Frequently Asked Questions
When should my son or daughter start visiting the Chase Career Center?
Right away! It is never too soon for your son or daughter to become acquainted with Chase Career Center staff and services. Even as early as the first year, students can begin to work on a resume or learn networking skills by talking to an Alumni Mentor. Also, as employers present opportunities to the Chase staff, these professionals forward opportunities to students who have expressed interest in such positions.
Some students start gaining field experience as soon as the summer after their freshman year. Our staff members have daily “walk in hours” to assist your student with the various steps in finding an opportunity that is the right fit for them. Students should be aware of and follow the suggested activities in the 4 Year Student Guide for ultimate success.
Back to Top
What should my son or daughter major in?
While in many instances specific majors do not translate into particular careers, the staff will help your student choose a major that will not limit their choices but also be in alignment with their interests and goals. If your student is having a difficult time choosing a major, the Chase Career Center is a great place to start!
Back to Top
Is a summer job like a summer internship or co-op and how important is it?
Both can be very important in gaining skill sets valuable to employers. It is ideal that students gain related work experience while still in the Isenberg School of Management. This could be achieved in the form or an internship (for academic credit, usually part time and unpaid), co-op (a full-time, paid opportunity) or even part time local opportunities during the school semester.
Internships and co-ops provide students the opportunity to learn skill and knowledge about their field which make them competitive in their search for a career opportunity during their senior year. Also, many internship and co-op opportunities lead to full time employment following successful completion. There is no question that multiple internships or co-ops create expanded opportunities and increase the chances your student will have finding a great full time career position as a senior.
Back to Top
When is the best time to look for a summer job or internship?
Students are encouraged to begin their search for internships in the fall semester, depending on company specific deadlines. For example, accounting students looking to work in the Semester in the Profession Program (a second semester public accounting internship) may have application deadlines as early as October. Internship and co-op opportunities are competitive but important resume builders will give students a definite advantage over others with less experience.
A handful of employers in various industries post and interview for summer internships in the fall semester. It is important for intern seeking students to be aware of postings in both the Isenberg and UMass eRecruiting sites and to know their efforts may take some time. Searching for internships can be a yearlong process with the bulk of ON CAMPUS recruiting occurring from early February through Spring Break in March. Employers will continue to post summer opportunities through May and students should continue to apply and interview until they have an offer – or multiple offers – of interest.
Back to Top
What if my son or daughter does not know what he or she wants to do?
We can help shape a student’s path based on their interests and goals. Starting the internship process as a freshman or sophomore can also help a student determine what kinds of jobs may be a good fit based on trial and error. Also, our Alumni Mentor Program gives students the opportunity to speak with alumni in various careers and industries. Talking to people who are working in the jobs your son/daughter is interested in will provide valuable insight about potential career choices.
Back to Top
How can parents and family members help their students with the job search and career exploration process?
Encourage your student to assume responsibility for their career decisions and to thoroughly research the field and companies they are interested in. Also, motivate your student to take advantage of the many services available to them in the Chase Career Center.
There are many ways parents can help students in the career exploration and job search process. The Year by Year Guide for Parents provides thoughtful ways you can support and coach your students through career exploration in each year of their college experience.
Back to Top
How can my student meet potential employers?
The Chase Career Center hosts many events and activities that provide opportunities for your student to meet and interact with recruiters, alumni and corporate guests. Companies come to the Isenberg School of Management to hold Meet/Greet and information sessions, resume workshops and conduct interviews in the Chase Career Center Interview Suites in SOM Room 202 (directly above the Chase Career Center.) Over 90 employers participate in Isenberg’s annual Career Day. Some employers/alumni also present in class and at the invitation of student clubs.
Back to Top
What is eRecruiting and is it the only way for a senior to search for a permanent position?
eRecruiting is a job search database hosted by a company called Experience that includes internship, co-op and full-time job opportunities. Two systems exist for Isenberg students: Isenberg eRecruiting and the University of Massachusetts eRecruiting site. It is very important for students to be registered in both as they offer different opportunities and can only expand career options. The Isenberg site contains opportunities from companies only interested in hiring Isenberg students while the UMass site has a different range of opportunities from employers that will also consider students with non-management majors.
eRecruiting is an important resource for Isenberg students. Other online job search resources do exist and students can learn more about them in the Chase Career Center.
