2010-2011

Career
Planning
Handbook

Stewart Center
Room 194
(765) 494-3981
[Link]
50 years of innovation
in light control

The original dimmer

The latest innovations

The brightest future

Innovation, quality and opportunity

Since 1961, Lutron has been designing industry leading technology that controls light and saves
energy in homes and commercial buildings. Lutron is committed to investing in the brightest
minds because we believe that our employees are the foundation for growth and success.

Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Software, Manufacturing,

Industrial, Architectural
Science: Physics, Chemistry, Math
Business: Marketing, Sales, Communications, Public Relations
Operations: Manufacturing, Purchasing

For more information on Lutron and to learn more about how you can be a part
of Lutron’s future visit [Link]/careers.

©2010 Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | P/N 368-2016 REV A

 CENTER FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, Purdue University
2010-2011 Career Planning Handbook

Table of Contents
21st Century Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Career Research
CCO Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Career Decision-Making Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 10 Job Search Strategies in Today’s Economy . . . . . . . 30
Career Decision-Making Goal Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Informational Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
The Art of Networking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Making the Most of a Career Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Self-Assessment Dressing the Part. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
S.T.A.R. Method of Interviewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Transferable Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sample Interview Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
6 Ways to Identify Your transferable Skills. . . . . . . . . . 7 Top 10 Etiquette Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Power Verbs for Your Resume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Job Search Correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Resume Do’s and Don’ts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Cover Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Time to Brainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Academic Job Search Correspondence
Developing a Winning Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Preparing a Research Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Resume Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Academic Job Search Correspondence
Developing a Winning Curriculum Vitae (CV). . . . . . 21 Preparing a Teaching Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Curriculum Vitae Samples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Job Search Tips for Special Populations . . . . . . . . . . 41
Advice to Job Seekers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Career Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Major Exploration
Undergraduate 4-Year Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Gain Relevant Experience
Graduate School Application Deadline. . . . . . . . . . . 27
Writing Your Graduate School Green Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Personal Statement: 10 Easy Steps. . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Don’t Forget the Small Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Federal Jobs: 10 Reasons to Answer the Call to Serve . . 47
5 Good Reasons to Pursue a Nonprofit Career . . . . . . 48

Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
 21st Century Partners
“Building relationships that count!”
The Center for Career Opportunities relies heavily on the financial support
of our corporate partners to assist in funding such things as career-related
programs and resources, software programs, and our Student Ambassador
program. We are proud to extend our appreciation for their interest in
assisting the CCO in our efforts to connect Purdue students and alumni
with prospective employers.

Director’s Circle- $10,000 annual gift

Schlumberger

Executive Ambassadors- $5,000 annual gift

ADM
ArcelorMittal
Caterpillar
Lockheed Martin
Shell Oil Company
Timken Corporation

Corporate Partners - $2,500 annual gift

The Andersons, Inc. Greatbatch Medical

ArvinMeritor Halliburton
Auto-Owners Insurance Interactive Intelligence
CGB Enterprises Lutron Electronics
Chevron Northrop Grumman
Cisco Systems Parker Hannifin
Danaher Raytheon
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing U.S. Steel
Freudenberg-NOK Wolverine
 CCO Services
One-on-One Counseling
Career Services Consultants are available to meet with Hours of Operation
you concerning your career needs. Contact the CCO to Monday-Friday
make an appointment concerning any of the following: 8:00 am-5:00 pm, by appointment
• Major & Career Exploration 10:00 am-4:00 pm, walk-in hours
   - Learn more about your career interests
   - Explore majors Contact Information
   - Research information about careers
(765) 494-3981
• Graduate School Preparation
194 Stewart Center
   - Research programs that fit your interests
[Link]
   - Prepare for entrance exams
   - Consider steps in applying to graduate or
professional school
• Internship/Job Search Preparation
   - Interview preparation
   - Conducting a job search

Walk-in Assistance Career Fairs

No Appointments Necessary, 10:00 am-4:00 pm For a complete listing of career fairs visit the CCO
Spend 5-10 minutes with a CCO Representative for: Calendar at [Link].
• Resume review
• Cover letter review CCO Express
• CCO Express assistance CCO Express is an online tool that allows employers
• Career fair strategies to post job positions, view resumes of candidates, and
• Salary statistics schedule interviews with candidates. In addition, job
• Job search tips seekers are able to access job postings, refer their resumes
• Interviewing resources to potential employers, and schedule interviews with
• Evaluating/negotiating a job offer prospective employers.

On-Campus Recruiting & Job Postings Perfect Interview

Employers from around the country visit the CCO to recruit Need help preparing for an upcoming interview? Perfect
Purdue University students and alumni for positions in Interview is a simulated, interactive job interview in
their organizations. In addition to employers who come to which you are asked challenging questions and offered
campus, companies also post job listings on-line. Find out valuable feedback.
when employers are making a visit to Purdue, locate job
postings, submit your resume and meet with employers by Career Spots
registering for a FREE account on CCO Express at Short web video clips (2-5 minutes) addressing key job
[Link]! search issues such as interviewing, creating and deliv-
ering a personal “commercial” to an employer, social
Clinics networking, and much more!
The CCO offers a variety of clinics. Refer to Career Wiki
[Link] for a complete listing. On-line library that provides access to valuable resources
Invite us to speak to your group or class! to help you research company information and job search
tools.
Graduate Student Series
The CCO partners with the Graduate School to provide
seminars tailored especially for graduate students in their
career planning. Refer to [Link]/
development for a complete listing of professional
development resources.

[Link] 3
 Career Decision-Making Process

4 Center for Career Opportunities

 Career Decision-Making
Goal Sheet
C hoosing an academic major and/or career can be a daunting task. The Career Decision-Making Process, in conjunc-
tion with related activities can help you tackle this challenge.

Use the following descriptions to help you identify where YOU are in the Career Decision-Making Process.
Complete the activities for each area that applies to you to guide you throughout this experience.

Self-Assessment: Identify your interests, skills, values, and personality

characteristics
q Meet with a CCO representative to identify your interests, skills, values, and personality
characteristics
q Take career assessment(s) and meet with a consultant to discuss results
q Discuss career options that match your interests, skills, values, and personality
characteristics with a CCO representative
q Develop personal brand to guide your career decision

Major Exploration: Consider academic options by gathering information about

a variety of majors
q Utilize resources to conduct research concerning academic majors:
   m DISCOVER—[Link] (request User ID at the CCO)
   m Purdue University Office of Admissions—[Link]/Admissions/Undergrad/
q Gather information from upperclassmen and academic advisors to learn about prospective
academic programs
q Identify majors that fit your personality traits, interests, values, and abilities—[Link]/
admissions/undergrad
q Meet with an academic advisor to develop a plan of study

Career Search: Identify future options based on information concerning a

variety of careers
q Utilize resources to conduct research concerning various careers
   m O*NET—[Link]
   m Occupational Outlook Handbook—[Link]/oco
q Conduct informational interviews with career professionals in your field of interest
q Meet with a CCO representative to develop a career plan

Gain Relevant Experience: Try on potential careers and develop skills that are
imperative to obtaining success
q Obtain relevant experience to “test drive” potential careers through:
   m Volunteer opportunities
   m Internship/job experiences
   m Involvement in campus, community or professional organizations
   m Job shadowing a career professional
   m Research opportunity in your field of interest
q Apply for internships, co-ops, and/or full-time job opportunities that match you
   m Green jobs
   m Small companies
   m Government jobs
[Link] 5
Self-Assessment

Transferable Skills
The first step in creating your resume is to identify your transferable skills.

What Are Transferable Skills? Identifying Transferable Skill Subsets

A transferable skill is a “portable Skills Working With People
skill” that you deliberately (or inad- • Selling • Training •Teaching
Transferable skills can be divided into
vertently, if you haven’t identified • Supervising • Organizing •
four subsets:
them yet) take with you to other life Soliciting • Motivating • Mediating
experiences. • Advising • Delegating •
1) working with people;
Entertaining • Representing •
2) working with things;
Your transferable skills are often: Negotiating • Translating
3) working with information and
• Acquired through a class (e.g., an
data; and
English major who is taught tech- Working With Things
4) working with ideas • Repairing • Assembling parts •
nical writing)
• Acquired through experience Designing • Operating machinery
(e.g., the student government • Driving • Maintaining equip-
representative who develops ment • Constructing • Building •
strong motivation and consensus Sketching • Working with CAD •
building skills) Keyboarding • Drafting • Surveying
• Troubleshooting
Transferable skills supplement your
degree. They provide an employer Working With Data/Information
concrete evidence of your readiness • Calculating • Developing data-
and qualifications for a position. bases • Working with spreadsheets •
Identifying your transferable skills Accounting • Writing • Researching
and communicating them to potential • Computing • Testing • Filing •
employers will greatly increase your Sorting • Editing • Gathering data •
success during the job search. Analyzing • Budgeting

Working With Ideas

Remember that it is impossible to
• Activate • Complete • Compose
complete college without acquiring
• Conserve • Contract • Create •
transferable skills. Campus and
For example, some transferable Discover • Draft • Draw • Engineer
community activities, class projects
skills can be used in every work- • Execute • Expand • Generate •
and assignments, athletic activities,
place setting (e.g., organizing or Inaugurate • Launch • Modify •
internships and summer/part-time
public speaking) while some are Mold • Reconstruct • Redesign •
jobs have provided you with count-
more applicable to specific settings Remodel • Synthesize • Transform
less experiences where you’ve
(e.g., drafting or accounting). The • Unite
developed a range of skills—many
following are examples of skills often
that you may take for granted.
gained through the classroom, jobs,
athletics and other activities.

Use these examples to help you

develop YOUR own list of the trans-
ferable skills you’ve acquired.

6 Center for Career Opportunities

 6 Ways to Identify
Your Transferable Skills

Make a list of every part-time, Make a list of every volunteer, Refer back to your transcript
full-time, internship, and co-op academic, and extracurricular to trigger your memory about
job you’ve ever held. Identify activity you’ve ever participated. classes you’ve taken. Identify an
two skills you built within each at Identify two skills you built experience, project and/or bed
minimum. within each at minimum. of knowledge you built within at
least 2 classes.
Example: Increased communication Example: Interact effectively both
between two departments by serving verbally and in writing with a diverse Example: Delegated specific roles to
as a liaison group of people group members as team leader of the
ABC project

Read the lists of power verbs Ask your family and friends to Review external sites and speak
on pages 8 and 9 to trigger your share one skill they’ve recognized with representatives about skills
memory. Choose at 4 words that in you with an example. Think they look for and identify which
spark recollection and follow up about how this same skill may ones you have already built.
with the skill built. have transferred at work or school.
Example: Read job description of an
Example: Example: appealing position and reword your
Step 1- Trained…, Motivated…, Step 1: Friend mentioned, “You skill to fit
Advertised…, Coordinated… always follow through when making
Step 2 –Trained a staff of 5 how to promises to others”
serve customers within a short period Step 2: Demonstrated dependability
of time, effectively when working with others on major
projects

Identifying your transferable skills

and communicating them to potential
employers will greatly increase your
success during the job search.
[Link] 7
Self-Assessment

Power Verbs for Your Resume

T
he following lists are divided into categories to help you find some great, active verbs
to help your resume stand out. Try to begin each of your descriptive lines with an
active (or “Power”) verb. Remember to use past tense verbs for previous experience.
For current activities, you can also use the present tense (i.e., Supervise, not Supervising) if
you prefer. This list is just a beginning­—to give you ideas of where to start.

