FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER - YOUR RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK - ACADEMIC & CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER
YOUR RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK
ACADEMIC & CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS YEAR-BY-YEAR PLAN
MAJOR & CAREER 4 4
6
Getting Started
Majors at UNO
FIRST YEAR SECOND YEAR
EXPLORATION 7
9
Exploration Resources
Action Plan
Take US 1010: College & Career Success
Attend the Academic Majors Expo
Talk with an academic & career advisor about
career and academic goals/decisions
Take the MyPlan personal inventory assessments Officially declare a major if you have not done so
(unomaha.myplan.com) Increase campus and community involvement
Explore interests, abilities and values Continue to develop personal resume
Attend academic success and career development Attend on-campus Career & Internship Fairs
JOB & INTERNSHIP 10 10
11
What Do You Want To Do?
Skills and Experience
programs
Get to know UNO resources
Find relevant part-time employment/internships
Work on developing transferable skills
SEARCH 11
12
Social Media
Networking
Research majors, minors and careers
Visit an advisor for career and academic
Attend academic success and career
development programs
information Identify 2-3 career options
Get involved in clubs, organizations and service Consider studying abroad and other international
learning opportunities
Develop a personal resume Keep grades up and attend all classes regularly
RESUMES & 14 14
16
Getting Started
Job Description Writing
Keep grades up and attend all classes regularly
Complete at least 30 credit hours per academic
COVER LETTERS 16
17
Adding Study Abroad
Resume Examples
year in order to graduate in 4 years
21 Cover Letters
THIRD YEAR FOURTH YEAR
Conduct informational interviews and/or job Complete a graduation check with your advisor
shadows Update personal resume
INTERVIEWING 22 22
23
The Four Ps
Do’s and Don’ts
Complete coursework that is related to your
academic and career goals
Complete an internship
Begin searching for jobs
23 The PAR Method Talk to an advisor about graduate/professional Gain relevant experience by volunteering
24 Questions school, if applicable Attend on-campus Career and Internship Fairs
25 How to Dress Further develop your resume
25 Thank You Notes Take entrance exams and apply to grad schools,
Attend on-campus Career & Internship Fairs if applicable
26 Detecting Job Scams Participate in mock interviews
26 Salary Research Attend academic success and career
Attend academic success and career
27 Negotiating Job Offers development programs
development programs
Use professional network to assist with job
Find major-related internships/employment
search
Enroll in service learning courses to apply your
studies Interview on and off campus
Join professional associations Keep grades up and attend all classes regularly
Land a job or graduate school admission
EMPLOYER 28 28 Thank You Take on leadership roles in campus/community
involvement
PARTNERS Start to develop a professional network and
identify potential mentors
Keep grades up and attend all classes regularly
2 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 3
Step 2: Ranking Values, Interests AND Skills
In the column below rank your Values from 1 (most important) to 16 (least important). It may be helpful
to identify the most important (#1) and least important (#16) values first, then rank the remaining values.
Be sure to use each number only once and try to avoid ties.
Repeat the ranking process for the Interests and Skills columns. If you wish, include other important values,
interests and skills in the list, but be sure to increase the number of items you rank.
Values Interests Skills
Creativity Community Service Athletic
Earning potential Creative/Performing Arts Communication
Further Education Fashion Counseling
Independence Literature/Reading Creativity/Artistic
Job Location Maintaining Relationships Design
Job Security Money/Investing/Finance Interpersonal
Leadership Music Mentoring
Major & Career Exploration Level of Prestige
Organizational Culture
Nature/Environment
Organizing
Leadership
Managerial
Service to Others Planning Mechanical
GETTING STARTED
To make the most informed decisions regarding your college major and career, Travel Opportunities Politics Organizational
it is important to have a solid understanding of yourself first. This step-by-step Vacation/Benefits Salesmanship Problem Solving
process will help you take some time to reflect before rushing into a decision. Variety of Tasks Science Research
Step 1: Careers of the Past, Present and Future Work Environment Sports Scientific
Work Schedule Teaching Technology
Write down any job, career field or industry that you have ever thought about working in, even if it seems
out of reach or is something you’re not interested in now. Elaborate on why this was interesting to you Work/Life Balance Technology Visionary
at the time. Why do this? You never know what type of themes, interests or values may emerge that may
help you explore.
Example: Teacher. I wanted to work with kids.
1.
After completing Step 1 and Step 2, what are three themes and/or occupations that have started to emerge?
2.
Example: 1. Helping others
2. Writing
3. 3. Giving back to the community
4. 1.
5. 2.
6. 3.
4 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 5
Step 3: Explore Majors at UNO Engineering Architecture*
Pre-Agricultural Engineering* Pre-Architecture
Keeping in mind the themes that have started to emerge, what majors at UNO match up Pre-Biological Systems Engineering* Pre-Interior Design
with your career interests, values, interests and skills? Check the majors that interest you. Pre-Electrical Engineering* Pre-Landscape Architecture
College of Arts & Sciences College of Communication, Fine Arts & Media Pre-Mechanical Engineering*
Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources*
Bioinformatics Art History Architectural Engineering
Pre-Agricultural Sciences
Biology Broadcasting Civil Engineering
Pre-Food Science & Technology
Biotechnology Creative Writing Computer Engineering
Pre-Horticulture
Black Studies Journalism Construction Engineering
Pre-Natural Resources
Chemistry Music Education Construction Management
Pre-Turfgrass & Landscape Management
Economics Music Performance Electrical Engineering
English Speech Communication Electronics Engineering
Environmental Studies Media Studies *UNL programs that begin on UNO’s campus. Students must complete these degrees at UNL
Foreign Language and Literature News Editorial
Public Relations & Advertising
General Science Out of all of your checked majors, list your top 5
Geography Studio Art
Geology
Two Dimensional Arts 1.
