Our advisors are ready to assist you in your job search and career development. From formatting a resume to learning the basics of conducting a job search, we can help!
Academic Advising
We advise all deciding students on their academic progress but we also welcome those of you who have a major and are thinking of making an academic change to your degree program.
Handshake
Schedule an appointment with an advisor through your Handshake account for any career development or academic advising needs. Simply use your UNK email credentials to login.
Academic & Advising and Career Development is excited to present the Big Interview, an interactive site to help you ace your next job interview. The site includes 7 core-learning modules, tips on how to answer difficult questions, and as long as you have Internet access and a webcam you're able to record practice interviews! It's easy to sign up, easy to use...and it's free!
Interviewing is perhaps the most important aspect of your job search. On this page we've outlined a 5-step process to successful interviewing and at the bottom of the page, take a look at links to handouts with more detailed information about specific aspects of interviewing.
5 Steps to a Successful Job Interview
PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW
Research the company and be able to connect your skills and goals to their needs (visit “Researching Occupations” in the Exploring Majors & Careers section of our website)
Review frequently asked interview questions
Develop questions for the interviewer
Know what to wear
Have a typed list of 3 - 5 professional references
MAKE A POSITIVE FIRST IMPRESSION
Strong eye contact and hand shake
Be prepared to engage in small talk to break the ice
Stick with positives, complaining about anything can be the “kiss of death” in an interview
Be aware of your nonverbal communication; facial expressions, posture, etc.
DEMONSTRATE YOUR POTENTIAL – What Employers are looking for
Can you do the job? – Employers want to see how your skills and experiences have prepared you for the position you are interviewing for. Use the STAR technique (see “Interview Ready” handout below) to back up your skills with experiences
Will you do the job? – Employers want to see that you are motivated to work for them and contribute to their well being. Do your homework; research the company and its mission, and have clear career goals that fit in with the company
Will you fit in? – Employers want to know if you will accept the organization’s way of doing things and if you’ll get along with your co-workers. They might ask about your ideal work environment or how you deal with conflict.
CLOSING WITH FINESSE
Ask the interviewer appropriate questions, show you have researched the organization
Re-state why you feel you are the best candidate and your interest in the position
Offer your references if they haven’t asked for them
Thank the interviewer for his/her time – maintain eye contact and give a firm handshake
Ask who is going to follow up with you and the timeline for their decision making process
IMPORTANT POST-INTERVIEW TASKS
Keep a record of the interview – detailed information about who you met with and your insights so that you can follow-up with them
Send a thank-you letter – confirm your interest in the job, show appreciation, and highlight your skills – if interviewed by more than 1 person, make sure to personalize each note
Anticipate a second interview – plan ahead to demonstrate how you will fit within the organization
Prepare to respond to an offer – carefully review the job, company, and geographic location
Call if you have not heard anything and the deadline has passed
simplyhired.com - finds job listings from major sites and company sites, free resume listing
usajobs.gov the official job site for the U.S. government
warriorgateway.org non-profit whose mission is to connect individuals in the military, veterans, and their families with federal, state, and local government programs as well as non-profit organizations in their local communities
glassdoor.com an inside look at jobs and companies posted anonymously by employees
As many as 70% of all job offers are a direct result of networking. The hidden job market refers to jobs that are never advertised and if you only rely on applying for advertised positions then you are eliminating your chance to be considered for most openings.
Professional networking can be defined as connecting with people who can help you advance your career. You’ve probably heard the term “Six Degrees of Separation” that refers to the idea that through our connections with other people, we are all an average of six connections away from every person in the world. With that idea in mind, it is amazing where your career can go when you take time to get to know people and develop long-term relationships that can benefit you during your job search and as you develop through your professional life.
Imagine applying for your dream job. Would it be more effective to simply mail your cover letter and résumé to the address listed in an advertisement? Or through networking, meet someone in the organization who can hand deliver your documents to the hiring manager? That is the power of networking!
Handshake is a personal and career development tool designed just for you. Creating a Handshake profile gives you access to job and internship opportunities, event invitations, and resources specifically matching your career interests. You can also manage contacts, make appointments, and track your development right from your phone.
KIP101 is an innovative, free platform that connects people for 1-on-1 conversations and knowledge-sharing to help with career exploration, job search, transitions, networking and other professional development needs. Individuals get instant access to the platform when they sign up with an invite code, and schools can use it to create private networking and mentoring spaces for their communities.
The Range platform is designed exclusively for students, alumni, and partners of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Users can choose to mentor or be mentored for shorter or longer periods of time. The Range lets Lopers help Lopers in the classroom, in business, and in life. Let’s help Lopers find their herd, out on The Range!
