Career
Guide
Stand Out
2015
from the Crowd!
The Best
Place
to Start!
www.epcc.edu/careerservices
Creating Learning Experiences for Success
Creating Learning Experiences for Success
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The El Paso County Community College
District does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national origin, religion, gender,
age, disability, veteran status, sexual
orientation, or gender identity
1
Message from the Director
Welcome to Career Services!! Whether you are an entering student, a student who is going to transfer, an alum, a faculty
member or an employer, the Career Services Department is eager to help you achieve your goals. No matter what
assistance you need, our first-class staff, services, and resources are ready to support you at every step along your way.
To help support you through this process and become familiar with our services, the staff of Career Services is pleased to
provide you with one of our key career resources, the Career Guide. Whether your individual “next steps” include
choosing a major, relating your academic work to future career options, seeking an internship, planning to transfer to a 4year university, obtaining a professional position, or even changing or advancing your career, you should find the resources
in this guide useful.
We look forward to assisting students and alumni with career exploration, internships, job searching, and the very
important transfer process. To make sure you are fully informed of all our services, I encourage you to explore this guide
and invite you to visit us at www.epcc.edu/careerservices.
Success is said to be where preparation and opportunity meet. Start planning now and make us a regular resource on your
journey through EPCC. Career Services Department looks forward to working with you!
Visit us early and visit us often!
Carla Cardoza
Carla Cardoza
2
Mission Statement
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The mission of Career Services is to assist students in making connections
between their academic experience and career paths. Career Services
provides guidance, information, resources, and programs to help individuals
clarify career goals, establish career plans, develop job-search skills, and
make successful career transitions. We build partnerships with employers
and higher education institutions to enhance career opportunities.
EPCCCareerServices
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CareerServices@EPCC
www.epcc.edu/careerservices
Watch your inbox for our weekly Career e-mail messages, which
includes info on jobs and events. You can also visit our website or
check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
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Locating and Applying for Internships
by Amy Marie Charland and Mary Ann Lawson
An internship allows you to test your career objectives,
helps you identify your talents, and directs you toward an
appropriate career, while helping you acquire essential
practical and professional skills you need in the business
world. It also lets you see how well you fit into a specific
company's culture.
But finding an internship takes some preparation. Before
setting out to find an internship, ask yourself these
questions:
❏ Visit the websites of companies where you might want
to do your internship so that you can tailor your
resume and cover letter to the employer.
❏ Where do I want to do an internship? My hometown?
Out-of-state?
❏ Contact the Chamber of Commerce of the city where
you would like to work to obtain information about
local employers.
❏ What type of work would I like to do? In what field?
❏ What type of organization would I like to do an
internship for?
❏ Network. Talk with friends, family, co-workers,
supervisors, instructors, administrators, and
professionals in your field of study, and let them
know you are searching for an internship.
❏ What do I want to gain from an internship? What
specific skills or experiences do I want to acquire?
Locating Opportunities
Applying for an Internship
After you've answered these questions, you're ready to start
searching for internships. Here are some suggestions for
locating employers and internship opportunities:
Each employer has its own application process.
Does the company want you to apply online?
What is the deadline?
❏ Visit your career services office. Many offices have
internship listings and may be able to help you locate
other resources such as books, employer files and
directories, and websites.
What will the employer need from you to make your application complete?
Start the process early. Here are a few tips to get you
started:
❏ Check with your academic
adviser to see if your
department maintains listings
of internship opportunities in
your field of study.
❏ Keep your resume to one page.
❏ Place contact information at the top of your resume.
Include your name, address, and phone number.
❏ Attend job fairs.
Employers often use
fairs to identify
students for
internships as well
as for full-time
employment.
❏ Use an objective near the top of your resume that is
general enough to encompass all the opportunities you
would consider but specific enough to let the reader
know what type of position you seek.
❏ Your education section should include your degree,
major and minor, anticipated graduation date, and
name and location of the college you are attending.
You may also want to include a list of related course
work.
❏ Describe your related experience using action verbs.
4
❏ Visit your career services office for sample resumes
and have a career counselor review your resume.
Locating and Applying for Internships
You will also need to write a cover letter to accompany your
resume. Structure your letter along these lines:
❏ First paragraph—State your purpose for writing—your
interest in the internship opportunity.
❏ Second paragraph—Highlight your education,
experience, and personal qualities that you can bring
to the position.
❏ Final paragraph—This is your "action" paragraph. Ask
for an interview and let the employer know how you
plan to follow up. Include information that will help the
employer contact you for an interview.
❏ Close—Thank the employer for considering your
application.
❏ Make your cover letter reflect your personality and
unique qualities while also showing off your great
writing skills.
❏ Proofread. Remember that you never get a second
chance to make a good first impression.
Choosing an Internship
Your final task is to select the internship opportunity that is
the best match for you. Review your goals for doing an
internship and choose the opportunity that best meets
those goals.
An internship offers many benefits, including:
❏ Valuable experience. Many employers want to hire
people who have experience and can step into the job
and be productive right from the start.
❏ Information. An internship will help you make contacts,
get ideas, and learn about the field.
❏ Practical application. You will have the chance to apply
theories learned in the classroom to a real-world
setting. When you return to the classroom after your
internship, you will better understand the many
nuances of business operations that relate to the
theories you study.
❏ In many cases, an internship can lead to a job offer.
5
The EPCC GED Testing Center
is an official Pearson Vue
Authorized Testing Site.
®
The GED® Test measures high school equivalency and is fully aligned
with state and national college and career readiness standards.
The GED® test on computer is a brand new way to take today’s test
and earn your GED® credential, register today at:
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6
Interview Time is Show Time
Want to tell a potential employer that you’re creative?
A problem solver?
Flexible?
Instead of describing yourself as a “self-starter,”
tell a story about how you took action when you saw
an issue that needed to be fixed.
Don’t say you are “flexible”—tell the hiring manager
about a change in your job (or schoolwork demands)
and what you did to deal with the change.
Well-worn phrases won’t help you get the job,
but concrete examples will!
Don’t say
The story you need to tell
Highly qualified
Highlight your accomplishments in previous jobs. Emphasize your specific skills
and note any certifications you have earned.
Hard worker
Explain exactly how you've gone the extra mile for your job. For instance, did you regularly meet
tough deadlines, handle a high volume of projects, or tackle tasks outside your job description?
Team player
Provide examples of how you worked with colleagues or individuals in other departments to
meet an objective or complete a project.
Problem solver
Highlight a difficult situation you encountered and how you handled it.
Flexible
Describe how you responded to a major change at work (or in your schoolwork) or dealt with the
unpredictable aspects of your job.