Three Dimensional Arts
History Graphic Design
Interdisciplinary Studies Studio Art with K-12 Certification
2.
International Studies Media Arts
Latino/Latin American Studies Theatre
3.
Mathematics 4.
College of Education
Neuroscience
Athletic Training
Philosophy 5.
Elementary Education
Physics
Elementary Education, Special Education
Political Science For more information on UNO majors, visit unomaha.edu/academics/majors-and-programs
Library Science
Psychology
Physical Education
Religion
Public Health
Sociology
Women's and Gender Studies
Recreation & Leisure Studies Exploration Resources
Secondary Education
College of Business Administration Secondary Education, Special Education
Speech-Language Pathology UNO Career Connect MyPlan
Business Administration Concentrations
Accounting This is a great place to start your search Visit unomaha.myplan.com to take free
Banking College of Information Science & Technology or get more information about occupations, interests, skills, values, and personality
Business Economics Management Information Systems as employers who post positions are looking assessments. Afterward, meet with ACDC
Business Finance Bioinformatics for UNO students. Visit our website at staff to discuss how your results are related
Economics Computer Science unomaha.com/acdc for more information. to a career or college major.
Human Resources Management Information Assurance
Innovation and Entrepreneurship IT Innovation O*Net Online Occupational Outlook handbook
Investment Science and Portfolio
This is an online database with descriptions The Occupational Outlook Handbook’s site
Legal Studies College of Public Affairs & Community Service
Management of occupations and matching personality describes what workers do on the job, working
Aviation
Marketing descriptions. It also includes occupational conditions, the training and education needed,
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Real Estate and Land Use Economics outlook, training and education needed, earnings, and the occupational outlook for
Emergency Management
plus earnings. Visit onetonline.org for hundreds of occupations. Visit bls.gov/ooh
Social Work
more information. for more information.
6 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 7
Step 4: Explore Majors, Occupations AND Resources Step 5: On and Off Campus Contacts
Now that you have identified your values, interests and skills along with possible majors, it is time Now that you have identified some resources to use to help you with your decision, identify some contacts
to connect what you know about yourself and your options. who can help you with the process. These could be advisors, faculty members, campus organizations
• Understand the pros and cons of each choice or potential internship sites.
• Majors: GPA requirements, prerequisite courses, application process, etc.
Name Position Email and/or Phone Location/Department/Company
• Occupations: work descriptions, education/training, growth outlook, average salaries, employers, etc.
Jim Smith English Advisor jsmith@unomaha.edu UNO English Dept., ASH 192
Following the example provided, list the options you are considering on the lines below. Review the
(402) 554-1234
resources below to learn more about each, and write the resources you will use on the lines below
each option. Academic & Career Advisors can help you access these resources.
Major and/or Minor Occupation Resource
English Copywriter English Advisor
These contacts may be good candidates for an informational interview. Here are a few tips:
• Ask people in a career field of interest what they do
• Find out how they got where they are
• What kind of education and training do they have?
• What opportunities and experiences are recommended by employers in this field?
• Ask questions about the day-to-day functions of the job so you know what to anticipate
• Remember to send a timely thank you note expressing appreciation for their time
Exploration ACTIVITIES Step 6: Take Action
Making a final decision often comes through experience and hard work. An academic advisor can help
Experiencing an occupation or major firsthand is valuable to exploration. you enroll in specific classes for your major. Or you might work with staff in ACDC to locate internships
Here are some resources that are available to you. or part-time work to connect you with hands-on learning. Write a plan below to help you reach your
final destination.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
Internships, volunteer work, summer jobs UNO has multiple ways to get involved: Service My Action Step Deadline Completed
and part-time employment are all examples Learning Academy, University Service Days and Contact the English Advisor to learn more about careers in English and the major itself End of semester Yes
of experiential learning. the Community Engagement Center.
These opportunities give you the work-related ATTEND ACDC EVENTS
experience that employers seek and may lead to
Our office has numerous exploration, career and
full time employment. It can also help you identify
academic events throughout the year. For more
if that type of work is a good fit.
information visit unomaha.edu/acdc.
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING MAVSYNC
Talking to people who work in a career field you
An online community that connects students
want to learn more about is a great way to explore
to organizations, departments, and events at UNO.
career choices. It’s also a chance to expand your
mavsync.unomaha.edu
professional network.
8 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 9
Step 2: What skills or experience do you need?
It’s time to do some research. Every job requires different knowledge skills and abilities. When you start
searching for a job/internship it is important to know what skills are desired.
For example, if you know you want to work as a graphic designer, do some research on open position
descriptions for graphic designers. Is there a common theme to the descriptions? Do all of the positions
expect you to have prior experience? Do all of the positions expect you to know how to use Adobe
Photoshop? Make a list of the skills and experience needed to get the job you want.
Skill Do I have it? Plan of Action
Example: Adobe Creative Suite No Take Graphic Design 1 course at UNO next semester
Example: Excel 2013 Yes Put on resume
Job AND Internship Search
GETTING STARTED Step 3: Prepare job search-related materials
Reality Check: Finding a job or internship takes time and energy. For most You’ve done your research and you know what employers want, so make sure your job search materials
students, it takes three to six months to find an internship or full-time speak to your future employer’s wants/needs.
employment after graduation. Do you have a resume/cover letter? Is it updated? Has it been reviewed?