Working Teaching/Advising Fundraise Handle Consolidate Working

Advise Handle Implement Control
with People: Aid Influence Inform Delegate with Data:
Correct Lobby Interact Direct
Communication Counsel Persuade Intervene Enforce Research/Analysis
Address Demonstrate Poster Join Entrust Acquire
Clarify Display Publicize Listen Expedite Analyze
Collaborate Encourage Publish Litigate Govern Classify
Communicate Enhance Recruit Mediate Head Collate
Compose Enlist Screen Model Hire Collect
Correspond Ensure Seek Out Motivate Improvise Compile
Demonstrate Grade Sell Negotiate Initiate Conduct
Document Guide Service Participate Institute Deliver
Edit Help Target Provide Judge Detect
Entertain Influence Recommend Lead Determine
Exhibit Instruct Interpersonal Reconcile Maintain Discover
Explain Introduce Relations Rehabilitate Manage Dissect
Express Lecture Acclimate Represent Moderate Evaluate
Illustrate Mentor Accommodate Resolve Monitor Explore
Interpret Program Adapt Share Officiate Examine
Interview Provide Answer Suggest Order Formulate
Investigate Rate Anticipate Treat Oversee Gather
Lecture Steer Assist Understand Prescreen Identify
Perform Suggest Assure Preside Inspect
Plan Support Bargain Administrative/ Prioritize Investigate
Present Teach Care Management Produce Locate
Promote Test Coach Accelerate Prohibit Name
Proofread Train Collaborate Accomplish Refer Obtain
Read Tutor Confer Achieve Regulate Observe
Relate Confront Act Run Pinpoint
Relay Public Relations Consult Administer Set-up Prepare
Report Advertise Converse Allocate Start Prioritize
Review Advocate Critique Approve Streamline Receive
Revise Attend Develop Assign Strengthen Research
Speak Coordinate Encourage Assess Supervise Specify
Summarize Convince Familiarize Attain Survey
Survey Deal Form Benchmark Test
Translate Dispense Foster Chair Trace
Transcribe Disseminate Fulfill Commend Track
Write Distribute Gain Compromise Verify

8 Center for Career Opportunities

Numbers/Finance Reduce Schedule Creating/Generating Draw Facilitate
Abstract Solve Set Construct Engineer Forecast
Account Quantify Sort Landscape Execute Found
Add Produce Expand Give
Appraise Organization Shape Generate
Learn
Audit Appraise Working Utilize Inaugurate
Navigate
Budget Apply Launch
Calculate Arrange with Things: Modify Offer
Collect Balance Working Mold Perform
Compute Catalog Development Propose
Reconstruct
Decrease Categorize Assemble with Ideas: Synthesize Receive
Determine Connect Build
Transform Refer
Divide Coordinate Customize Development Unite Referee
Enter (data) Define Design Adjust
Enlarge Compose Register
Estimate Edit General/
Establish Format Develop Reinforce
File Miscellaneous
Finance Facilitate Improve Devise Act Resolve
Formulate File Install Implement Apply Respond
Increase Group Fix Innovate Anticipate Retrieve
Insure Issue Function Invent Change Save
Inventory Modify Manufacture Make Check Select
Invest Orchestrate Navigate Contribute Serve
Market Organize Operate Creating/Generating Cover Set
Maximize Overhaul Propose Activate Decide
Simplify
Minimize Place Refinish Complete Define
Renovate Conserve Study
Multiply Prepare Diagnose
Process Program Repair Contract Effect Take
Project Qualify Restore Create Eliminate Travel
Purchase Reorganize Update Discover Emphasize Use
Record Rewrite Upgrade Draft Establish Win

Adapted with permission from Letters & Science and Human Ecology Career Services, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Resume Do’s and Don’ts

DO DON’T
• Consider an objective • Use a template
• Be concise • Use words with meaning to a limited
• Show results group or acronyms

• Create a resume that fits the job you’re • Be cute or fancy when it comes to
after layout and presentation

• Carefully proofread and edit your • Use passive phrases, first or third
resume person

• Make the effort and investment to • Exaggerate

produce a quality finished product • Overlook non-work experiences
• Keep your resume up to date • Include photographs, marital status,
• Use power verbs and bullets with high school information, or salary
keywords requirements
• Label the document “Resume”

[Link] 9
 Self-Assessment

Time to Brainstorm

Have you...

Started an
Presented at a
organization?
conference?
Conducted
under-
graduate
research? Published
an article?

Studied
abroad or
traveled Served as a
extensively? military officer
or within
an ROTC
program?

Earned a
promotion? Passed an exam
Been a towards a
Resident certification?
Assistant Won a
(RA)? competition
related to
your field?

Don’t forget about efforts like these and more to include on your resume!
10 Center for Career Opportunities
 80,000 people Bring all your knowledge, all your
80 countries ambition. Be ready to learn more,
140 nationalities do more, and experience more than
0 boundaries you ever thought possible.

You’ve studied hard to earn your engineering degree.

Complement it with some of the world’s most advanced
technologies available today. Look at the unlimited
opportunities with Schlumberger Oilfield Services.
Success without boundaries
Experience more than you ever thought possible.
[Link] Starting positions for Field Engineers are available
throughout the US and internationally.
An equal opportunity employer.
Self-Assessment

Developing a Winning Resume

A
resume is a written document that is used to highlight the skills, contributions, and experiences that represent
the personal brand you want to portray to potential employers. The purpose is to obtain an interview with a
prospective employer, mostly within industry. Use the following tips to help you get started.

Heading
Personal Contact Information:
o Name should be bold and in larger print (14-20 font size)
o Permanent and/or Current addresses (listing both signals a transition, i.e., graduation)
o One reliable telephone number
o One professional email address

Objective
The objective should focus on your desired job title, if you choose to have one:
o Use phrases such as “To obtain an internship in accounting or finance” or “Seeking full-time employment in
engineering design, research, or development”
o Do not highlight your skills or what you want to get out of the experience in the objective

Education
Include the following information:
o Name of institution where obtained or working toward a degree
o Month and year of graduation (future and past)
o Official name of degree and/or certification obtained or currently working toward
o Major and minor(s)
o Overall or major GPA (optional information)
o Omit high school information, unless: 1) Freshman or Sophomore or 2) significant or related to field

Format
Keep the following rule of thumb in mind when preparing the resume:
o Margin – Top: 0.8” - 1”; Sides and Bottom: 0.5” - 1”
o Order – Heading, Objective (if included), and Education are listed first in that order
o Length –Undergraduate student - 1 page; Masters student 1- 2 pages
o Font size and style – 10-12; less fancy fonts (i.e., Calibri, Georgia, Arial, Cambria, Times New Roman)
o Balance: White space and text space

Content
The makeup of your document should be deliberate and powerful:
o Prioritize – Top two-thirds of the page receive priority when highlighting key categories
o Own the Order – Don’t feel pressured to always highlight Experience right after Education, especially if it is not
the most significant category in relation to your background
o Core Four – Company name, position held, month/year of start and finish, and city and state or country
o Formula for bullets = power verb + skill demonstrated + linking verb + result and/or contribution
Example: Implemented new service-oriented procedure in order to decrease wait time for customers

12 Center for Career Opportunities

Experience
Highlight paid, unpaid, and/or school/extracurricular experiences that relate to your desired objective:
o Additional titles for this section are: Experience, Professional Experience or Related Experience
o Under the core four, emphasize relevant skills used, contributions made, and/or accomplishments
o Use important keywords and hot topics relevant to your field
o Do not mention names of previous supervisors or advisors (Reference Page Only)

Related Courses
List official name of relevant courses:
o Consider giving a brief description of relevant coursework, independent studies, or research
o May not be as necessary for graduate students to list coursework

Skills
Highlight skills relevant to the job you want:
o Additional titles for this section: _____________ Skills or Competencies
o Technical, language, and/or unique skills
o Categorize or list together if they are all in the same category

Additional Sections
Depending on your background, you may want to add additional sections to your resume:
o Leadership
o Activities or Extracurricular Efforts
o Honors or Awards
o Community Service or Volunteer
o Professional Affiliations
o Class Projects or Notable Projects
o Research

See pages 14 - 20 for resume samples that

incorporate the recommendations provided!

[Link] 13
Self-Assessment

Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

ANTHONY N. ALUMNUS
CURRENT ADDRESS U.S. Permanent Resident PERMANENT ADDRESS
20 Purdue Street Apt. 1 (765) 123-4567 31184 Green Pastures Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47906 analumnus@[Link] Indianapolis, IN 46250

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a summer internship in the field of Electrical Engineering

EDUCATION
Purdue University, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering West Lafayette, IN
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering May 2011 Comment: Note: No GPA is listed! Remember,
that’s optional, but be ready to talk about it, if
RELATED EXPERIENCE asked. On the other hand, it’s not optional if the
employer requires it be listed.
Intern–Product Testing Team
PERFECTUS, Santa Clara, CA 06/2009 - 08/2009 Comment: Remember the core four: position,
• Developed testbench code and test cases for testing the USB 3.0 design IP, using SystemVerilog company name, city and state, and dates worked
• Studied Phy, Link, and Protocol layers of USB 3.0 specification and wrote a test plan from M/Y‐M/Y.
• Performed verification of USB 3.0 design IP, successfully
• Found bugs and identified resolutions to eliminate them

Intern – Technician
CT&T DISTRIBUTIONS (partnered with STANLEY Security Solutions), Edison, NJ 05/2008 - 08/2008
• Collaborated with a team to stage, assemble and promptly deploy personal computers for customers
• Set up numerous architectures of computer networks, including wired and wireless networks, in different operating systems
• Installed IP camera systems in onsite customer locations

LEADERSHIP Comment: Direct and effective way to highlight

Founder/President your leadership qualities to an employer!
PURDUE IMAGINERY CLUB, West Lafayette, IN. 08/2009- Present
• Facilitated the start of Indiana’s first collegiate imaginary organization
• Formed the infrastructure for the government, fundraising, and the marketing sectors

Student Liaison/ Council Member

ITAP STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC), West Lafayette, IN 03/2009-Present
• Optimized Information Technology at Purdue formulating business solutions to maximize profits and benefit students
• Learned and used marketing strategies to increase bandwidth and publicity of ITAP

NOTABLE PROJECTS Comment: Highlighting projects could be a great

way to share additional skills or contributions you
RFID Automatic Door Opening System, IEEE Computer Committee 09/2008 – 12/2008 made.
• Built an automatic door opener that uses a motor to open a door when an RFID tag is scanned through an RFID reader
• Collaborated effectively with team members from a variety of engineering disciplines
Backup Server Installation, IEEE Computer Committee 09/2008 – 12/2008
• Developed a system that allows the IEEE primary server to failover to a backup server, which eliminated any data redundancy between
the two servers

TECHNICAL SKILLS
SystemVerilog  VHDL  Java  UNIX  Linux  Wired/Wireless Networking  Visual Basic  HTML  CSS  XML  Adobe
Photoshop/Illustrator  RF design  embedded system design  Microsoft Word  PowerPoint  Excel Comment: Bullets in between each skill is a nice
way to separate a long list
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Intern- Jr. Social Media Advisor
[Link], West Lafayette, IN 02/2009 - Present Comment: Dates can be listed in number form, if
• Advertised and promoted the launch of Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, using online Social Networking tools preferred. All dates are lined up at the front.
• Networked with campus organizations to promote the [Link] search engine

14 Center for Career Opportunities

 Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

Johnny Bunko
1234 Career Finder Way bunkoj@[Link]
Salem, WV 26426 (304)987‐6543

Objective
Seeking full‐time employment in Food Service Management, preferably abroad

Education
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN May 2012
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) GPA: 3.5
Concentration: Food Service Management
Minors: Organizational Leadership and Supervision (OLS) and Psychology

Multilingual Skills
‐ Fluent: Malay, Cantonese (Chinese) Basic: Japanese, Swedish, Hakka (Chinese)

International Travel
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca, Terengganu, Tioman), Japan (Yokohama, Hokkaido, Tokyo), Sweden (Malmö),
Denmark (Copenhagen), Thailand (Bangkok), Singapore (City). Comment: Both categories are relevant to the
‐ Enhanced appreciation of diverse cultures, cuisine and traditions of a myriad of people. objective which increase marketability of fit for
position
Related Experience
Purdue Housing & Food Services, Dining Court Manager, Earhart Dining Court Fall 2009‐Present
‐ Facilitated in the smooth functionality of the dining court by working different stations throughout the system.
‐ Ensured continued good natured environment by developing relationships with fellow workers minimize conflict.
‐ Developed interpersonal skills and conflict management both as involved party and arbitrator.