People person
Can you offer examples of your strong communication skills? Can you describe how you’ve
worked with co-workers and customers?
Self-starter
What can you contribute immediately to the company or to the department you work in?
Describe how you took action when you saw an issue that needed to be fixed.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
7
Introduce Yourself to Employers in 60 Seconds
Practice to perfection
You step into the career fair and make your way toward a
representative from the top-ranked company on your
job-search list. What can you say and do during the next 60
seconds to make this recruiter want to explore hiring you?
Practice your introduction so that you can move on to the
important next step—the interview. Add positive nonverbal
communications—eye contact, facial expressions, body
language, and posture. Practice with a mirror, a friend,
and/or a career services staff member.
Hit them with your one-minute introduction!
Follow the formula
Ask a great question
Use the following formula to build your 60-second
introduction:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Next, make yourself memorable by asking a question about
the company. (These questions are based on information
you’ve found in your research.)
Name
Class (senior, junior, sophomore)
Major
Opportunities that you are seeking
Relevant experience (work, internship, volunteer work)
Highlights of skills and strengths
Knowledge of the company
● “Could you tell me more about the new (product) you
are developing?”
● “Could you tell me more about your financial
management training program?”
●
Tailor your introduction to each employer you approach
based on research and knowledge of each company.
(Here’s where to start: Get a list of employers attending the
career fair from your career center, and check out their
websites for information about products, services, and
opportunities.)
“What type of projects do your interns work on?”
Avoid the following:
● Asking what the company does;
● Asking if the company has any jobs; and
● When asked what type of position you are seeking,
saying you would be willing to do anything at the
company.
Courtesy of the National Association
of Colleges and Employers.
8
Top Tips for Answering Interview Questions
Employers believe the best predictor of future behavior is
recent past behavior. For example, do you know someone
who is always late to class? What’s the likelihood that she’ll
be late to class tomorrow?
● Action: What did YOU do to pull the team together?
What specific action did you take? Don’t talk about
what “we” did or “they” did. Talk about your role in the
situation.
That’s the principle of “behavioral-based interviewing,” a
common interviewing technique. Interviewers want to get a
picture of how you have behaved recently in a situation
because it will help them determine how you’ll behave in a
similar situation on the job.
● Outcome: Discuss the outcome of the project or team.
Did the team succeed? How did you know the team
was successful?
Answering these questions takes insight into what
employers are looking for.
● Learning: Sometimes you’ll be asked about a situation
in which you weren’t successful. Talk specifically about
what you learned, how you modified your behavior,
and how you’ve incorporated this lesson into your
routine.
Prepare for the interview
Before going to an interview, look at the job description (if
one is not available, use the job posting as a basis) and think
about some of your most important milestones: projects,
grades, presentations, and work experiences that make you
proud. You’ll use these milestones as examples when
answering questions. Use your best examples to concisely
tell the story to the interviewer.
Keep your answer focused on recent job-related
experiences. Whenever possible, use examples from your
internship, class work, professional association, or other
degree-related experiences. Do not use personal or family
examples, or examples from religious organizations.
In addition, there are some standard attributes that many
companies look for, including:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Additional interview advice
Strong communicator
Adaptable/flexible
Able to work in teams
Self-directed/motivated
Demonstrates honesty and integrity
Goal-oriented
Strong follow-through
● Make sure your response is clear and concise. Watch
the interviewer’s body language. If he/she seem
uninterested, wrap up your answer.
● If you can’t think of an answer, say so. Don’t try to bluff
your way through because the interviewer will know it.
Think through your activities and experiences, and identify
those that you can use to show you have these attributes.
● The best candidates are able to speak to everything on
their resume.
During the interview
Use your career services center to practice sample
questions and participate in mock interview sessions.
The interviewer says: "Tell me about a time when you were
a part of a difficult team and what you did to get the team
back on track." Include the following in your answer:
● Situation: Explain the situation in detail. Was it a class
team? What was the project? What was difficult about
the project?
Courtesy of the National Association
of Colleges and Employers.
9
Tough Questions Interviewers Ask
& How to Answer Them
What is the most significant contribution you made
to the company during your internship/co-op?
An interview isn't a contest to see if the interviewer can
stump the job candidate. However, interviewers can ask
some thought-provoking, tough questions. Here are some
questions we've collected from recruiters and suggestions
for answering them:
Tell a story about an accomplishment that added value to
the company, demonstrating skills that show initiative or
resilience. Tell the interviewer about the options and the
outcome of your work.
Tell me about a time when you had to make a
decision, but didn't have all the information you
needed.
What is the biggest mistake you've made?
Be honest. You'll show credibility and integrity. While
mistakes aren't rewarded, sometimes making a mistake can
show that you've pushed yourself to the limit. Be careful,
however, to concentrate your answer on describing what
you learned from your mistake.
Use a real anecdote from your experience to answer this
question. The answer doesn't have to be great and grand.
It could be a simple situation that was handled well. It could
demonstrate ability in your field. For example: You may want
to tell the interviewer how you selected your college from
among all the colleges you applied to. Were you satisfied
with your choice? Why or why not?
Was there anything today that you were afraid I was
going to ask you?
What suggestions do you have for our organization?
Why did it make you uncomfortable?
Let's say you're interviewing with a retailer and you're asked
this question. Don't answer with the expected answer—
anything to do with upkeep of the organization's stores.
Instead, talk about merchandise that you might want to
add...or how you would rearrange the stores' layout and
why. Your answer should reflect your creativity.
The trick here is to keep your cool. Many people blurt out
the question that they didn't want asked—and that could
raise new questions in the interviewer's mind.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers
10
What Interviewers Want to Know
During an interview, potential employers want to gather information to gauge whether you, the position, and the
organization are a good fit. Here are some generic questions—and examples of specific questions—an employer may ask
in an interview. Use these as a guide to your preparation.
Generic Questions
Specific Examples
What do you know about the organization?
● What do you think a typical day is like here?
● What sparked your interest in [this organization]?
● Do you have any suggestions for how we can make our
organization better?
● What made you decide to apply for this job?
What do I need to know about your
● What is your strongest attribute?
personal traits or characteristics?
● What is your greatest weakness?
● What personality traits make you suitable for this position?
● If someone said one word to describe you, what would that word be?
How do you work with others?
● Would you rather be micro- or macro-managed?
● Tell us about your best and worst boss.
● What is your ideal work environment? That is, what type of boss/
co-workers would you like to work with?
What skills do you have relevant to
● What work experience have you had that is relevant to this position?
this position?
● Tell us about any specialized training or certifications you have.
● What skills do you think you need to add to your repertoire?
● How will you get those skills? I know about your college and work
background, but what else have you done that would aid us if we
were to hire you for this position?
