IR Career Advisor

Posted by Melissa Fitzgerald, Career Advisor for IR Major

Hello from the Desk of Melissa Fitzgerald at the Pomerantz Career Center!

Hi!  I’d like to introduce myself – I am one of the new career advisors in the Pomerantz Career Center here at the University of Iowa.  A little background about myself: I grew up in the Cedar Rapids area, studied psychology at Ball State University in Indiana, completed my master’s in College Student Personnel at Western Illinois University and have been working in Pennsylvania for the last 6 years as an Assistant Director of Career Services.  Coming back to Iowa with my family 12 years later has been an exciting adventure and we’re so happy to be home!

Coming to work every day knowing that I get the chance to work with students that are exploring their career options excites me.  I remember being in my senior year of undergrad and having the conversation with my advisor “What can I really do with this degree?”  I didn’t have all the answers and neither did she, but together, we were able to focus on my abilities, skills and interests and found a way to capitalize on my strengths until I was able to find my right career path.

Having that “ah-ha” moment with my advisor led me to my career as a career advisor.  It is my goal to help each and every one of my students have that “ah-ha” moment.  Each path for each student is very different.  How we all choose a major, what we enjoy and like about our major, and what we decide to do with our major can and should be different!  I’m here to help you explore all of the options and put you in touch with the resources that will help connect you with your future career path.  Sometimes these moments take years of work, but we’re in it together.

Looking back on my college career, I have 2 major regrets.  1 – I wish I would have taken the opportunity to study abroad (if you’re interested, I encourage you to contact the study abroad office) and 2 – I should have met with my career advisor much sooner than my senior year!  I felt so lost until those conversations started happening.  It would have saved me many sleepless nights had I connected sooner.

So what can our office do for you?  We have a wide variety of programs and services that will benefit you as a student. The list below is simply a highlight.  If you’d like the full list of our services, please visit our webpage at: www.careers.uiowa.edu

Career Advising Appointments
Job and Internship database, HireAHawk
Mock Interviews offered year round
Assistance connecting with volunteer and service learning opportunities that pertain to your career area
Self-Assessments including Focus2, the Strong Interest Inventory, and the MBTI
Resume and Cover Letter review 9-4 Monday-Friday – Walk-Ins (really – no appointment is needed!)
Job and Internship Fairs (We have a fair coming up on Feb. 27^th in the IMU Ballroom)
 

For specific step-by-step instructions on scheduling an appointment in our office, please click here.  Remember – take advantage of those walk-in hours Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm!

I look forward to hearing from you and/or seeing you in our office.

Melissa Fitzgerald
Career Advisor
Pomerantz Career Center