The mission of the Service Learning and Career Development is to provide access to TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION and COUNSELING that advance student career development and benefit society.

CAREER GUIDE

slcd@wou.edu • 503-838-8432 • wou.edu/slcd

Service Learning and Career Development

TOGETHER WE SUCCEED

SLCD Services 2

Creating Competitive Resumes 3

Resume Outline 4

Resume Example 1 4

Resume Example 2 5

Creating a Resume Profile 5

Creating an Achievement Statement 6

List of Transferable Skills and

Action Verbs 7

Formatting References 8

Why Do I Need A Cover Letter? 9

Cover Letter Outline 10

Sample Cover Letter 10

Thank You Letters and Emails 11

Interview Tips That Will Get You Hired 12

Career Exploration Guide 13

Job and Internship Checklist 15

Wolflink 16

This career guide is designed to give you tools to create a resume and cover letter that serve you

well, and provide you guidelines and resources for developing your career path and obtaining jobs

and internships. Once you have created your resume and cover letter, follow these next steps to

reach your goals:

I went to SLCD to have my resume and cover letter reviewed.

Drop-in’s are welcomed Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm.

I went on WolfLink to check out the off campus jobs, work study positions, internships and

volunteer opportunities.

I created FREE business cards at the SLCD to help with networking events.

I developed my interviewing skills by practicing my responses to typical questions and

scheduling a Mock Interview with a Career Counselor to get immediate feedback.

SLCD Services Include:

Career Counseling o Exploring & Deciding a Major o Exploring & Choosing Careers o Internships & Job Search o Resume & Cover Letter Reviews o Networking o Mock Interviews o Graduate School Information

Assessments o Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

(MBTI) o Strong Interest Inventory o Strengths Quest o Self-Help Assessments in

student section of website www.wou.edu/slcd

Drop-In Peer Advising o Resume & Cover Letter Reviews o General Job Information

Workshops, Events & Networking

o Professional Workshops on Campus o Career Fairs o Etiquette Dinners o Career Mentoring Program

Experiential Learning o Internships o Western Oregon University

Community Internship Program o Alternative Break

and Service Trips o Volunteer Opportunities

Table of Contents

Fewer than a quarter of applicants make it beyond the initial résumé screen, according to 50 percent of employers

Creating competitive résumésA résumé is a marketing document designed to demonstrate how your experiences, strengths and skills fit the needs of a particular opportunity. The goal of a résumé is to get the interview, not provide an autobiography.

Recruiters spend 6-15 seconds reviewing a résumé

For every

one job

posting...

Average of 22.7 applicants

CV

CV CV

CV

CVCV

CV

CV CV CV CV CV CV CV

CV CV CV CV CV CV CV CV

What

employers

look for...

Job

Are tailored to the

position at hand

Are well-organized

and easy to read

Start with the most relevant information at

the top

Describe experiences using action verbs and

transferable skills

Employers seek skills including:

You can gain these skills through:• Class projects

• Student organizations

• Internships or jobs

• Independent studies

• Reseearch experiences

• On-campus involvement

• Leadership

• Volunteering or community service

Leadership

Teamwork ability

Written communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Verbal communcation skills

Work ethic

Analytical/quantitative skills

Technical skills

Verbal communcation skills

Statistics from CareerBuilder 2015 Candidate Behavior Survey, NACE 2016 Job Outlook Survey

80.1%

78.9%

70.2%

70.2%

68.9%

68.9%

65.8%

62.7%

59.6%

Formatting guidelinesMargins: .75 in to 1 inch

Font size: 10 to 12 pt.

• Single spacing

• Adequate white space

• Easy-to-read font (serif or san serif)

• Space between sections

The most

competitive

résumés...

Yes, use:

• Photos

• Personal information (birthdate, social security number, etc.)

• Company logos

• Clip art

No, do not use:

4

Res

ume

Out

line

Your

Nam

e H

ere

Addr

ess,

City

, Sta

te Z

ip C

ode

Phon

e nu

mbe

r | P

rofe

ssio

nal e

mai

l

PRO

FILE

(or s

kills

, sum

mar

y of

qua

lific

atio

ns, o

r acc

ompl

ishm

ents

) Br

iefly

intro

duce

you

rsel

f and

you

r pro

fess

iona

l qua

lific

atio

ns a

nd e

xper

ienc

es in

a li

ne o

r tw

o. F

or

exam

ple,

“Com

mun

ity H

ealth

maj

or, b

ilingu

al in

Spa

nish

and

Eng

lish,

with

2 y

ears

’ exp

erie

nce

in a

cl

inic

al s

ettin

g; s

eeki

ng e

ntry

-leve

l pos

ition

in a

clie

nt-c

ente

red,

team

-driv

en e

nviro

nmen

t”.