What are your personal goals?
● Why do you want us to hire you?
● What is your dream job? How would this position help you get there?
● What is your seven-year career plan?
● Do you have plans for graduate school?
How much do you know about your
specialized area?
● What are your strongest points with [two specific skills that the job
requires?
● What are the most important traits of a person in your field?
How have you handled specific situations?
● Can you tell me about a time when you effected a change?
(Behavioral questions)
● Give me an example of a situation that didn’t work out well.
● What have you done that you are most proud of?
● Tell us about a time when you took a unique approach to solving a
problem.
11
Build the Resume Employers Want
The resume—an essential tool for any job search. Although
a lot of time, effort, and thought has gone into trying to crack
the secret, there is no “perfect” resume.
In tailoring your resume, highlight the skills specific to the
job at hand, and use the keywords and verbiage you’ve
gleaned from the job description and your research. Make
matches between your knowledge, skills, and experience
apparent.
Your resume’s job is to move you to the next step in the
job-search process—the interview. Since each job and
organization is different, with different requirements and
expectations, the resume that opens the door to an
interview in one company might not get you an interview
with a different organization. You need to tailor your resume
to the job to give the potential employer what it wants.
Showcase Relevant Work Experience
Relevant work experience—often gained through an
internship or co-op experience—gives you a big advantage
over candidates who lack such experience.In fact, almost all
employers taking part in a recent survey said they prefer to
hire a candidate with relevant work experience—experience
that relates to the job at hand—over other candidates.
That doesn’t mean the effort that has gone into how to
develop the “perfect” resume has been wasted. In fact, it
has produced a lot of good information that you can use to
help you build an effective resume that you can tailor for
each job.
Highlight your relevant work experience on your resume.
Draw connections between what you did as an intern, for
example, and what the job requires.
Develop Your Own Resume
Showcase Key Skills
Ask for help, yes, but don’t turn over the responsibility for
developing your resume to someone else. Your resume has
to showcase what you have to offer. You have to think
through your experiences. A third party can’t know what you
did or how you did it as well as you. That said, do use
expert help available to you appropriately: The staff in your
career center can help you identify your skills and figure out
the best way to present them. Your career center may also
offer resume critique services, which can help you identify
what is and isn’t working on your resume.
In the same survey, employers said they look at a resume for
evidence that the job seeker has worked in a team, and has
leadership abilities, written communication skills, problemsolving skills, and more.
Look at your classroom and relevant work experiences for
examples that show you have these key attributes, but also
look at your extracurricular and community activities and
interests; you may find great examples there as well.
Connect What You Have to What the Employer Needs
It’s critical to understand up front that, in your resume,
interviews, and all interactions with employers, the
responsibility rests with you to make the match between
what you have to offer and what the employer needs.
With your resume, it’s up to you to convince the employer
that you are worth an interview. Through your resume, you
want to demonstrate how your academic, extracurricular,
and work experiences connect to the job and offer the employer some evidence that you have the potential to be a
good fit for the job and organization. You want to provide
the employer with evidence that you are worth taking a
closer look at through an interview.
To achieve this, you must research the organization and
position so that you’ll have a clear idea of what to showcase as you tailor your resume to the specific job. Read the
job description carefully: Use it to identify keywords, skills,
and requirements. Find the similarities between the job and
your experience and qualifications.
Examine the organization’s website and literature for information about its priorities, initiatives, and company culture.
Attend company-hosted information sessions to get firsthand tips from recruiters, and be sure to ask the recruiter
how you can position yourself.
12
Format for Easy Reading
Truth Is Better Than Fiction
In general, what matters most to employers are your
experience, skills, and education, so make it easy to find
and understand these by offering a clean, well-organized,
easy-to-read resume.
● Misrepresenting your qualifications is a recipe for
disaster. In fact, employees have been fired when
falsehoods on their resume came to light.
Don’t make the employer hunt for critical information. Don’t
clutter your resume with irrelevant, unrelated detail.
Although some job seekers can (and should) develop offthe-chart resumes, remember that “form follows function.”
● Be honest. Represent your qualifications truthfully. That
doesn’t mean you have to downplay or understate your
qualifications: By all means, you want to bring those
real achievements, skills, and qualities to the
employer’s attention.
Yes, those applying for a graphic design or similar position,
for example, should think about how their resume can pull
double-duty—serving as a “show and tell” of their skills and
abilities. And some job seekers have created clever,
web-based resumes filled with interactive visuals in their
quest to secure a web development job. But many jobs
don’t lend themselves to that level of creativity. In fact, you
can hurt your candidacy by providing a resume that
doesn’t match the job. A potential employer will look at your
resume for a matter of seconds: Make those seconds count.
● Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to
remember anything.” That’s good advice to remember
when it comes to your resume.
Applying Online
In many cases—even if a recruiter has accepted your handdelivered, hard-copy resume—you’ll need to complete an
online application. Follow these rules:
First Impressions Matter
● Read and follow directions carefully.
What does your resume say about you? Ideally, it says you
warrant a closer look and an interview.
● Ask for advice on completing the application from a
company recruiter or alumnus who works for the
company.
But your resume can also say negative, unintended things
about you that may lose you the interview. Your resume can
say you don’t pay attention, don’t care about details, and/or
aren’t interested in the company or job.
● Complete all fields—even those that aren’t required.
● When possible, use keywords related to the position.
Instead of showcasing your skills, your resume might be a
showcase of typos, spelling errors, misplaced punctuation,
and poor grammar—any of which may lead the employer
to put you in the “no” pile. Details count: Spellcheck and
proofread your resume, and have someone else proofread
it, too.
● Use the “comments” field to demonstrate your
knowledge of the organization (and to show you have
taken the initiative to research the company) and to
provide additional information about specific skills you
have that are relevant to the job.
● If the company offers an optional assessment test
online, take it.
● Check your application: Be sure you have entered the
correct data in the correct field, and
● Proofread it carefully for spelling and grammatical
errors, missing words, and such.
Courtesy of the National Association
of Colleges and Employers.
13
Sample Resumes
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PERSONAL
INFORMATION
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Susan Doe
123 Street Name
City, State Zip Code
(123) 123-4567
sudandoe@xyz.com
Objective
A competitive professional seeking challenges in sales and marketing
Summary of Qualifications
Trade Show Intelligence. Marketing Plans. SWOT Analysis. Market Research.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
August 1997 - Present
Create XYZ Software Competitive Intelligence System. Increase revenue 30% by rewriting marketing
plan. Secure second round capital funding of $2 million.
Texas Energy Company
Project Manager & Research Analyst
El Paso, Texas
January 1984 - August 1997
Managed, developed and implemented Competitive Analysis Modules for $10 million energy test sites.
