Recommendation Request Packet

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

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Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development Welcome to Module 11! You've spent the whole semester building skills that are important for success in doing research at the University. The goal of this module is to help you showcase those skills as you seek research positions, apply for graduate schools, or go out into the workforce. This week's topic is professional and career development.

GETTING STARTED

One of the most valuable skills you can develop is networking, or making connections with people in your discipline who can help you expand your skills and experience.

1. If you haven't already utilized the services of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), (https://our.utah.edu/) this is a perfect time. Their "Getting Started" (https://our.utah.edu/for- students/getting-started/) link provides several resources for students who are new to undergraduate research. One of the best ways you can make the most of these options, however, is by Making an Advising Appointment with the OUR (https://our.utah.edu/for-students/getting- started/undergraduate-research-advising/)

Other really useful services offered by OUR include, but are not limited to:

a Searchable Database of Current Research Opportunities (https://our.utah.edu/find-a- research-opportunity/) research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (https://our.utah.edu/urop/) (UROP) Undergraduate Research Education Series (https://our.utah.edu/events/ures/)

If you haven't already started working with a mentor, though, that is likely your next step. The OUR can help you get started on finding a mentor. (https://our.utah.edu/researchadvising/how-to-find-a- mentor/) Alternatively, if you have some potential mentors in mind (e.g., professors of courses you've taken), you can approach those professors about opportunities to participate in their research. Here's some advice from the OUR website on how to go about this.

How to contact a professor who has provided an opportunity in which you are interested: Write a professional and appropriate email. In that email be CONCISE, courteous, honest, and as specific as possible about what you are asking of them. Check out their faculty research page and know so mething about their work before you contact them. Make a specific request of the faculty member— for example, ask to meet them in person for a lab tour or a conversation about the opportunity t hey have posted. 

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

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2. Another avenue for getting involved in research as part of your degree curriculum is the Honors College (https://honors.utah.edu/about-the-honors-college/) . As with the OUR, the best way to get started with the Honors College is by Making an Advising Appointment (https://honors.utah.edu/advising/) . The Honors Advising team can help you understand how honors would intersect your own Degree Pathway (https://honors.utah.edu/degree-and-course-planner/) and what the Honors Thesis (https://honors.utah.edu/thesis/) process entails.

3. You can also make connections with researchers in your discipline by attending conferences. Here at the University of Utah, you can see what kinds of research your peers are doing by attending the Undergraduate Research Symposium (https://our.utah.edu/education-events/urs/) held every fall and spring, the Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research (https://our.utah.edu/education- events/ucur/) , or by attending a regional or national conference in your own discipline (your professors in your major can help you understand the best ones). You can also attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (https://www.cur.org/what/events/students/ncur/2021/) .

DOCUMENTING YOUR EXPERIENCES

1. Another critical skill that you should develop during your undergraduate research pathway is how to document your experiences. In many/most fields, professionals document their skills and experiences with a resume. In academic research circles, however, researchers document their experiences with a curriculum vita, or CV.

Even if you're just getting started in the field, you may need a resume to help you represent your skills to professors with whom you're interested in working. It may also be important for scholarship applications, internships, or job applications. If you just Google "resume generator" there are lots of options out there -- some free, and some requiring a fee. Norms for resumes may vary somewhat from field to field, and formatting is often a matter of personal taste -- in general, you should keep

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

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your style formatting clear and simple. The Writing Center has posted a booklet of Resume Templates (https://writingcenter.utah.edu/writing-resources/resumesamples.pdf) for different fields that can be helpful in constructing your own resume. The key for a resume is to keep it short and sweet - document your education, what jobs you've done and where and when, and what skills you have developed. It's not necessary to put every single job you've ever had on your resume -- keep it relevant for the jobs you are applying for. For example, in my sample resume below, I did NOT include that I worked in a movie theater concession stand in high school, or that I dressed up in costumes to do kids' birthday parties in college.