Leadership Experience
Purdue Muay Thai Club, President Spring 2010‐Present
‐ Direct the Muay Thai club in technique, philosophy and club goals.
‐ Plan long‐ and short‐term plans regarding club schedule.
‐ Maintain a successful, command structure and delegate tasks to ensure maximum productivity of all projects.
‐ Address setbacks in a professional manner thereby developing interpersonal skills and self control.

Purdue Muay Thai Club, Development Officer Fall 2009

‐ Spoke with prospects about the club and engaged in public relations activities such as booths and information sessions.

Extracurricular Experience
Personal Training Consultant Fall 2009‐Present
‐ Train students with the goal of their choosing and set appropriate schedules and exercises to meet goals.
‐ Engage students in exercise with students allows for the development of linguistic ability and interpersonal skills.
‐ Empower students to keep up with their regimen and motivating them to continue through to their goals.

Swing Dance Club Member Spring 2009

‐ Learned and practiced the skills necessary for the art of Swing while developing relationships with other members.

Girls Field Hockey Manager Spring 2007‐Spring 2008

‐ Motivated and supported the girls’ field hockey team by providing technique drills and exercises.
‐ Developed management, logistical and First‐aid skills necessary for the wellbeing of the team.

Professional Gaming Team Member (Australia) Fall 2006‐Spring 2008 Comment: Acceptable to highlight dates as
‐ Fostered team‐based skills and interpersonal relationships in order to perform as a single, functional unit. semesters, instead of months
‐ Placed second in country in 2007 with a high level of attunement, synergy and cohesion with team members.

[Link] 15
Self-Assessment

Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

Ineda Major
Comment: Consider a space saving heading when
227 US 52 West Apt 224 Lafayette, IN 47906 · inedamajor@[Link] · (765) 432-1234 you need more space for other categories!

EDUCATION
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana August 2011
Bachelor of Science - Division of Construction Engineering & Management GPA: 3.7/4.0
Major: Building and Construction Management

Related Courses: Legal Aspects of Construction, Structural Analysis, Architectural Engineering Comment: Good way to highlight courses related
to your field of interest.

CERTIFICATIONS
• OSHA-10 Certified, enhanced awareness of safety on the jobsite
• Developed proficiency with Prolog and Suretrak Comment: Certifications are extremely important
in certain fields… so stress them!

LEADERSHIP SERVICE
Green Neighborhood Development and Practice Spring 2010
Energy Analysis Team Leader
• Coordinate the group in planning and simulating the energy, CO2 output, and comfort performance of a green project
• Communicate building performance data and other deliverables to design affiliate in China
• LEED AP eligible by Fall 2010

Engineering Projects in Community Service: Purdue University Spring 2008

Chief Financial Officer
• Designed experiments to determine cheaper methods for making concrete to build Habitat Homes in Haiti
• Delivered formal presentations of the group's research solutions to URS Corporation and other corporate sponsors
• Planned and managed a $5000 grant for all research work

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Skanska USA Building, Inc. Summer 2008
Intern Project Engineer Southfield, Michigan
• Obtained and reviewed drawings, limited warranties, substantial completions documents to ensure scope compliance
• Generated and updated RFIs, submittals, project schedules, and regular punch lists
• Performed inspections on M.E.P. installations successfully with significant emphasis on punch listing procedures

Horizon Capital Investments Summer 2007

Intern Brooklyn, NY
• Generated and analyzed cash flow statements worth approximately $60,000 over a four month period
• Monitored the installation and use of scaffolding equipment
• Delegated responsibilities for all site inventory management and ensured efficient quantity control

PROFESSIONAL AFFILITATIONS
Architecture for Humanity American Engineering Association
Problem Solving in Engineering Class Representative Society of Engineers in Business Comment: Don’t forget about your campus, local,
and (inter)national association memberships!

16 Center for Career Opportunities

 Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

Maya Management
(765) 727-8243 • myamanagement@[Link]
103 Krannert Road • Lafayette, IN 47907

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a full-time position focusing on finance within international business

EDUCATION
Purdue University, Krannert School of Management, West Lafayette, IN
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Concentration in Finance May 2010
Honors:
EverBan Citation of Academic Excellence and Leadership Excellence Recipient 2007
Black Caucus Academic Award 2007, 2008
Mortar Board Leadership Conference 2008
US Steel Business Opportunity Program Scholarship 2009

STUDY ABROAD
University of Dubai, School of Management, Dubai, India
• Enhanced knowledge of a new culture, while simultaneously learned core financial principles and foundations Comment: Key section in relation to objective

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Society of Minority Managers (SMM)
Vice President of Professional Development April 2009-Present
• Coordinated annual SMM Corporate Networking Reception including recruiting employers for the event
• Executed marketing strategies to increase participation in professional development events
Vice President of Finance April 2007-April 2009
• Coordinated fundraising events to raise $1000/year for the club
• Collaborated with E-board to produce 1st annual networking reception
• Managed the account balance by reconciling each month and organized and filed critical financial documents Comment: Great way to emphasize two
experiences at one organization

Center for Career Opportunities (CCO)

Student Ambassador April 2008-April 2009 Comment: If you choose to use italics, reformat
• Designed diagram for the CCO used in assisting students with their career development your document to pdf before e-mailing!
• Critiqued resumes and cover letters for Purdue students and taking the initiative to do them outside work hours
• Created awareness of the CCO and its benefits to the student body by giving presentations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Exelon Corporation, Chicago, IL
Finance Intern June 2009-August 2009
• Developed new ideas for Exelon’s eFin website to increase traffic flow to the website
• Created reports that effectively showed the use of data using Hyperion Reporting tool
• Utilized program called Sharepoint to consolidate files to increase efficiency in the organization of files
• Assisted with organizing and calculating the facilities budget for 2010-2014 long range planning Comment: Notice: No periods are used
consistently throughout the section…remember,
either choose to use or choose to lose
General Motors Corporation, Pontiac, MI
Finance Intern May 2008-August 2008
• Participated in case competition to propose potential improvements and innovative solutions to GM’s current alternate (hybrids
and other green technologies) propulsion strategy
• Streamlined the overtime process resulting in improved efficiency
• Performed an audit on Business Plan Deployment (BPD) boards with results in three days to ensure goals were being met with
project timeline set for a week and a half
• Collaborated with colleagues to complete various tasks within the financial realm

MetLife Insurance Company, Aurora, IL

Accounting/Finance Intern May 2007-August 2007
• Implemented a change in underwriting sign-off form system and as a result improved quality of system
• Performed internal audits on 159 underwriting cases in 3 weeks resulting in improved efficiency

[Link] 17
Self-Assessment

Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

128 Memorial Mall, Apt # 190, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Stewart Senter stewsenter@[Link]
765‐494‐3980

Objective: To secure a summer internship at Dell as a Software Analyst

Education: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN May 2010

M.S. Computer Science GPA 3.81/4.0

University of Boilermakers, College of Engineering, Lafayette, IN June 2007

B.S. in Production Engineering GPA 4.0/4.0 Comment: Common, but not the only way to list
information from two universities. If highlighting
two degrees from the same institution, just list the
Research: Graduate Research Assistant January 2009 – Present university once, at the top, and then degrees starting
‐ Developed an Agent Based Simulation Model for Colorectal Cancer Treatment using REPAST from the most recent.
‐ Evaluate the NCCN Screening Guidelines for a population based implementation
‐ Estimate the Colorectal Cancer Screening Capacity Requirements for Indiana State

Experience: Tata Motors Ltd, Pune, India July 2007 – July 2008
Graduate Engineer Trainee
Tools Used: Project Contributions:
‐ TQM ‐ Verified form compliance of welded car bodies and suggested
‐ DOE modifications to the commissioning stage components
‐ Blue Buck Master Fixture ‐ Generated CMM reports for panels and assemblies and recommended
‐ 5S corrective actions for quality compliance
‐ Analyzed paint defects, designed experiments to identify the causes for
these defects and suggested solutions to maintain paint shop OQL Comment: It’s acceptable to be creative in the
formatting of the resume to effectively highlight core
contributions!
Bharat Forge Ltd, Pune, India Summers 2005 & 2009
In‐Plant Trainee
Tools Used: Project Contributions:
‐ Low Cost Automation ‐ Developed an easy loading and automated clamping mechanism for
‐ Man Machine Charts Front Axle Beam Machining to reduce fatigue on the m/c operator
using Time Study ‐ Reduced set‐up time for crankshaft journal grinding wheel changeover
‐ Multi‐machining from 4.5 hours to 2 hours and improved productivity by 6%
‐ Lean Methodology ‐ Prepared Statistical Process Control Data for Crankshaft Grinding m/c
‐ Value Stream Mapping and took corrective actions to meet the m/c capability requirements
‐ Combined the manual operations of two CNC machines using time
study & man‐machine charts reducing manpower
‐ Generated a Value Stream Map for a crankshaft machining line &
suggested measures to improve process ratio from 4.1% to 8.3%

Technical “Failure Mode & Effects Analysis” at Exuberance 2007, Pune, India
Presentation: “Mathematical Modeling of Vibration Analysis” at Fervor 2006, Pune, India Comment: Different approach to provide evidence
of your knowledge base in your area of study!

Leadership: ‐ Coordinator for the state level inter‐collegiate sports event “ZEST” organized by COEP
‐ Trained on “Advances in Automobile Technology & Automatic Transmission Systems” at Daimler
Chrysler India Pvt. Ltd., Pune, India, 2005
‐ Led the college badminton team to win competitions at the University and National level

Computer ‐C, C++, JAVA ‐AutoCAD, CATIA & SolidEdge ‐MS Office
Skills: ‐AutoMOD ‐REPAST (Agent Based Simulation) ‐SAS

Honors: ‐ National Merit Scholarship, 2006

‐ International Awareness Scholarship, 2006

18 Center for Career Opportunities

 Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

ima boiler
1234 Engineering Mall ~ West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 Comment: Don’t be afraid to be creative with
(765) 987-6543 imaboiler@[Link] your heading!