Education
El Paso Community College
Associate of Arts in Business Administration
You just want to list your
memberships in
professional
organizations. List things
like veteran's groups,
associations and
organizations. DO NOT
abbreviate the names of
the organizations.
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Month/Year Hired –
Month/Year Departed
Name of Company, and
city and state. Title of
Position
List what you
accomplished at each
position. List your relevant
Work History over the
past 10-15 years.
Professional Experience
XYZ Technologies, Inc.
Business Intelligence Manager
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El Paso, Texas
May 1984
Professional
SCIP - Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.
Delta Epsilon Sigma - National Honor Society.
Skills & Qualifications
Microsoft Office 2007- Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. Microsoft Project 2007. HTML, Website
Creation, Internet Search Engines and Directory Listings.
References
Available upon request.
FONT USAGE
• Use standard fonts, nothing extravagant
• 11-12 pt. font size
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14
Resume Grading Checklist
15
Sample Resume
Sahila Martin
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3OC?FSLS;T:6T@5@)T+T<50R ,R$)(@
:NFMJN*CRSIH
EDUCATION
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3KKPGMNQSTPAT3LQK;T8*DSGQSIT.SGSE=SLT5@<5
/NPLT8NLJCT9FMJIFPPI
EXPERIENCE
Advisor Assistant, El Paso Community College Academic Services, El Paso, TX
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+T-SDLSKSOQTESIMNTKSL>MGSKTISDNLQESOQTPOTGPEEHOMQCTKSL>MGST>MKMQKT?MQFTKQHISOQ1NQFJSQSKR
HIV/AIDS Services Intern, Globe Foundation, Las Cruces, NM
HOST5@<<T1T3HBHKQT5@<<
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=JSNGFT4MQKTQPTFPESJSKKTNOITJP?TMOGPESTLSKMISOQKR
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+T3KKMKQSITMOTMEDJSESOQMOBTNTALSSTLSQMOPDNQFCTKGLSSOMOBTAPLT,@TIMN=SQMGTGJMSOQKR
Marketing Assistant, Great Lakes Marketing Group, El Paso, TX
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Non-Profit
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ACTIVITIES & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Site Leader, Community Development Center
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Coordinator, Used Winter Coat Drive
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Volunteer, Alternative Student Break at a Drug Rehab Ranch in New Mexico
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Peer Advisor, Academic Services
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Team Captain, American Cancer Society Relay for Life
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16
How to Write a Powerful Resume
If you’re looking for a job, you need a resume. Your resume
is your calling card, your advertisement, your brochure, your
flyer. It’s a one-page handout that shows what a great catch
you are. It’s your chance to toot your own horn.
What should I do with this resume?
Mail it. Email it. Post it online. Ask friends to give it to their
managers. Hand it out at job fairs. Give it to employment
agencies. The idea is to get it into the hands of as many
hiring managers as you can. If a hiring manager likes what
she sees, you could get a call asking you to come in for a
job interview
I’ve never written a resume before. Is it difficult?
Writing your resume should be easy. You’ve already done all
the heavy thinking. All that’s left to do is type it up.
Do hiring managers read all of the resumes
they receive?
No. They only read the ones that pass a ten-second glance.
Ten-second glance?
Some hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes a
week, a few receive thousands. When a resume comes
across their desk, they give it a quick, ten-second glance. If
it’s easy to read and pops with sizzle – they’ll read it. If it’s
too long, too wordy, too cluttered, or has no sizzle – they
toss it.
KEEP RESUME SIMPLE
● Keep sentences brief, under 12 words
● Bold or CAPITALIZE important headlines so they stand
out
What do you mean by “sizzle”?
“Sizzle” is the sight, sound, and a smell of a good steak
cooking on the grill. It makes your mouth water, it says,
“grab a plate and reach for theA-1 sauce.” In business,
“sizzle” is all about accomplishments. Accomplishments
show that you are the kind of person who can learn the job
quickly and get things done. It says, “Hey boss – you should
talk to this one.”
But, I don’t have any sizzle.
● Single space within sections
● Double space between sections
● Use bullets (·) at the beginning of a list
● Pour on the sizzle – give important details
Oh, yes you do!
Sizzle is all about matching their needs with your abilities –
your accomplishments. Show the hiring managers that you
have what they want. Make their mouths water – and they
just might pick up the phone and ask you to come in for a
job interview.
● Don’t exaggerate you’ll have to back up every claim
during your job interview.
● Include “keywords” – the names of important tools,
duties, skills, abilities, and systems for your job
● Use standard size 8.5” by 11” white paper
● Keep at least a one-inch margin on all four sides of the
page
17
● Avoid fancy type such as outline, script, or other
difficult-to-read styles
What If You Don’t Have a Job at Graduation
effective, especially in an organization that hires
from within. If you do a great job, you become an
excellent candidate for a full-time position.
Keep going! Be persistent in your job search. Get up every
day as if you’re going to work, and spend time identifying
and researching employers. Contact employers and
schedule appointments. Make your job search your job!
Look for ways to build new skills. Volunteer opportunities, like temp work, will
open your network to
new people and new
opportunities. It can
also help you develop
new skills that will
make You a more
appealing job
candidate.
Register. Sign up on job-search engines. Stay current and
active on business networks like LinkedIn or social media
sites like Facebook where you can find company profiles.
Work your network. Contact alumni in your field. Remind
your contacts that you’re still looking for a job. Make new
contacts by joining professional groups in your area.
Call on the career center. Even though you’ve graduated,
your college’s career center is ready to help. Use all the
online resources the career center offers.
Courtesy of the
National
Association
of Colleges
and
Employers
Take a temp job. Temporary work will give you a way to pay
your bills, and will help build the skills and experience that
employers want. Plus, temp work will give you more
contacts for your network, and may lead to a full-time job.
Some organizations use temp positions as a stepping stone
into full-time employment.
Get your foot in the door. Some employers offer internships
to recent graduates. You may find part-time positions at a
company for which you want to work. This could be
18
Can a Career Center Prescreen Candidates
for an Employer? by Edward Easterly, Esq., Norris, McLaughlin, & Marcus
Can faculty prescreen for an employer?
If the career center or faculty prescreen candidates, they are, in effect, acting as an employment agency, and the relevant
laws that apply to an agency would apply to the career center or faculty member.
Although federal anti-discrimination provisions typically apply only to “employers,” many states have adopted similar
provisions that encompass individual employees and third parties. These state law provisions often make it unlawful for any
individual or entity to “aid or abet” discriminatory employment practices. Additionally, educational institutions that
accept federal funding may run afoul of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and/or the Equal Protection
Clause by implementing or endorsing discriminatory prescreening practices.