CVs, on the other hand, can be as long as resumes are short. CVs document jobs and education as well as grants, awards, publications, presentations, courses taught, and so on. Here's a copy of my cv, for comparison's sake: https://faculty.utah.edu/bytes/curriculumVitae.hml?id=u0341800

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 4/5

(https://faculty.utah.edu/bytes/curriculumVitae.hml?id=u0341800) (Keep in mind that I've been working in my field for over 20 years, so your CV would be expected to look different when you're starting out)

2. Although a resume or a CV may document your experiences, they often don't give the audience a sense of who YOU are. Why did you get into your field of study, what do you want to do with your experiences, what unique passions or perspectives do you bring to your discipline? This information is shared through your personal statement; it's how you make the impersonal details on your resume more personal. The U of U Writing Center has a very clear guide for How to Write a Personal Statement (https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/files/156929705?wrap=1) , including the structure (see below), as well as some do's and dont's -- click on the link to see the presentation. In general, your statement should only be 1-2 pages; in my opinion, a single page is better.

3. And finally, when you are applying for a job or an internship or a graduate program, you need to tie the above information together in a cover letter. The cover letter for one of these applications is a single page or so and typically indicates:

Who you are What you're applying for BRIEFLY summarizes your relevant experience BRIEFLY expresses why you are interested in the position BRIEFLY summarizes what information you have included with your letter

However, cover letters are also important when you're requesting recommendation letters, which may be necessary for the above types of applications. When you approach a professor to request a recommendation letter, you want to do everything you can to help that professor write the best letter possible. This includes giving them all of the information they need, such as:

Who you are (did you take one of their classes? If so, when? Or what semesters did you work in their lab?) What you're applying for (if it's a program for graduate school, send them a link to the program website)

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

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What your relevant experiences have been (give them a copy of your CV or resume and your personal statement) How to submit the letter (is there a person to whom it should be addressed, or a link for submitting it) What the application deadline is (the more time you give your professor to write the letter, the better; 4-6 weeks is ideal)

TRYING IT OUT

The best way to learn how to create a good resume, personal statement, and cover letter is to try it out and get feedback. For this week's assignment, you'll be creating a Recommendation Request Packet DRAFT (https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/assignments/13655700) . You'll be asked to draft a sample email cover letter, a resume or CV (your choice), and a personal statement. This assignment is due at midnight on April 29, and it is worth 15% of your final grade. This assignment is one of your "takeaway products" from the course that you will have a head start on, and that you can use and revise as you continue your undergraduate research career.

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 1/5

Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development Welcome to Module 11! You've spent the whole semester building skills that are important for success in doing research at the University. The goal of this module is to help you showcase those skills as you seek research positions, apply for graduate schools, or go out into the workforce. This week's topic is professional and career development.

GETTING STARTED

One of the most valuable skills you can develop is networking, or making connections with people in your discipline who can help you expand your skills and experience.

1. If you haven't already utilized the services of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), (https://our.utah.edu/) this is a perfect time. Their "Getting Started" (https://our.utah.edu/for- students/getting-started/) link provides several resources for students who are new to undergraduate research. One of the best ways you can make the most of these options, however, is by Making an Advising Appointment with the OUR (https://our.utah.edu/for-students/getting- started/undergraduate-research-advising/)

Other really useful services offered by OUR include, but are not limited to:

a Searchable Database of Current Research Opportunities (https://our.utah.edu/find-a- research-opportunity/) research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (https://our.utah.edu/urop/) (UROP) Undergraduate Research Education Series (https://our.utah.edu/events/ures/)

If you haven't already started working with a mentor, though, that is likely your next step. The OUR can help you get started on finding a mentor. (https://our.utah.edu/researchadvising/how-to-find-a- mentor/) Alternatively, if you have some potential mentors in mind (e.g., professors of courses you've taken), you can approach those professors about opportunities to participate in their research. Here's some advice from the OUR website on how to go about this.

How to contact a professor who has provided an opportunity in which you are interested: Write a professional and appropriate email. In that email be CONCISE, courteous, honest, and as specific as possible about what you are asking of them. Check out their faculty research page and know so mething about their work before you contact them. Make a specific request of the faculty member— for example, ask to meet them in person for a lab tour or a conversation about the opportunity t hey have posted. 

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 2/5

2. Another avenue for getting involved in research as part of your degree curriculum is the Honors College (https://honors.utah.edu/about-the-honors-college/) . As with the OUR, the best way to get started with the Honors College is by Making an Advising Appointment (https://honors.utah.edu/advising/) . The Honors Advising team can help you understand how honors would intersect your own Degree Pathway (https://honors.utah.edu/degree-and-course-planner/) and what the Honors Thesis (https://honors.utah.edu/thesis/) process entails.

