Career Services

Below are steps that can be used in your job search process. Please contact John Haines, College of Engineering Career Counselor, for any assistance as you navigate through this process.

Job Search Strategies

Finding a job is a process, not a single event. There is no one best way to find employment. Pursue several tactics at the same time and plan to invest a considerable amount of time, effort, and energy in the job search process.
Ten steps to a successful job search

Resumes

The resume is a professional summary of your education and experience related to the type of employment you are seeking. The goal of a resume is to demonstrate to potential employers that you would make a valuable contribution to their organization. More information on resumes and to view sample resumes

Cover Letters

The cover letter, also referred to as a letter of application or letter of interest, is a type of professional business correspondence that introduces you and your background to the employer. The goal of a cover letter is to convince the prospective employer that you have something valuable to contribute to their organization and that it would be worth their time to interview you.
More information on cover letters and to view sample letters

Job Interviews

The purpose of an interview is for you and the employer to get acquainted with and learn more about one another to determine if this position and organization is a good fit with your skills and background. You may experience different kinds of interviews during your job search. No matter which type of interview, your goal is to present your qualifications and value to the hiring authority.
More information on the different types of interviews and how you can prepare yourself for them

Informational Interviews

An informational interview is an opportunity for you to spend time with someone who is a professional in a career field of interest to you. By talking with an “expert”, you will be able to acquire information and establish connections for networking purposes. Most professionals are honored to talk with students about their experiences. However, you must prepare in advance in order to respect the professional’s time. An informational interview can provide you with possibilities for a future internship, part-time, volunteer, or even a full-time opportunity.
More tips and information on informational interviews

Salary Negotiation

Negotiating your salary and benefits can be an intimidating process for many jobseekers and needs to be handled delicately. Knowing your value in the marketplace will be the best way to insure you are getting what you are worth, without demanding an unrealistically high offer. With financially based benefits fairly fixed by the market for your industry, job applicants should consider additional criteria for accepting an offer. Recruiters encourage students to enter the negotiation with a clear idea of what is important to them. Rather than attempting to negotiate every possible benefit, identify only those that are critical to your acceptance of an offer and make those needs known early in the negotiation process.
More information on salary negotiation

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