Once career services staff or a faculty member participate in the selection process, they may have to justify the criteria upon
which the screening was based, just like an employer or an employment agency. Problems occur when the criteria are
facially discriminatory or have a discriminatory impact, such as when a career services office is asked to refer only
minority students or a faculty member is asked to refer just female candidates. A career services staff member or faculty
member could not defend the action by saying the employer “told me to do it.”
The less directly involved the career services staff and faculty are in making choices for employers, the less likely the staff
and educational institution will become embroiled in administrative claims and litigation if a student believes that he or she
was discriminated against as a result of not being selected to interview.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers
Rising educational attainment improves economic quality of life
Education has the capability of greatly improving the economic quality of life for those who are able to achieve it. As the
graph below shows, in 2013, the average earnings for someone with a high school degree was almost 40% greater than
for someone without a high school degree and the earnings of someone with a bachelor's degree was nearly 60% greater
than someone with just a high school degree. In addition, people with less than a high school diploma had an 11%
unemployment rate versus 4% of someone with a bachelor’s degree.
19
The Networking Challenge
by Lisa Hinkley
If you are like many students, networking to learn about
career options and job/internship leads is probably toward
the bottom of your list of job-search tasks. Unfortunately, it
may only emerge as important when you've exhausted your
other options and desperation-or some twist of fate-forces
you to try networking.
The fact is, if you are like many students, you probably use
networking skills more than you realize. For example, to
choose classes, you read through the course catalog, ask
friends and acquaintances for recommendations, read "
student only" sites with feedback on specific courses and
professors, and (hopefully) talk to your academic adviser.
Your parents also might offer their thoughts. This is
networking. It is a combination of research, conversation,
and analysis.
Make networking part of your daily activities. You can
easily make networking a part of your normal daily
activities. For example, it's likely you're being asked by
friends and relatives about your post-graduation plans. This
is a networking opportunity. Share details with them about
fields or positions of interest to help them think of people
they know who are doing similar work. Ask them to help you
connect with these people, and then, follow through.
(Uncertain about your intended career path? Not sure you
can offer a clear answer to questions about what you want
to do after graduation? Ask your career adviser to help you
refine your interests and formulate a good response.)
Being a busy and slightly shy student, I found networking
to be challenging, even when given specific
recommendations for people with whom to connect.
Ironically, my most important networking lesson came from
a woman I had avoided contacting when I was a novice
networker. Although I had shied away from reaching out to
her, I came into contact with her through other means: I was
assigned to work with her during an internship. Not only did
she teach me much about the career I was considering, but
she also introduced me to people who I needed to know in
my field—including one who eventually had a role in hiring
me for my first professional position.
What I didn't know as a student is that people generally like
to help others, especially when you make it easy for them.
Networking is among the most effective career development and job-search techniques. Many job seekers spend
their time looking at job postings and want ads, but these
seldom provide a complete job description. That's where
networking can play a role: Savvy students use
networking to get the full story about organizations,
positions, and career-growth opportunities.
Not only can you use networking to find
jobs, but the information you learn
through networking can help you craft
your resume appropriately and give
you an edge in the interview. (Although
you are likely focused on your first
professional job, remember that
networking is important for
subsequent jobs as well.)
20
Make the Most of Your Networking
Finding people to contact is just part of networking. Try
these quick tips to make the most of your conversations
with networking contacts:
● Don't be discouraged if some people whom you
contact aren't immediately helpful. Be patient, and
continue to develop contacts. Similarly, you might
encounter people who you don't feel a positive
connection toward; in those cases, be polite, send a
thank-you note, and move on. None of us can predict
which connections will lead to meaningful outcomes,
so use care to nurture your connections. Accept
networking as an investment in your future that can
produce results in the present.
● Send an e-mail to introduce yourself when requesting a
meeting. Explain (briefly!) what you have in common
and describe what you hope to learn through your
conversation. Include a date and time that you will
follow up by phone to schedule your meeting time if
you haven't heard back; then, follow through! (Because
so many people don't do what they say they will, this
attention to detail is sure to impress.)
There are a variety of places through which to find people
to talk to about your professional interests. Here are a few
to get you started:
● Research the industry, organization, and person you
will be meeting prior to your conversation.
● Social networking sites such as Facebook and
LinkedIn;
● Consider information that you are learning in classes,
internships, or student organizations that might be
interesting to your target contact.
● Alumni networks and campus mentoring programs;
● Make a list of questions to ask; if you are starting with
a sample list of questions obtained from your career
center or online, customize the questions to be specific
to the industry and the person you will be contacting.
● Career fairs, employer information sessions, and
networking events;
● Professional associations related to your field of
interest;
● Treat professionals with respect. Use appropriate
grammar and spelling when writing messages. If
you've scheduled a meeting, don't cancel. Arrive 15
minutes early.
● Whether your conversation is in person, on the phone,
or via e-mail, follow up with a thank-you note to show
your appreciation and improve your chances of
creating a productive relationship.
● Friends/family and their friends; and community
groups.
21
Courtesy of the
National
Association
of Colleges
and Employers.
A Career Planning Course for Parents
Choosing a career is a process students need to go
through—and they go through the stages of this process at
different rates of speed. The steps include:
1. Assessing skills, interests, and abilities (an important
first step to choosing an appropriate career);
2. Exploring majors and career options;
3. Experimenting with possible career options; and
4. Organizing and conducting a job or graduate school
search.
You can assist and support your child in each of these
stages. But what can—or should—you do?
Here's your own career planning timetable.
Careers 101—for Parents of First-Year Students
● Urge your child to seek assistance in the campus
career center. Most institutions have assessment
instruments and counselors to help students to define
their skills, interests, and abilities.
During their first year or so of college, students will be
involved (formally or informally) in assessing their skills,
interests, and abilities. They will do this through finding
success (or failure) in courses they take, involvement in
campus activities, discussions with their friends and faculty,
and by being exposed to and trying out different ideas and
experiences.
Careers 201—for Parents of Second-Year Students
Generally, during the second year of college, a student
begins to explore majors and career options more seriously. Many colleges and universities require that new students take a broad range of subjects to promote this
exploration.
Most students enter college with a very limited knowledge
of the vast array of courses and majors available to them.
When they begin to delve into studies that are new to them,
even those who entered with a plan may be drawn to
different options. This is an exciting time for students.
What you can do to help
What you can do to help
● Don't insist upon a decision about a major or possible
career choice immediately. If you sense that your
child’s indecision is a barrier to positive progress, urge
that he or she look for assistance in the career center.