3. You can also make connections with researchers in your discipline by attending conferences. Here at the University of Utah, you can see what kinds of research your peers are doing by attending the Undergraduate Research Symposium (https://our.utah.edu/education-events/urs/) held every fall and spring, the Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research (https://our.utah.edu/education- events/ucur/) , or by attending a regional or national conference in your own discipline (your professors in your major can help you understand the best ones). You can also attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (https://www.cur.org/what/events/students/ncur/2021/) .

DOCUMENTING YOUR EXPERIENCES

1. Another critical skill that you should develop during your undergraduate research pathway is how to document your experiences. In many/most fields, professionals document their skills and experiences with a resume. In academic research circles, however, researchers document their experiences with a curriculum vita, or CV.

Even if you're just getting started in the field, you may need a resume to help you represent your skills to professors with whom you're interested in working. It may also be important for scholarship applications, internships, or job applications. If you just Google "resume generator" there are lots of options out there -- some free, and some requiring a fee. Norms for resumes may vary somewhat from field to field, and formatting is often a matter of personal taste -- in general, you should keep

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 3/5

your style formatting clear and simple. The Writing Center has posted a booklet of Resume Templates (https://writingcenter.utah.edu/writing-resources/resumesamples.pdf) for different fields that can be helpful in constructing your own resume. The key for a resume is to keep it short and sweet - document your education, what jobs you've done and where and when, and what skills you have developed. It's not necessary to put every single job you've ever had on your resume -- keep it relevant for the jobs you are applying for. For example, in my sample resume below, I did NOT include that I worked in a movie theater concession stand in high school, or that I dressed up in costumes to do kids' birthday parties in college.

CVs, on the other hand, can be as long as resumes are short. CVs document jobs and education as well as grants, awards, publications, presentations, courses taught, and so on. Here's a copy of my cv, for comparison's sake: https://faculty.utah.edu/bytes/curriculumVitae.hml?id=u0341800

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 4/5

(https://faculty.utah.edu/bytes/curriculumVitae.hml?id=u0341800) (Keep in mind that I've been working in my field for over 20 years, so your CV would be expected to look different when you're starting out)

2. Although a resume or a CV may document your experiences, they often don't give the audience a sense of who YOU are. Why did you get into your field of study, what do you want to do with your experiences, what unique passions or perspectives do you bring to your discipline? This information is shared through your personal statement; it's how you make the impersonal details on your resume more personal. The U of U Writing Center has a very clear guide for How to Write a Personal Statement (https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/files/156929705?wrap=1) , including the structure (see below), as well as some do's and dont's -- click on the link to see the presentation. In general, your statement should only be 1-2 pages; in my opinion, a single page is better.

3. And finally, when you are applying for a job or an internship or a graduate program, you need to tie the above information together in a cover letter. The cover letter for one of these applications is a single page or so and typically indicates:

Who you are What you're applying for BRIEFLY summarizes your relevant experience BRIEFLY expresses why you are interested in the position BRIEFLY summarizes what information you have included with your letter

However, cover letters are also important when you're requesting recommendation letters, which may be necessary for the above types of applications. When you approach a professor to request a recommendation letter, you want to do everything you can to help that professor write the best letter possible. This includes giving them all of the information they need, such as:

Who you are (did you take one of their classes? If so, when? Or what semesters did you work in their lab?) What you're applying for (if it's a program for graduate school, send them a link to the program website)

2024/4/25 20:27 Week of 4/8: Professional and Career Development : UGS 2950-090 Spring 2024 University Research Exp

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/pages/week-of-4-slash-8-professional-and-career-development 5/5

What your relevant experiences have been (give them a copy of your CV or resume and your personal statement) How to submit the letter (is there a person to whom it should be addressed, or a link for submitting it) What the application deadline is (the more time you give your professor to write the letter, the better; 4-6 weeks is ideal)

TRYING IT OUT

The best way to learn how to create a good resume, personal statement, and cover letter is to try it out and get feedback. For this week's assignment, you'll be creating a Recommendation Request Packet DRAFT (https://utah.instructure.com/courses/939590/assignments/13655700) . You'll be asked to draft a sample email cover letter, a resume or CV (your choice), and a personal statement. This assignment is due at midnight on April 29, and it is worth 15% of your final grade. This assignment is one of your "takeaway products" from the course that you will have a head start on, and that you can use and revise as you continue your undergraduate research career.