Build Your Network While Attending UNK There are many informal ways to enhance your network while you’re a student at UNK. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is get to know your professors and academic advisors. Also, through active involvement on campus and participating in community service you can meet more people from campus and the Kearney community.
Here is a list of several more formal networking activities that you can participate in as a college student. Advisors in Academic Advising and Career Development are available to provide more information about any of these activities.
Attend Career Fairs
Job Shadow
Volunteer
Meet Alumni
Online networking is another important aspect of your job search. There are many sites that provide networking opportunities; one that focuses on professional networking is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional networking site with over 70 million members around the world. It’s goal is to help you make better use of your professional network by showing you who your connections are connected to and allowing you to search for specific organizations or industries to find out if you’re connected to anyone there. Contact Academic Advising and Career Development for more information.
Informational Interviews There is no better way to learn about a career than to talk to someone who is currently working in your career field of interest. Conducting informational interviews can be a great way to gather information and a great way to start connecting with people who could remain a part of your professional network in the future. Follow this link for additional information about Informational Interviews; including how to set them up and possible questions to ask. Academic Advising and Career Development can assist you in finding people to interview.
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Provides information describing what workers do on the job, working conditions, training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations
O*Net Online - Tool for career exploration and job analysis where you can browse groups of similar occupations to explore careers and read detailed descriptions of different occupations
JobShadow.com - Read real interviews from people as they talk about the jobs they do and the careers they have.
Learn How to Become - Provides detailed insight into 45 of today's most popular career fields
CareerOneStop - Tools to help job seekers and students; sponsored by the US Department of Labor
mySkills myFuture - Type in your past jobs and get related jobs that use the same skills; sponsored by the US Department of Labor
National Compensation Survey - A survey of employee salaries, wages and benefits designed to produce data at local levels, within broad regions and nationwide
Linkedin salary - See a detailed breakdown of salaries by job title and location
NACE Salary Calculator - Salary data for more than 500 occupations in 560 regions of the United States
If you need your resume or cover letter critiqued please complete this survey. One of our advisors will critiqued your document(s) and notify you when it is complete. Please keep in mind it may take up to seven business days to complete.
Follow this link here for a detailed packet of information that includes sample résumés, a list of action verbs, and information about cover letters and references.
Third Party/Network Marketing Policy
Job Listing and Company Recruiting Policy:
UNK’s Academic Academic Advising and Career Development (AACD) office works to connect students and alumni with a variety of employment opportunities. We encourage organizations large and small, in the public or private sector to utilize our services; however, the following types of organizations are not eligible to participate in job postings, career fairs, on-campus interviewing, résumé referrals, employer presentations, or sponsorships for on-campus recruiting activities.
1. Network Marketing agencies
A network marketing company is defined as one that engages in the following:
Sponsors individuals to set up their own businesses for the purpose of selling products or services and/or recruiting other individuals to set up their own businesses.
Requires an initial investment (payment of a fixed fee, payment to attend orientation or training session(s), and/or the purchase of a starter kit or product samples).
Offers compensation in the form of straight commission, fees from others under their sponsorship in the organization, and/or a percentage of sales generated by others.
Offers compensation in the form of merchandise (commonly known as “swag”).
2. Multi-level Marketing (MLM) agencies- (similar in scope to Networking Marketing agencies)
A MLM company is defined as one that engages in the following:
Has a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of the other salespeople that they recruit.
The compensation structure is commission-only or a draw. A draw is a pay advance against expected earnings or commissions.
Position is usually based out of the hired employee's home or, candidate is expected to report to another person's home to complete the work; thus not having an office structure where the employee reports to regularly or on a consistent basis.
3. Third Party agencies
These organizations (search firms, placement services, etc.) that are not considered the employer-of-record are offered job positing assistance ONLY when they meet the following:
Provide disclosure of vacancy position(s) and employer represented for recruiting activities.
Acknowledges that UNK ACS may verify with the employer the third party’s recruiter relationships.
We reserve the right to review all postings for legitimacy and accuracy.
4) Other companies/job notices not falling under the above categories
Occasionally we are contacted to list positions that fall under the service industry and are not considered to be ‘professional’ student/post-graduate employment opportunities (i.e. babysitting, nanny, landscaping, bartender, housekeeper, etc.). These types of positions should be directed to the Student Employment Services office.
UNK Graduate Studies offers some great professional development workshops for prospective or current graduate students.
What do you want to do for a living? My Next Move can help you decide!
Veterans Employment Center Veterans Job Board with a Resume Builder and a Military Skills Translator, which will help you describe your military experience on your resume.
Career Development
Academic Advising
Handshake
