Academy of Finance Internship/Interview Preparation Unit

PART 1: Complete Career Interest Surveys to Determine Career Options Assignment: Visit each of the following sites. Do each part an indicated below. (Required Items for Part 1: Printout of required copy/paste items identified by headings; list of five careers that fit in your color; one-page paper on three possible careers)

 MAPP: Understand your true motivations (copy and paste the paragraph about you from each section; must create a login) http://www.assessment.com/MAPPMembers/Welcome.asp  Live Career: Take this to find out the areas of employment you would be most interested in. (copy and paste the "workplace fit graph" and the description of the areas you scored "high" in) http://www.livecareer.com  Princeton Review: Take this very short quiz and find out your "interest" and "usual style" colors. (copy and paste the descriptions and colors) Then, register and get a list of careers that fit your color. Pick FIVE careers you think are interesting from the list. Read about a few of them and be sure to click on "Facts and Figures" to find out average salary. Then, write a one-page paper (double spaced, 1" margins, size 12 font) about your findings. Of those five careers, which seems most interesting to you? Identify the top two and read more about those. Which has the highest salary? What can you major in at college to be this? Which might you choose if you had to decide right now? http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz/default.asp?careers=6

PART 2: Online Job Search Assignment: Using the internet as a resource, locate jobs in your identified career area. Assume you have graduated from college. Be sure that the job is one that you will be qualified for. Copy and paste at least four jobs in this general geographic area (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Daytona) and one job elsewhere. Try to find jobs that give lots of information on the job (requirements, hours, pay rate, etc.). The sites below may be helpful in your search (you may find your own site; you do not have to use these). (Required Items for Part 2: Detailed classified ads for four possible jobs)

 Orlando Sentinal www.Orlandosentinal.com  Daytona Beach News Journal www.news-journalonline.com  Jacksonville  www.Jacksonville.com  Careerbuilder www.careerbuilder.com  TampaBay Times www.tampabay.com  Career City Job Search http://www.careercity.com/  America's Job Bank http://www.ajb.dni.us/  Nation Job Search http://www.nationjob.com/jobsearch.html  DICE High Tech Job Search http://www.dice.com/search-dice.html PART 3: Application Process Assignment: Complete one application (written in ink pen) for your portfolio. (Required Items for Part 3: Employment application)

PART 4: Cover Letter Assignment: Read through the sources listed below and take notes about writing effective cover letters. Then, write two different cover letters (pick two of the jobs you selected in Part 2). If any of the companies have internet webpages, refer to them for more information about the position. (Required Items for Part 4: Notes; 2 Cover Letters)

 Job Search Correspondence: The Cover Letter. Explains what a cover letter is, how it is used, and tips for writing cover letters. Has one example. http://www.vcu.edu/safweb/careers/strategy/letters.html  Best Cover Letters (Examples of letters) http://www.bestcoverletters.com/

PART 5: Resume/Interview Preparation Assignment: Read through the following web sites and take notes on what employers look for in candidates, resume writing, and the difference between electronic and paper resumes. Prepare a resume to accompany one of the cover letters in Part 4. (Required Items for Part 5: Notes; 1 resume)

 What Employers Look For (read over this before you create your resume; note what things an employer wants so you can properly prepare an effective resume; take notes!) http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html  Sample Student Resume (no work experience) http://jobsearch.about.com/library/samples/blhsresume2.htm  Resume Templates (can open in Word so you have a format to begin with, but change to YOUR information!) http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickstart/agree.shtml

PART 6: Job Interviews Assignment: Read through the following web sites. Take notes on the various types of interviews, dressing for interviews, the role of nonverbal communication in interviews, tips for interviewing, and how to answer tough interview questions. Students will each be individually interviewed by the instructor and all students will participate in a group interview. (Required Items for Part 6: Notes; types of interviews handout; Five personal answers to interview questions; Evaluation of Interviews)

 Types of Interviews (view this PDF; print and include in your portfolio) http://careers.usc.edu/docs/handouts/Interview_Different_Types.pdf  How to Answer Job Interview Questions (read over these before moving on) http://www.professional-cv-services.co.uk/intv/job_interview_answers.html  College Student Interview Questions (read over these 20 questions; pick the five you think would be most important and answer them for you) http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_database/college_student_traditional_questions.html  Types of Interviews (Campus, On-site, Telephone, Panel, Group, and More) http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/inttyps.htm  Having a Successful Job Interview. Includes ways to answer interview questions. http://www.sla.org/chapter/ctor/toolbox/career/success.htm  The Most Important Interview Nonverbals http://www.collegegrad.com/book/15-7.shtml  Dressing for Interview Success http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/dress.html PART 7: After the Interview Assignment: Examine the following web sites. E-mail me a few reasons that thank-you letters are important. Prepare a thank-you letter. (Required Items for Part 7: Summary of Thank-you Letters; Thank-you letter)

 Strategies for Interviewing: Writing a Thank You Letter After the Interview. Includes reasons for writing thank you letters, tips for writing thank you letters, and a sample. http://www.vcu.edu/safweb/careers/strategy/iviewletter.html  Sample Thank You Letter http://www.jobbankusa.com/CareerArticles/Interview/ca10706a.html

PART 8: Other Employment-Related Letters Assignment: Write a short summary differentiating between an acceptance letter, rejection letter, resignation letter, and follow up letter. Prepare example of each type of letter for portfolio. (Required Items for Part 8: Summary; Letters)

 Job Search Correspondence. Includes thank you letters, acceptance letters, and more. http://www.upenn.edu/careerservices/sw/sswcorrsp.html  Employment Letters (examples) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/morejobletters/Resignation_Letters_Thank_You_Letters_Employment_L etters.htm

PART 9: Summary and Review Assignment: Complete the review questions. (Required Items for Part 10: Original answers to review questions)

 Summary Questions for Employment Unit

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