EDU

CA

TIO

N (p

lace

d he

re fo

r mos

t stu

dent

s an

d re

cent

gra

ds)

Type

of D

egre

e, M

ajor

, Min

or

Expe

cted

Mon

th Y

ear

Wes

tern

Ore

gon

Uni

vers

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onm

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, Ore

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Put y

our m

ost r

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first

, the

n w

ork

back

war

ds. M

ake

sure

to in

clud

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PA if

it is

abo

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a 3.

5. Y

ou c

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put a

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Prev

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Deg

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tate

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Yea

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radu

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list

an

A.A.

if y

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posi

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to w

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you

are

app

lyin

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clud

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ache

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Deg

ree

if yo

u ha

ve y

our M

aste

r deg

ree

(and

so

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our h

igh

scho

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R

ELEV

AN

T EX

PER

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(can

be

plac

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Com

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St

art M

onth

Yea

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nd M

onth

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b Ti

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• Ex

ampl

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com

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new

slet

ter w

ith a

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of 1

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Rem

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Acc

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tate

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age

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bs g

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tate

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onth

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• R

elev

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lead

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sect

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• In

tern

ship

s an

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chin

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•

List

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(not

all

jobs

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Mos

t peo

ple

have

thre

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four

pos

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this

sec

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WH

AT

ELSE

? If

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nclu

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pos

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abov

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an p

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lso

put

extra

curri

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r act

iviti

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this

sec

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Ref

eren

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alw

ays

go o

n a

sepa

rate

doc

umen

t. R

emem

ber,

havi

ng m

ore

info

rmat

ion

on y

our r

esum

e do

es n

ot n

eces

saril

y m

ean

you

will

get t

he jo

b!

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Res

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Exam

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4

Resume Outline

Resume Example 1

6

Res

ume

Exam

ple

2

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p 20

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aily

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pro

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5

Resume Example 2

Creating a Resume Profile

The profile is a 2-3 sentence introduction that describes your best and most related qualifications specific to the position for which you are applying. It can include the specific job title and organization if you wish. To start, analyze the job description of the job for which you are applying, for required and desirable skills and qualifications. Target your profile (and resume) to those. Example: Recent Psychology graduate with experience in day care and mentoring at-risk youth; skilled in customer service and child care techniques and a dedicated team player who hopes to reach underserved populations; applying for the Family Advocate position at Mid Valley Mentors. Create your own profile: Fill in the blanks below to create your own profile. Major college student/graduate or job title with X years of experience in the industry or type of job experience; skilled in 3 skills that relate to the job; seeking job title you’re applying for position with company name.

6

Creating an Achievement Statement

Action Verb + Example + Result = Accomplishment Statement

Under each position you have in your resume, list 3 – 5 bulleted accomplishment statements. These statements should explain what you did in the position, how you did it, and the results of your actions.

Willamette Ad

Action Verb: Always begin a bullet point with an action verb. Use a variety of action verbs to show the variety of skills you have (see list on next page).

Example: Giving specifics will make you unique and stand out to employers.

Result: State what you achieved from your example; what was the purpose of you doing what you did?

Average Bullet Point with Action Verb: Tutored an eighth grade student

Better Bullet Point with Action Verb and Example: Tutored an eighth grade student in pre-algebra

Perfect Accomplishment Statement with Action Verb, Example, and Result: Tutored an eighth grade student in pre-algebra, using teacher’s curriculum to raise her grade from a C to a B+ over the course of a year

7

List of Transferable Skills and Action Verbs

Communication/ Reported Balanced Simplified Restored Research Skills Taught People Skills Resolved Budgeted Supplied Reviewed Analyzed Tested

Addressed Responded Calculated Supported Scheduled Clarified Trained Advertised Solicited Computed Volunteered Secured Collected Transmitted Arbitrated Specified Conserved Selected Compared Tutored Arranged Spoke Corrected Management/ Streamlined Conducted

Articulated Suggested Determined Leadership Skills Strengthened Critiqued Technical Skills Authored Summarized Developed Administered Supervised Detected Adapted Clarified Synthesized Estimated Analyzed Terminated Determined Applied

