Visit the Career Center!

There are roughly three weeks left in the Fall Semester.  Pretty soon you will have the first semester of your freshman year completed!  Choosing a major can be a challenging task.  The UNT Career Center provides quality individual career advising to help you declare the best major.  The Career Center’s mission is to assist you with other aspects of job searching including career exploration, resume/cover letter writing, interviewing, and job search strategies; more information is available at http://careercenter.unt.edu/students/index.html.  There are Career Advisors assigned to specific colleges/schools that will be ready to meet with you individually.  Meeting with the Career Advisors will help you choose the most beneficial field in your major.  The Career Center also gives an aptitude questionnaire to students who have not chosen a major.   Based on the results, the questionnaire tells you what majors match your strengths and/or interests.  Once you decide your major, landing an internship should be your next goal!

          Internships give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in real world environments.   Potential companies show attention to students who take the initiative in seeking internships.  Research shows that eighty-five percent of companies use internships and similar educational programs to recruit for their full-time workforces, according to an article on career development advice from www.monster.com.  If you prove that you can add to the success of the company, employers may offer you a job right after your internship.  A great advantage of taking an internship is the opportunity to begin a career and start a network with your preferred industry.   In addition, your work ethic will improve, and you will become more confident in your abilities.  Internships also teach time management, discipline, and effective communication skills.   Experiencing an internship might also make you realize that a certain career is not for you.  Working in the industry of your chosen field can help you see if you are on the right career path.

The Career Center has an online job posting system, Eagle Network, which provides students and alumni access to part-time and full-time employment opportunities, and as well as information on upcoming events.  The UNT Career Center is located in Chestnut Hall, Suite 103. Don’t wait any longer, be proactive and call 940-565-2105 to make an appointment to talk about your career path!

Study Abroad!

Here at the University of North Texas we are all are striving to make a career for ourselves.  Nowadays, it is vital that an individual stands out in such a competitive economy.  Studying abroad will give you an international perspective of the business world and you can impress potential employers.  In addition, study abroad will help you intensify your intercultural awareness, international perspectives, personal insights, and self-awareness.

Last summer I had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica for three weeks.  We focused on sustainable tourism and the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of the Triple Bottom Line.  Sustainable Tourism involves making decisions today that will not hurt or compromise future generations tomorrow.  My study abroad experience has helped me understand and appreciate how much educational, economic, political, and social systems can differ across countries. I am able to see situations and issues from more than one perspective, as well as understanding how US-Americans and the United States are viewed overseas.  Costa Rica is known for its natural beauty.  My classmates and I zip-lined in the Monteverde forest, went white water rafting down the Ticos River, and hiked up beautiful volcanoes and natural waterfalls.  

You should definitely take advantage of the many Study Abroad opportunities here at UNT. The Global Learning and Experience Center states that they offer students a chance to “discover other cultures and earn academic credit for study in another country-at University of North Texas tuition costs.” Students do not have to be foreign language majors or speak a foreign language to study abroad and most of the programs are conducted in English. Furthermore, you are allowed to use financial aid pay for the expenses. The Global Learning and Experience Center is in the Information Sciences Building, Room 206.  Stop by and check out the numerous study abroad programs. Studying abroad allows you to discover the meaning behind thinking local but acting global.  Getting out your comfort zone will increase your confidence in taking on new projects, roles, and responsibilities as a leader on campus and in the real world!

For more information, visit http://international.unt.edu/.