Getting Started
Before you come to see us search for jobs or internships, and draft a résumé and cover letter for the position(s) you are interested in. Bring these materials to your appointment.
When you come in we will discuss your career goals and suggest ways to improve your application.
We also provide general business career advice on topics like choosing a career path, networking, interviewing, and salary negotiations. Let us know what you want to discuss when you make your appointment. We look forward to meeting with you!
About Us
Career Connections helps Leeds School students reach their career goals by providing jobs and internship connections, career counseling, and networking opportunities.
Building student engagement through events with companies is a key component of Career Connections. Events like the annual Leeds Career Fair, the annual Senior Conferences, Wall Street TREK, MBA Orientation and MBA Networking Night prepare students for their professional lives in the business world.
Career Connections has great partnerships with Accenture, Ernst and Young, Vail Resorts, Sterling-Rice Group, and many great employers. Additionally, companies such as Shell, ConocoPhillips and the key accounting firms generously fund resources like Vault (our online job database).
Find Jobs & Internships
Each semester employers contact us looking to hire Leeds School of Business students.
We post jobs on the CareerBuffs database. Register and start your search.
Find jobs specific to MBA students on the Leeds MBA Job Board.
If you have questions about a specific job posting or would like individual career advice, make an appointment with a career advisor.
Global Internships
A Global Internship is a variable credit activity that provides undergraduate students (typically juniors and seniors) with the opportunity to enhance traditional classroom learning with a practical work experience that includes a significant international component. The purpose of global internships is to accomplish learning objectives that are not possible to achieve within the confines of a classroom setting. The focus is on an international experiential learning activity that supplements what students learn in courses that they have taken or are planning to take.
Summer 2013 Internships
Through a partnership with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, Leeds students may do a 6-week (for 4 credits) or 10-week (for 6 credits) internship in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Valencia (Spain). Internship placements are available for students in all areas of emphasis, focusing on a wide range of interests, goals and skill sets. Scholarships are available. Please contact Sarah Kate Hartt (sarah.hartt@colorado.edu) at the Study Abroad Office for additional information.
Forms
Requirements
Approval Form
For Employers
Post a Job or Internship
Reach Undergraduate Students
Register your company with CareerBuffs, then log in and post your open job or internship.
Reach MBA Students
Register your company with the MBA Job Board, then log in and post the open job or internship.
Events
Participate in career events to promote your company’s brand and establish your recruiting pipeline to exceptional Leeds School of Business students.
We can also help you to schedule information sessions, on-campus interviews, or other campus activities and events. Please contact our employer relations professional, Andrea Young at 303.492.7096 to learn more.
Résumés
Pro tip: always check (and re-check) for spelling errors. Spell check doesn’t catch everything. It’s also good idea to have friends, parents, and career advisors look at your résumé—the more eyes, the better.
Undergraduate Résumé Tips & Template
MBA Résumé Template
Résumé Tips
- Please try to follow the resume template as closely as possible. Keep your resume to one page ONLY—no matter how involved you’ve been. This template is set at 10 point font with 11 point font for the categories. The margins in this template are set VERY small to fit everything (.5 for left and right and .3 for top and bottom). You may need to use wider margins and a larger font in order to fill a page, for example, 11-12 point font and 1” margins.
- A resume is “your story” on paper. Most times, employers will have to “meet” you via your resume before they meet you in person. A well thought out and formatted resume shows the reader you are articulate, detailed, have good written communication skills and care about the impression you are making.
- A resume is like a funnel. The “biggest” most important thing you are doing right now is at the top and then funnels down to more detailed, less relevant information. Each position you’ve held will also be structured this way. Your first bullet should always be your biggest, all-encompassing bullet or biggest responsibility bullet. Employers will read your first bullet and decide how much attention to pay to the rest of the bullets under that job, based on the first.
- A References section is not needed on your resume. The employer will let you know when they need your references; this gives you the opportunity to make sure your references are in town or available to talk with them. Please note: it’s usually a red flag to an employer when references can’t be contacted—so confirm your references are available and willing to speak highly of you!
- Use your Boulder street address unless you are sending your resume to people in your hometown. If so, use your permanent address there. 1234 Oak Street, Boulder, CO 80301 (2 spaces after state)
- Show results where you can: increased sales by XX %; exceeded 2011 sales quota by 49%; manage club budget of $5,000; raised $10,000 through various philanthropy events; planned event for 500 people, etc.
