Resources to Bookmark

Handshake Event Calendar UPO Office
Tippie Career Services Enterprise Leadership Tippie Toolkit

Explore

  • Learn how the Pomerantz Career Center can connect you to major and career exploration resources

  • Meet with a Career Coach at the Pomerantz Career Center to explore occupations

  • Learn about the Enterprise Leadership major and connect with your UPO Academic Advisor or your Pre-Business Academic Advisor

  • Explore leadership, business, or entrepreneurial positions in Handshake or view the outcomes dashboard to learn about career options

  • Fill out the My Preferences tab on My Career Path and explore suggested activities

  • Set up an informational interview or job shadow with someone in a business, leadership, or entrepreneurial role

  • Arrange a job shadow with a leadership or entrepreneurial professional over winter or spring break

  • Explore student organizations related to leadership or entrepreneurship such as I-Envision, Enactus, or Sigma Nu Tau

  • Meet with an Iowa JPEC faculty or staff member to learn about professional and entrepreneurial opportunities through Iowa JPEC

  • Complete your Handshake profile, explore current positions available to identify interests

Prepare

  • Participate in volunteer experiences with non-profit organizations where you can use and develop your professional business and leadership skills

  • Create your resume using Pomerantz Career Center or VMOCK and highlight your entrepreneurial and business projects, courses, and tailor your bullet points toward your entrepreneurial goals

  • Have your resume reviewed by a Peer Career Advisor at the Pomerantz Career Center

  • Start a LinkedIn account and create a profile; get a professional headshot at Tippie or Pomerantz Career Center, follow companies and organizations of interest

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center to learn about prospective employers

  • Attend student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • Participate in a Mock Interview, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Initiate a conversation with your leadership and entrepreneurship faculty to expand your knowledge about the major, industry, and careers

  • Be aware of events offered by the University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Pomerantz Career Center, and Handshake

Experience

  • Complete your Tippie RISE requirements

  • Participate in at least 2 of the following:

    • Business/Entrepreneurial internship

    • Business/Entrepreneurial case study

    • Externship/job shadow/informational interview

    • Alternative spring break

    • Employer-sponsored summer program

    • Part-time/summer job for a small business or entrepreneur

    • Study abroad/international volunteer or internship experience

    • Business research opportunity

Take advantage of additional opportunities to gain experience:

  • Participate in a business consulting/field study project or academic internship through Iowa JPEC

  • Participate in professional development activities (i.e. Coursera or LinkedIn Learning)

  • Participate in a career trek offered by the Pomerantz Career Center or your department for exploration and networking opportunities

  • Attend scheduled out-of-the-classroom networking and professional events sponsored by Iowa JPEC

  • Work a Student Employment job on or off campus to gain general work experience and build transferable skills

  • Take on a leadership role or volunteer for responsibilities within a student organization

  • Get involved by participating in the OEI Summer Workshop, Enactus, or Startup Incubator

  • Attend 1 Million Cups in Iowa City to converse with entrepreneurs

  • Reach out to faculty for information about the ROTH and SXSW entrepreneurial conferences

  • Participate in suggested activities from My Career Path to explore additional opportunities

While you gain experience, continue with the following:

  • Participate in Mock Interviews, Big Interview, or Case Coach to further develop your interview skills

  • Write a sample cover letter focused on your entrepreneurship or leadership knowledge, skills, and experiences and have it reviewed by a Career Peer Advisor at Pomerantz Career Center

  • Identify and develop your brand through tailoring your resume, cover letter, and portfolio materials

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Use Handshake and other economics-related sites to search for internships/jobs

Achieve

  • Plan to invest at least 10 hours a week toward your job search (average student may apply to 50+ positions)

  • Apply for full-time jobs beginning in September – knowing the average search can take 6-9 months

  • Create an individual job search plan with clear targets and action steps

  • Update your Handshake profile and use Handshake to conduct a job search

  • Create a “saved search” or “search agent” in Handshake tailored towards your career interest areas

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Update and tailor your resume and cover letters to highlight your economics experience and knowledge

  • Prepare a list of references/seek recommendations from professors and other professionals

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored fairs and networking events

  • Attend workshops/activities sponsored by Iowa JPEC and seek contact information from speakers

  • Join professional organizations to make connections

  • Participate in a Mock Interview, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Use Pomerantz Career Center resources to investigate salary ranges for jobs that you are considering

  • Learn how to use other job search resources, including personal contacts and faculty leads

  • Use LinkedIn to connect to alumni who work for companies that don’t traditionally recruit through fairs or postings on campus

  • Once an offer is received, read it carefully, ask questions of the organization’s HR contact, consult with a mentor or Career Coach, negotiate any changes in writing, and respond by the deadline