Career Workshops & Events

Spring 2022 Career Workshops (all workshops will be delivered via Zoom)

Resumes & Cover Letters: From Rejection to Results

Thursday, February 3rd, Noon-1pm
Register for this workshop

Strong resumes and cover letters are essential to land an interview and job. Whether you have an existing resume or have never put one together, we can help you. Learn the essentials of how to write a resume and cover letter that will get you noticed. Our tips for resume and cover letter writing will help you showcase your relevant skills and experience.

This session will help you:

• Pitch yourself in the best possible way on paper
• Write bullet points that truly show your value
• Avoid the most common resume and cover letter mistakes.

De-mystifying the Graduate School Application Process

Tuesday, February 8th, Noon-1pm
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Graduate school isn’t easy. Proper planning, however, can dramatically reduce stress and anxiety and get you on the road to achieve your academic goals.

This session will help you:

• Understand the factors that can influence your program/institution selection
• Learn the basics of the graduate school application process
• Find out about graduate degree financing options
• Decide whether or not graduate school is a step in the right direction.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): Getting Credit For What You Know

Wednesday, February 16th, Noon-1pm
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We recognize that college-level learning doesn’t always occur in the classroom. We understand that the skills and knowledge you have acquired may have come through learning in the office, in the military, or through various other life activities. Through transfer credit, testing, portfolios and credential reviews, you may have the opportunity to earn college credits more efficiently and at a reduced cost.

This session will help you:

• Define college-level learning.
• Reflect on your own areas of expertise and draw conclusions about whether your accomplishments of these areas constitute college level learning.
• Learn about potential pathways to earn academic credit.

Career Networking 101

Wednesday, February 23rd, 11am-Noon
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Do you know how to start a conversation with complete strangers or acquaintances? Have you ever been to an event, meeting, interview or activity where you needed to engage but didn’t know how or where to start?

This session will help you:

• Gain practical experience around the art of networking and making new connections.
• Learn methods to initiate conversations with strangers inside and outside of UMA.
• Understand how networking can work for you.

Connecting Majors to Careers

Tuesday, March 8th, Noon-1pm
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“What can I do with my major?” is a question we hear from many students. There are so many great majors at UMA and you have so many interests to explore – how do you choose just one? There are so many careers to explore, how do you decide which one is the best fit for you? Do employers only hire certain majors? If these are questions you have been asking yourself as you explore majors, this workshop is for you. This workshop will help you to explore your interests and provide useful tools and resources to help you determine which major may be your best fit.

This session will help you:

• Explore your interests, skills, values, and more.
• Learn about useful tools and resources to help you determine which major may be your best fit.
• Gain confidence in your career direction.

This workshop is part of the UMA Trail Blazer Workshop Series.

Micro-Credentials: What Are They?

Monday, March 21st, Noon-1pm
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The world is changing fast and, today more than ever, traditional modes of assessment fail to capture the learning that happens everywhere and at every age. Digital badges are a powerful new tool for identifying and validating your range of skills, knowledge, accomplishments, and competencies.

The University of Maine System (UMS) offers professional development opportunities that result in a verified micro-credential for those who want to update their skillset. A fully stacked micro-credential badge indicates that you have successfully completed a high-quality and rigorous training and were able to demonstrate the skills you developed in a work-based setting. Micro-credentials prove to your employer that you have skills needed in today’s workplace.

This session will help you:

• Explain the purpose and value of micro-credentials.
• Learn about the micro-credential offerings within the University of Maine System.
• Set yourself apart from others in the field.

LinkedIn

Wednesday, March 30th, Noon-1pm
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Did you know that over 90% of employers are using LinkedIn as a recruitment tool? LinkedIn is a professional networking site that can help you research and apply for jobs, meet recruiters, and find professional contacts. In some ways, your LinkedIn account can allow you to provide a more in-depth look at your personal brand and accomplishments than a resume does.

This session will help you:

• Create an effective profile
• Find out information about employers
• How to take advantage of your network to enhance your job search.

Interviewing: The Secrets of Success

Monday, April 11th, Noon-1pm
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Preparing for your job interview could very well be one of the most important moments of your career. Landing the perfect job can be a challenge, but with the determination and passion you will need to begin a successful career, you can easily overcome this challenge, and bring a lot of valuable experience with you to the next interview if you don’t get the job. Just a little preparation and thought ahead of time can have wondrous effects on your interviewing skills.

This session will help you:

• Understand how to verbally and non-verbally communicate effectively in an interview.
• Learn and practice how to answer challenging interview questions.
• Gain frameworks to structure thoughts and answers to common interview questions.
• Obtain tools and techniques to both prepare and follow up, before and after the interview.

7th Annual Career Summit

Friday, April 15th, 2022
9am-Noon, via Zoom

Salary Negotiation & Evaluating Job Offers

Join us for a morning of professional development!

Negotiating increases your potential to earn more and can make the difference for paying off loans, supporting your family, buying what you want and need and saving for the future. In addition, making a decision on several job offers can be overwhelming.

This event will help you:

• Learn how to navigate and compare your options (researching the employer, salary vs. benefits, career path, etc.)
  
• Highlight your accomplishments and find the right words — and the confidence — to negotiate for better benefits and pay
  
• Gain important tips and tricks from professionals in the field

Join Jean Dempster and Kelley Glidden from New Ventures Maine as they present this engaging session!

An employer panel will also be part of the event.

Access the recording here!