Collaborated Translated Forecasted Appointed Diagnosed Assembled Communicated Wrote Managed Approved Organizational Evaluated Built

Composed Marketed Assigned Skills Examined Calculated Condensed Creative Skills Measured Attained Approved Experimented Computed Conferred Acted Netted Authorized Arranged Explored Conserved Consulted Adapted Planned Chaired Catalogued Extracted Constructed Contacted Began Prepared Considered Categorized Formulated Converted Conveyed Combined Programmed Consolidated Charted Gathered Debugged Convinced Composed Projected Contracted Classified Inspected Designed

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8

Formatting References

Purpose The purpose of a reference sheet is to have a list of people who can verify and elaborate on your professional experience for a potential employer. Past employers, professors, and advisors are the best professional references to have listed. ALWAYS contact your references before including them on a reference sheet. It is also a good idea to give them a copy of your resume and talk to them about the job you are seeking so they will know how to best represent you.

What to Include

Only submit your references if the application requires, or if requested by the employer!

Your name and contact information (at top of page, same as your resume header)

Your references' contact information and how they know you professionally, as listed below:

Example:

Anna Ramos

846 Clay Street Monmouth, OR 97361

(503) 838-8432 mramos15@wou.edu

Mr. Robert Kalowitz

Executive Manager

Maple Tree Productions

333 NW Birch Street

Sisters, Oregon 9777

(541)-325-0098

rkalowitz@maplet.com

Current supervisor

Prefix, First name, Last name

Job Title

Place of employment

Address

City, State, Zip

Phone Number

E-mail Address

Context in which you know them

Header matches with

resume for uniformity

and professionalism

9

Why Do I Need A Cover Letter?

The reasons for a cover letter are many, including:

To inform the employer what type of position you are seeking, and why you’re interested in the position and the organization

To impress the employer by showing you are an ideal candidate for the position by demonstrating your match with their requirements

To showcase your knowledge about the company and why you would be an excellent addition to their team

To show the employer how well you can communicate in writing

To compel the employer to learn more about you by reading your resume

Helpful Tips:

Address the letter to a specific individual, if for some reason you can’t get this information by searching online or calling the company and requesting the name and title of the person responsible for hiring, you have a few options to choose from: “Hiring Manager”, “Selection Committee”, or the title of the decision maker, e.g. “Director of Marketing”

Write an attention getting introduction – remember you are trying to convince the reader to want to get to know you better, and ultimately hire you.

State the position you are applying for, as well as relevant qualifications. Select specific experiences that are relevant to the job and discuss them. Make sure to expand on areas that your resume leaves open, and highlight why you are qualified.

Tailor your letter to the needs of the company and the requirements of the position. How will the company benefit by hiring you?

Restate your contact information or your intention to contact them within a specified time period in your closing paragraph. If you say you are going to contact someone in a week, make sure to do so.

Use the same stationary and header as your resume for your cover letter.

Do Not:

Exceed more than one page

Address your letter with “To whom it may concern”

State “As you can see from my resume”

Narrate all of your life-long dreams and ambitions

Restate what is in your resume – this is your chance to expand on skills you can bring to the company

11

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10

Cover Letter Outline

Sample Cover Letter

11

Thank You Letters and E-Mails

A thank you letter or e-mail should always be sent after any type of interview. This letter should thank

the interviewer(s) for their time and information and remind the interviewer of your interest in the

position and the skills you have to offer. Thank you letters/e-mails should be sent promptly after the

interview, and if possible within 24 hours, so the interviewer has the best chance of remembering you.

Sample Thank You Letter:

Jacob Chapman

1738 Main Street

Monmouth, OR 97361

August 19, 2016

Lauren Diaz, Head Recruiter

Dell Inc.

1350 North East Wicker Avenue

Roseburg, OR 97470

Dear Ms. Diaz,

Thank you for the opportunity to interview yesterday for the Sales Trainee Position. I

enjoyed meeting you and learning more about Dell Inc. It was a pleasure learning about

the innovative approach Dell has to sales and marketing.

The interview with you has confirmed my initial positive impression of Dell, and I want to

reiterate my strong interest in working with you. My prior experience in tech industry sales,

plus my training in communications would enable me to progress steadily through your

training program and become a productive member of the sales team.

Again, thank you for your consideration. If you need any additional information, please feel

free to contact me at (541) 705-6777.