When describing your job duties, start each bullet with a strong action verb and give details. Some examples:
- Increased sales for carryout business through exceptional customer service and up-selling
- Provided a positive learning environment, motivated, coached and managed a group of ten children
- Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room personnel to provide high quality service to guests; schedule dining reservations, arrange parties and special services for diners in a fast paced environment
- Removed and disposed of dead trees, maintaining motivation and positive attitude in a repetitive manual labor environment
- Ranked #1 out of ten interns in terms of sales volume, customer retention and new accounts opened
- Co-managed day-to-day operations of busy restaurant; supervised seven employees per shift; calculated employee drawers and the safe; addressed customer complaints and problems using strong customer service skills
- Lead a team of five magazine delivery drivers to ensure on time delivery of the magazine to over 150 drop sites
- Collaborated with peers to ensure customer safety, maintain establishment safety regulations and uphold fire codes
- Supervised two volunteers, handled concert logistics, managed crowd control and vendor booths
- Prepared boats with safety equipment and food supplies; instructed guests on the safety procedures of the river; informed clients of commands for river navigation
- Assembled and analyzed cost basis and cash flow analysis
- Established long-term relationships with media through promotional activities and market research
- Trained new employees in company processes and job duties, including _______.
- Answered phones, scheduled 30+ appointments per day, and updated customer databases
- Perform various administrative tasks such as alumni outreach to increase membership
- Coordinated and organized swim lessons for 150 children and CPR certification program for 20 lifeguards
- Analyzed multi-family commercial real estate projects using pro forma financial statements
Your bullets can be longer and include more than one piece of information about a certain topic, just separate with a semi-colon. If extremely detailed information, 2 sentences per bullet is OK, just use periods throughout resume then.
Of course, always check for spelling errors. Remember, spell check doesn’t catch everything. It’s a good idea to have your friends, business acquaintances, etc, look at your resume—the more eyes, the better.
Cover Letters
A cover letter is a sales pitch. It is an opportunity to market your skills and personal strengths in a compelling and personal way to an employer for a specific position. A strong cover letter will prompt the recruiter to give your resume more consideration and hopefully offer you a chance to interview. The most important thing to remember is that the cover letter is about what you can do for the company, not about what the company can do for you. Your cover letter should address the specific position that is available, as opposed to your interest in the company as a whole. You will need to write a customized cover letter for each position you apply for.
Cover Letter Sample
Here is an example that may help you to write effective cover letters. For further assistance, contact the Career Connections staff.
The three most important elements of a good cover letter are:
- Knowledge: Demonstrate that you know what is good for the company. An employer hires you to fill the needs of a specific position. Make sure you know what those needs are by looking at the qualifications outlined in the job posting, or the job description.
- Self-awareness: Identify your strengths and skills. WHY should they consider you? How does your background line up with their needs?
- Heart: Allow your passion to show through. This is a way for potential employers to get to know you before they actually meet you. Your cover letter combined with your resume should paint a picture of who you are.
Cover Letter Structure (3-4 paragraphs)
Opening
This first paragraph should tell the reader why you are writing. And it should grab their attention so that they keep reading!
- Who you are? Your year in school, degree, etc.
- Why you are writing to them—i.e., what position are you applying for—include a personal contact name here if you were referred by a friend, professor or mutual contact. You can include how you learned of the opening.
- Why you are interested in the position—really think about your answer to this, it needs to be genuine.
- Show your industry/company knowledge and demonstrate briefly that you understand their needs. You’ll use this as a transition to the next paragraph which will show why you are the best candidate for their job.
The Sales Pitch
The second (and maybe third) paragraph is your opportunity to convince the employer that you would be a good candidate to interview.
- Choose 3 skills/traits the employer is requiring and show how you meet these requirements. Use the job description, requirements or qualifications to inspire your paragraph. Pull from past work experience, coursework and personal experience.
- DO NOT regurgitate your resume. Relate your experience to them and their job. Where your resume is factual, this is your chance to show the worth of these experiences as they relate to the open position.
- Show that you are action and results oriented. Bring each story and example full circle to include a positive ending and result where possible. Or, if results aren’t applicable, what did you learn?
Closing
- Restate in one sentence how you can add value to the firm.
- Restate your interest in the firm and thank them for their consideration.
- Identify your next action. Remember that you are responsible for the follow-up if possible.
- You will receive a call/email if selected for an interview, keep in mind most companies will not contact you if they are not interested in you.
Additional Tips
- Address your letter to a specific person if possible. If it is not possible to send your letter to someone (many busy HR departments will not include a name for fear of being inundated with calls) simply address your letter to the “Recruiting Committee” or “Hiring Committee” or “Hiring Manager”. Or do not include a salutation at all.
