This document provides guidance on career preparation materials and activities including resumes, cover letters, networking, interviewing, and accepting offers. It discusses components of application materials like contact information, education, experience, and involvement. It provides tips for a professional image and online presence. It also gives advice on identifying job opportunities through various websites, job boards, career fairs and professional organizations. Recommendations are made for customizing applications, researching employers, practicing interviews, following up, negotiating offers, and handling rejection.

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Application Materials
Professional Image
Identifying Jobs
Applying
Interviews
Offers

4. • Details previous experience: education, work
history, skills, other involvements.
• Summarizes your previous responsibilities
and accomplishments.
• Makes a case for why you are qualified for a
particular job.

5. • Contact Information
• Education
– Related Coursework
• Relevant Experience
– Jobs, Internships, Projects, Volunteer Work, Classes
• Other Involvements
– Clubs, Volunteer Work, Work History, Awards

7. • Optimal Resume
– http://www.esf.edu/career/

8. • A detailed letter to a prospective employer
describing why you are the right candidate
for a specific position.
• Highlights your interest in the position, your
previous experiences (jobs, education,
volunteer work) and how they’ve prepared
you for this job.

10. • A list of people employers can call to discuss
your qualifications with:
– Former boss
– Faculty members
– Advisors
– Community Members

13. • At Career Fairs
– Business attire
• When Interviewing
– Business attire
• Meeting new connections
– Business casual

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Business attire
Ironed clothes
Polished appearance
Minimal accessories
Nothing offensive
Be aware of perceptions of tattoos and
piercings

16. • Generic email
– Usually that includes your name
• Professional sounding voicemail
– Helps to have a personalized recording
• Any written or verbal communication
– Err on the side of formal

17. • Social networking site for building your
professional network
• Nice to have a professional internet presence
• Professional image and experience
• www.linkedin.com

18. • Google yourself
– And Google Image
• Monitor your internet presence
• Consider if someone gained access to your
profiles

20. • Your academic departments/website
– http://www.esf.edu/admissions/programs.htm
• Search similar job titles and occupations
– http://www.onetonline.org/
• See what ESF alumni from your program do
– Alumni Office database
– www.linkedin.com/alumni

21. • Begin researching companies
– Alumni
– Google
– LinkedIn
– Job Search Sites
– Career Fairs
• Some post on job search sites
• Others post on their company page
• Some don’t post at all

22. • ESF’s Career Management System
• Postings of Jobs and Internships
– From employers, faculty, alumni

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Indeed.com
Idealist.org
USAJobs.gov
State Departments of Civil Service
– Civil Service Examinations (Get on the listserve)
• Texas A&M Job Board
• Professional Organizations
– Ex: American Chemical Society, The Wildlife Society
• Social Media pages for programs
• LinkedIn

25. • Triple check your materials
– Have them looked at by someone else
– Career Services/Friend/Parent/Faculty
• Follow instructions
• Customize!
– Be careful of using a template

27. • Always err on the side of formal
• Introducing yourself to a connection
• Thank you notes
– After a conversation, introduction, interview
• Follow up to your application/interview

29. • Research the organization
• Make copies of your resume to bring
• Familiarize yourself with the location
– Consider practicing the route
• Consider a mock interview
• Develop questions to ask during the
interview
– Save some for the end

30. • Pay attention to questions
• Make sure you’re answering the question
• Highlight yourself in a positive way
– Focus on your skills and achievements
• Be authentic and interested
• Smile, show some personality
• Sit up straight, shake hands, look people in the
eye
• Consider asking for a timeline for a decision

31. • Send a thank you to the people you
interviewed with
• Follow up after a week or so to express your
continued interest and see where they are in
the process

32. • Always be polite and gracious, whether you
accept or not.
• After an offer is made, it is appropriate to ask
for some time to think about it.
• If you’re unsatisfied with the rate, ask if the
salary is at all negotiable.
• Consider other benefits if it is not negotiable.

33. • "Thank you for choosing me for this role. I am
very excited about joining your team. That
being said, this is really hard for me, but I
wanted to call you personally and share a
challenge. While I could accept the job at this
rate, it's on the low side of my income needs. I
was really hoping for ____. This higher rate
would ensure I could do this job without any
concerns of covering my expenses.

34. • Don’t take it personally.
• Everyone will experience this.
• You do not know the circumstances that led
to that other person receiving the job.

35. Career Services Office
110 Bray Hall
careers@esf.edu
315-470-6660