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| CAREER SERVICES |
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Job Search & Interview Tips
The Career Services staff is available to assist you with all of your interviewing and job search needs. If you would like to make an appointment with a Career Counselor, please call (713) 525-3160.
The tips below will prepare you for a successful Job Search. |
Career Decision Making
- If you are a graduating senior or a graduate student without work experience, educate yourself about job opportunities related to your major. You can do this by attending job fairs, visiting the Career Services office to use their resources, conducting information interviews, talking with faculty, using the internet.
- If you already work, evaluate your job satisfaction—Do you enjoy your work? Is this an opportunity to change career fields? Do you need additional training and/or education to either stay in your field or change fields? If you have worked in for-profit business or industry and want to learn about work with a mission, try volunteering through the church or Volunteer Houston.
- If you need a guideline to help organize your decision-making, consider using a book such as What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles, which has lots of good exercises and information on finding jobs. Visit the business section of a local bookstore or library to find other books that can help with your decision.
- Learn about selected salaries at Salary.com.
- Decide how you will care for yourself emotionally, spiritually, financially and physically during your search.
- Seek support of significant others by discussing concerns and decisions with them.
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Getting Ready for the Search
- Prepare resume(s). Click here for resume writing tips.
- Prepare a good model cover letter. Click here for letter writing tips.
- Prepare fax covers and email letters.
- Prepare reference sheet (requires contacting for permission those you wish to include).
- Purchase good resume paper to use for mailing or hand-delivering resumes, etc.
- Practice interviewing—tell your story to a family member or friend. If you would like to schedule a mock interview with a Career Counselor, call (713) 525-3160.
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Finding Job Opportunities
- Notify family, friends, faculty, Career Services, acquaintances, professional/work contacts of your search.
- Read the Sunday paper and business journals.
- Visit the library or bookstore to find books on job searching (specifically for Houston, try How to Find a Job in Houston or the Houston JobBank), resume writing, interview skill building.
- Use the internet to research companies, learn about openings. The Houston 1000 and VAULT Online Library are great resources.
- Use job search engines.
- Decide if outplacement firms will work for you.
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Running an Organized Job Search
- Prepare and maintain a Job Search Binder.
- Respect the search as an important project—get up and go to work everyday.
For information on Interviewing, click here. |
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