Objective
To obtain an Innovation Fellowship Program position at Beckman Coulter in which biomedical systems are created to
improve health care

Education
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, West Lafayette, IN May 2010
DUAL DEGREE: GPA: 3.71 / 4.0
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Experience
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, West Lafayette, IN May 2008 – Present
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Grubbs Undergraduate Research Fellowship Recipient
• Developed and characterized a low cost in vitro loading system for mechanical stimulation of bone marrow organ. Comment: Note: Periods are used at the end of
• Designed and constructed new electrochemical cells for the formation of aligned collagen bundles. each statement in this section. Remember to be
• Performed research for the development of interwoven collagen mat to be used as a long term tendon repair graft. consistent with periods or don’t use them at all.

LICOR BIOSCIENCES, Lincoln, NE June 2009 – August 2009

Product Development Mechanical Engineering Intern
• Improved upon existing CO2 flux measurement system design to add Ethernet capabilities and constructed prototypes.
• Performed verification testing to ensure the device met engineering specifications and worldwide standards.
• Designed radiation shield for CO2 measurement device to lower data loss.
• Designed and tested a low cost light sensor mounting stake.
• Conducted experimental testing to verify the failure modes of light sensor and long-term chamber products. Comment: 5 bulleted statements is the
maximum!
COOK MED INSTITUTE, West Lafayette, IN May 2007 – November 2007
• Experimental Testing Mechanical Engineering Intern
• Collaborated with the Bench Testing team to develop new methods using laser micrometer to quicken testing time.
• Provided thorough quality control documentation as a means to include all parties informed on new methods.

Leadership positions
• Engineering World Health: Equipment Chair 2007 – 2009
• Biomedical Engineering Society: Secretary 2007 – 2009
• Purdue Skydiving and Parachuting Club: Treasurer 2007 - 2008
• Habitat For Humanity: Group Leader 2006 - 2007
• Relay for Life: Team Leader 2006 - 2007

Honors
• Grubbs Undergraduate Research Fellowship 2008 - 2010
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars 2006 - 2009
• National Scholars Honor Society 2006 - 2009
• Semester Honors and Dean’s List 2005 – 2009

Computer Skills
Pro Engineer Matlab Labview Catia
Solidworks C Programming PSpice Co-Create Comment: Columns provide more room and
create a neat presentation of information!
Publications
Boiler, Ima, Kruger, Freddie, and Madeup, Maggie. "How to stimulate the mind in college." Summer Breeze Conference
Organizing Committee Bioengineering Division of ASME (2010).

[Link] 19
Self-Assessment

Resume Sample
For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

Comment: Don’t be afraid to position your name

John Doe Purdue flush left!
purduejohn@[Link] 246 West State Road 26
(765)432-1357 West Lafayette, IN 47906

OBJECTIVE:
To obtain a full-time position related to Biology Education within the K-12 system

EDUCATION:
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN May 2010
Bachelor of Science
Double Major: Biology Education and Biological Sciences Comment: Another way to emphasize a double
GPA: 3.91/4.00 major is with a subtitle of some sort.

RELATED EXPERIENCE:
Student Teacher
William Henry Harrison High School, West Lafayette, IN February 2010 – Present
• Designed and implemented lesson plans for 9th grade regular and honors biology classes
• Planned and taught advanced placement biology classes in collaboration with lead instructor

Biology Education Intern

Biology for Elementary Education Majors, West Lafayette, IN January 2009 – December 2009
• Taught prospective, elementary education teachers fundamental concepts of biology within a laboratory setting
Biology Resource Seminar for Freshmen Biology Students, West Lafayette, IN August 2006 – October 2009
• Guided students in developing study skills, resumes, career and educational goals, and adapting to college life
• Conducted study sessions for accompanying freshman introductory Diversity Ecology and Behavior biology course

Biology Resource Center Tutor

Help Center for 100-300 Level Biology Courses, West Lafayette, IN January 2007 – December 2009
• Selected to provide supplemental assistance to over 1800 students a year by 325 upper-division biology students
• Offered students helpful advice for succeeding in college courses and improving study skills
• Collaborated with professors to better help students understand course material

Camp Counselor
Camp Mataponi, Naples, ME Summers 2008 & 2009
• Supervised and mentored fifteen-year-old girls during a seven-week camp program
• Taught horseback riding lessons and horse care skills to children aged 8 to 14
• Cared for and maintained 10 horses, a stable, and a riding facility Comment: If transitioning into education,
remember your efforts as a camp counselor, as this
illustrates transferable skills!
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Research
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN September 2006 – May 2008
• Developed and conducted a project to examine hormonal and behavioral responses to stress in Canada lynx to contribute
to conservation and management of the species
Ostroy Research Experience for Undergraduates Spring 2008
• Reexamined the effects of a major conservation effort in relation to biological effects

ACTIVITIES:
College of Science, Biology Department Ambassador August 2006 – Present
Phi Beta Kappa Member March 2009 – Present
Department of Biological Sciences May 2005 – Present
Intercollegiate Horsemanship Club and Equestrian Team January 2008 – December 2009

20 Center for Career Opportunities

 Developing a Winning
Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A
Curriculum Vitae or CV is a written document that is used for marketing your background for a variety
of purposes, mostly within academia or research. It can be multiple pages, but should be concise. Use the
following tips to help you get started on your CV.

Common Uses
o Graduate school admission, graduate assistantship, or scholarship application
o Teaching, research, and upper-level administrative positions in higher education
o School administration positions (Superintendent, Principal, Department Head)
o Research and consulting in a variety of settings
o Academic departmental and tenure reviews
o College or university service appointments
o Professional association leadership positions
o Publishing and editorial board reviews
o Speaking engagements
o Grant proposal

Foundational Standards
Use the following information from the Developing a Winning Resume on pages 12 and 13:
o Heading
o Objective
o Education (plus information below)
o Format
o Content
o Experience
o Skills

Education
Include the following information:
o Name of institution(s) where obtained or working toward a degree, listed in reverse chronological order
o Official name of degree(s) and/or certification(s) obtained or currently working toward
o Add Master’s Thesis, Project and/or Dissertation title(s)
o Name of Advisor

Additional Sections
o Teaching Experience and Interests
o Research Experience and Interests
o Related Experience: Internships, Practicum, and/or Fieldwork
o Grants Received and Academic Awards
o Special Training
o Scholarships and Fellowships

[Link] 21
Self-Assessment

Curriculum Vitae Sample

For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

22 Center for Career Opportunities

[Link] 23
Self-Assessment

Curriculum Vitae Sample

For more sample resumes, visit [Link]

C.V. Oresume
123 South Street
Apartment #1
West Lafayette, IN 47906

cvoresume@[Link]
(317) 246‐1357 Comment: Space filling heading. Consider when
trying to fill more space!

OBJECTIVE______________________________________________________________________________
To secure a full-time, research and development position related to aerospace, space systems, and defense

EDUCATION_____________________________________________________________________________
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, West Lafayette, IN
Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering May 2010
Area of Study: Structures and Materials GPA: 3.0/4.0
MS Thesis: Effects of Cool Air on Aerodynamics

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), Multidisciplinary Engineering May 2008

Awards: Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the College of Engineering 2008 GPA: 3.21/4.0 Comment: Consider this layout when you have
multiple degrees from the same school.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE_________________________________________________________________
Graduate Research Assistant in AAE, Purdue University-West Lafayette Fall 2008-Present
Head Researcher: Dr. N. Armstrong
-Conduct research regarding high temperature thermal barrier coatings for airplane turbines
-Design and perform cooling experiments with a class 4 laser system in Birck Nanotechnology Center
-Enhanced laboratory experience with luminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods

Advanced Photon Source (APS) Beamline 1 User at Argonne National Laboratory November 2009
-Selected to run experiments for 5 days in beamline 1 of APS through a competitive proposal processes
-Performed x-ray diffraction experiments, operating at high temperatures under various loading conditions in a
world class scientific facility

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Purdue University-West Lafayette, IN Summer 2006

-Used platinum to compose nanotubes from a biological protein template and determined how the pH affects
nanotube diameter and formation mechanisms

Women in Engineering: Mentors and Mentees Fall 2004-Spring 2008

-Attended weekly meetings with my mentee and provided support to women in engineering

Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Fall 2005-Spring 2007

-Served as the team liaison for the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology
-Organized and developed events that introduced hands-on science activities to underprivileged children
-Worked on various projects that were designed to encourage young women to become interested in engineering

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS_________________________________________________________________
Women in Engineering Graduate Mentoring Program Departmental Leader Fall 2008-Present Comment: All dates are lined up along the right
margin.
-Selected to help in recruiting events for the Purdue Graduate School on behalf of the Women in Engineering
Program
-Organize weekly social events that are held to help support the retention of women in engineering and to
encourage networking within the Aero/Astro Engineering Department

24 Center for Career Opportunities

Purdue Engineering Student Ambassador Fall 2007- Spring 2008
-Elected to represent the School of Engineering to serve as a leader and mentor to students, alumni, and faculty
-Presented for the Purdue President, France Cordova, at the College of Engineering Reception
-Gave a tour of Armstrong Hall to 13 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, as well as Steven Bechtel

Higher Ground Dance Company Fall 2004-Spring 2009

-Choreographed (averaging 2 dances per semester) for a Purdue-affiliated dance company who donates all
money received from semester performances to a local charity

TEACHING EXPERIENCE_________________________________________________________________
Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant for ENGR 195H, 1st Year Honors Engineering Fall 2008-Present
-Create lesson plans, lead lab sessions, grade, and hold office hours for students
-Lead communicator between teaching team and undergraduate TAs
-Instruct students on the following tools: MATLAB, CATIA, UNIX, Python, C, LabVIEW, Excel

PUBLICATIONS __________________________________________________________________________
-Oresume, C.V., “Survey of Ultra-High Temperature Materials for Applications Above 2000 K,” Presentation
and Proceedings Paper at AIAA Space Conference and Exposition, Pasadena, CA, September, 2009.
-Oresume, C.V., “Metallic Nanowires on a New Protein Template,” Proc. SPIE, Vol. 6592, May 2007.
-Oresume, C.V., “Alpha-Synuclein as a Template for the Synthesis of Metallic Nanowires,” Nanotechnology 18
055609, January 9, 2007.

PRESENTATIONS_________________________________________________________________________
-Oresume, C.V., “Ultra-High Temperature Materials For Lunar Processing,” Presentation and Proceedings Paper
at ASEE Conference and Exposition, Pittsburg, PA, June 2008.

PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS____________________________________________________________
-National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
-American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

EXPERIENCE ______________________________________________________________________
Materials Engineering Intern, Packer Engineering, Inc- Naperville, IL Summer 2007 & 2008
-Researched, designed, and performed computational modeling of high temperature materials (including
composites, ceramics, & nanomaterials) for fabricating a crucible and nozzle used in extracting oxygen from
lunar soil under NASA SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Grant
-Developed ultra-high temperature material components for applications in biomass gasification pyrolysis
-Lead a team of interns in additional projects involving space habitat sustainability
-Investigated a litigation case involving mechanical chain connections in trailers

Intern, Accident Research Association (ARA)-Chicago, IL Summer 2005

-Developed awareness of aircraft crash investigative research and operational procedures

Intern, Hoff, Collins, & Cook Law Offices-Chicago, IL Summer 2004

-Prepared important corresponding letters for legal staff and organized extensive aircraft article database for
easy research and file access

[Link] 25
Major Exploration

Undergraduate 4-Year Plan

SOPHOMORE
Conduct informational
interviews with professionals from
FRESHMAN your field of interest and build your job
search network.
Discover how your interests, abilities, & values
relate to the professional marketplace. Discover as much as you can about various
occupations.
Make an appointment with a career consultant to
discuss your chosen career or to get assistance in iden- Develop job search skills. Learn to write a cover letter
tifying one that is right for you. and practice interviewing.
Use your summer experience to begin developing Begin to implement your plan for gaining experi-
transferrable skills. ences and skills that employers are seeking.
Decide what specific activities you will
participate in to gain new skills or
enhance those you already
have.

