From Yadyra Guzman, University communication and university marketing
When I walked into Selby Auditorium for my spring orientation nine months ago, I was unsure about my future. I was transferring from State College of Florida to the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing. I knew that in addition to academic achievement, I needed to gain professional experience to prepare for life after USF. I wanted to work in sports marketing, but I had no idea how to attract potential interns. Questions remained. With no professional experience, how was I supposed to write a compelling resume and cover letter? How was I supposed to start building a network?
When I spoke to other freshmen, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Some said they didn’t know how to network; others said they lacked the right interview skills. Overall, we lacked confidence in our professional development.
Luckily we were in the right place.
During orientation, career coach Antonia Ripo introduced us to the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) and explained how she and Jessica Stephens, another career coach on campus, support students at every stage of their professional development by assessing our interests, hobbies and strengths and connecting us with career opportunities.
“We work with students to develop a vision for their future, identify their special talents and make the connections that will help them achieve their career goals, whether it’s a job, internship or graduate study,” Ripo said.
I made a note in my calendar to schedule an appointment with her before the start of the spring semester.
At our first meeting, I shared my career goals and concerns with Ripo. She took the time to get to know me and where I saw myself in the future. She was understanding of my doubts and broke the application process down into manageable steps so it was less overwhelming. To start, we made a list of companies in the sports industry that I could connect with. Ripo even helped me connect with IMG Academy and shadow their marketing director.
Under Ripo’s guidance, I learned how to write a resume and cover letter that highlighted skills I had previously underestimated. This also included volunteering to organize community events, where I learned skills in event planning, teamwork, and leadership. Ripo then instructed me to use Big Interview, an interview training platform that helped me develop my confidence when speaking to potential employers and preparing for upcoming interviews. Attending the Coffee and Career Chat events also helped me meet employers and practice my networking skills.
I was finally ready to apply for jobs.
Using Handshake, an online career management system, I began researching potential internships. Through the platform, I came across an open position in the Office of University Communications and Marketing at USF Sarasota-Manatee. I was confident in myself, applied everything I had learned, and successfully secured a position as a Communications and Marketing Assistant.
This is my first assignment. I believe that sharing my experiences with the CCPD is a meaningful way to encourage other students to take advantage of the resources available to them.
Ripo and Stephens meet with over 300 students each semester who come to CCPD seeking help writing their resume and cover letters, improving their skills, and connecting with employers and internship opportunities. CCPD also hosts Coffee and Career Chats — informal gatherings in the Rotunda where students have the opportunity to meet and chat with professionals from various industries over a cup of coffee — and Career Shadow Day, which takes place three times a year and gives students hands-on learning experiences, like I did when I shadowed the IMG Academy marketing director.
The CCPD is an incredible resource available to all USF students, regardless of their major. While our coursework prepares us to become subject matter experts, the CCPD helps us connect our newfound expertise—as well as our hobbies and strengths—to a professional career path.
Visit careers.usf.edu to explore available resources and schedule an appointment with a career coach today.