Back to Top
What do employers look for in a candidate?
In general, employers look for students who are highly motivated, able to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, and can demonstrate skills sets in areas such as leadership and teamwork. Employers also are interested in academic and employment background as well as a certain level of aptitude with the interviewing process. More specifically, employers most highly value candidates with multiple internship and experiential opportunities on their resume.
Back to Top
If an Isenberg student is considering pursuing graduate school in business administration, should they apply while an undergrad?
It depends on what type of program they are interested in. Most MBA programs require a minimum number of years of work related experience. While there are some MBA programs that do not have this requirement, we encourage students to research MBA programs and determine application requirements. Test scores, such as GMAT or GRE can be an indicator of which programs students will be eligible for as well. There are several areas of MBA programs which prospective students should research including: 1 . Career Services and placement for MBA candidates, 2. Academic coursework electives and options to focus in one specific area, 3. Alumni – where do they work and do students have access to them during their time in the program and 4. Part time vs. full time programs. Graduate school in any discipline is a significant investment and should be given careful consideration.
Back to Top
How many students actually graduate with jobs in hand?
By graduation, 60%+ of students who utilized Chase Career Center services have secured full-time employment.
Back to Top
What are most students starting salaries upon graduation?
The average Isenberg School of Management graduate’s salary is $48,000-$50,000 for 2007. In 2006, the average salaries by major are as follows:
Accounting: $47,917.86
Finance: $48,608.11
HTM: $36,438.15
Management: $41,291.67
Marketing: $40,857.14
Operations: $47,857.14
Sport Management: $35,666.67
Back to Top
Which companies are hiring Isenberg School of Management students?
There are many, many companies that hire Isenberg students. A small sampling includes: Macy’s, Raytheon, Bose, KPMG, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, FTI Consulting, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Target, the Boston Red Sox, General Electric, Fidelity and State Street Bank. This is a very small sample of companies who hire Isenberg students.
Back to Top
How important is Grade Point Average (GPA) when it comes to job prospects following graduation?
Employers seek a portfolio of skills, qualities and aptitudes from candidates. For some employers, GPA can be the determining factor in granting an interview. Combined with work experience, involvement in clubs/activities, community service, a strong GPA makes a candidate very competitive and creates multiple opportunities to choose from. However, students who excel in other areas and/or have had full time jobs while attending school full time should also highlight their specific strengths in their resumes which are also valuable to employers. The Chase Career Center staff can certainly help students in this endeavor.
In summation, a balance of academics and activities is key but a stronger GPA will open more opportunities to students.
Back to Top
Are job fairs offered through Isenberg and how important are they to my student’s career development?
Several Career Fairs are held on campus hosted by both the Isenberg School and UMass Central Career Services and major specific career fairs are also held. These are important opportunities for students to network, learn about companies and positions and lay the groundwork for a great full time, internship or co-op opportunities.
Students should check our upcoming calendar of events on eRecruiting and posted outside of the Chase Career Center for upcoming career fairs and workshops provided to help them prepare.
In addition, the Chase Career Center staff will provide information to students regarding other career fairs outside of UMass that could be in cities located regionally or even virtual career fairs that students can access from their homes.
Back to Top
How can my company get involved with the Chase Career Center?
To find out more about Opportunities to Participate with the Chase Career Center or to offer career opportunities to Isenberg students, please contact Amy Apicerno at (413) 577-3163 or at amya@som.umass.edu.
Back to Top
Can I visit the Chase Career Center and meet with a staff member about my student?
We are happy to provide information to parents; however, it is vital that students assume primary responsibility for their own career development. Please encourage your student to visit with our staff to guide them with career endeavors.
Back to Top
How can I be supportive to my son or daughter if they are discouraged during the job search process?
Remind your student that the field is competitive and applying to many opportunities of reasonable interest will increase their chances of finding the best fit. Encourage them to reach out to, as well as build, their network including family and friends. Discussing their concerns with the Chase Career staff is always a smart option as well.
Turning rejection into a positive is an important life lesson. Ideally, your son or daughter will learn from this experience and improve next time. Not getting an interview or an offer can demonstrate that rejection is not the end and there are more opportunities worth pursuing. No one hits a home run every time!
Also, if your student did not get an internship at a certain company, they should not be deterred from applying as they could still be hired as a full time employee.
Back to Top