- Use a business letter format, make sure your letter is grammatically correct and free of all errors.
- Always have someone else read your letters before you send them. It is exceedingly difficult to find your own mistakes.
Elevator Pitch
An “elevator speech” is a term taken from the early days of the internet explosion when web development companies needed venture capital. Finance firms were swamped with applications for money and the companies that won the cash were often those with a simple pitch. The best were those that could explain a business propositions to the occupants of an elevator in the time it took them to ride their floor. In other words, an elevator speech that worked was able to describe and sell an idea in 30 seconds or less. Today, an elevator speech can be any kind of short speech that sells an idea, promotes your business or markets you as an individual.
An elevator speech is as essential as a business card. You need to be able to say who you are, what you do, what you are interested in doing and how you can be a resource for you listeners. If you don’t have an elevator speech, people won’t know what you really do.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE—Before writing any part of your elevator speech, research your audience. You will be much more likely to succeed if your elevator speech is clearly targeted at the individuals you are speaking to. Having a “generic” elevator pitch is almost certain fail.
KNOW YOURSELF—Before you can convince anyone of your proposition you need to know exactly what it is. You need to define precisely what you are offering, what problems you can solve and what benefits you bring to a prospective contact or employers.
Answer the following questions:
- What are your key strengths?
- What adjectives come to mind to describe you?
- What is it you are trying to “sell” or let others know about you?
- Why are you interested in the company or industry the person represents?
OUTLINE YOUR TALK—Start an outline of your material using bullet points. You don’t need to add any detail at this stage; simply write a few notes to help remind you of what you really want to say. They don’t need to be complete sentences.
You can use the following questions to start your outline:
- Who am I?
- What do I offer?
- What problem is solved?
- What are the main contributions I can make?
- What should the listener do as a result of hearing this?
FINALIZE YOUR SPEECH—Now that you have your outline of your material, you can finalize the speech. The key to doing this is to expand on the notes you made by writing out each section in full. To help you do this, follow these guidelines:
To help you do this, follow these guidelines:
- Take each note you made and write a sentence about it.
- Take each of the sentences and connect them together with additional phrases to make them flow.
Go through what you have written and change any long words or jargon into everyday language.
- Go back through the re-written materials and cut out unnecessary words.
- Finalize your speech by making sure it is no more than 90 words long.
PDF [Content courtesy of Pepperdine University]
Networking
A great article by Amy Fontinelle at Forbes on networking:
Many of us look at networking the way we look at going to the dentist. We know we're supposed to do it, but we really don't want to. So we put it off until, one day, something goes wrong and we have no other choice.
The way networking is usually presented makes it seem incredibly unappealing. It defies our natural tendencies: it seems insincere and sycophantic, and for introverts in particular, it seems to require becoming a whole new person--one who is fearless and gregarious, and who never encounters an awkward silence.
But networking isn't really about forcing yourself out the door to attend networking events where you'll present your elevator speech and hand out your business card to as many people as possible. It's about developing genuine relationships with people who will be there for you even when you don't need them. So how do you do that?
Read More
Interviewing
It is vital to understand what interviewers are looking for and how you can give it to them. They want to know:
- How you present yourself—A good first impression is vital.
- How bright or intelligent you are—Ask good questions during the interview.
- What you’ve done—Emphasize your experience (internships, part-time jobs, special accomplishments, student organizations, etc.)
- How committed you are to work—Convey your willingness to work hard.
- What kind of person you are—Convey maturity, responsibility, enthusiasm, confidence, energy and trustworthiness.
Your Appearance
- Appearance should reflect maturity and self-confidence.
- Dress tastefully. A suit or sport coat with a necktie and slacks for men and a suit or tailored dress and pantyhose for women are acceptable.
- Avoid too much make-up, jewelry, or cologne/perfume.
- Do not chew gum during an interview!
- Leave large bags outside the interview room.
Know Your Product
In order to “sell” yourself, you will need to organize your thoughts in advance. Know your résumé cold. It is your responsibility to convey a good picture of who you are and how you would fit into their organization. Emphasis your professional compatibility to the organization and job description through your:
- Interest, values, skills, and personality
- Education and experience
- Proudest achievements
- Ways you have overcome obstacles
- Personal strengths/weaknesses
- Why you are attracted to the position
- Have at least 5 success stories prepared—people remember stories longer than lists of qualities
- Bring quantifiable, concrete data to prove to the interviewer that you have what it take, avoiding generalities or vagueness
Make sure you know your career field and industry as well as the company of the interviewer. Make sure you know about their:
- Services and products
- Organizational structure
- History of their organization
- Future plans
- Financial status
- Recent information in the news
- Growth record
- Main competitors
Become a Good Communicator
- Understand your audience.