Have you done a mock interview?
Steps to Success Have you contacted your references?
The job search is different for everyone. The steps outlined below are a general Step 4: Clean up your social media/Online brand
guide on how you can make your search successful. 92% of employers indicate using social media to find new talent and 70% report not hiring someone based
on something they saw online. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be used to
Step 1: What do you want to do? create your “personal brand,” network with employers and research companies.
Brainstorm ideas below. Write down any and all ideas! What is your dream job? Where do you see yourself It’s important to make sure your profile is recruiter-friendly. Opt for the highest privacy settings to restrict
in five years? Need help? Check out pages 4 through 9 of this workbook or make an appointment at ACDC. what’s viewable by the public. Remove any complaints about your job or boss, as well as distasteful
comments and photos of yourself that could be construed as inappropriate.
Ask yourself these questions: What is my page saying about me? Does my profile present my best self?
Do my pages reflect my career interests and goals?
Step 5: create a LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. LinkedIn allows you to exchange knowledge, ideas
and career opportunities with a broad network of professionals.
Your LinkedIn profile rises to the top of internet search results, letting you control the first impression people
get when they “Google” you. With options to join relevant groups, search job opportunities and companies,
and connect with professionals in your desired field, LinkedIn is a valuable networking and job search
resource.
10 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 11
Step 5: Continued Recruitment
Recruiters from organizations and graduate programs often visit the campus to recruit UNO students.
Since LinkedIn shows your connections with listed organizations, you might find out that your aunt is They may host information tables in the Student Center or present their opportunities during scheduled
connected to the hiring manager of your top choice company, or find a UNO alum with your dream job. information sessions. Visiting with recruiters at these events is a great way to learn more and expand your
This is a great place to learn about exclusive job opportunities and to build your network. For more professional network without having to travel off campus. To find out about upcoming recruiter campus
information on using LinkedIn, check out: university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students visits, check out the Events Calendar at unomaha.edu/acdc.
Take the time to complete your LinkedIn profile. Make sure to include the following
Professional photo: This should be a photo of only you, with a plain background Understanding networking
Headline: Don’t just say UNO student - tell people what you want to do in the future
Summary of qualifications: Describe your top three to five skills and goals Your network includes anyone who can serve as a resource in your job search and subsequent career
Experience: Complete job history including dates and brief list of accomplishments development. This can be current or former co-workers, professors, relatives, friends (or friends of friends!),
Education: Start with college and list your degree and major UNO alumni, members of professional organizations, or professionals working in a field you’re interested
in or for an organization that you would like to work for. Students often hesitate to network because they
Organizations: Describe your involvement with school or community organizations
feel awkward asking for help. However, many people are passionate about the work they do and enjoy
Skills and expertise: Add at least five key skills, then your connections can endorse your talents
the opportunity to talk about their job and the organization they work for. You will likely feel nervous
Recommendations: Ask managers, professors or classmates to write you a short recommendation the first time you approach a potential contact, but networking is a skill that you can develop with practice
to give your profile extra credibility and persistence. If your request for assistance or advice is declined, don’t give up – keep networking with
others. Remember that networking isn’t about asking for a job; it’s about building relationships.
Step 6: Develop a personalized game plan
Utilize ALL of your resources, INcluding connections
Where are you going to search for jobs? When will you search? Who can help you with your job search?
Connection 2
Your parents Connection 2
Connection 1 ty
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jo b Connection 1
Your Boss
Your Professor
Connection 1
How do you plan to follow-up? YOU
Connection 2 ow
s had Your Friends
jo b in
te
rn
sh
ip
op
Your Advisor po
ON-CAMPUS NETWORKING Connection 2
r tu
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Connection 1
Get Involved with Organizations Connection 1
Connection 2
Joining groups and organizations is a great way to network with other students and professionals who
share common interests or goals. Getting involved on campus or in the community allows you to learn
more about specific career fields and develop relevant experience. Networking Pointers
Career Fairs Interviewing
Every semester, campus-wide career fairs are held. A number of companies visit campus each year to Benefits of Networking Prepare for Networking
Some colleges host major-specific career fairs as interview and recruit UNO students and alumni.
well. Students who attend fairs are able to meet On-campus interviews begin in September for • Finding experienced mentors to guide you • Update or create your LinkedIn profile (pg. 11)
prospective employers, gather information, build the Fall semester and in February for the Spring and offer support • Update your resume and have others review it
their network and search for internship or career semester. Interviewing on campus is an excellent • Learning more about specific career fields • Be prepared to talk about your unique skills,
opportunities. If you are interested in broadening way to market yourself. Generally, you must and industry trends education and career goals
your search, you may also consider attending career register on UNO Career Connect to interview with • Finding your first job or your next job • Generate a list of questions you are hoping to
events hosted by organizations in specific regions. employers recruiting on UNO’s campus. discuss with contacts
12 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 13
Additional Headings
• Certifications or Licenses • Languages • Recitals/Art Shows
• Computer Skills • Memberships • Special Skills
• Conferences • Professional Activities • Study Abroad or International Experience
• Interests • Publications/Presentations • Workshops/Seminars
Formatting and Layout Describing Your Experience
In addition to being tailored and well-written, your Often the most difficult part of writing a resume
resume should be visually pleasing and easy to is describing what you have done at each job you’ve
read quickly. Follow these guidelines for effective had. People sometimes sell themselves short by
formatting: giving too brief, overly-simplified descriptions of their
• Avoid using resume templates that reduce your job duties. A student might say, “I don’t know what
formatting control to write about this job – I just answered phones”
• Use a 10 to 12 point font when, in fact, there was much more responsibility
involved.