• Talk with a career consultant and take advantage of the CCO’s

career resources.
• Develop a plan to acquire the overall skills employers seek, such as
communication and interpersonal skills, leadership and teamwork
abilities.
• Explore study abroad opportunities.
• Visit the CCO webpage, [Link], to find out about
our services and on-campus career related events
• Write your resume using our online resources and get it critiqued
by a CCO staff member.
• Create a profile with CCO Express on the CCO website to learn
about programs & internship opportunities that might interest you.

SENIOR
Ensure you are on to
JUNIOR
achieve your career goals & get
Continue developing leadership assistance developing & implementing
and interpersonal skills through relevant your job search plan.
experiences.
Review your interests, abilities, values and
Refer your resume to possible internship strengths so you can be clear about what you have
employers through CCO Express job listings and to offer employers.
sign up for on campus interviews. Research potential employers so you can interview
Develop relationships with faculty & employers to competently & make and informed decision.
use as references. Practice interviewing using Perfect Interview online
Attend employer information sessions & talk with at [Link].
employers at job fairs. Use CCO resources to prepare for the transition
Conduct informational interviews with form school to work.
professionals from your field of interest Complete CCO’s Post-Graduation
& build your job search network. Survey to let us know about your
plans after graduation.

26 Center for Career Opportunities

 Graduate School
Application Deadline
Dana Werner, Director of Recruitment Services, The Graduate School, Purdue University
October December
• Take standardized exams and • Make copies of all application
request that your scores be sent to materials for your records.
the appropriate schools.
• Complete your personal January
statement. • Verify that all of your application
• Request letters of recommenda- materials have been received by
tion from faculty; provide a copy the program(s) to which you have
of your personal statement and applied.
resume/curriculum vitae to each
Summer Before Senior Year professor. February
• Identify your goals to decide • Order transcripts from all post- • Schedule campus visits to loca-
whether or not graduate school is secondary institutions and request tions you are interested in.
right for you. official copies be sent to the • Prepare questions for each school
• Write a draft of your personal schools you are applying to. to gain more information about
statement. their academic programs.
• Research program options and • Establish contact with a current
requirements using graduate student in the programs you
programs guides, university have applied to to gather their
websites, and other resources. perspective.
• Research financial options:
Consider government agencies, April
philanthropic organizations, the
• Mail acceptance forms materials.
schools you apply to, and profes-
• Notify schools you have declined
sional organizations or honor
that you will not be attending.
societies as potential sources of
• Send notes and an update of your
funding.
search status to those who wrote
• Register for required standardized
recommendation letters on your
exams. November behalf.
• Complete application forms.
August – September (Do a draft first!)
• Meet with faculty members in • Submit application materials one
your department to discuss your month in advance of the applica-
personal statement, program tion deadline. Pay close attention
options, and potential funding to the instructions; all documents
sources. may not go to the same address.
• Determine the schools to which • Give your recommenders the
you will apply. appropriate information needed
• Get organized. Create a file for to send letters, if a hard copy is
each school and retain all related required, to each school.
application information in your • Remind your recommenders of
records. when your letters of recommenda-
• Prepare for standardized exams. tion must be received.

[Link] 27
Major Exploration

Writing Your Graduate School

Personal Statement: 10 Easy Steps
Purdue Online Writing Lab, [Link]

Answer the questions Tell a story Be specific

• Back up your statements
that are asked • Think in terms of showing
or demonstrating through with specific examples or
• Find questions in each application reasons.
that are somewhat similar.
concrete experience.
• Make your statement fresh, • Be sure your desire to obtain
• Write a unique answer for each your prospective career is
question. Don’t be tempted to lively, and different, to
logical, the result of specific
use the same statement for all distinguish yourself and make experience that is described in
applications. yourself memorable. your statement.

Find an angle Concentrate on your

• Figure out a way to make your opening paragraph
story interesting. Finding an • Grab the reader’s attention in the
angle or a “hook” is vital. opening paragraph is generally the most
important. This paragraph is the frame-
work for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know Don’t include some Do some research, if

• Be specific. Use the
language professionals
subjects needed
• Avoid references to experi- • Identify and capitalize on the
use to convey your
ences or accomplishments in atributes that set your choice
knowledge of the field.
high school or earlier. apart from other universities
• Refer to experiences such as
• Avoid potentially controver- or programs. Mention the
work, research, courses and
sial subjects (for example, values these characteristics
professional readings, and
controversial religious or have on your interest in
explain why you are suited
political issues). attending this school.
for it.

Write well and correctly Avoid clichés

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread • Avoid cliché statements such
your essay very carefully. as stating on your medical
• Express yourself clearly and concisely. school application that you
• Adhere to stated word limits. are “good at science and
want to help people.” This
is not expressing an original
thought.

28 Center for Career Opportunities

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[Link]/bouve
Career Research

10 Job Search Strategies

in Today’s Economy
Know Yourself Create a Plan of Develop a Network
• Identify your interests, • Conduct informational inter-
skills, and values.
Action views with various contacts and
• Create a list of target companies industries.
• Be prepared to commu- that match your interests, skills, • Join professional associations and
nicate your skills and and values. alumni clubs, and utilize social
media sites to connect with individ-
accomplishments to poten- • Research each organization and
uals who have similar interests.
tial employers verbally and the available career opportunities. • Read blogs or articles in key interest
• Set, track, progress, and celebrate
in writing. short-term goals, urgent dead-
areas and comment intelligently.
• Maintain regular contact with those
lines, and small milestones. you meet.

Obtain Professional Be Open-Minded

• Be open to possibilities outside of your
Experience particular degree field, and focus on
• Consider volunteering, part-time work, developing valuable skills even if it is not
co-ops, or internships. your “dream job”.
• Investigate teaching, unpaid, research, and
• Broaden your search to a variety of geographic
federal positions.
• Think about Teach for America, do a City Year, locations, part-time or contract work, and
AmeriCorps, or other projects. starting salary options.

Consider Less Create a Powerful Maintain Presence

Popular Organizations Presence • Keep in contact with the
employer and individuals in
• Non-Profit, federal • Clearly demonstrate relevant your network periodically.
government, and small- skills in resume and cover • Contact employers 11/2 -2 weeks
medium sized companies letter. after submitting your resume to
• Focus on accomplishments
also have a variety of see if they received your applica-
rather than duties or responsi- tion materials, ask any questions
opportunities. bilities performed.
• May offer valuable oppor- about the position, and reiterate
• Tailor requested docu- your interest.
tunities for advancement ments to each job posting or • Send thank you notes within a day
and opportunity. organization. of working with your contacts.

Get Help Be Patient and Positive

• Don’t be afraid to ask your network for • Expect 6 months or more to
leads or any other assistance. obtain a position.
• Talk to your advisor, professors, and peers
about possible opportunities. • Adopt 3-4 ways to conduct your job
• Visit the CCO at [Link] or search and rotate them when you
Stewart Center 194, call (765) 494-3981 to speak reach a roadblock.
with a Career Services Consultant and learn • Focus your energy on other tasks/
about all of the ways we can help! hobbies periodically.

30 Center for Career Opportunities

 Informational Interviews
Kaletra Dispennett, Career Services Consultant, Center for Career Opportunities, Purdue University

Conducting informational interviews can assist you in gaining information about

a specific career field or academic major. Use the following guidelines to help you
utilize this valuable resource.

Why Do Them?
• Gather information and advice concerning the academic major or
career field in which you are interested.

• Develop your network: Tap your resources to learn about other indi-
viduals you should contact.

• Obtain insight from a professional: Gain valuable feedback

concerning your resume. They can provide helpful information that is
specific to your prospective career field.

How Should I Prepare?

• Contact the individuals you wish to meet with: Schedule an appoint-
ment with someone who is in the career field or academic major you
wish to pursue.

• Make a list: Prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview.

• Respect the interviewer’s time: Honor the time agreed upon by moving the conversation to a
close 2-3 minutes prior to the end of your meeting.

What Should I Ask?

• What you would like to know about the career field or academic major: Ask about professional
organizations and/or publications they use to stay informed, coursework, instructors, average
salary, any additional contacts they would recommend you speak with, and feedback on your
resume.

• Personal experience: Gain first hand information by asking the individual about his/her personal
experience, such as how he/she decided on the major or career, what he/she likes most, or least.

• Career opportunities and the future: Ask about methods they would recommend for getting into
the career area, possible career paths for the specific major and additional training needed.

What Steps Do I Take After Conducting the Interview?

• Request a business card/contact information.

• Send a thank-you note to express your gratitude for their time and information.

[Link] 31
Career Research

The Art of Networking

Claudine R. Meilink, Career Services Consultant, Center for Career Opportunities, Purdue University

Why Should I Network? 4 Simple Steps to

• About 80% of open positions Successful Networking
are never advertised.
• Employers fill positions based
on recommendations from a
Know yourself.
colleague or friend; someone in
• Be confident in communicating your
their network. skills and professional qualities
• What are your skills and
Extending Your Network accomplishments?
• Conduct an informational • What three words describe you?
interview with an industry • What information do you want to
professional. convey to a potential employer or
• Join a professional organization mentor?
or attend a conference in your
area of study.
• Attend company information
Develop your personal elevator pitch.
sessions and introduce yourself • An elevator pitch is a concise,
to the recruiter. carefully planned, well executed
• Take advantage of opportunities offered by your highlight of your skills that can be
college or the CCO. delivered in the amount of time it
• Talk to the person sitting next to you the next time would take to ride an elevator.
you take a flight. • Visit [Link] for tips on
• Introduce yourself to people when waiting in developing YOUR elevator pitch!
line—anywhere.
• Make small talk at the gym, the nail salon, or the
grocery store.
Practice makes perfect.
Maintaining Your Network • Get feedback from as many people
as possible.
• Stay in touch with the people in your network by • Walk in to the CCO to practice your
keeping them informed of your progress. elevator pitch with our professional
• Have them critique your resume. staff.
• Ask for their input when appropriate.
• Offer your input to them as well.

Using Social Media to Network Master the art of small talk.

• Connect with a variety of individuals using such sites • Listen carefully when you are in a
as Boilersphere (Purdue Alumni, Students, Faculty, conversation
and Staff), LinkedIn (Professionals from various • Catch people’s names and use them
career industries), Twitter (Family & Friends), and in the conversation
others • Rephrase their opinions to show them
• Be cautious of what you are posting on these social you are listening.
• Smile and maintain appropriate
networking sites—employers will view them to
eye contact with the person you are
gather information!
speaking with
• Be aware of daily networking
opportunities

32 Center for Career Opportunities

 Making the Most of a
Career Fair
Know your purpose
• Attend a career fair to:
    - Meet and interact with employers
    - Gather information about career fields
    - Learn about internship & career
opportunities

Before the Fair: Preparation is key!

