#BreakThru

Meet Melissa Drown! Melissa is a third-year PhD candidate working in the Marine Genomic lab at RSMAS. She has enjoyed working with Toppel staff to gain skills that will help in her post-doctoral pursuits, including resume best practices, personal brand/website building, and how to interview in a virtual world. Melissa says that "as an LGBT+ woman in STEM, it is important that I work with people who respect me and promote equal opportunities for all students."

Some advice from Melissa: “Be yourself! You never know who you may inspire. I do my best to be my authentic self, especially when working with undergraduate students, to show them that they can be who they are and be successful in science. The more visibility the better.”

Cane2Cane Projects

Cane2Cane is a community of UM students and alumni, with the mission to facilitate career exploration, networking, and to prepare students for the workforce. Browse the network of Cane2Cane members based on industry, major, or an area of interest, then start conversations with potential mentors, explore articles, webinars, and other resources.

If you want hands-on, practical experience in your area of interest, check out Cane2Cane Projects! These are short-term, virtual experiences with well-defined goals. They are a learning opportunity supported by guided mentorship, and many of the projects will include a small stipend. Keep an eye on the “New Opportunities” section in each issue of the Toppel Insider for a featured Cane2Cane Project.

Responding to Recruiters

One benefit of Handshake is that recruiters can message you directly if they think you would be a good fit for their company. Most of the time, these will be invitations to RSVP for an upcoming event. Before responding, look at the company’s page in Handshake and do a little bit of research. Within 1-2 days, you should be ready to respond and start by thanking them for reaching out to you. Then, be honest about your interest in the session or position. Take action if necessary and be sure to follow up.

Check out this article for some more in-depth advice on how to wow recruiters that message you.

New Opportunities	Helpful Habits	Here's How Your Employer Can Help You	Resource Spotlight
Jobs/Internships: MOBILE OUTREACH MEMBER Metropolitan Ministries AMERICORPS ASSOCIATE Branches STUDENT SUCCESS COACH City Year Miami AMERICORPS CAPACITY BUILDER Public Allies Miami Cane2Cane Project: COMPETITOR SOCIAL MEDIA REVIEW SCB Management Consulting	The job search process can be time-consuming, and at times, it may seem like you’re applying to lots of jobs without hearing back. How can you save time and increase your chances of advancing to an interview and securing your next position? Staying organized and being more selective about the positions you apply for can help! This article breaks down three habits that could increase your chances of getting a job.	Even without the pandemic making finances difficult, it can be tough to build emergency savings when you’re breaking into an industry or starting off as a young adult in the workforce. If you’re looking for someone to lend a hand, why not try your employer? One of the newest innovations available to workers today are Emergency Savings Accounts, which are offered as a workplace benefit to make it easier to build a rainy-day fund. Check out this article for more information about how your employer can help you build your own emergency savings.	Forage is a platform where students can find free Virtual Experience Programs posted by top companies to build valuable career skills and get a taste of industry experience via short, real-world, company-backed online projects. Virtual work experience programs replicate work at top companies and connect students to the companies themselves. In only 5-6 hours, you can learn relevant tools and skills necessary for your field of interest. Virtual Work Experience Programs are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced - and no experience or application is required. Get started here today!