Develop your resume and cover letter with our helpful templates, samples and guides.
Take a look at our Candid Career videos and the Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn
more about specific career fields. We will help you get from Now to Next.
Our resume templates are here to help you get started on formatting and adding content
to your resume. We still encourage you to visit us to help develop a resume that is
best matched to you, but this is a good place to start.
To use, download the following files as Microsoft Word files or “save a copy” in your
Google Drive.
Cover letters should be unique to the job or experience you are applying for. However,
it is important to get started with developing a strong cover letter. To assist you,
we have developed a cover letter template and sample that you can use to get started.
For more detailed information on developing a resume and cover letter, along with
more samples, check out our resume and cover letter checklist, samples and guidebook:
Need help preparing for an upcoming interview? Big Interview is here to help! Whether
it’s your first major interview, or you need to brush up on your interview skills,
Big Interview will help you get a better handle on the interview process.
To help you prepare for interviewing, our interview prep guides provides an overview
of what to expect during the interview process, interview etiquette, and potential
interview questions.
Our Career Closet features gently used clothing for interviews, internships, conferences
and other events that require professional dress. Items are free to students. Call
or stop by the Career Development Center for more information.
If you are interested in graduate programs, check out our graduate school prep guides
with resources and tips on navigating the graduate school landscape.
Candid Career allows you to see an insider’s perspective on working in a particular
industry, and to hear what it takes to be successful in that field. Hundreds of videos
are available on a wide range of career topics.
Find your major or field of interest in the links below to search for employers who
have expressed an interest in hiring students with your background.
Developed by our peer career assistants, this broad range of diversity topics explores
issues of oppression, professionalism, and navigating unique differences within the
world of work.
This resource from the U.S. Department of Labor allows you to research career fields,
examine job outlooks, and conduct thorough research on your field(s) of interest.
During our meetings with students, we often recommend conducting an informational
interview. These interviews are conversations with people who work in your field of
interest and can help you better understand the day in the life of someone doing the
work you are interested in.
How long have you been in your current position and what was your career path to get
there?
What are your primary responsibilities? What does a typical day/week/month look like
for you?
What part of this job do find most satisfying? Most challenging?
What training or education is required for this type of work? Would you recommend
graduate/professional school training right after college, some time in the future,
or not at all?
What types of training do companies offer persons entering this field? Are going to
workshops, seminars, and conferences encouraged and supported?
What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
What opportunities for advancement are there in this field? What is a typical career
path in this field or organization?
What entry-level jobs are best for learning as much as possible?
How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future?
What special advice would you give a person entering this field?
How would you advise I go about looking for an entry-level job?
What are the basic prerequisites for jobs in this field?
What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job?
How do you keep up with changes and trends in your field? Are there professional journals
that I should/could be reading now?
What areas (specialties, types of organizations, geographic locations) do you feel
promise the most growth/opportunities?
Would you be willing to give me feedback on my resume?
What are the important “key words” and skills to include in a resume or cover letter
for this field?
With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other
fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
This has been really helpful. Is there anyone else you recommend I speak with? May
I say that you referred me?
Do you have any other advice for me?
Meet with us for additional help setting up an informational interview:
Use this platform to measure your career readiness. Recruiters were surveyed from
different industries about common characteristics they look for in new hires. The
study revealed a list of eight common competencies. Mastery of all the competencies
makes you career ready.
Networking is a valuable tool at all stages of career development. Below are some
helpful guides with tips on how to start networking, utilize LinkedIn, and engage
with alumni.