• Revise your resume, have it reviewed, and make
copies to distribute to employers.
• Review the list of employers planning to attend the
fair and research information about those you are
interested in.
• Practice your 30-second sales pitch to express your
unique qualities to employers.
• Prepare intelligent questions for recruiters based on
your research of the employer or position.
• Choose professional attire.

During the Fair: Display confidence

• Take a warm up lap:
    - Walk through the fair to identify the location
of employers you are interested in speaking
with and to observe the interaction between
candidates and recruiters.
    - Make a game plan of which employers you
would like to meet the most, depending on desire and wait time in lines.
• Approach employers:
    - Remember the following when approaching an employer:
       m Be confident: know your skills and be prepared to convey them to the recruiter.
       m Engage in small talk to break the ice.
       m Deliver your 30-second sales pitch.
       m Ask questions about the organization and career opportunities. If you are interested in the
position and company, offer the recruiter your resume to review.
       m Ask the recruiter for a business card, thank them for speaking with you, and make plans
to follow up.

After the Fair: Take action

• Review company materials received at the fair.
• Send thank-you notes within 24 hours.
• Request an interview with organizations you are interested in pursuing further.

[Link] 33
Career Research

Dressing the Part

Tips for All Types of Dress:
• When in doubt, dress conservatively
• A suit (suit and tie for males) will suffice in most situations
• Solid colors and tighter-woven fabrics—Stick with a simple pattern
• Accessories should be kept simple: basic pumps, modest jewelry, light make-up, and light perfume/cologne
• Be sure your hair is neatly trimmed/groomed—avoid the “messy” look
• Shirts with lettering or graphics should not be worn
• Check your outfit for missing buttons, crooked tie, or lint
• If you wear a skirt, you must also wear hosiery
• Check the weather first!

Business Casual
• Maintain a professional look, with a more relaxed feel
• Wear clean, unwrinkled, professional, and simple clothing
• Khaki pants and a button-up shirt or dress blouse are good solutions
• Clothing should not be too revealing, or too relaxed

Professional
• Suit is required!
    - Men must wear ties!
    - Ladies have the option to wear a skirt, but must pair with matching hose
    - Stick to solid, dark colors such as black, navy blue, or a dark suit with light pinstripe
• Jackets
    - Should not constrict normal movement
    - Sleeve length should extend to wrist
• Shirt
    - Should be clean and pressed—free of wrinkles!
    - Sleeve length should be slightly longer than the jacket sleeve
• Shoes should be polished
• Belt should have a simple buckle, and match the suit

Evening Wear
• Remember to keep it classy! This is an opportunity to network in a less formal,
professional setting!
• Suits are acceptable
    - Ties are not necessary, and collars can be worn looser (conservatively, of course)
• Ladies can also wear MODEST dresses
    - Do not show too much skin! Cover up your chest, back, and legs in order to keep
that cute dress appropriate!

34 Center for Career Opportunities

 S.T.A.R. Method of Interviewing
Example Question:
“Give me an example
Task
• Explain how the situation changed, and how
of how you contributed you were expected to address this change.
to employer in your last • What was the goal you were striving to
accomplish, or the problem you were trying
position?”
to solve?
Example Answer: “One day, I noticed that the
attendance at our events had dropped by 30% in
the past 3 years, and I wanted to find a solution
to this problem.”

Situation Action
• Clarify the specific action steps that you
• Describe the setting in which your interview
took in order to address the task at hand.
response takes place. • Demonstrate and mention skills that you
• What were you doing? Who were you utilized in each step.
working with? What project were you • What did you do to resolve the problem or
working on? reach the goal?
Example Answer: “During my role as an Example Answer: “I designed a new promo-
Event Planning Intern at Company X this past tional packet, using Software X, to inform
summer, I managed all of the details and super- potential attendees of our company. I also sent
vised a group of five in order to successfully a rating sheet to past attendees and partners to
collect feedback on past events.”
host certain events.”

Result
• Explain how your actions contribute to the
overall end product of the situation.
• How did the situation end? What did you
learn from this experience?
Example Answer: “Company X was able to
utilize both my solutions, and feedback from
the community to host even better events.
After implementing some of these strategies,
we raised attendance to our events by 20% in
the first year.”

Interview Rules
1. Research the employer to prepare you for interview 4. Prepare five or more success stories using the S.T.A.R.
questions and to discover if the opportunity is a good fit Method
   a.  Current News 5. Image is important: be on time, dress professionally,
   b.  Employer Initiatives make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, be positive, and
listen to what the representative has to say!
   c.  Position you are interviewing for
6. Always ask questions about the employer or position—
   d. Company Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities,
this is where good company research can really help you
and Threats (SWOT Analysis) out! (avoid asking about salary or benefits)
2. Include concrete, quantifiable data to provide specific 7. Follow up with the interviewer: Send a thank-you letter
details in your response within 24 hours of your interview, and restate your skills
3.  Present your key strengths confidently in the Action Step and interest in the employer

[Link] 35
Career Research

Sample Interview Questions

Questions Asked by Employers—Practice answering these questions using the S.T.A.R Method on page 35.
Personal Education
• Tell me about yourself. • Why did you choose your major?
• What are your hobbies? • Why did you choose to attend your college or
• Why did you choose to interview with our ­organization?
• Describe your ideal job (value and culture). ­university?
• What can you offer us? • In which campus activities did you participate?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? • Which classes interest you the most
• Can you name some weaknesses? • Do your grades accurately reflect your ability? Why or
• Define success. Failure.
• Have you ever had any failures? What did you learn from them? why not?
• Of which three accomplishments are you most proud? • Were you financially responsible for any portion of your
• Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? college education?

Experience Career Goals

• What job-related skills have you developed? • What other types of positions are you considering?
• Give an example of a situation in which you provided a • How do you feel about travel?
solution to an employer. • How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
• How do you think a former supervisor would describe • Give an example of a time where working with a team
your work and attitude? led to success.
• Give an example of a time in which you worked under • What kind of boss do you prefer?
deadline pressure. • Are you able to work on several assignments at once?

Questions to Ask Employers—Don’t forget to research the employer extensively in order to ask intelligent
questions. Bring up employer/market trends, current news, and company initiatives during the interview.

• Please describe the duties of Position X for me. • Will I have the opportunity to work on special
• What kinds of assignments might I expect the first ­projects?
six months on the job? • Is there a lot of team/project work?
• Does your company encourage further education? • Where does this position fit into the organizational
• What are your growth projections for next year? structure?
• What do you like best about your job/company? • What is the next course of action? When should I
• Is your company environmentally conscious? In expect to hear from you or should I contact you?
what ways? • What is the company culture like?

Schedule a mock interview with a CCO Career Counselor to practice and perfect your interviewing ability.

“Read the company’s website—so many “Have a good sense of the company and “Clearly and concisely answer interview
candidates simply don’t take this very how you fit with their culture and posi- question in a way that describes both
expected step. Ask questions before the tion requirements. Work to ‘sell’ how well your work experience and your accom-
interview. Try to find out with whom you fit with the organization during the plishments. Ask thought-provoking
you will be speaking along with their interview. Talk to alumni who work at the questions (i.e., inquire about career devel-
job title. Look them up on a professional company. Ask the CCO about their famil- opment, training and opportunities for
networking site to view their profile.” iarite with the organization(s) in which advancement).”
you have interest.”
Cory Burke Beverley Walker
Hiring Manager Angela Heyroth Campus Recruiting Representative
Wolverine Trading, LLC Charles Scwab Lockheed Martin

36 Center for Career Opportunities

 Top 10 Etiquette Rules
Anthony Cawdron, Events Coordinator, Westwood, Purdue University

Be on time, a little early is fine. Be courteous to EVERYONE. You Take as little ‘baggage’ with you
Arriving too early shows bad never know who they might turn as possible. Carry a few essentials
time management skills and out to be. and an easy to hold portfolio or
puts your hosts/interviewer at a briefcase.
disadvantage.

Be open, friendly and, polite. When offered hospitality, accept

Use active listening and speaking a minimum. Avoid making heavy
techniques, have a few good demands on support staff.
conversation starters prepared,
and smile!

At a meal, choose wisely. Pick Err on the side of caution when

easy to eat familiar foods, nothing it comes to alcohol. If your host
too pricey and something that will offers a glass of wine and you are
allow you to be poised, graceful comfortable, accept. Never feel
and attentive to your hosts. pressured.

Watch your host for cues. Be gracious in your thanks for a Follow up promptly
a. Silverware: Work from the meal. Always be prepared to pay with requests for further
outside in. your way or offer to step in and information. Send a
b. Bread vs. Beverage: bread is assist with the check. If you are the handwritten thank-you
to the left of your plate, while host, expect to pay! note to your host.
beverage is to the right. Eat
well, and look good doing it!

[Link] 37
Career Research

Job Search Correspondence

Job search correspondence helps you communicate your career actions and choices both effectively and professionally.

For All Types of Correspondence:

Heading Format Helpful Hints: Salutation
• Address your letterhead to a specific
Your Street Address Sincerely,
City, State, Zip code person within the company, if possible
Today’s Date
Recipient’s Name
• Follow-up to your correspondence if you
do not get a response after 2 weeks
Your signature
Title • Use email to maintain contact, and to keep Your Name type-written
Company Name
Street Address
track of correspondence both sent and
City, State, Zip code received Enclosure: Resume (only if your resume is
included with the correspondence)
Dear Mr./Mrs. _______

Letter of Acknowledgement
• Do not delay your acknowledgement of a received invitation or offer- procrastination makes a bad impression.
• Restate the title of the position and salary. Express your appreciation for the offer. Indicate the date that you will let the company know your
decision.

Thank-You Letter
• Mail within 24 hours after the interview.
• Reiterate your interview date and time, as well as your interest in the employer and your strongest selling points.

FORMAT:
Opening paragraph: Express your appreciation to the employer for meeting with you. Recall something specific that you discussed such as
what you learned about them, the opportunity you are applying for, or a common interest you share with the interviewer.
Middle paragraph: Add any information you failed to mention in the interview. Tell the interviewer about a skill that might further convince
him/her of your value to the organization.
Closing paragraph: Reiterate you interest and enthusiasm in the position. State something you are looking forward to in the position. Let the
interviewer know how he/she can contact you.

Letter of Decline
• Provide a brief explanation of why you chose to decline the employment offer.
• Express your appreciation for the offer and for the time that the company has invested in you.

FORMAT:
Opening paragraph: Express your appreciation to the employer for meeting with you. Express your regret that you will not be accepting the offer.
Closing paragraph: Extend your sincere best wishes to the organization and those with whom you met. If you are open to being contacted, let
the interviewer know how he/she can contact you.

Letter of Acceptance
• Indicate your acceptance of the offer of employment—restate the position, compensation, classification, and starting date (if previously
established).
• Express your appreciation, excitement, and gratitude for the opportunity to work for the employer.
• Inform employer of any travel plans if relocation is necessary.

FORMAT:
Opening paragraph: Express your appreciation to the employer for meeting with you. Express your enthusiasm for receiving the job offer. Reveal 1-2
aspects of the position or organization you are looking forward to experiencing. Identify skills you are looking forward to developing or utilizing.
Closing paragraph: Reiterate your continued interest for your upcoming career opportunity. Let the interviewer know how he/she can contact
you.