Students often have difficulty making a "final" choice
because they fear they may make a wrong choice and
close off options.
● Support your child's exploration of new areas of study
and interests. This, after all, is what education is all
about.
● Affirm what you know to be areas of skill and ability he
or she has consistently demonstrated. Sometimes
students overlook these and need to be reminded.
● Suggest that your son or daughter talk with faculty and
career advisers about potential choices.
● Talk with your son or daughter about the courses and
activities he or she is enjoying. Students discover new
things about themselves throughout the college
experience. Your willingness to listen and be a
sounding board will keep you in the loop.
● Direct your child to family, friends, or colleagues who
are in fields in which he or she has an interest.
"Informational interviewing" with people can be
extremely helpful at this stage.
● Don't panic if your child is excited about majoring in
something like English, history, or art. These can be
excellent choices, particularly if they are a good match
for a student's interests and skills.
● Support your son or daughter's responsible
involvement in campus activities but urge this to be
balanced with maintaining achievement in the
classroom.
● Steer your child toward a source of information. Many
campuses have a career consultant or mentoring
network of alumni in various career fields who are
willing to share information with students about their
careers. These resources are invaluable both in this
exploratory stage and later as students are seeking
internships and jobs.
22
(continued)
A Career Planning Course for Parents
(continued from page 22)
Careers 301—for Parents of “Mid-Career” Students
During the sophomore year and throughout the junior year,
it is important for students to experiment with possible
career options. They can do this in a variety of ways:
internships, cooperative education programs, summer jobs,
campus jobs, and responsible volunteer experiences both
on campus and in the local community. This is a critical time
for your support and understanding.
What you can do to help
● Encourage your child to use the resources available at
the campus career center. Experts there can assist
your child in preparing a good resume and finding
opportunities to test career choices. Most career
centers are in direct contact with employers.
What you can do to help
● Suggest that he or she use the campus career center
throughout the senior year. These offices provide
assistance in preparation for the job search. Offerings
may include:
● Tell your child that you understand the importance of
gaining exposure to and experience in his or her field
of career interest. Broadening experience through
involvement outside the classroom is a valuable use
of time.
● Workshops and individual help with resume and
cover letter writing, interviewing, and other job-search
skills,
● Internships or summer experiences may be nonpaying. Also, a good opportunity may be in a distant
location. Discuss your financial expectations with
your child before a commitment is made.
● Individual and group career advising,
● Job-search resources,
● Don't conduct the internship or summer job search for
your child. It's a great help to provide networking
contacts or names of people who may be helpful;
however, making the contact and speaking for your
child deprives him or her of an important learning
experience—and may make a poor impression on the
future employer.
● On-campus interviewing opportunities, and,
Careers 401—for Parents of Graduating Seniors
● Offer to assist by sending information you may have
found about your child’s target career field and/or job
listings that may be of interest. Listen for indications
from your child that you are getting carried away—
and back off.
● Alumni career consultant or mentor programs.
● Don't nag your child about not having a job yet. This
will often have the reverse effect. Use positive
reinforcement.
The senior year is when organizing and conducting a job
search or graduate school search begins in earnest. It is
also a time when students are heavily involved in more
advanced courses and often have more responsible roles
in campus and/or volunteer activities. Balancing these
important pursuits and setting priorities is a constant
challenge for seniors.
● Don't call potential employers to intervene for your
child. Contact with potential employers is the
candidate's responsibility.
You are probably anxious for this young adult to make a
decision—and yet, he or she may be moving toward
closure more slowly than you would wish.
● Be prepared to support your child through the ups and
downs of the job and graduate school search. It can be
a bumpy road—not every desired job or graduate
school acceptance will come through. Your student will
need reassurance that for every door that closes,
another opens.
27
(continued)
A Career Planning Course for Parents
Final Thoughts
who have related internship, summer, cooperative
education, or part-time job or volunteer experiences.
In fact, employers often look to their own such
programs as primary sources for their new hires. These
experiences are particularly critical for liberal arts
students whose majors may not appear to be directly
related to their areas of career interest.
The college years are a time of exploration,
experimentation, and learning on many levels for students
and their parents! Some student challenges may seem more
positive than others, but all contribute to the educational
outcomes of the college or university experience.
Throughout these years, students are developing a "record
of achievement" that will be evaluated by employers and
graduate schools as they move beyond college. There are
several pieces of this record:
● Responsible involvement outside the classroom.
Extracurricular activities provide the opportunity for
students to gain many valuable and career-related
skills, such as the ability to work effectively with others
in a team environment; leadership; planning and
organizational skills; and priority-setting and time
management. These are part of the package of skills
employers seek in their new hires.
● Academic achievement. The grade point average (GPA)
is one factor considered by competitive employers and
graduate schools. It is one of the few tangible
indications of a student's ability to learn and perform
effectively, at least in the academic environment.
Therefore, students need to do as well as possible in
the classroom, especially in courses in their majors.
Courtesy of the National
Association of Colleges
and Employers.
● Responsible work experience. In today's competitive
employment market, many employers seek students
28
29
Transfer Services
Students, Are You Ready to Transfer to a Four-Year Institution?
Yes?
Knowing you are is just the start.
If you have decided to continue your education and you are ready to transfer to a four-year institution come and visit the
Career Services Department to start the transfer process. The Career Services Department makes the transfer process
from EPCC to a two-year/four year institution easier; if you plan early.
In addition, our department hosts many visits from four-year Universities who provide first-hand information about programs of study, scholarships, entrance requirements, and discuss other important matter relative to the student’s transfer
objective.
Articulation Agreements
El Paso Community College has entered into articulation agreements with many universities. Through these agreements,
institutions officially agree to transfer all of a specified program (certificate, diploma or degree). This usually occurs between a two-year college and a four-year college or university. Some agreements may indicate a cooperative program
between institutions that result in a degree program. For complete information and details on the terms and conditions of
any particular agreement contact the Career Services to insure currency and to reaffirm their validity.
Steps to Transfer Success
The Key is to Start Early!!
Step One – Start Early and Plan Ahead
Even though you may plan to spend your first two years here at El Paso
Community College you should begin investigating universities as soon
as you enroll. Career Services personnel are available to help you to
define your short term and long term goals.
