Happy end (almost!) of the semester, Hawkeyes!

And extra congratulations to our December graduates! Winter break is near, and you have earned some rest and relaxation! Read on for some helpful information and ways you can return to campus in January feeling career ready!

And December grads, please know that as alumni, you still have access to Handshake, Big Interview, career fairs, and career coaching! The Career Center offers appointments for UI alumni for 1 year post-graduation. So if you haven’t found your career fit quite yet, just give us a call at 319-335-1023 – we want to see you succeed!

December Grads: Share Your Plans!

Please complete the Iowa Graduation survey to let us know about your post-graduation plans. Job? Grad school? We want to know! We utilize this information (anonymously, of course!) to build our employment dashboard so that fellow and future Hawkeyes can see where UI grads go. You may complete this survey prior to or after graduation – whenever your plans are set. It will take less than 3 minutes; we promise!

As you prepare to job search, interview, and consider job offers, keep these resources in mind:

• Our Career Communities with industry-specific resources like suggested job search terms and tailored job boards
• Job tips for diverse populations
• Job searching internationally  
• Interview tips & preparation
• Salary information & negotiating offers
• Consider internships (if the organization is open to recent graduates) and micro-internships – short-term (usually 1-4 week) opportunities that allow you to complete temporary projects for companies
• Remember to also search for remote positions
• Feeling frustrated? Reasons you’re not getting hired (and what to do about it)!

Things to do over Winter Break

...(if you have some free time)

• Take a Career Assessment or explore What Can I Do With This Major?
• Start or update your resume (hint: use our easy-to-edit resume templates!)
• Check out our Career Communities for industry-specific career resources
• Utilize Candid Career to access short videos of professionals sharing about their jobs & career prep advice
• Log-in to My Career Path for suggestions on career development activities tailored to you
• Activate your Handshake account  
• Create your LinkedIn profile to start building your network
• View our Employment Dashboard to see where UI grads are going with their degree
• Schedule an informational interview or job shadow to learn about various occupations
• Learn more about free online skill building

Thinking about working on campus this Spring?

Now is the time to start searching and applying for campus jobs for the spring semester! Learn the benefits of student employment and see what’s available on Handshake.

Coloring & Coffee!

Need to de-stress during finals week? Visit the Career Center during our office hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) next week to grab a free coffee from our Career Cafe and some coloring pages. Our lobby is a quiet place to study, too!

Career Wellbeing Tip

Feeling anxious about family questions on career prep? When asked about your plans, share what excites you—even if it’s just your next semester. If the questions get too intense, try saying, “I’m still exploring my options, but I’ll keep you posted!” Keep the focus on your journey and steer the conversation toward what matters most to you.

REMINDER:

The Career Center will operate virtually during winter break starting on December 23. We’re still available for appointments - just via Zoom or phone! Want to talk? Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach.

Did You Know?

You can find all the newsletters we’ve sent this semester at our newsletter archive.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!