38 Center for Career Opportunities

 Cover Letters
A cover letter is a type of job search correspondence that is sent along with your resume
to a perspective employer to indicate your interest in a job or position.

PURPOSE RULES
• Identifies the position for which you are applying • Use resume paper, preferably white (8.5” x 11”) with a
• Indicates your interest in the position and employer matching envelope (email is also appropriate)
• States your main qualifications, with supporting examples • Ensure that there are no grammatical errors in the letter
• Refers the reader to your enclosed resume • Make sure the letter is typed
• Specifies the action(s) that you will take in pursuit of this • Keep the letter brief and to the point—define an objective
employment opportunity • Avoid negative approaches—boastfulness, exaggeration,
inconsistency, etc.
• Use specific relatable examples

FORMAT
Opening paragraph: Pique the interest of the employer.
1) State why you are writing and give information to show your interest in this specific organization.
2) Name the position for which you are applying and how you heard about it.

Middle paragraph(s): Create a desire on the part of the employer to know more about you.
1) Explain why you are interested in working for this employer.
2) Point out your achievements or qualifications in this field, especially those that meet the job description or requirements.
3) Refer the reader to your general qualifications on your enclosed resume. Highlight important points from your resume.
4) Highlight points that will be of particular interest to THIS specific organization.

Closing paragraph: Pave the way for the interview.

1) Ask for an appointment.
2) State that you will contact the employer in the near future.
3) Thank the employer for the consideration of future employment.

7930 Somerset Street,

West Lafayette, IN 47906

EXAMPLE 10 March 2010

Marshall Smith
Director
National Institute of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892

Dear Mr. Smith:

Currently I am a freshman at Purdue University. I am applying for the Summer

Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research at NIH. My interest in biomedical
research began when my father was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Since his
diagnosis, my goal has been to find a cure for this disease using my knowledge
and skills pertaining to genetics. I was drawn to SIP due to the fact that it prepares
students to perform research in collaboration with the world’s best scientists.

I have come to know that NIH is a world renowned research institute with the best
scientists conducting research. Obtaining training under these scientists would be
an honor. In addition, helping the scientists gain success and recognition for their
research would be a great pleasure and would allow me the opportunity to contribute
to science as well. During the summer, I volunteered at two hospitals where I
sharpened my lab and communication skills. I have received several awards for my
achievements in sciences and math.

I am excited about the possible opportunities with your institution, and look forward
to an interview. I will contact you next week. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Alison Miller

Enclosure: Resume

[Link] 39
Career Research

Academic Job Search

Correspondence
Patricia Garrott, Career Services Consultant, Center for Career Opportunities, Purdue University

Preparing a Research Statement

A research statement is a clear and concise summary of your research and dissertation with a focus on the future direc-
tion of your research. Think about how your research and dissertation will fit into your future experiences and the
particular institution for which you are applying for a position.

Components Additional Tips

• Include a concise discussion of your dissertation, • Obtain feedback from colleagues and faculty
and relate previous research into future projects advisors to ensure that you describe your research
or related research programs—perhaps a connec- at an appropriate level of generality/specificity
tion back to your teaching statement • Construct a research plan that provides a balance
• Express the relevance of your work to larger intel- between your research interests, and the variety of
lectual interests research that matches the purpose for which you
• Answer the questions, “Why does knowing about are writing
___ matter?” and “What will that project tell us • Mention funding organizations likely to support
that we don’t already know?” your research plans to increase credibility
• Refer to future articles from your dissertation, a • Write as clearly and concisely as you can with a
sense that your research will follow logically from focus on the purpose of your statement
what you have done and be different, important,
and innovative

Preparing a Teaching Statement

A teaching statement is a personal mission statement for anyone whose assignment is to help others learn.

Opportunities of a Teaching Statement Guidelines

• Discuss your concept of teaching and learning • Use any specific instructions in the job posting as
• Describe your approach to teaching a guide
• Provide documentation of your teaching • Length: 1-2 pages (must be readable and keep
experiences readers engaged while still getting your thoughts
across)
• Use present tense to reflect your experiences and
beliefs
• Include certain discipline specific standards when
necessary (avoid technical terms)
• Make your statement unique—set yourself apart
from other candidates!

40 Center for Career Opportunities

 Job Search Tips for
Special Populations
Students with Disabilities
• Focus on your ABILITIES rather than your disabilities
    - On your resume, disclose skills related to your disability such as reading Braille
    - Identify involvement in organizations for individuals with disabilities, especially if you hold a leadership role
• Don’t be afraid to discuss your disability with the employer
    - Employment application: you are not required to disclose your disability, but consider writing “will discuss” when
completing sections requesting disclosure or job accommodations
    - Before the interview: if special accommodations are needed, make sure to inform
employer of disability so that arrangements can be made
    - During the interview: educate the employer about your disability and how you
will still successfully complete your assignments
    - Job offer: disclose your disability if accommodations in the workplace are neces-
sary, so that the employer can plan accordingly
• Utilize all your resources, including:
    - Disability-specific associations such as the Arthritis Foundation, American
Council of the Blind, National Center on Employment of the Deaf
    - Placement services offering assistance to disabled persons such as state voca-
tional rehabilitation agencies, U.S. employment service, independent living
centers, and committees on employment of people with disabilities
    - Specialized job search engines
      • [Link]/[Link]
      • [Link]
      • [Link]

International Students
• Focus on unique skills that other students do not have, such as foreign languages and global or
diverse experience
• For more information on Visa Statuses, please go to the International Students and Scholars office
(Schleman Hall, Room 136)
• Specialized job search engines
    - [Link]/jobsearch/
    - [Link]/[Link]
    - [Link]

GLBT Students
• Informing the employer of your sexual orientation is completely your choice—do not feel
pressured
• Focus on your skills, and do not hold yourself back due to orientation
• Visit [Link] to access a database of employers with gay-friendly policies and procedures,
such as benefits
• Specialized job search engines
    - [Link]
    - [Link]

[Link] 41
Career Research

Advice to Job Seekers

Dear Graduating Senior,
Your yeoman’s effort is about to pay off! Those long hours spent focusing on your studies, toiling to obtain leadership
opportunities, and working to support yourself while in school are about to produce a hard-earned college degree.
Congratulations!
What’s next for you? Whether you’re planning to continue your education or pursue your first job reserved for a
member of the college-educated workforce, you need a strategy to be successful. This letter is intended to offer you a
serious adaptation of the Letterman Top Ten List to help you be successful.

Be Resourceful – All Polish Your Job Search Tools – Utilize Career Services – Find
college campuses are Choose an appropriate resume your campus career center. Visit
equipped to support format and descriptive language with them and learn what they
your personal or profes- to make you stand out among can do for you.
your peers. Develop and refine your
sional growth, whether it be through
interview skills through study and
their library system, their delivery practice. Express yourself effectively
of student and academic services, or through job search correspondence
their presence on the Internet. and public speaking.

Stay Organized – Maintaining an Manage Your Time Well –

organized job search will improve Whether you’re a morning,
your effectiveness and efficiency. afternoon or evening person, chal-
Pay attention to details by keeping lenge yourself to maximize use of
track of important dates, times and your personal peak times and to create
productivity for yourself during
materials
those low-energy periods. A balanced
diet, exercise and sufficient sleep will
underscore your success.

Be Enthusiastic – Enthusiasm Remember Your Mentors – These

fuels your drive, energy and people may be your professors,
commitment to accomplish your advisors, counselors, work super-
objectives. Besides, enthusiasm visors, friends and even members
is contagious and will affect those of your own family. They care about
around you in a positive and benefi- you and want you to be successful.
cial way. Keep them informed and be there for
Timothy B. Luzader, Director, Purdue them.
University Center for Career Opportunities

Give Thanks – Make it a habit to Stay True to You – No one knows Believe in Yourself – You’ve
frequently express your appre- your interests, beliefs, values or overcome adversity and scaled
ciation to others, both casually skill sets better than you do. Invest significant barriers to position your-
and formally, without expecting the time to take counsel with self as a successful college graduate.
something more in return. yourself and initiate actions from the Take stock of your accomplishments,
context of what you seek to become. be at peace with your higher power,
and make a difference in the world.

First printed by the Black Collegian, 1st Semester 2009

42 Center for Career Opportunities
 Career Technology
CCO EXPRESS: Job Search
Search for opportunities, apply for positions, and schedule interviews all in one place: login or
become a new user at [Link]/Student/

Key Features:
• Job Search
   1.  Click on “Jobs and On Campus Interviews”
   2.  Enter the criteria that you are seeking, and obtain results!

• Apply for Jobs

   1. Upload your final resume and/or cover
letter (Resume Tab) so that you are able to
send it to employers
   2. Once you find a position in which you
would like to apply, simply click submit on
the right side of the job description

• Schedule Interviews
   1. You will receive an email notification if an employer wishes to schedule an interview with
you (you will also receive an alert in your CCO Express account)
   2.  Visit the “My On Campus Applications” section to actually schedule the interview
     - Keep in mind that the time slots are first come, first serve, so make sure to schedule the
interview as soon as possible upon notification

Visit the CCO in STEW 194 for CCO Express assistance!

[Link] 43
Career Research

PURDUE CAREER WIKI: Company Research

Access numerous database venues to compile information on various aspects about a particular employer at
[Link] (some databases require Purdue Career Account login)

Key Features:
• Career Guides • Resources by Major
• Job Boards • Employment Data
• Relocation Resources
• Research Company or Industry (3 aspects)
   1.  Company Information: Annual reports/financials, press releases, company history, product literature
   2.  Industry Information: Comparisons of companies, overview of market, detailed market research reports
   3.  Business News: Reporting on corporate actions, analysis of strategy and marketing, recent events

    *research examples of Ford Motor Company through LexisNexis database

ONLINE SOCIAL VENUES: Networking

Connect with employers all over the world on a more direct, technological level

Popular Sites:
1.  LinkedIn ([Link])
    • Build connections with thousands of employers in a professional online network
    • Profile is very similar to a resume – it should include past/current experiences or jobs, areas of expertise,
recommendations, education, honors and awards
    • Also great for conducting company research
2.  Twitter ([Link])
    • Follow people within specific industries or areas of interest
    • Easy and quick way to connect with people and employers
3.  Facebook ([Link])
    • Connect with others on a more personal, social level
    • Be cautious of what information you post—employers may view your profile when making hiring decisions!

Connect with the CCO:

[Link]/LinkedInCCO [Link]/PurdueCCO [Link]

44 Center for Career Opportunities

 Gain Relevant Experience

Green Jobs

What is a Green job?

Companies that focus on minimizing or reversing the adverse environmental impact of human activities or promote
activities that maximize utilization of natural resources.