• Margins should be at least ½ inch all around
• Use reverse chronological order to list current Tips for Describing Your Experience
and past jobs (i.e., start with your current or
• Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS most recent position)
• Describe experience in bulleted statements
description
• Start bulleted statements with action verbs
beginning with action verbs (see below)
in present tense for current jobs and past tense
• Avoid using the word “I”
RESUMES • Use bold and italics (sparingly, however) to
for previous jobs
• Highlight accomplishments, not just duties
Your resume is a personalized marketing tool that is unique to you. An effective resume will highlight your highlight key information and distinguish
between sections • Quantify results when possible/appropriate
individual qualifications as they relate to the position you are applying for.
• Save a copy of your resume as a PDF for online Example Action Verbs
On average, an employer spends 15 to 30 seconds skimming a resume before deciding whether or not applications and email submissions
to interview the applicant. Your resume must be well-written and easy to read in order to quickly show an Accomplished Achieved Adapted Administered
employer why they should pick up the phone and call you. Once you have created a first draft or updated Length Advised Analysed Arranged Awarded Budgeted
your resume, seek feedback from others and schedule a resume review appointment with an advisor at
When applying to businesses and nonprofit
the Academic & Career Development Center. Built Calculated Collaborated Communicated
organizations, it is recommended that you keep your
resume limited to one page. Multiple page resumes Compiled Completed Computed Conducted
may be appropriate when applying to graduate
Tailoring Your Resume school or other academically-oriented opportunities,
Coordinated Created Demonstrated Designed
While it is tempting to develop a standard, “one-size-fits-all” resume, it is more effective to tailor your or teaching positions. Developed Directed Documented Established
resume to each position you are applying for. To develop a resume that demonstrates your fit for a specific If you find that your work history and other relevant Evaluated Examined Facilitated Formulated
career, you need to consider the experience and abilities an employer is asking for. Refer to the job posting experiences are filling too many pages, remember
to identity keywords and skills that are important to highlight in your resume. Guided Implemented Improved Increased
to choose quality over quantity and select only those
activities and descriptions which clearly emphasize Instructed Interpreted Learned Managed
Headings your fit for a particular position. Marketed Measured Mentored Negotiated
Determine which section headings to include on your resume based on your unique set of experiences and
skills. Adjust them to best highlight what you have to offer for each employer and position. Order them from However, it is a good idea to keep a multi-page Operated Organized Performed Planned
most to least relevant to your career objective. “master resume” with all of your experiences on it.
Prepared Presented Produced Promoted
You can use this document to pick and choose which
Commonly Used Sections skills and experiences best fit each position you Provided Recommended Researched Reviewed
apply for. Scheduled Served Supervised Supported Taught
• Summary of Qualifications or Objective • Volunteer Experience
• Education • Involvement, Activities, Leadership Tested Trained Translated Updated Wrote
• Relevant Coursework • Honors and Awards
• Experience or Related Experience
14 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 15
Writing job descriptions REsume examples
The following exercise can help you craft detailed descriptions of your job duties that emphasize the Notice that the resumes on the following pages do not look exactly alike, as each student highlights skills
important responsibilities you had. and achievements specific to themselves and the positions to which they are applying.
1. Think about your day-to-day tasks. Visit unomaha.edu/acdc for more resume examples.
2. Use the list of action verbs on page 15 and pick three to five that help demonstrate what you did.
3. For each verb you select, think of what, how, and why you performed that task in order to create First Year Student
a detailed description of the duty.
Example: Provided What: Customer service
How: Resolving problems, explaining services Maddie Matador
Why: To satisfy customers
6001 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68182
Customer Service Representative, XYZ Bank, Omaha, NE Jan. 2010 – October 2013 402-888-1234 mmatador@unomaha.edu
Provided customer service through resolution of problems, explanation of bank services and policies,
and knowledge of financial planning, resulting in greater customer satisfaction. Objective: Seeking an internship in the nonprofit sector for Summer 2013
1. What:
Education
Action verb University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
How:
B.A. with General Sociology Concentration, Anticipated Graduation: May 2016
Why:
Central High School, Omaha, NE
High School Diploma, Graduation: May 2012
2. What:
Action verb Relevant Experience
How:
Student Worker
Why: College of Arts & Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha September 2011-Present
• Support full-time staff in department with maintaining accurate filing system
• Create and update Excel spreadsheet to track number of student appointments per
ADDING STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE TO YOUR RESUME week
• Assist supervisor and three other staff members to ensure all requests are met in a
Have you spent time in a foreign country as a timely manner
KEYWORDS TO CONSIDER • Direct callers to appropriate contacts quickly and efficiently, minimizing caller wait
part of your education? Before incorporating
Adaptable to new environments: Adapted: Developed: time
your study abroad experience into your resume,
• Update office’s Facebook page to share information and engage students
brainstorm about what you learned while you
Appreciative of diversity: Flexibility and Patience:
were away. What were your most valuable Library Volunteer
experiences? The most significant thing you Exchanged: Fostered: Cross-cultural communication: Omaha Public Library, Omaha, NE May 2010-August 2012
learned? How have you changed as a result of • Assisted library patrons in locating library materials
your time abroad? Intercultural competence: Problem-solving skills • Answered general library questions in person and via phone
• Cataloged incoming library materials both new and donated materials
You can incorporate study abroad experience Self-reliant/Independent: Take initiative: Improved • Reorganized special collections
into your educational experience, work history, • Helped initiate and plan bi-weekly Preschool Storytime
skills, etc. You can even create an “International Travelled: Visited: Open-minded: Represented:
Honors and Awards
Experience” section on your resume, if your time As a first year student, you
Organized: Awareness of global issues: Translated: State Forensics Champion, 2012
and activities abroad were of significant length Omaha Public Library, Volunteer of the Year, 2011 may want to include your
or involvement. Be sure to use words and phrases Lived: Foreign language proficiency: Immersed Central High School Honor Roll, 2010, 2011 high school information on
that emphasize your new skills and qualities. your resume. This information
Activities will be removed as you gain
Central High School, Forensics Team, 2009-2012
RESUME EXAMPLE Central High School, Junior Varsity Soccer, 2011
more experience and become
involved on campus.