- Tailor your answers according to your interviewer’s position in the company.
- Senior members of an organization will be concerned with strategic and large-scale issues.
- Day-to-day supervisors will be more concerned with tactical and small-scale issues.
Responding to Questions
Make sure to keep in mind the following:
- Speak clearly and concisely (two to three minutes per question)
- Take time to collect your thoughts.
- Use nervous energy in a positive manner.
- Be enthusiastic.
- Use active verbs and concrete examples.
- Avoid filler words like “um”, “like…”, “ya know”…etc.
- Do not insult previous employers.
- Maintain a conversational flow.
- Use open and engaged body language.
Be Sincere and Unique
Recruiters are adept at sensing canned answers. These responses don’t convey interesting or reliable information about you. When you answer remember these guidelines:
- There is no single right answer. How you answer is often much more important than the exact content of your answer.
- Be honest. Don’t pretend, for example, that you were sure about your major from the start. The details about how you chose it may illuminate your decision making process.
- Give details and examples. General answers become boring.
- Be specific. Details illustrate your points and make answers more vivid and memorable.
- Stay focused and don’t ramble.
- Don’t repeat yourself.
- Respond directly and succinctly.
- Keep the position in mind.
Emphasize Your Best Qualities
Because recruiters look for these qualities, you should highlight them in your interview answers:
- Goal Oriented/High Energy
- Initiative
- Leader
- Organized
- Quick Learner
- Team Work
- Self-Confidence
- Handle Ambiguity
- Integrity
- Communication Skills
Body Language
You are being evaluated on more than what you say. Make sure that your non-verbal cues (body language, tone of voice, etc.) are in sync with your words:
- Smile.
- Stand up straight.
- Don’t fidget.
- Maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
- Always be attentive.
- Have a firm handshake.
What to Bring to the Interview
- Extra copies of your résumé
- Your references
- Paper/pen
- Portfolio containing samples of your work (if appropriate)
- Show up at least 10 minutes early
Repeat your key strengths several times during an interview
It’s essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they might benefit the potential employer. If you repeat your strengths then they will be remembered and if supported with quantifiable accomplishments; they will be more believable.
Put yourself on their team
Emphasize alliance with the prospective employer by using the employer’s name and products, or services. For example, “As a member of _____, I would carefully analyze the _____ and ______.” Show that you are thinking like a member of the team and will fit in with the existing environment. Be careful though not to say anything that would offend or be taken negatively. Your research will help you in this area.
Ask questions
The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out specific questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. Don’t ask about benefits or salary.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice will help you hone your message and improve your delivery. It’s your choice; you can get your practice in the interview or beforehand. Then review what went well and what you could improve for future interviews.
Practice Interviews
Practice makes Perfect!
You’ve heard it said so many times. Making an excellent first impression is essential for a strong interview. This includes your appearance, your timeliness, but most importantly, your interviewing skills!
Who really gets the job? The best qualified? The smartest candidate? Not necessarily. Most of the time, it’s the person who is able to best present his or her skills to employers in a professional and effective manner.
Before heading into your next interview, spend 30 minutes using our newest technology: InterviewStream.
Set up an account using your colorado.edu email address. If you need help, you can stop by the Career Connections office for more instructions. Don’t have a webcam? We’ll check one out for you to use.
Sponsors
Access for Leeds students to this service is made possible through the generosity of Shell & ConocoPhillips.
Career Planning
Leeds students now have full, free access to Career Insider, a career search and planning resource system powered by Vault.
In order to access Vault, you must be connected on the University’s network. If you are not on campus, you will need to use the VPN in order to access this resource. To download the VPN and for instructions on how to connect, please see the ITS VPN site.
Career Insider is a great online resource for your job search needs. You will receive free access to the following services:
- Career Research—Vault’s award winning career guides, including interview strategies, job-search tips, and full-length profiles of more than 3,000 companies and leading industries.
- Message Boards—Open forums for networking and discussing career issues and related concerns.
- Vault Job Board—Daily expanding and searchable list of hundreds of thousands current job openings.
- Member Network—Search for fellow professionals and job seekers by industry, alumni affiliation, location—or even zodiac sign.