Sincerely,

Jacob Chapman

Addresses are not needed for e-mails

Interview tips that will get you the job offer

First impressions

Tips for success

Statistics from CareerBuilder 2015 Candidate Behavior Survey, NACE 2016 Job Outlook Survey

Statistics show:

• Research the organization and share why you are interested in the company

• Come ready to talk about your strengths

• Share stories that demonstrate your skills and experiences

• Send a thank-you note within 24 hours

• Be prepared to ask questions at the end of the interview

47 percent of bosses say having little to no knowledge of the company is the most common mistake during interviews

Tell me about yourself is the most likely interview question to be asked

Preparation

Employers say that when meeting new people, the biggest impact comes from:

What we actually say

The quality of voice, grammar and overall confidence

The way we dress, act and walk through the door

7% 38% 55%

Body language

38%

According to a survey of employers, most common body language mistakes include:

67%No eye contact

Not smiling

33%Bad posture

33%Fidgeting; playing with

hair or touching face

33 percent of bosses know within the first 90 seconds of an interview whether they will hire someone

63 percent of of employers conduct at least 1 phone interview during the hiring process

34.6 days was the average length of time from job posting to interview

33 percent of employers used video conferencing to hire in 2015

Of bosses said professional

attire could be a deciding factor

between two nearly identical

candidates

Of first impressions come from non-verbal

communication

93%

65%

13

Career Exploration Guide

Career exploration is a multi-faceted, active and dynamic process. You learn best by doing and talking with

people, but there are also assessments and online resources that can be very helpful.

1. Identify your aspirations, interests, skills, personality and work values

There are many ways to identify these factors – you can start by reflecting on these types of questions to see if they

point to interests and strengths:

What is my career fantasy? What is an example of a time I was in the zone – what was I doing? What are my

hobbies? What are my favorite classes?

Consider taking a career assessment with a career counselor to learn more about your strengths, interests, values, and

personality. The SLCD offers two formal assessments, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest

Inventory. Make an appointment with a career counselor on WolfLink to see if these or other informal assessments

would be helpful. There are also several free self-assessments that can help you in this process:

http://www.wou.edu/slcd/students/exploring-your-possibilities/assessments/

My Strong Interest Inventory Results: _____ _____ _____

My MBTI Results: _____ _____ _____ _____

2. Explore what you can do with different majors Learn more about WOU majors: http://www.wou.edu/resources/student-resources/academics/

Visit “What Can I Do With A Major In . . . http://www2.isu.edu/career/majors/default.html

My top major choices: 1.) ___________________________ Why? _________________________________

2.) ______________________________________________ Why? _________________________________

3. Research Occupations

Research job duties, tasks, education requirements, salary, and job outlook on O*NET https://www.onetonline.org/ and

Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Occupations that interest me:

Job Title 1: __________________________________ Education required: _____________________________

Job outlook/growth ___________________________ Average salary: _________________________________

I like this occupation because: _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Job Title 2: __________________________________ Education required: _____________________________

Job outlook/growth ___________________________ Average salary: _________________________________

I like this occupation because: _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

SLCD is dedicated to helping you Explore Careers. Visit our website at www.wou.edu/slcd or make an

appointment with a career counselor at 503-838-8432. Stop by our office at 119 WUC.

14

4. Explore through Experience

Nothing beats experience when exploring careers – first you do, then you know! These are ways you can gain experience

while at WOU:

Volunteer http://www.wou.edu/slcd/volunteer/ or participate in an Alternative Break

http://www.wou.edu/slcd/ab/

Participate in an Internship http://www.wou.edu/slcd/internships/

Work at a part-time job while at WOU – visit WolfLink on your Portal to find listed opportunities

Get involved with a student organization on campus http://86465.orgsync.com/org/aswou/clubsandorgs

Job shadow - contact a WOU Alum Mentor on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/

Participate in an Undergraduate Research experience http://www.wou.edu/pure/students/

5. Find sample job postings

Job listings show you what a job entails and what employers require of qualified applicants. Use WolfLink, or search sites

such as indeed.com, LinkedIn, Mac’s List, Oregon Employment Department https://www.qualityinfo.org/ , etc.