International Experience Boys and Girls Club of America, 2008-2011
Study Abroad Experience, Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, Lima, Peru Summer 2014 Computer Skills
• Improved conversational Spanish language skills while staying with local family Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Facebook
• Completed public health service learning project working with indigenous communities in Cuzco
Quipiscanchi area
• Exhibited flexibility and problem-solving skills while adapting to a new culture
16 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 17
Student Career Change COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR
Visit unomaha.edu/acdc for more resume examples. Visit unomaha.edu/acdc for more resume examples.
A strong summary section is
tailored to the position you
This student highlights business are applying for. List three to
related experience toward the five specific accomplishments
10203 L St (402) 369-2468
top of her afields@unomaha.edu
resume. or skills.
Omaha, NE 68144
Peter
K.
Rocha
Amanda Fields (402)
333-‐1234
peter.rocha@gmail.com
789
Pine
Street
Omaha,
NE
68114
SUMMARY
OF
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION • Aspiring
software
developer
with
19
months
of
paid
industry
internship
experiences
covering
a
breadth
of
technologies
and
development
methodologies
M.ACC University of Nebraska at Omaha (CPA Exam eligible Dec 2013; GPA 3.7) • Strong
ability
to
quickly
adapt
to
new
and
evolving
technologies
Accounting Certificate, Bellevue University • Excellent
verbal
and
written
communication
skills,
including
experience
interfacing
directly
with
clients
Information Assurance Certificate, University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Best
Paper
Award:
2012
Undergraduate
IS&T
Research
Conference
for
Paper
on
Video
Compression
Algorithms
B.S. in Information Systems, De Paul University
CORE
COMPETENCIES
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Programming
Languages:
Java,
Objective-‐C,
C#,
C,
C++,
SQL
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA – Omaha, NE Aug 2012-Present Integrated
Development
Environments:
Eclipse,
Microsoft
Visual
Studio,
Xcode
STUDENT WORKER
Special projects support to School of Interdisciplinary Informatics in the College of IS&T EDUCATION
University
of
Nebraska
–
Omaha,
Omaha,
Nebraska
ACI WORLDWIDE – Omaha, NE Oct 2008-May 2012 Peter
Kiewit
Institute
College
of
Information
Science
and
Technology
BUSINESS SUPPORT ANALYST; INFORMATION DEVELOPER; PROJECT MANAGER
Bachelor
of
Science
in
Computer
Science
Expected
May
2013
Special projects support to Product Division
Awarded ACI Distinction Awards 2010 and 2011 for exceptional efforts on projects
• 3.98
GPA
• Phi
Kappa
Phi
Academic
Honor
Society
Created Product Group financial report card - consolidated corporate financial spreadsheets into one dashboard for tracking • Walter
Scott,
Jr.
Scholarship
Recipient
• Delta
Epsilon
Iota
Academic
Honor
Society
P&L performance • Chancellor’s
List
• Honors
Program
Oracle, Salesforce, and Purchasing Coordinator for Product Group - resolved problems, created ad-hoc queries; entered and
tracked requisitions; verified data
EXPERIENCE
Developed internal manuals for resource management tool and external customer documentation for payment processing Mobile
Development
Intern
May
2012
–
Present
software Client
Resources
Inc.,
Emerging
Technologies
Division,
Omaha,
NE
• Developed
cutting
edge
iOS
applications
on
small
teams
in
an
agile
environment
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL SERVICES - Omaha, NE Dec 2003-Oct 2008
COMPLIANCE ADMINISTRATOR • Assigned
to
diverse
projects
across
unfamiliar
technologies;
earned
the
opportunity
to
work
independently
on
a
Office support to Division Manager and 20 financial service advisers small
project
due
to
demonstrated
competencies
with
these
new
and
unfamiliar
technologies
Conducted compliance review of electronic and written correspondence and financial trade paperwork for adherence to NASD • Work
contract
extended
into
the
school
year
due
to
high
level
of
contribution
and corporate guidelines Environment:
Objective-‐C,
iOS,
Xcode,
Ruby
on
Rails,
Git,
Heroku,
Basecamp
Processed, logged, and verified completion of all written and electronic financial trades
Resolved local computer issues; coordinated network problem resolution with headquarters help desk Student
Researcher
November
2011
–
May
2012
Peter
Kiewit
Institute
College
of
Information
Science
and
Technology,
Omaha,
NE
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE • Worked
under
Dr.