30
Step Two – Research Your Options
The more that you know about your school choices the sooner you can decide if that institution is a good fit for you. Start
by researching various universities/colleges based on your needs and interests. Talk with Career Services/Transfer
Services specialists regarding your plans and options. Obtain degree plans and course equivalency guides for the major
and universities that you are considering. Additional factors you should consider are:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Availability of majors
Location of the university/college
Size of the University
Costs– related tuition and living costs
Admission requirements
Policies regarding repeated courses
Availability of housing
Minimum and maximum transfer credits accepted
Step Three – Choose and Get Organized
Once you have done your research, make your decision and get organized. Remember to always make and keep a copy
of everything you submit to an institution. If you talked to a university representative, it is a good idea to note the date, the
name of person and the information that you discussed. This will help you to stay better organized. The transfer process
involves many deadlines, for that reason it is very important to know when those deadlines are so that your transfer can go
as smoothly as possible. The deadlines you will need to find out about include but are not limited to:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Application Deadline
Financial Aid Deadline
Scholarship Requirements and Deadlines
Housing Application Deadlines
Submission of high school transcript (if needed)
Submission of transcripts from all colleges that you have attended
Submission of test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.)
If your first transfer university choice is highly selective you may
want to have a secondary transfer plan.
Step Four: Follow-up
Check progress of your letter of acceptance, housing contract,
financial aid award letters, verify that transcripts were sent, etc.
If you do not receive any information, call the school. In addition,
at your new school make plans and attend transfer student
orientation, schedule advisement, register for classes early
and send you payment by the due date.
REMEMBER: Choose your courses carefully. Always make
and keep a copy of everything you submit to an institution. It is
allso a good idea to note the date and person you speak to and
the information that you discussed. This will help you to stay
better organized.
If you do your homework, keep good records, and are aware
of your deadlines, then you are well on your way to a
successful transfer.
Remember it is never too early to start planning
your future!
31
Correspondence
Letters and Emails
Whether you use regular mail or email, your correspondence with employers creates an impression and demonstrates
your communication skills. You must always use a business-like tone and professional language. It is important to adhere
to the 3 C’s Rule: all correspondence must be clear, concise, and compelling. You must state very clearly who you are
and why you are writing. Your message must be concise and get right to the point. Finally, your goal is to compel your
reader to take further action, such as arranging an interview or extending a job offer.
COVER LETTERS VIA EMAIL
When sending your resume via email, your email message is your cover letter. A cover letter introduces your resume
when you are not there to do so in person. The goal is to persuade the reader to review your resume by providing a brief
summary of your qualifications that match the employer’s requirements.
Sample Email Subject Headers
The following is a list of the main reasons you would write a cover letter and some suggested email subject headers.
● Response to a newspaper ad or Internet job posting:
Your Ad for a _______
Your Job Posting on Hotjobs.com
● Networking with employers or following up on referrals:
Met You at the Career Services Career Expo
Referred by_________
● Canvassing employers to explore potential opportunities:
Strong Applicant for your ______________ Department
Potential Internship Opportunities at _______________
THANK-YOU LETTER TIPS
● Make sure to get business cards from all recruiters to ensure the correct spelling of their names and email addresses.
● Send an email thank-you letter within 24 hours after your interview. (Subject header: Thank You from ________
● Your goal is to impress the interviewer with your appreciation and reiterate your qualifications and interest in the
position.
● If you met with more than one individual, send personalized thank-you letters to each interviewer. Hiring decisions
are often made by consensus, and you will want to impress everyone you met by including something specific that
was discussed during your meeting.
MAKE SURE TO
THANK EVERYONE
WHO INTERVIEWED
YOU AT THE INTERVIEW
AND BY LETTER
AFTER THE INTERVIEW.
PERSONALIZE EACH LETTER.
32
What You Need to Succeed in the Workplace
by Jean Gatz
If you tend to show up early for class, keep up with your
assignments, and put forth extra effort when less would do,
you’re not just a model student. Chances are, you’ll also
make a great employee. Most top-level executives look for
qualities like initiative and efficiency in the people they hire
and promote.
Of course, their expectations of employees don’t end there.
Here are the key strategies for making a successful
transition from campus to the workplace.
Keep your personal life in order
Employers are usually sensitive to situations where
employees are coping with difficult personal issues, such
as relationship or marital problems or the illness or loss of
a loved one. But, if you find yourself in such a situation, deal
with the issues as best you can or ask for help in
addressing them. If you ignore your problems, they’re likely
to spill over into your work and detract from your job
performance.
Welcome change
You cannot do a job well without adapting to change,
whether it takes the form of new technology or added job
responsibilities.
Work smarter, harder, faster
While anger and fear are typical responses to change,
optimism is the most appropriate one. Ironically, when
people are worried about keeping their jobs, they are the
most resistant to change. They adopt the exact opposite
behavior of what companies are looking for in employees.
Accountability is one of the traits that employers value most
in employees. What it means, in the words of one
executive, is that “you know what needs to be done, and
can be counted on to do it right and on time, without
constant reminders or supervision.”
Commit to lifelong learning
In the process, think of yourself as a consultant, and
continually look for ways that you can function more
effectively.
One of the consequences of change is having to learn new
skills to replace less effective work methods. But it also
benefits you to continually expand and refine your abilities.
Employers are more likely to retain employees who upgrade
their skills over those who do not. Only knowledge—and the
ability to apply it—provides this kind of leverage.
Another practical strategy is to let people in management
know that you’re interested in doing more to benefit your
organization, and ask if they would mentor you. Learn the
ropes from others who have already climbed them.
Look for leadership opportunities
Demonstrate and document value-added
Every employee, regardless of job title, should be willing and
able to assume a leadership role, whenever the need arises.
It’s an ideal opportunity to demonstrate your ability and
value to an organization.
Always remember that the #1 goal of an organization is to
stay in business. With that in mind, find ways to reduce
costs or generate revenue for your employer. At the same
time, proceed cautiously with any time- or money-saving
suggestions. You don’t want your colleagues to think of you
as a know-it-all who is intent on changing everything.
Communicate openly and directly
Written, verbal, and electronic skills are essential in every
work environment. Knowing how to listen is equally
important. The way you communicate is a reflection of how
you perceive and perform your job.
It also is important to document the work you do and, when
asked or whenever appropriate, to let your bosses know of
your achievements.
You don’t have to get in anyone’s face, but the people you
report to should know how well you do your job. This
strategy for maintaining a positive, visible presence goes
hand in hand with cultivating allies and advocates in the
workplace.
As you prepare to enter the work force, think long and hard
about how you can get—and do—a great job. Wherever you
work, you will need to have exceptional qualities and skills
to launch and advance your career.