Job Title 1. ______________________________________ Employer: __________________________________

Requirements I meet: ___________________________________ don’t meet ____________________________

I like this job because: _________________________________________________________________________

Job Title 2. ______________________________________ Employer: ___________________________________

Requirements I meet: ___________________________________ don’t meet _____________________________

I like this job because: __________________________________________________________________________

6. Ask the Experts

Get advice from faculty and current students in your academic department of interest

Arrange Informational Interviews with professionals in occupations of interest (Link)

Connect with a WOU Alumni Mentor on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/

Attend SLCD networking events, career fairs, employer and grad school information sessions – look for

upcoming events on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/

Use LinkedIn to find and connect with professionals in your fields of interest

3 people I would like to ask for information: __________________, ________________, ______________

3 events I could attend at WOU or in the community _____________________, ____________________,

___________________________

Job and Internship Search

Career management requires: Awareness of who you are, where you came from and what you

can and like to do

Confidence in pursuing your goals

Adaptability in the face of change

A network of people for support

You gain these through experiences and engagement with people

and the community.

15

Job & Internship Search Checklist

The job and internship search can feel overwhelming, so it’s helpful to break it into manageable steps. The good news is

you don’t have to do every step in order. For example, you can start working on your resume before you identify what you

want to do. Speak to a WOU Career Counselor (CC) if you would like assistance with any of the steps. Use this checklist

as a guide as you go through the various stages of career development and as you begin your internship or job search.

Step 1: Know yourself

____ I have identified my personal strengths, skills, interests, and values (CC, assessments)

____ I have made a list of possible job titles/fields of interest (CC, web resources)

____ I can name two or three careers/jobs I plan to pursue

Step 2: Know where you want to work

____ I have researched organizations or companies that might hire someone with my skills, interests, and background (web resources, informational interviewing, CC, volunteering, interning)

____ I have analyzed desired qualifications in my field and know what employers are looking for (job listings, informational interviews)

____ I have researched potential career fields: typical entry-level jobs, typical salaries, best geographic location for jobs, etc (CC labor market information websites, books, newspapers, info. Interviews)

____ I have identified the top three geographic areas where I’d like to live and work

____ I have identified 10 potential employers for the type of work I’m seeking

Step 3: Get ready for the search

____ I have had my resume and cover letter(s) reviewed by a professional in the field or a staff member in SLCD (make an appointment or drop in for 15 min. appointments from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday - Thursday)

____ I have prepared a portfolio or work samples to highlight my experience, skills, and talent

____ I have developed my “30-second speech” for short encounters with employers (CC)

____ I have identified three individuals who will serve as references

____ I have developed my interview skills (CC, books, web resources)

____ I have prepared for interviews by practicing my responses to typical questions and/or doing a mock interview (CC)

____ I have an interview suit that is appropriate for the field in which I plan to work

____ I have a professional-sounding answering machine/voice mail message in case an employer calls

____ I have a neutral/professional e-mail address to give to employers

Step 4: Start searching

____ I have updated my profile and uploaded my resume on WolfLink - www.wou.edu/wolflink

____ I regularly check WolfLink for career opportunities and I read links sent to me by my department. I read the appropriate job-search resources for my field(s) of interest

____ I have a system for keeping track of my contacts, interviews, and other job-search activities (CC)

____ I follow up on every interesting job lead immediately

____ I have developed a list of potential networking contacts and keep in touch with them (CC and everyone you know)

____ I keep a copy of my resume next to my phone in case I receive a call from an employer

____ I follow-up each cover letter with a phone call or e-mail to the employer requesting a job interview

___ I send thank you letters or e-mails to every person who interviews me

Find a Job or Internship on WolfLink1) Log in to your portal.

2) Click the black and white wolf head button at the top of your page.

3) First-time users will be prompted to activate an account and complete a profile.

4) Search for jobs and apply for those that interest you.

To help yourself stand out and get noticed, have SLCD review your résumé to make it career ready!

Students, your success using Wolflink is determined by you! Create a profile to fit your needs, and update your profile on a regular basis to make the site evolve to suit you.

16

Back page

Finding a Job or Internship on WolfLink

1) Log in to your portal.

2) Click the black and white wolf head button at the top of your page.

3) First time users will be prompted to activate your account and complete your profile.

4) Search for jobs and apply to those you are interested in.

To help yourself stand out and get noticed, have SLCD review your resume to make it career ready!

Students, your success using Wolflink is all determined by YOU! Feel free to create your student profile to fit your needs, and update your profile on a regular basis to have this be an evolving site suited to you.

345 Monmouth, Avenue N. Monmouth, OR 97361 Werner University Center 119 slcd@wou.edu • 503-838-8432 wou.edu/slcd

Service Learning and Career Development

TOGETHER WE SUCCEED