Sponsors
Access for Leeds students to this service is made possible through the generosity of Shell & ConocoPhillips.
Career Assessment
Used by over 400 leading business schools and corporations worldwide, CareerLeader is a web-based comprehensive career assessment tool based on over 25 years of scientific research. CareerLeader measures your interests, your abilities, and what you find most motivating in work.
Career Connections is pleased to offer undergraduate business students the opportunity to take the business-related career assessment, CareerLeader. CareerLeader was designed specifically for business students to help you develop a clear sense of your professional direction and to design strategies to achieve your career goals.
CareerLeader is an online assessment that you can take on YOUR time on YOUR computer. For more information or to preview the assessment, you can log in directly to CareerLeader. The user name is "Colorado" and the password is "Hilltop". To take the actual assessment, however, you must first register with CareerConnections to gain access.
Call 303-492-1808 to schedule an appointment to see a counselor and register for CareerLeader.
Sponsors
Access for Leeds students to this service is made possible through the generosity of Shell & ConocoPhillips.
Business Cards
Exclusively for Leeds undergraduate students.
Sample Card
Cost
Cards are $38.00 for 100 cards, and $42.20 for 250 cards. These are official CU-Boulder cards, printed with the same ink and and paper as faculty cards.
Process
Please fill out and submit the form below.
Order Form
Orders will be submitted to CU-Boulder's Imaging Services once a week on Friday afternoon.
Printing Services will contact you directly (via the email address in your order) to proof your cards. Once you approve, the cards will be printed and available for you to pick up and pay in Folsom Field, Gate 11, Office 280.
Orders will take about one week to be printed (after they are submitted by Leeds to Imaging Services).
Problems or Questions
Email careerconnections@colorado.edu if any questions or issues.
Video
Mike Woods ('06 accounting) emphasizes the importance of taking on leadership roles while at Leeds in order to prepare for a career after school.
Past Events
Event
February 13, 2013
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Stadium Club at Folsom Field
The third annual Leeds Career Fair, exclusively for Leeds undergraduate & MBA students.
Event
February 15, 2012
The Stadium Club at Folsom Field
The second annual Leeds Career Fair, exclusively for Leeds undergraduate & MBA students.
Event
December 1, 2011
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Koelbel 220
Join Jason Weisberg, CU Boulder alumnus '91, FOX Business News personality, and NYSE Trader with Seaport Securities.
Event
November 2, 2011
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
C4C Flatirons Room
Northwestern Mutual brings you Katherine Mason, executive director of ESP and former CU Buff, to present on contemporary dining etiquette for the business world. The curriculum is designed to instill confidence and show students how they can set a positive example for others to follow and learn.
Event
September 20–23, 2011
Courtyard New York/Midtown East
866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
New York, NY
(Hotel rooms are already reserved at a group rate)
The Trek brings exceptional students from the Leeds School’s Finance and Quantitative Finance programs and Investment Banking Seminar to New York for a week to explore career opportunities, expand their network, and gain valuable industry and career perspectives.
Applications are due Wednesday, August 31, via email to career.connections@colorado.edu.
Event
September 20, 2011
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Center For Community
Abrams Lounge
Gently worn suits going for $20 from designers such as Brooks Brothers, Jos.A.Banks, Ann Taylor, Talbots, and many others! Shirts, jackets, pants, skirts, etc. will be sold starting at $5 each. Proceeds from the event go to the Multicultural Business Students Association and the Engineering BOLD Center.
Event
September 19, 2011
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wolf Law
Wittemyer Courtroom
Alumni will tell you great ways to use your senior year to get a job. They’ll tell you what works in interviews, and how companies make decisions on who to hire. And also: what kind of first job sets the right career and life path in motion.
Register now (Leeds seniors in Marketing & Management)
Event
March 2 – April 12, 2011
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Trep Cafe
Hear some resume do’s and don’ts, and have your resume critiqued by an advisor, alum or employer
Event
March 1, 2011
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Flatirons Room
Third Floor, Center for Community
Get your questions answered by industry experts about the sales profession, job searching, interviewing, and more. Just show up with questions.
Event
February 22, 2011
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Flatirons Room
Third Floor, Center for Community
Interested in a career in consulting? Hear what current consultants do on the job, interesting client problems they're working to solve, challenges they face, and advice about how to find a position in consulting. Just show up with your resume and your questions.
Event
February 16, 2011
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Folsom Field, Stadium Club
A focused career fair bringing over 70 companies to campus who want to recruit business students.
