Remote studio services help A&S students polish career skills

By Sally Bishop

It can be especially overwhelming in these times for college students to find internships, and for soon-to-be graduates to land full-time jobs. But the Bearcat Promise Career Studio continues to offer virtual services to University of Cincinnati students, including resume tips, mock interviews, help with cover letters and assistance with job hunts. 

Erin Alanson, director of multidisciplinary curriculum initiatives, says the studio is still available during the pandemic to help students navigate the professional world and explore career options.

“The Bearcat Promise Studio is committed to providing all UC students with continued service during this time as our campus community responds to the COVID-19 outbreak,” Alanson says. “Career coaches will provide virtual appointments for the remainder of the summer.”

Exploratory students interested in targeting their aptitudes and skills also can get help. The team offers personality and career assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and strong interest inventory, which students often find helpful in learning more about themselves and what careers align with their values, skills and interests.

Bearcat Promise Career Studio Director Ellie Bridges says they have many success stories. 

“Sometimes it is as simple as reviewing a student’s resume and providing recommendations about how to better align previous experiences with the role, as was the case for an organizational leadership student who was struggling to get interviews out of the applications that she was submitting,” Bridges says.

“By reworking her resume, she was able to land an interview and ultimately an internship with 84.51,” a Cincinnati-based marketing strategy firm which counts Fortune 500 companies such as Kroger among its clients, Bridges says.

Each student should be able to find the personalized service and attention to long- and short-term career goals through career coaching appointments, Bridges says.

“With professional staff members, we discuss where the student is in the job and internship process, provide feedback on a student’s resume or CV and connect students with relevant opportunities on Handshake, Indeed and company websites,” Bridges says.

“Finally, we schedule follow-up appointments to check-in on students’ progress and cover additional related topics, such as informational interviewing, LinkedIn, or to conduct a mock interview.”

Want specific tips for making Handshake work for you? See Enhance your job search skills with pro-tips for Handhake.

To find more helpful resources, tips and instruction, head to the Bearcat Promise Career Studio.

Featured image at top: Student working on laptop. Photo/Pixabay.