Undergraduate Students
Make an Appointment with a Career Coach
Everyone’s journey is different. Meet with a career coach via Handshake to discover your next steps – building a resume, practice interviews, connecting your major and future career, find internships, look for on and off campus part-time jobs, and more.
Explore
What motivates you? What work do you find most meaningful? Collect more data about yourself through these tools below so that you can make better decisions about your future.
- TruMotivate Take this assessment to identify what motivates you and industries / jobs that fit you best.
- Focus 2 Career Use CSU email address and access code cougar to identify personal interests and their relationship to career pathways.
- Learn How to Become Helpful resource for students who have an idea of the specific job title of interest. Find out potential salary, education needs, the current job market climate, and skills needed by anyone in that career
- What Can I Do With This Major Click your major to see outlines of common career areas, employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities.
Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Resume
A resume is the main determining factor of whether or not you get an interview. It should be a clear and concise snapshot of your most relevant accomplishments, qualities, and interests. Expect to adapt each resume to the job you are applying for. While there is no one right way to write a resume, there are key elements that help you better communicate about your experiences and accomplishments.
Download resume templates
- Basic resume (Word) (for all majors)
- Artist resume (Word)
- Technical resume (Word)
Writing resume bullet points
Bullet points under each experience or accomplishment are the ways to showcase your major/industry specific skills (like debugging software, learning assessment) and human skills (communication, teamwork, leadership, etc.). Try the WHO method to demonstrate your skills:
W = WHAT did you do (tasks/projects)
H = HOW did you do the work (skills, strategies, methods, tools)
O = OUTCOMES associated with the work (results, contribution, intention, scope).
Federal Resume
If you are applying for a position in the Federal Government or intelligence agencies, you need to provide a lot more detailed information, such as citizenship status. You may want to use the USAjobs.gov resume builder to get the first version of your federal resume started. For these jobs, you have to check every box under their job description. Make sure to tailor your resume to each position, and use their words/language when creating your resume. Read about the central elements in the federal resume and the Department of Homeland Security’s tips for writing a federal resume.
CV: Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae (CV) is an all-encompassing tool used to showcase academic, research, and professional accomplishments. This document may resemble a resume, but is more comprehensive and typically used when applying for graduate schools, positions within academic institutions or areas where field-specific knowledge and expertise is required.
Resume and CV Do's and Don'ts
| Academic CV | Resume | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Academics | Recruiters and hiring managers |
| Target Organizations | CVs are used in academic and in research-oriented job searches | Resumes are used for business, nonprofit, government and other private industry positions |
| Goal | Present a full history of your academic credentials - research, teaching, publications, honors/awards, and service | Prove through action-oriented accomplishment statements and metrics that you can do the job well and possess experience that shows your background/experience is well-aligned with the position(s) of interest |
| Focus | Academic achievements and scholoarly accomplishments | Skills and accomplishments that can be used in business, nonprofit, government and other types of job searches |
| Length | Flexibility | One or two pages is preferred depending on industry |
| Publications | Include all publications | If relevant to the work that you're applying to do, include selected publications |
| Honors/Awards/Affiliations | Include all academic honors/awards and affiliations | Consider minimizing, deleting or incorporating this section into the education section of your resume to allow for space to focus on transferable skills |
| References | Always include | Do not include |
Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card. It's a summary of your professional experience, interests, and capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online - recruiters, networking contacts, and graduate school admissions officers. Below is a list of resources for you to build a professional and effective social media presence.
- Writing an effective LinkedIn summary statement (PDF)
- LinkedIn profile review guide (PDF)
- Staying safe on LinkedIn during your job search
- 9 things to avoid on social media while looking for a new job
Cover Letter
Cover letters link your resume to the position, showcasing your knowledge of the organization and highlighting relevant skills. Start by researching the organization, considering what intrigues you and what you have to offer. Organize your cover letter in a three-paragraph format:
Purpose: Why are you interested in this position/this organization? What in the posting made you say “I’ve got to apply!”?
Pitch: What 2-3 experiences connect your skills to those listed in the position? Whatmade you say “I can do that!”?
Plan: What final point do you want to make? Ask for an interview.
Cover letter guide and sample (PDF)
Interviewing
An interview is a conversation between a candidate and a representative of an employer or a graduate school/program. Your goal is to show the employer or the graduate school that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can successfully fit into the organization and its culture. Personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills count heavily in the selection process. The interview is also your opportunity to gather information about the job, the organization, and future career opportunities to figure out if the position and work environment are right for you.
Interviewing Resources
- Interview Guide (PDF) This guide includes worksheet for traditional and behavioral interviews
- Free Virtual Mock Interview Schedule a live 30-min virtual interview practice with professionals.
- Job Interview Questions Find out common interview questions specific to the position you are interviewing for
- Questions to ask the interviewer A job interview is a two-way street. Prepare a list of questions to ask in advance. Tip: When asking questions, state your company research, and then ask a question. For example: “I saw in the job description that I would be working on A, B & C. How much time will I spend on each area on a typical day?”
- How to look better on Zoom interview A Youtube video that shows how to use lighting to create a better impression in a virtual setting
- What to Expect in an Technical Interview
Career Closet
Location: Schuster Student Success Center, 2nd floor.
A great professional look is an important way to communicate to the employer that you are ready for a new position. A “professional look” varies depending on the organizational culture and position you are applying for. Consult people in similar positions, industries, or a career coach at the CSU’s Center for Career Design. Students can pick one outfit per academic semester and keep them.