Qiuming
Zhu
(Chairman,
Computer
Science
Department)
on
a
NASA
Nebraska
Space
Grant
• Implemented
and
optimized
known
compression
algorithms
for
digital
video
and
imagery
including
frame
Consultant; COMDYN GROUP-Westlake Village, CA differencing,
noise
reduction,
region
growing
by
pixel
aggregation,
and
object
segmentation
Developed Excel/VBA spreadsheet application to manage sales initiatives for leading pharmaceutical company
• Reduced
video
files
by
as
much
as
96
percent
using
implementations
Project Manager; SEARS-Hoffman Estates, IL Environment:
Java,
Eclipse
Performance reviews, budget, and management responsibilities for development support team Software
Development
Intern
May
2011
–
February
2012
Lockheed
Martin,
Information
Systems
&
Global
Solutions
Defense,
Papillion,
NE
Project Leader; MOTOROLA-Schaumburg, IL
Project responsibility for new Accounts Payable system, leading 15-member IT/Business project team through requirements • Transferred
cutting
edge
software
R&D
project
from
WebLogic
application
server
to
GlassFish
application
server
definition, software selection, contract negotiation, and installation • Designed
and
developed
functional
application
prototype
to
generate
automated
testing
scripts
for
complex
Senior technical advisor and system support for financial systems group, including A/P, A/R, and G/L systems browser-‐based
applications;
superiors
vocalized
interest
in
integrating
this
prototype
into
enterprise
testing
suite
• Work
contract
extended
into
the
school
year
due
to
high
level
of
contribution
Business Analyst; SEARS-Chicago, IL
Environment:
Java,
Eclipse,
GlassFish,
Oracle
WebLogic,
Selenium,
Google
Web
Toolkit,
Apache
Subversion
Developed budget reporting system for production expense tracking by IT management
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE
Active
Member,
Association
for
Machine
Computing
August
2012
–
Present
Software Products: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project, QuickBooks, Frame Maker, Oracle, Salesforce, Clarity Active
Member,
Omaha
Game
Developers
Association
July
2012
–
Present
Programming Languages: SQL, Java, C++, Visual Basic, COBOL, Assembler Department
of
Defense
Secret
Clearance
Granted
17
May
2011
Eagle
Scout
November
2008
Additional experience Page,
2008
Democratic
National
Convention
August
2008
Don’t assume that employers
is mentioned in less
know what technology you are
detail to provide a solid
familiar with using. Clearly
work history.
identify your technical skills.
18 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 19Graduate Student COVER LETTERs
Visit unomaha.edu/acdc for more resume examples. Applications for professional positions often require both a resume and a cover letter. This one-page letter
should describe your relevant experience and focus on the qualities you can bring to the organization that
List all college degrees
match the job qualifications.
or certifications earned
or in progress, starting
with the most recent. Date
NAIMA CHANDE
555 Capitol Plaza, Apt 101, Omaha, NE 68132
402-123-7788 | nchande@unomaha.edu Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
• Exposure to all stages of software development life cycle using agile methodology. (Return down four spaces)
• Developed projects in Visual Basic.Net, C# .NET, HTML, PHP and CSS.
• Three years of experience in data management and communication with international clients.
• Knowledgeable in various fields including relational database management system, UML modeling, SOA, and data Ms./Mr. Recruiter’s Full Name
communications. Recruiter’s Title
• Experience with Oracle 10g/11g databases and SQL queries. Department Name
Company Name
EDUCATION
Street Address
University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE Dec 2012
Master of Science in Management Information Systems, GPA: 3.74 City, State Zip Code
Nagpur University, India May 2007 Dear Ms./Mr. Last Name Only:
Master of Computer Science, GPA: 3.85
Nagpur University, India May 2005 The opening paragraph should state why you are writing and why you are interested in the
Bachelor of Computer Science, GPA: 3.75 organization. If you are writing a letter of application, you should name the specific position for
which you are applying. Also, tell the employer how you became aware of the vacancy. If a
WORK EXPERIENCE career counselor, a former employer or someone else referred you to the employer, this is the
Gallup Consulting, Omaha, NE Jun 2012-Present
System Application Developer Intern best place to mention that person’s name and to point out that he or she suggested you write.
• Explore PL/SQL to develop projects to enhance performance of data flow within data collection pipeline.
• Took over lead front-end and back-end quality assurance responsibilities for external, client-facing application.
The middle paragraph is where you draw attention to your resume and highlight specific skills
• Executed test scripts for Quality Assurance (QA) software evaluation business decision. relevant to the potential employer. This should be your most developed paragraph(s). Present
your motives for seeking employment with this organization and cite achievements and
University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Omaha, NE Apr 2011-Present
Research Assistant, PHP developer and Project Assistant (Summer 2011), Data Analyst qualifications related to the position desired (see job description). If you have qualifications that
• Conduct literature surveys, analyze research publications, and prepare research presentations. are not noted on your resume, this is your opportunity to discuss them.
• Develop and maintain websites and databases for a payment and billing system.
• Create visualization for MIS data at UNO using TABLEAU and Excel. The closing paragraph states what you will do next (such as calling to arrange an appointment at
the employer’s convenience) or what you would like the recipient of the letter to do next. Be sure
Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha, NE Feb 2012-May 2012
System Engineer Intern to thank the recipient for his/her time and consideration.
• Created relational databases and developed SQL queries for Sitescope monitors improving efficiency to log errors.
