Become Career Ready

The Academic Advising & Career Development office is here to help prepare you for a successful transition into the workplace. Below are some suggestions for yearly career goals. Please contact us for more support.

Freshman Year

• Explore career interests by taking the Focus 2 and reviewing the list of programs UNK offers.
• Complete informational interviews with professionals or faculty advisors in your area of interest.
• Get involved in student organizations and events. Document these experiences on your resume.
• Attend a Career Fair. All major Career Fairs are offered in October and March. Our Education Opportunities Fairs are offered in September and January.
• Check out your Handshake Account. Handshake is a free career development tool available for all students.

Sophomore Year

• Continue to build experiences that you can add to your resume (part-time job, campus leadership opportunities, volunteer opportunities, etc).
• Submit your resume to be reviewed by Academic Advising and Career Development.
• Update your Handshake Account with your current resume.
• Attend one of the Career Fairs. Begin asking employers about internships opportunities.
• Explore Study Abroad Opportunities.
• Create a LinkedIn Account.

Junior Year

• Attend the Career Fairs and secure an internship opportunity to gain experience in your program. Add this internship experience to your resume.
• Network with faculty, employers, friends, and family.
• Pursue leadership opportunities both on and off campus and add those to your resume.
• Learn how to write a cover letter.
• Explore Graduate School opportunities if interested.

Senior Year

• Attend Fall and Spring Career Fairs.
• Finalize your resume and update on job search sites. 
• Practice your interview skills on Big Interview or schedule a practice interview appointment with Academic Advising and Career Development.
• Print resume on resume paper and carry with you.
• Begin applying several months before graduation. Check with your advisor for industry specific hiring timelines.

If you need your resume or cover letter reviewed please complete this survey. One of our advisors will review your document(s) and notify you when it is complete.  Please keep in mind it may take up to seven business days to complete. 

View a detailed packet of information that includes sample résumés, a list of action verbs, and information about cover letters and references.

Virtual Practice Interviews

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! Register using your Loper email address and a password of your choosing (hint: consider using your normal UNK password)

In-person Practice Interviews

Do you have an important interview coming up? During a practice interview, we will simulate the interview process, practicing 10-12 questions. The process will include time for feedback and discussion about best practices. Please plan to wear your interview attire and expect an hour to complete this appointment. Practice interviews are available both in-person and virtually. Click here to schedule your appointment with a career advisor. 

Reference Guides

Take a look at the publications below for tips related to career development.

Creating Your Resume and Cover Letter provides tips on writing these important job search documents.
Succeeding in the Interview walks you through what to do before, during, and after your job interview
Make a Positive First Impression at a Career Fair walks you through what to do before, during and after a career fair.

 - The #1 way college students find jobs.

LinkedIn - Use LinkedIn Jobs to leverage the power of your network and get hired.

ZipRecruiter - AI powered job search.

Indeed.com - Offers the widest volume of listings, making it ideal for broad searches.

Glassdoor.com - A comprehensive tool to research companies, including employee-submitted reviews, salary data, interview questions, and benefits information.

Applying for Government Jobs:

The process for applying for government jobs is different than other industries, especially when creating your resume. The best resource to learn more is USAJobs - the United States government's website for listing civil service job opportunities with federal agencies. Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/ for more information.  For information specific about what to include on a federal resume, click here.

Veteran & Military Resources:

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.

http://www.neguard.org/welcome.html
Local/Regional Job Board for people with a military background

UNK Contact

Dreamer Resources:

https://www.thedream.us/current-scholars/career-success/