As a scientific account manager for Actalent, a company that supports engineering and science services and talent solutions, Grace specializes in the hiring and retention of scientific and healthcare professionals in her region. Actalent is where she started her career after graduation with an opportunity she found on Handshake. Grace emphasizes the importance of Handshake, saying that she wishes she’d used it earlier in her college career. Grace advises students to push to keep working hard in school; your drive, energy, and ability to persevere are what’s going to help you stand out and succeed in an organization, she says. In other words, the results you achieve reflect the work you put in, and opportunities arise from what you actively pursue.  

Handshake is a platform available to all University of Iowa students. On it, you can explore career options, find jobs and internships, and connect with employers. The search engine and filters make it easier to narrow down the search and help find what you’re looking for, but TCS knows that the number of options can still be overwhelming. That’s why we post career leads on a biweekly basis to ensure relevant, up-to-date options are available for both full-time and internship opportunities for each of the seven Tippie majors. Leads can be found on our website under the Undergraduate Career Leads tab, or in dispatch emails.  

Ben Sebers, a portfolio analyst for Aegon Asset Management, offers advice based on his experiences in school and his career. Aegon Asset Management is a global investment company with deep asset-class expertise in fixed-income, real assets, equities, and multi-asset & solutions. As a portfolio analyst, Ben never has the same work day-to-day as his team works to position portfolios based on market behavior and strategic projects.  

As students build their skill sets, Ben encourages them not just to join an organization on campus, but to be a leader within. “Build that distinction that differentiates your skill set to prove your internal drive,” Ben says. “In a competitive market, you want to talk yourself up and always be thinking about your next step.”  

Getting involved on campus has benefits beyond learning about different fields; it allows for opportunities to build your network and lead your peers, too. The University of Iowa has over 600 organizations on campus, more than 20 of which are within the Tippie College of Business, so there are many ways to get involved. Already part of a Tippie student org? TCS funds career fairs, networking events, and professional trips. Apply for funding on our website! 

As the first DEI Analyst at Athene, Nina Norton has embraced the opportunity to drive innovation and make a lasting impact. Athene, a retirement services company, helps individuals and businesses plan for the future, and Nina plays a key role in initiatives like neurodiverse hiring, organizing the Athene Black and Brown Business Summit, and managing finances for development program ERGs. Her experiences, both at Athene and in previous internships and Dance Marathon, helped solidify her passion and career path after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2022. 

Nina shares valuable advice with undergraduate students navigating their internship and job searches. She emphasizes thorough preparation for interviews—researching companies, practicing questions in the STAR format, and coming ready with insightful questions for interviewers. "Job searches can be time-consuming, and every 'no' doesn't define your worth," she says. "Everything happens for a reason." 

Tippie Career Services provides several resources to help students feel more confident in their job search. Tools like Big Interview and CaseCoach offer free, accessible interview practice, while VMock uses AI to give personalized resume feedback tailored to Tippie students' needs. 

As a recruiter for Cottingham & Butler, an insurance agency that thoughtfully assesses the risks and coverage tailored to their clients, Maddie has insight into recruitment and company interests, not to mention advice for students looking for a full-time job or internship. She spends her time working on current projects while also planning for almost a year into the future. Invested in all that she does, Maddie wants to ensure that she’s finding the right fit for both Cottingham & Butler when she recruits students, as well as the right fit for students themselves.  

Maddie has a few pieces of advice for graduating seniors and undergraduate students, but the overarching theme is the importance of being authentic throughout the recruitment process. In other words, don’t try to fit the role – find a role that fits you. “Be proud of who you are,” Maddie says. “Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself.”  

VMock, a free tool available exclusively to Tippie students, can help you understand if a role is the right fit for you. The platform is a resume builder and editor designed to optimize your resume for jobs in your field, and you can even upload a job description into the platform and compare it to your resume. Take time to reflect on your experiences and how you’ve applied your skills before interacting with employers. Consider adding this information to your LinkedIn profile too, and check out the career advice posted in the Tippie Undergraduate Career Services LinkedIn group to further enhance your skills.  