By the year 2016, Green jobs are expected to top 50%,

4 times as much as any other segment

By the year 2030, the solar market is expected to

increase jobs from 8.5 million

$150+ billion of US stimulus money will be designated to

Clean Technology

Online resources
[Link] [Link]
[Link] [Link]
[Link] [Link]
[Link] [Link]
Facebook Twitter

Source: Gayle Oliver-Plath, CareerEco

[Link] 45
Gain Relevant Experience

Don’t Forget
the Small Companies
About Small Companies • May have less job security due • Quick learner
to high rate failure for new • Independent: can get things
• Most new job growth in
small businesses done with minimal supervision
the U.S. comes from small
• Opportunity to be involved in • Ability to work effectively with
businesses.
the creation or growth of some- everyone in the organization
• Most Bachelor’s degree
thing great
candidates concentrate their
• Involvement in the entire orga-
job search on Fortune 500
corporations or other large,
nization rather than a specific Finding a Small Company
department Use the following resources to help
well-known companies.
• May be eligible for stock you gain access to small companies:
• Any business with 200 or fewer
options and profit sharing
employees is considered a
• Quicker decision-making • Contact the Chamber of
small company.
process due to fewer Commerce in the area you
• Small businesses are providing
regulations and levels of would like to work: Get the
the economy with nearly two-
management names of growing companies
thirds of all new jobs.
• Starting salaries and benefits in the industry of your choice.
may be more variable
Is a Small Company • Participate in the local chapter
of professional trade associa-
Right for You? Are You Right for a tions related to your career:
The following characteristics may Small Company? Send prospective employers a
give you an idea of some of the cover letter and resume, follow
Below is a list of common traits found
things you may experience in a small up with a phone call.
among those who enjoy working in a
company. Which appeal to you?
small company atmosphere. If these
Which do not appeal to you? • Read trade publications,
describe you, a small company might
business journals, and area
be worth considering.
• More responsibility; emphasis newspapers for leads.
placed on the duties performed
• Self-motivated
rather than job title Adapted with permission from the
• Generalist with many comple-
• Individual ideas and sugges- Career Resource Manual of the
mentary skills
tions may be heard easily and University of California, Davis.
• Strong communication skills
given greater attention
(oral and written)
• Career advancement and
• Enthusiastic
salary increases may be rapid
• Risk-taker
in a growing company

46 Center for Career Opportunities

 Federal Jobs: 10 Reasons to
Answer the Call to Serve
Y
ou probably know something about jobs in the private and nonprofit
sectors and how to apply, but have you ever considered…

The Nation’s Largest Employer is There’s a Job for Every Interest You Can Make a Difference
Hiring! • There are federal jobs suited to • The work that govern-
• Half of the nation’s 1.8 million every interest and skill, from ment employees do has an
federal employees may be architecture to zoology. impact on the life of every
eligible to retire in the next 5 • You can combine your skills with American.
years; that’s a lot of openings. your interests; for example, use • You can play a vital role in
• Unlike some other employers, the your accounting background to addressing pressing issues,
federal government will never go improve the environment, your from homelessness to home-
out of business. It will always need engineering degree to improve land security.
good people to protect the inter- airport security, or your biology
ests of American citizens. degree to conduct cutting-edge
medical research.

The Federal Government Can Help Pay You Can Advance Quickly
for School • Federal agencies offer excellent
• Federal agencies may help you pay training and development opportu-
back your student loans if you work nities, and training can begin your
there for a certain length of time. first day on the job.
• Pursue a graduate degree, and your • There are a number of “fast track” possi-
employing agency may just pick up the bilities for advancement within your
tab! field.

There are Federal Jobs The Federal Government Federal Jobs Pay Better Than
Around the Country…and Values Diversity You Think
Around the World • The federal government • Average government sala-
• Only 16% of government has steadily increased the ries are competitive for
employees work in the diversity of its workforce. most professions.
Washington, DC area. • Federal agencies actively • Pay can increase pretty
• Over 50,000 federal encourage minorities and quickly for top candidates
employees work abroad. individuals with disabilities with strong education and
to consider government experience.
service through a variety of
internship and fellowship
programs.

Flexible Work Schedules and Benefits The Federal Government is a

Encourage Work-Life Balance Career Builder
• Flexible work schedules are a major • Advance your career by
upside for those with busy schedules. developing highly marketable
• Federal benefits, including health skills.
insurance, retirement and vacation, are • Utilize your federal experiences as
extremely competitive with the private a building block for an exciting and
sector. diverse career.

[Link] 47
Gain Relevant Experience

5 Good Reasons to
Pursue a Nonprofit Career
Meg Busse & Steven Pascal-Joiner
Authors of “The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers”, [Link]
For full article and additional resources, visit [Link]/en/career/guide/firsttime/[Link]

The future is bright So much potential for change

• Nonprofit employment increased by • Working for a nonprofit is a great
nearly one-third as much as employ- way to effect change in local,
ment in the private sector. national, and international commu-
• More leadership and management nities on a range of issues.
opportunities will be available within • Nonprofit workers stated they are
the next 7 years due to the large amount “very satisfied with their opportunity to
of baby boomers retiring as well as accomplish something worthwhile.”
overall sector growth.

There’s a mission for everyone Nonprofit salaries can hold

• There is a broad range of missions their own…
and causes, allowing opportunity for
• In industries such as health care and
everyone to affect change.
education, nonprofit salaries are iden-
• Research of organizations that match the
tical to or outpace for-profit pay rates by
individual’s passion will increase the
as much as 30%.
likelihood that they find a cause they are
• It is still possible to earn a great living
looking to support.
while serving in a wide range of roles
and working a variety of missions.

It’s about more than the bottom

line
• More people than ever are transitioning
from other sectors to nonprofit work.
• There is a growing awareness of the
importance of finding positions that
provide more than a salary.

Adapted with permission from [Link].

48 Center for Career Opportunities

dhrad5 7/3/08 10:30 AM Page 1

Leading Edge Innovation

Defines Our Future.

At Danaher we don’t just make Here are just a few of the Danaher companies and brands.
Environmental solutions
Electronics testing and monitoring
Product Identification
Motion control
And medical advancements.
We create
Wellness, confidence and hope.
Join us
Be a leader in innovation.
Work to improve tomorrow, today. [Link]/careers

Chopper Trading is a technology-based proprietary trading firm

Infinite Possibilities are within your REACH.
that operates in a range of global markets. We develop [Link]/careers
pioneering technologies and trading strategies. We are
committed to responsible market participation and a culture Imagine working for an innovative organization that will take you
of growth, opportunity, and achievement. from a new grad to a manufacturing management professional.
Then make it happen with International Paper’s REACH
Directions: Enter each number 1 through 16 in the circles such that engineering program. A global leader in paper and packaging
the sum of each line equals 34. products, we touch your life every day with our extensive
products used in practically every market. Focused on growth
and bold ideas, we’re looking for like-minded engineers with
degrees in:

Chemical, Mechanical or
Electrical Engineering,
or Pulp and Paper Science
If you are an exceptional, intelligent and competitive individual
Right from the start, you’ll experience challenging work
who enjoys solving problems like this, please join us at our
Information Session. and learn from industry experts about the skills, processes,
equipment, and tools you’ll need to succeed. To apply,
Information Session: Positions we hire for: contact your Career Services Center or email your resume
Thursday, Sept. 30th 2010 @ 7:00 pm Software Engineers to MillCollegeRecruit@[Link]. EOE, M/F/D/V
Stewart Center (Room 320) Trading Assistants

For further information please visit:

[Link] or email careers@[Link]

© 2010 NAS
(Media: delete copyright notice)

3.5” x 4.75”
Sierra Lobo, Inc. is the prime contractor for the Test
Facilities Operation, Maintenance and Engineering
(TFOME) contract at the NASA Glenn Research
Center in Cleveland, Ohio. We provide engineering
and technical services in the aeropropulsion, space
propulsion and power test facilities. Sierra Lobo
management is dedicated to excellence in service
and to providing outstanding technical opportunities
for our employees. We specialize in providing unique
products and services to NASA Glenn. The TFOME
contract is supported by three companies: Sierra
Lobo, Inc., Jacobs Engineering and Gilcrest Electric.

Sierra Lobo is an equal opportunity employer

(EEO-M/F/D/V). We offer competitive wages, medical,
dental, vision, and life insurance, a 401K program,
tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, personal time
and vacation. NASA also offers an onsite fitness
center and cafeteria!
 Space Your Career Drives Their Success
Join the ITT Team and Watch Your
Career Take Flight
Air ITT is a global engineering and manufacturing company with $10.9
billion in sales. In addition to being a Fortune 300 company, ITT is a top
10 defense contractor providing innovative technologies and operational
services to meet the emerging requirements of the military, government
and commercial customers.

ITT's Clifton, NJ facility is seeking qualified Engineers for exciting

Sea opportunities in the design, production and support of Electronic Warfare
protection systems. We develop technology critical to our soldiers, and
you have the potential to become part of a talented team, work on
rewarding projects, thrive in a dynamic environment and excel in your
career.

To view employment opportunities qualified

candidates should visit [Link]
Land
ITT is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. M/F/D/V.
We emphasize building a diverse workforce which is inclusive of different
perspectives and varied business, academic, cultural and social backgrounds.
U.S. citizenship required.
Photos: Courtesy of DoD

Do you want your work to have real

meaning and a lasting impact? your own cubicle? or your own business.
ITT
Do you Ada curious and creative intellect?
have
Horizontal Half Page
We are currently recruiting for
7.25
Research x 4.75
Analysts. Our analysts have
advanced degrees in engineering,
mathematics, economics, chemistry,
international relations, national
security, history, or other scientific and
professional fields of study. We’re proud of a diverse staff that is objective,
imaginative, and committed to serious research.
Join us and find unique career opportunities, competitive salaries, and a
generous benefits package.
CNA—a pioneer in the field of operations research—is a non-profit
organization that brings creative solutions to a vast array of complex
problems faced in critical policy areas, such as national security, homeland
security, health care, and education. Our analysts work within:

• CNA’s Center for Naval Analyses—a federally funded research and In the Enterprise Management Training Program you’ll lead an
development center (FFRDC) for the Navy and Marine Corps that ambitious team and run a million-dollar business. Are you ready
provides research and analysis services to the military and other to make real decisions every day? If so, you can join a company
government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of our national defense efforts. BusinessWeek Magazine named one of the “Best Places To
Launch A Career” for four years in a row.
• CNA’s Institute for Public Research provides research and analysis to
a diverse array of federal, state, and local government agencies. Our This is Where you Take over. Go. [Link]
overriding goal is to use the best science available to bring the most
effective ideas and approaches to enhancing everyday life.
heather kahl
Recruiting Manager
[Link]@[Link]
(317) 848-2210 ext. 287

U.S. Citizenship is required. All applicants are subject to a security investigation EOE/MFDV
and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
©2010 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. A08073.06/10
For more information, please visit [Link] • CNA is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 ADVERTISER INDEX
Adler School of Professional Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Bard College Master of Arts in Teaching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Blackboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Chopper Trading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
CNA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Danaher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Eaton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Enterprise Rent-A-Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
International Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
ITT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Jefferson County Public Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Lutron. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
RW Armstrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover
Schlumberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Sierra Lobo, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Worcester Polytechnic Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Purdue University Center for Career Opportunities and College Recruitment Media
express their gratitude to the advertisers listed above for their
generous support of the 2010-2011 Career Planning Handbook.

52 Center for Career Opportunities

 Now, we need yours.

We are building a growing, global team one person at a time.

We look for the most dynamic, innovative, visionary thinkers. We
don’t just look for the best people… we look for ways to create an
environment in which their talents take them to the next level
— in program management, architectural design, engineering,
design/build, construction services, and other related areas.

If you’re dynamic, we need to meet.

Apply online // [Link]

[Link]

630.938.0200 • [Link]