Career Guides

These documents will assist you with creating career correspondence, facilitate networking and your job search, provide tips on interviewing and navigating the job fair. Read through these guides and be sure to make an appointment with a career counselor to have your specific questions answered.

Career Correspondence: The Resume

Your resume is a 15 second advertisement of you. Its primary purpose is to get you “in the door” so that you can prove yourself in a personal interview. Because space is limited on the page, you must make every word count!

Career Correspondence: The Cover Letter

The cover letter typically accompanies your resume when you are applying for a position. The cover letter will always change for each position and will demonstrate to the employer why you are a great candidate for that particular position and/or company.

Career Correspondence: Reference List

Most job applicants today provide a list of references that prospective employers can contact to verify employment and discuss job performance.

Career Correspondence: The Thank You Letter

It is absolutely essential to send a thank you letter after each interview. Most applicants don’t take the time to write one, so a candidate who makes the special effort and writes a short, well focused note makes a positive impression.

Job Search Techniques

There are many strategies for finding a job. The most productive usually involve networking, but a good search will encompass several methods at the same time.

Networking & the Informational Interview

Networking is involving the people you know in your job search and gradually expanding your system of contacts. When appropriate seek advice, introductions to others or informational interviews to gain a better idea of internship/job prospects, fields and positions of interest and career pathways.

Navigating the Job Fair

See these as great opportunities to explore and get your feet wet. Your interactions may lead to employment or internship opportunities, but go with the focus of information gathering.

Perfecting the Interview: The pieces of the interview process

Read through this packet and learn how to prepare for your interview. Don’t forget that career counselors are happy to meet with you to conduct a mock interview – the opportunity to put your interviewing skills into practice!

First Year on the Job

Strategies to help the new graduate make the transition from college to first career job a success.