• Created applications to manage alerts and escalations utilizing JMS, XMF, HTTP and Ping. Sincerely,
• Involved in QA and testing of applications using Selenium IDE to save time and effort from manual testing. Your signature here
Infosys Technologies Ltd, Pune, India Aug 2007-Feb 2010
Your Name Typed
Service support engineer email@email.com
• Monitored alarms, handled escalations and provided network troubleshooting for L1 support for British Telecom
client. Enclosure(s): (this indicates that your resume and/or additional materials are enclosed.)
• Created tickets with proper severity and reason for outage (RFO) for clients.
• Managed planned system of collecting, processing, storing and disseminating data in the form of information.
• Carried out data management functions.
• Communicated effectively with Service Relationship Managers and customers.
HONORS AND AWARDS Quick Tips
• Awarded Regent’s Tuition Waiver and UNO Advantage Scholarship Spring 2011-Present
• Awarded best performer of the month for BT project in Infosys Technologies Ltd Sep 2009
• Tailor your letters to each position you • Refer to the experience and accomplishments
are applying for on your resume – sell yourself!
• Utilize a standard business letter format • State your desire to interview for the position
for layout • Hand-sign the letter in addition to typing
• Proofread several times. Perfection in spelling your name (unless submitting online)
and grammar is essential. • Don’t use an unprofessional email address
• Save as a PDF when emailing or applying online (e.g., “crazymavdude14@gmail.com”)
• Share something about the company to show • Don’t use decorative fonts that may be difficult
that you have researched them to read
20 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 21Do’s and don’ts
DO DON’T
• Arrive 10 minutes early • Be late
• Be prepared • Leave your cell phone on
• Listen attentively • Argue
• Express ideas clearly • Babble
• Answer questions with examples and facts • Answer with just a “yes” or “no”
• Be concise and to the point • Criticize the interviewer or ex–employer
• Relate positive experiences • Talk about personal or family problems
• Be confident and enthusiastic • Bring up salary/benefits in the first interview
• Stress your qualifications • Talk about politics or religion
• Ask appropriate questions • Ignore your personal appearance
• Send a thank you note within 24 hours • Chew gum, jingle your keys, or fidget
The “PAR” Method
The purpose of an interview
Your past behavior is an indicator of your future
success. For that reason, many interviewers ask is to determine a good fit
you to provide specific examples in their questions. between you and the
When asked behavioral interview questions, utilize
organization or business.
Interviewing this method to make sure you stay on point.
PROBLEM
Describe the problem or situation you faced. Be sure to describe a specific event or situation, not
The Four Ps a generalized description of what you have done in the past, giving enough detail for the interviewer
to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
PRACTICE PERFORM ACTION
Being comfortable, confident and effective in an Arrive at the interview location at least 10 minutes Describe the action you took, keeping the focus on you. Even if you are discussing a group project or effort,
interview comes with practice. Decide what it is early. Be respectful to everyone you meet, even describe what you did—not the efforts of the team. Don’t tell what you might do, tell what you did.
that you want to say and practice saying it! those not directly involved in the hiring process.
Be confident and enthusiastic! Answer the questions RESULT
Schedule a mock interview with UNO ACDC to What happened? How did the situation end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?
rehearse your answers to commonly asked interview completely, giving specific examples when
questions and get feedback on your overall interview appropriate. Remember that interviewing is a two Take some time to practice using the PAR method.
way street and you should consider what impression
performance.
the interviewer is making on you, as well. Imagine you have been asked to tell the interviewer about a time you had to work with a team. Formulate
your answer using the PAR method. Your response should be about one minute long.
PREPARE PROCEED
Know yourself and be ready to speak about your Afterward, ask yourself how the interview went. 1. Problem:
skills, accomplishments, values, interests and goals. Do you feel it went well? Did you highlight your
Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your skills, experiences and strengths? Did you like Action:
abilities. You will also want to research the company the environment and the people? What could you
and the potential career opportunity. Doing your improve upon for the next interview? Send a thank Result:
homework shows employers you are interested you note or email within 24 hours of the interview,
in the position and the organization specifically, letting the interviewer know you appreciated his/her 2. Problem:
not just any job. Generate a list of three to five time and recapping why you are a good fit for
questions you want to ask the employer during the the position. Action:
interview, as well.
Result:
22 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 23Questions Dress for Success
Your first impression sets the tone for the entire interview.
Make sure you are dressed professionally and are well-groomed.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS A good way to determine appropriate apparel is to look at
• Tell me about yourself. • Describe your involvement with extracurricular what people in the organization typically wear, then dress a
• What attracted you to this position? activities. How would you apply those step above that for the interview. Refer to the image at right
• What do you know about our organization? activities to this position? for examples.
• Where do you see yourself in five years? • Tell me about a time when you had to Generally, both men and women should wear a fairly
work under pressure. What was the result? conservative outfit in a neutral color, such as black, gray, CASUAL FORMAL
• What is your ideal position and why?
• Describe a situation where you took a or navy. You may have more leeway in terms of casual attire
• What is your greatest strength? Weakness?
leadership role. in certain innovative organizations or industries, but it is
• What experiences have prepared you for this
position? • Give an example of how you worked with always safest to stick with a basic suit for an interview.
a team. Avoid wild ties, trendy styles, loud colors, distracting jewelry
• Are you willing to travel/relocate?
• Describe a time when you and a co-worker or and strong scents. Don’t neglect to wear professional footwear.
• Tell me about your greatest accomplishment. Be sure to wear dark colored dress socks with your dress shoes.
group member had a conflict.
