversations and post relevant articles to increase an online presence. Set-up informational phone or video interviews or consider inviting individuals from your networks to a virtual coffee. 

Resources

• UMR Mentorship Programs
• University of Minnesota Alumni Mentoring Program: Maroon & Gold Network
• UMR LinkedIn Page-See Alumni Tool and consider updating your profile.
• Actively participate in UMR Virtual Career Spotlight Series events and virtual career exploration events hosted by student clubs and organizations (Note: UMR Research Club and UMR Pre-Professional Club host such events). Local events can result in expanding your professional network.
• The Muse continues to share resources related to networking in a virtual environment. Continue to research recent trends.
  • Info Interview Request Email Template (The Muse) 
  • 9 Job Search Networking Email Templates (The Muse)
  • 5 Email Template that Makes Following Up Way Less Awkward (The Muse)
  • 48 Questions that Makes Small Talks So Much Easier (The Muse)

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on all pre-health students pursuing a career within the health sciences. There are still many unique opportunities to engage in to further career exploration, gain meaningful experiences and prepare for that job and/or school application. 

• Review Professional and Graduate School responses to COVID-19 
  • NAAHP Clearinghouse
  • U of M’s resource for UMN professional programs and other schools: COVID-19 Updates from Health Professional Schools and Associations
• Focus Locally Be an active, helpful member of the community. Volunteer to cover childcare needs for neighbors or to check in (by phone/from a distance) on the elderly. Those a part of a religious community can see if there are ways that to provide support through such organization. Check with organizations where you have volunteered to see if you can step back into previous roles. 
  • Use idealist.org or volunteermatch.org to seek other local options. Be prepared for slow responses. 
  • Idealist article: Nine ways to help others during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Operation Warm has a list of 25 ways to volunteer virtually
  • Paper-airplanes.org invites volunteers to provide online tutoring to “bridge gaps in language, higher education, and professional skills training for conflict-affected individuals”
  • Dosomething.org provides nine places to volunteer online and make a real impact
• Participate in Virtual Seminars, Fairs and Information Sessions The website of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions has the most comprehensive list of pre-health events around the country. This list includes both in-person and virtual events. Many in-person events have been canceled. 
• Engage in online workshops through UMTC’s Pre-Health Student Resource Center  These interactive online workshops with follow-up, in-person meetings are packed with helpful advice, video clips and short exercises to help best prepare for the health professional program application. Whether writing a personal statement, practicing for an interview or developing a comprehensive action plan for medical school, these workshops will offer preparation. Be sure to set up a follow-up meeting with your Student Success Coach to debrief (not the UMTC PHSRC staff). 

View the full list of additional suggestions for pre-health students .

The Career Spotlight Series provides an opportunity for UMR students to hear various perspectives related to a number of careers. These sessions focus on providing an understanding of the occupation and what it might be like to work as a professional in this field. Additionally, this format provides students with the opportunity to learn about the requirements and education needed for each career. Read the UMR Raptor Report for future Career Spotlight Series events.

If you have questions about these sessions or have ideas about partners to bring to campus, please contact ccengagement@r.umn.edu.

Recent Career Spotlight Series partners:

• Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences - Medical Laboratory Science, Cytotechnology, Nuclear Medicine, Sonography, Radiography and Respiratory Care
• Mayo Clinic's Medical Scribe Program
• Des Moines University
• Olmsted County Public Health
• Mayo Clinic Surgical First Assistant Program
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse Physician Assistant Program
• Mayo Clinic Medical School
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities Master's of Nursing Program
• Mayo Clinic's Biomedical Engineering and Physiology Program
• Northwestern Health Sciences University
• Absolute Chiropractic
• Mayo Clinic Research

Career fairs provide students with the opportunity to interact with representatives from multiple organizations. These events are designed for students to speak with a variety of individuals from specific programs, schools, departments or employers/organizations. Some even offer on-site interviewing. Career fairs can be both in-person and virtual. Students are able to learn about an organization’s culture and the different jobs they have available. Students should take initiative at these events to speak with individuals of interest. It is strongly recommended to prepare questions in advance as well as research attendees.

While at UMR, students are encouraged to engage in the Rochester community. Students also gain valuable skills and experiences by pursuing internships, on and off-campus research experiences, and employment opportunities. Volunteering is also a great way for students to explore interests and contribute to an organization. Additionally, all UMR students develop career skills as a part of the curriculum.

Explore
Components of CLI 1712 Career Exploration and beyond

• Know yourself: strengths, interests and values

• Explore career options in the health sciences

• Conduct online career research

• Participate in career spotlight information sessions

• Engage in classes, student clubs and activities

• Discover volunteer opportunities

• Pursue leadership roles

Develop
Components of CLI 2713 Career Development and beyond

• Engage and test drive career options

• Practice professionalism and interviewing

• Create online profiles (LinkedIn & Handshake)

• Enhance resume and cover letter writing skills

• Build professional preferences

• Engage in decision-making and goal setting

Experience and Reflect
Components of CLI 2522 Community Collaboratory, CLI 3712 Capstone Proposal Writing & CLI 4713 Capstone Reflections and beyond

• Collaborate on impactful community projects

• Participate in networking events and career fairs

• Join professional organizations and gain employment experience

• Attend research and industry conferences

• Connect with faculty, advisors and mentors

• Pursue experiential learning (internships, on and off-campus research experiences) opportunities

• Study away

• Obtain additional skills or certifications

UMR students are engaged in their communities, both on and off-campus. With UMR’s focus on the health sciences, students are passionate about helping others and are often working towards applying to programs after their time at UMR. They seek to be leaders and contribute to organizations while gaining valuable experience.

UMR encourages employers to consider developing internship opportunities. The Director of Community Engagement and Career Development can work with you to determine whether the experience should be credit-based or not-for-credit. Internships can be both paid and unpaid.

Handshake is the University of Minnesota system-wide job, internship and volunteer search engine. Employers are encouraged to use this system to:

• Post jobs and browse for qualified candidates

• Register for career fairs and events

• Schedule information sessions

• Set up on-campus interviews

If you are interested in sharing job, internship and/or volunteer opportunities with UMR students, review the resources listed on hire.umn.edu and contact the Director of Community Engagement and Career Development, Jenny Casper at jjcasper@r.umn.edu.

To assist in planning for future career goals, find resources, including career planning sheets, related to specific careers and/or programs here.

Planning to pursue graduate school, pre-health programs or professional school after UMR? Fill out a Pre-Health Action Plan. Consider taking CLI 3714 - Preparing a Competitive Health Professions Application. Student Success Coaches can provide more specific details, help plan out your timeline and share information on which experiences make a competitive applicant. Considering a gap year? Checkout the U's Gap Year Resources Site.

Several times a semester there are admissions representatives from various programs that visit the UMR campus. These may be a part of the Career Spotlight Series or via tabling in University Square. These are great opportunities to connect and better understand the admission process for professional schools. Read the Raptor Report to find out which schools will be visiting.

Student Success Coaches and outside partners provide workshops to help students better understand expectations within health care careers. Helpful information is shared on how to complete and prepare for the application process, including entrance exams. Past examples include Medical School Expectations workshops and Nursing School Options.

A strong mentoring opportunity can be one of the most valuable components of a student's educational experience. 

Learn more about the available mentoring opportunities for UMR students.