TIGER ATHLETICS
- Students will develop skills and utilize resources to be career ready.
- Students will be able to determine personal interests, strengths, values, and skills that will inform intentional career decision-making .
- Students will be able to create a plan of personal goals for professional growth.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
From the day you step on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan University until the day you graduate, the Career Development office is here to assist you. This office can provide you with the guidance and support you need to assess career interests, explore occupations, transition through a career change, proceed through the job search process and prepare for the professional workplace. Stop by today to design a career plan for your future!
The career programs listed below are part of our Professional Development Series. These program are intended to educate students on the different strategies that go into looking for a career after they graduate. These programs are presented by the Director for Career Development and look to continue the discussion on the different ways students will have to prepare to find a job after college. Not only do they provide valuable information in preparing for a career, they are also required for business majors.
- Cover Letters and Resumes
- Dress for Success
- Interviewing Strategies
- Job Search Strategies
- Life After College
The final piece to the Professional Development Series is the Etiquette Dinner Which is held in the Spring Semester of each academic year. Have you ever sat down at a formal dinner and wondered, “What are all these forks for?” Or have you ever been unsure of the appropriate ways to raise a certain topic? The Etiquette Dinner is a fun, non-threatening way to learn business etiquette skills while enjoying a three course meal!
Career Development Resources
A critical step in the career decision-making process is research. The Career Services Center can help students research and explore careers by arranging a job shadow, lining up an informational interview, providing information through print and internet resources and informing students about career fairs and networking contacts.
Additionally, the Career Services Center helps students with the action steps necessary to achieve their career goals. Employment information is available for professional, part-time and summer job opportunities. Classroom presentations may be scheduled on resume and cover letter writing, the job search process, interviewing and professional workplace conduct. Information is also provided on career fairs and interview days.
Students intending to enter graduate school can also be assisted by the Career Services Center. Test information is available on the GRE, MCAT, LSAT and GMAT. Assistance is also provided in planning for graduate school and guiding students through the application process.
Students who may be struggling with their career choice, talking of changing their major or feeling overwhelmed by the job search process or acceptance to graduate school may be referred to the Career Services Center for assistance by contacting:
Matt Klundt
Director of Career Development, Internships, and Service Learning
matt.klundt@iw.edu
319-385-6262
The Career Services Center is well equipped to help students answer the key questions involved in the career decision-making process. The first step is assessment. A number of “tools” are available to students including John Holland’s Self-Directed Search and numerous online assessments. These assessment tools, in combination with individual career counseling appointments, help students evaluate their interests, skills and values.
Iowa Wesleyan University is committed to providing students opportunities to learn about professional life after graduation. One way in which this commitment is lived out is through the Professional Development Series which is offered each semester. The series is intended to assist students in setting themselves apart from other recent graduates in professional settings. The series includes workshops covering writing cover letters and resumes, dressing for success, interviewing strategies, job searching strategies and an etiquette dinner.
Each semester Iowa Wesleyan collects information from our graduating seniors. This information includes; employment statistics, graduate school information, expected salaries, and internship outcomes. In addition, some of the information gathered is used for national, state and accreditation accountability measures.
Career Tools
The Career Development & Internship Office provides assistance you need to prepare for your job search, whether you are looking for a part-time job, full-time job, or internship. Make a good first impression on your future employer by having a professional resume and cover letter.
Gain confidence in interviewing by practicing your interviewing skills through Big Interview or you can schedule a mock interview for practice. Also, we want to provide you with 4 year plan with tips and suggestions to launch your career. If you would like to schedule a meeting with the Director of Career Development & Internships, please send your available times to Matt Klundt at matt.klundt@iw.edu
Use Big Interview to learn and practice your interview skills, whether you’re interviewing for a job or graduate school.
Zippia has a free career resource tool where IW students can research their career pathways and trajectories: https://www.
Resume Writing Guide
A resume is used to show you have the knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to a particular job and to entice the employer to interview you. Your resume is often the first thing an employers uses to evaluate you.
The first step in preparing your resume is to think about your skills, strengths, experiences, and accomplishments.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What skills do I have?
- What are my strengths?
- What have I accomplished?
- Why should someone hire me?
Draw from academic work/honors, clubs and activities, volunteer experiences, and prior work experience. Students develop many basic skills that can be transferred to a variety of work environments like organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, as well as learning to meet deadlines and communicate ideas to a variety of people.
Employers will scan your resumes very quickly, so keep your resume organized and easy to read.
- Font: use 10-12 point font (ex: Calibri, Georgia, Arial, etc.)
- Margins: between 0.5-1.0 inch margins and equal on all 4 sides
- Length: Keep it to one page, unless you have more extensive work experience or an advanced degree
- NO spelling, grammatical, punctuation, or typographical errors. Proofread!
- Do not include personal information (example: race, age, sex, marital status, number of children, height, weight, health status)
A resume is the first sense an employer has of you, your abilities, and accomplishments. Resumes receive about 30 seconds of an employer’s time, so include what’s important. A resume is a tool that markets your most applicable skills and experiences.
4-Year Career Plan
Figuring out what to do after college can be intimidating, but planning early and getting help can make all the difference. Take a look at our 4 Year Career Plan. We’ll get you moving and keep you going in the right direction! Your career starts now.
- Visit “What Can I Do with This Major”
- Schedule a meeting to explore IW majors
- Explore interests by job shadowing and speaking with professionals
- Register with Handshake to access part-time jobs and internship
- Begin planning for involvement on campus
- Conduct information interviews to explore careers and interests
- Build your resume through involvement, volunteering and part-time jobs
- Have your resume critiqued
- Attend the professional development workshops and career fairs
- Maintain a high GPA for future jobs and graduate school
- Continue to update your resume
- Utilize Handshake to secure your internship
- Establish relationships with your faculty for job and graduate school recommendations
- Schedule and practice your interviewing skills
- Attend career fairs and workshops
- Schedule an appointment to strategize post graduation plans
- Research companies through Handshake for opportunities
- Continues to network with professionals in your field and with faculty
- (For graduate school) create your personal statement and meet required deadlines
- Complete the First Destination survey-share your success!
Career Development
Nikki Gerling, M.Ed.
Iowa Wesleyan University
Director of Career Development, Internships, & Service Learning
nikki.gerling@iw.edu
(800) 582-2383 ext. 6340
(319) 385-6340
Iowa Wesleyan University
Director of Career Development, Internships, & Service Learning
nikki.gerling@iw.edu
(800) 582-2383 ext. 6340
(319) 385-6340