Students Attend Resume Writing and Job Interview Workshop

With summer right around the corner, University School of Milwaukee invited Upper School students to attend one of two resume writing and job interview workshops to prepare for summer internship, job shadowing, and employment opportunities.

The events were hosted on a Saturday and Sunday in February and March, by the Upper School’s Internship and Shadowing committee, and lasted approximately four hours each. They are a mix of presentations and workshops led by USM trustee and parent Julie Gilpin, who shared resume writing basics, interview dos and don’ts, and practical tips on workplace etiquette and expectations.  

School parents volunteered their time to meet individually with students, first to review their resumes and offer advice, and then to conduct mock interviews in which students practiced verbally summarizing their skills and abilities. They also practiced using appropriate eye contact, body language, and firm handshakes during the workshops. The volunteers brought a wide range of educational and professional expertise, and students had the chance to meet with several different volunteers to get multiple perspectives. 

The event was open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12, and is a requirement for anyone interested in participating in the school’s Internship and Shadowing program. Students were invited via email to register for the program, which is unique amongst area high schools. It provides sophomores, juniors, and graduating seniors with summer internships and job shadowing (both medical and non-medical) opportunities created by school parent-affiliated companies and other organizations. Previous internship and job shadowing experiences have occurred in engineering, finance, journalism, entrepreneurship, computer science, environmental fields, product development, sports management, graphic design, social media, robotics, software development, and many more medical and non-medical fields. 

In addition, the Internship and Shadowing program also hosts Lunch and Learn events throughout the school year, in which students are invited to eat their lunch with leaders and industry experts to learn more about specific fields of employment. This year’s lunch and learn events have covered judges, government and public policy, dentistry, and psychology. 

Parent volunteers are always welcomed and encouraged to participate, whether by joining a lunch and learn event, attending the job interview and resume writing workshop, or hosting an internship or job shadow at their place of employment. Please contact Susan Zarwell, assistant head of Upper School, at szarwell@usm.org.

Many thanks to Julie Gilpin, and the following Internship and Shadowing committee members, who have made these opportunities for students possible: Kim Cassiani Crosbie, Britton Domer, Meredith Epstein, Anne Marie Finley, Dr. Stephanie Handler, Tracie Horton, Dr. Sri Lazzaro, Kara McMahon, Dr Bethany Peri, and Susan Zarwell ’87.