• What motivates you? Image Credit: gcflearnfree.org/terms
• How did you handle that situation?
• What qualifications do you have that will
• Tell me about the last time you learned
make our company more successful?
something new. What was the situation THANK YOU NOTES
• Why should I hire you? and what steps did you take to learn it?
What questions do you have for me? It is polite to send a thank you note after an interview, letting the interviewer(s) know you appreciated
• • How do you handle balancing multiple their time. Thank you notes also allow you to share how much you enjoyed meeting with them, reiterate
deadlines and projects? how passionate you are about the position and how you are looking forward to hearing back. Your note
• Provide an example of a time when you reminds the employer of your interest and qualifications, while demonstrating that you are respectful
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK showed initiative. and appreciative.
• What was the most successful presentation While a hand-written card is more personal, you may choose to send an e-mail if you have been
• What is your timeline for the hiring process? you have given and why?
• Can you describe for me what a typical day corresponding with the interviewer electronically. You want to ensure that the thank you note is received
might look like in this role? within 24 hours of your interview, so select your method appropriately.
• What do you like best about working for this Send a note to each person on the interview committee. Personalize each note by referencing something
company? Write down a list of questions you would like to specific from the interview. A thank you note should be brief. Proofread thank you notes carefully. Use a
ask in your next interview: hand-written note only if your writing is easy to read.
• What opportunities and challenges do you
foresee the person in this role will face?
1. Email
• Can you describe your training process?
• What skills are you looking for a successful
candidate to bring to this position?
• I am interested in staying with a company 2.
long-term. What opportunities for growth
are there within the organization? Hand-Written
• Can you describe the organizational culture 3.
here?
4.
You can schedule a mock interview with UNO
ACDC to practice and gain feedback on your
interviewing skills. ACDC staff ask that you
dress professionally and send your resume 5.
and a sample job description beforehand to
make the interview realistic.
24 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 25Detecting Job Scams: Safety in the Job Search
Job scams are a very real threat to job seekers in today’s technological world. They can appear in many
different places including online or print advertisements, career websites, Craigslist or even in your email
inbox. Ask yourself these questions before you responding to any job posting, online or otherwise.
Are the company name and details Did they offer you a job without meeting
provided in the ad? you?
If the posting is missing pertinent details like No legitimate employer will make you a job offer
company name, website, or location, be suspicious. without having first met you in person.
Does the email address match the name? Did you respond to one job posting and
Sometimes scammers use a domain name that the “employer” responded back to you
is similar to a legitimate company to try and fool with information on a completely different
victims. job?
Are you asked for credit card or bank If you responded to an ad for a data entry position
account numbers? and you receive a response about a job in which you
would be paid for transferring money or signing up
Job seekers should not have to provide financial
for “offers,” you may have found a scam.
information or pay a fee in order to complete a job
application or view job postings. Does the job involve transferring money
Are they offering a lot of money to from one account to another or are you
perform little work or to pay you before being offered a large sum of money
you begin? in exchange for the use of your bank
Scammers often boast huge earnings or use enticing account?
phrases such as “Work at Home”, “No Experience Legitimate companies have their own bank
Necessary”, “Make $1000 a week”, or “Work accounts. In other words, they don’t need yours. NEGOTIATING JOB OFFERS
just one hour a week.” While there are certainly
legitimate work-from-home and entry-level jobs,
What to do if you are contacted by a Once you accept an offer, it is not professional to back out if another offer presents itself. Come to an
fraudulent organization: agreement with the employer on an acceptable decision date and follow through with that date. Generally
ask yourself if the rewards being offered to you are
If you have sent money to a fraudulent employer, one week is acceptable.
realistic.
contact your bank or credit card company to close If you are pursuing more than one opportunity, you can let the other organizations know you have received
your account or dispute the charges. If you have an alternate offer. This gives them a chance to make you an offer if they are seriously considering you as
If the job offer seems too good already become a victim of an online false job a candidate.
posting/scam, please file a complaint with the
to be true, it probably is. Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
If you have more than one offer, you can carefully negotiate them against each other. Use language such
as “Another company I have been talking to has offered , is it possible....”
and possibly the police.
Receiving a job offer can be very exciting, but remember that you can ask for time to consider the offer
Salary research before making a final commitment. Don’t forget to take into account the importance of benefits, time-off,
educational opportunities, job growth potential, performance-based
When you begin your job search, you should research salary rates. Be sure to factor in differences among bonuses and other intangibles, such as work-life balance.
industries and specific organizations, as well as the cost of living in various regions. This website is a good
Before you negotiate the terms of any offer, ensure you have done
According to NACE’s
starting point for identifying wages based on career field and location: careeronestop.org/SalariesBenefits.
research and used your network to make sure that negotiating is 2012 Salary Survey,
You may start your research online, but you should also utilize your network to gain more detailed
perspectives for specific regions or organizations.
appropriate. In some fields, such as government, there is rarely room the average starting
for negotiation. This can also be true in companies that hire for lots salary for a new
It is not ideal to start the conversation about compensation until you have received an offer. If the of entry-level positions.
organization asks for your preferred salary prior to making an offer, try to have the interviewer put out graduate with a
After accepting an offer, make sure to save a copy of the job
the first number. If you must give your preference first, provide a salary range based on your research of
description. This can be beneficial in evaluating that you are meeting
bachelor’s degree is
industry standards.
your goals and objectives, as well as adding your responsibilities to $44,259.
your resume in the future.
26 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER, RESOURCE GUIDE AND WORKBOOK 27You can also read