Chris is a campus recruiter who knows the ins and outs of landing an internship or full-time position with Echo Global Logistics, where teams of experts work together to simplify transportation management with one-stop technology. Chris spends his time finding individuals who fit the company culture at the 12-15 universities he visits and manages company relationships. He says his goal is to increase brand awareness, which he does by attending career fairs, connecting with student organizations, and presenting in classrooms. 

Chris encourages students looking for an opportunity to avoid changing themselves to be the ‘perfect fit’ for a role. “It’s pretty clear when people are putting on a show,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself; you’ll find yourself more comfortable and find the right role for you.”  

Got upcoming interviews? Check out a virtual reality headset from W160 and utilize BodySwap, a VR simulation app that offers feedback on physical and verbal response. To stay up to date on available internship opportunities relevant to you, Tippie Undergraduate Career Services team updates our Lead Sheets bi-weekly with internship and full-time opportunities at companies that hire Tippie students.  

For Group O, a business process outsourcing company that provides marketing, supply chain, and packaging solutions, serving the community has always been a top priority. Maria, the corporate and community liaison for the company, provides employees with the opportunity to give back to the community. Group O’s philanthropic values began with Maria’s grandfather, Robert Ontiveros, who started the company in 1974. Today, she carries on his passion as Group O continues to support the Quad Cities.  

Across many valuable experiences, Maria’s advice has the same point: take initiative. She encourages us all to seek out and say “yes” to different opportunities. “You get what you put into it,” Maria says. “Take learning into your own hands and keep a positive attitude.”  

For undergraduate students looking to get involved, Tippie offers many opportunities for volunteering, professional development, and building connections with fellow students. The Tippie Undergraduate Career Services LinkedIn group is another great source of unique opportunities, as well as career-oriented advice, information on giveaways and other events, student ambassador stories, and more. All are a chance to put yourself out there and take advantage of the resources and opportunities that Tippie has to offer.  

Nicole’s time at Tippie included many of the experiences that marketing majors may have. A conversation with recruiters at the all-majors career fair landed her an internship with HNI in a product launch marketing role. That internship eventually turned into a full-time offer from the company, which provides workplace furnishings for a range of work environments with an emphasis on corporate social responsibility and inclusive company culture. Nicole is currently in a year-long leadership development program.  

Nicole‘s advice for graduating seniors embarking on their post-graduate adventure is simple: use your network. She says it’s important to connect with like-minded peers in a similar career stage, both at work and outside of it, forming bonds both professionally and personally. Not only is such a network advantageous in the workplace, but it’s also a valuable support network outside work.  

To stay connected to Tippie peers and alumni, consider applying for the Young Alumni Board (YAB) and joining the Tippie Undergraduate Career Services LinkedIn group. The YAB is a group of recent graduates that strives to build connections between the college and its alumni and develop a network of mutually beneficial relationships for alumni, students, faculty, and staff. Meanwhile, the TUCS LinkedIn group is full of business-oriented career advice and offers a great opportunity to connect with other Tippie students. If you’re a current undergraduate student, consider joining a Tippie student organization to build connections and learn with others.  

With a diverse background across multiple industries, Josie Stegman is eager to share her insights and advice with undergraduate students and young alumni. As a Talent Acquisition Consultant at Holmes Murphy, a leading insurance brokerage firm, Josie highlights essential skills such as time management, problem-solving, and collaboration as crucial to standing out in today’s competitive job market. 

She stresses the importance of actively building your network and stepping outside your comfort zone to engage with others. "Get out of your comfort zone," she encourages. "That's when you discover what truly excites you." Whether it’s initiating a conversation or learning from others’ experiences, expanding your connections can open doors to new opportunities. 

Once you secure an internship or full-time position, Josie advises taking a deeper look beyond salary. Evaluating company benefits holistically can help you make more informed decisions about your career. As a Tippie student, you are able to set up a one-on-one appointment with a career coach to discuss internship and full-time job opportunities, as well as look over any job offers you may receive to ensure you’re choosing the one that’s right for you.  

As a member of one of the first classes to use the Pappajohn Business Building, Kristin is eager to share her experiences with those following in her footsteps. Landing an internship after volunteering at the all-majors career fair helped her identify a passion for people-focused roles, eventually leading her to her current role as director of talent and leadership development at Pella Corporation, an industry-leading window and door manufacturer.  

Kristin encourages undergraduate students to be true to themselves but be willing to take risks and opportunities that come their way. “The world moves fast and is only going to move faster,” Kristin says. “Be willing to try anything.”  

Tippie Undergraduate Career Services sources leads to help undergraduates find internship and full-time opportunities. The leads, refreshed biweekly, are broken down by major to ensure diverse choices for students. As Kristin experienced, internships are a great opportunity to explore different areas of interest, so take advantage of this resource to help you find your passion!  

Recent Tippie grad Brett Moody knows firsthand how the skills Iowa teaches prepare students for success in the professional world. After completing an internship with Schneider, a leader in transport, freight shipping, and logistics, Brett transitioned to a full-time inside sales associate role with the company. As a former management major, he finds that many of the classes he took at Tippie apply directly to his current role.  

Brett emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone. “I would have never had the opportunities I have now without taking a risk,” he says, referring to the courage it took to approach companies at career fairs. “Don’t sit back and hope; take a chance.” Brett’s journey highlights how practice leads to greater confidence. The staff and faculty on campus, as well as representatives at career fairs, are eager to help students – you just need to take that first step, he says, even if you’re feeling nervous.   

Tippie Career Services offers one-on-one meetings throughout the school year to address a variety of questions related to job and internship searches (and more). TCS career specialists can help you identify your strengths and craft an elevator pitch to approach companies and recruiters with confidence at career fairs. Our website also features interview prep resources, including a pitch development worksheet, to help ease your nerves as you prepare to connect with employers.  

Tori Graham, a seasoned recruiter from Transamerica, hasn’t just seen what it takes to succeed; she also understands the common challenges students face as they transition from college to career. Transamerica is a financial services and insurance company with experts in retirement, employee benefits, life insurance, annuities, and investments.  

Tori advises students to keep an attitude of wanting to take things on. She shares that it makes an impression on employers when young talent is willing to take initiative with their finished tasks and look beyond what’s next. She also notes that not all your experiences are going to be the best, but learning from experiences that aren’t ideal is what’s important. “Your first job may not be exactly what you thought it’s going to be,” she says. “Be resourceful by taking the skills and lessons from that to your next job and work with intensity.”  

There are many resources on campus to help you find an internship or full-time position to start exploring your passions. If the number of choices feels overwhelming, make an appointment with the Tippie Undergraduate Career Services team, who can offer guidance regarding leads and professional development. Schedule an appointment today on MyUI!

From the classroom to the business world, recent Tippie alum Daniel is familiar with today’s Iowa student experiences. Landing an eCommerce Business Analyst internship at Uline, a leading North American distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials, eventually turned into the full-time associate position he holds at the company. Daniel prepared for his current job with a capstone project as a business analytics major, where he worked in a team to analyze sales.  

Daniel’s time as an intern and full-time Uline employee gave him the opportunity to ask questions of other experienced professionals. It’s a practice he advises for current Tippie students as they move along in their education and into the workplace. “Questions fill in the gaps and make things more efficient,” Daniel says. “Clarification will make your job easier.”  

To prepare for career fairs, interviews, and networking overall, read through the Tippie Career Services Guide on the Tippie Undergraduate Career Services website. Our site also has free certification courses for professional development that you can use to fill any knowledge gaps before starting an internship or full-time job. Meanwhile, for daily advice and action items, the Tippie Undergraduate Career Services LinkedIn group (open to students, alumni, faculty, and staff) has tips and tricks posted on a regular basis.