33
Sample Letters
THANK YOU AFTER JOB INTERVIEW
RESIGNATION LETTER
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HQMJMSIT=CTCPHLTPLBNOMNQMPOTQPTESSQTCPHLTBPNJTPATJNHOGFMOBTAM>STOS?TKSL>MGSTDLPIHGQKT
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NOITNJJTQFSTPQFSLKTMOTQFSTKSL>MGSTISDNLQESOQRT7TNDDLSGMNQSTNJJTCPHLTDSLKPONJTNOITDLPASKKMPONJ
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GPEDNOCTNKTCPHTKQLM>STQPTNIITNTOS?TIMKQLM=HQMPOTOSQ?PL4RT7TANMJSITQPTESOQMPOTIHLMOBTPHL
ESSQMOBT QFNQT 7T FN>ST JSIT QSNEKT MOT QFST IS>SJPDESOQT PAT GPJJNQSLNJT ENQSLMNJT DLP>MISIT QPT
IMKQLM=HQPLKTQPTKHDDPLQTQFSMLTKNJSKTSAAPLQKR
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7TNDDLSGMNQSTQFSTQMESTCPHTQPP4TQPTESSQT?MQFTESTQPTIMKGHKKTQFSTKSL>MGSTENONBSLTDPKMQMPOR
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SALARY HISTORY
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:QLSSQT+T9MQCT+T:QNQST+TMDT9PIS
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EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY HISTORY
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6FMKTJSQQSLTMKTMOTLSKDPOKSTQPTCPHLTNI>SLQMKSESOQTAPLTNOT8OBMOSSLMOBT.SDNLQESOQT:HDSL>MKPLTMOTQFS
:SDQSE=SLT<@;T5@@ TPHKQPOT2PKQRTT7TBLNIHNQSITALPET8JT2NKPT9PEEHOMQCT9PJJSBST?MQFTNOT
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KHDSL>MKMPO;T=HIBSQTDLSDNLNQMPOTNOITHNJMQCTGPOQLPJR
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34
CAREER SERVICES TIP:
Your resume and cover letters should match in both style and appearance.
If you are e-mailing your resume as an attachment, it’s not necessary to attach a cover letter.
he e-mail message itself serves as a cover letter. Write it accordingly.
Address the letter to a specific individual.
Remember that your cover letter is also a writing sample, just like your resume.
Use it to demonstrate your best “simple and direct” writing style.
CAREER SERVICES TIP:
It’s Not Just About the Major
Choosing a major is just one part of your career path. Potential employers will be looking at your major, your minor and your
coursework. Yet, they’ll also be very interested in what you did outside class. What activities are part of? What leadership
skills are you acquiring? What volunteer organizations do you donate your time to? The answers to these types of
questions will have an impact. Your employee “package” is about a whole lot more than simply what you majored in.
CAREER SERVICES TIP:
When You Have No Experience – Substitute!
If you don’t have a job requirement, offer something similar.
It shows that you can learn the required skill quickly.
Think. Do you have a substitute skill for…
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
a current or former job?
military experience?
a school project?
volunteer or civic work?
a hobby or talent?
a group or team member?
a family responsibility ?
something you designed?
something you created?
something you built?
something you improved?
something you operated?
you repaired?
something you managed?
something you tried?
33
35
How Important is an Associate’s Degree
to Employers
Very! Almost every profession requires a basic competency
level in writing, math and computer skills, and an
associate's degree signals to a potential employer that you
possess those skills. An associate's degree is an
undergraduate college-level degree that usually focuses on
general education and/or technical classes. In particular
associate's degrees sometimes offer specialized technical
training for a specific industry.
Specialized associate’s degrees are designed to give
students the skills and knowledge required to gain
immediate employment within a specific field. For instance,
employers usually require those applying to be a physical
therapy assistant to have an associate's degree in physical
therapy as well as hold a license (or eligibility to obtain a
license) by the state in which the applicant will be working.
associate's degree (typically 60 credit hours) represents a
reachable time frame even for degree-seekers who already
hold employment. Job seekers who had an associate's
degree were more likely to find a job than job seekers who
had just a high school diploma.
Many universities consider an associate's degree a
transferable asset that can qualify a student to launch in the
middle of a bachelor's degree, making the four-year degree
a two-year prospect. However, not all universities accept
transfer associate's degrees from all community college,
technical schools or other educational institutions; learn the
transfer requirements early on if you know which university
you'd like to transfer to after receiving an associate's
degree.
The two most common associate's degrees are the
associate's of applied science and the associate's of arts,
but other specialized, industry-geared degrees include the
associate of arts in teaching, associate of science in
nursing and associate in engineering technology.
Associate's degrees are often the equivalent of the first two
years of curriculum a student seeking a bachelor's degree
would take. The length of time needed to earn an
36
Internship Benefits
Internship Benefits for Employers
Completing one or more internships benefits students and
also offers numerous advantages to employers.
Employers gain:
Internship Benefits for Students
● An effective recruiting tool. The NACE 2009 Job
Outlook Survey reveals that along with on-campus
recruiting, employers rank their own company’s
internship program as the most effective recruiting tool.
Interns are able to:
● Explore different types of careers that relate to or that
may compliment your major field of study and narrow
down your career choices.
● The opportunity to observe potential employees under
actual working conditions without a long-term
commitment.
● Develop marketable skills.
● Apply theories and principles learned in the classroom.
● Gain a better sense of what it is like to work in a
professional work environment.
● Access to specialty skills and knowledge and cutting
edge research through the intern’s application of
academic study and training, as well as personal
strengths.
● Learn about your likes and dislikes, interests, values
and abilities.
● Visibility on campus through intern referrals.
● Opportunities to mentor and contribute to the education
and development of students.
● Gain pre-professional work experience—one of the
most appealing candidate qualities to employers and
graduate schools and what will allow you to
successfully compete with other college graduates
after graduation.
Strategies for your Internship Search
Approaching your internship search with well planned
strategies is one of the best ways to finding and securing an
internship you want. To guide you in your search, here are
strategies for making your efforts effective, productive and
fruitful.
● Earn money—many internships offer some type of
monetary compensation.
● Earn credit for work experience through cooperative
education program.
● Increase your competitive edge and earning potential
after graduation. In the National Association of Colleges
and Employers (NACE) 2008 Experiential Education
Survey, the employer respondents indicated that on
average, they offer over 50% of their interns and over
60% of their coop students’ full-time employment.
37
38
How to Obtain the Best Internship
Be Active In Your Search
Network for Internships
Only very small percentage of internship opportunities are
advertised in the open job market. The majority of
internships are considered to be in the hidden job market,
meaning they are not advertised in want ads or other
traditional means. Therefore, it is important for you to do
some searching to locate opportunities and apply for
internships in both markets.
Career networking is the systematic development and
cultivation of informal interpersonal contacts and
relationships for three purposes:
● To compile information that helps with focusing your
career exploration, internship search or job search
objectives, learning about trends, events or facts
relevant to your search and possibly hearing about
existing internship or job openings or other
professional or personal development opportunities;
Conduct research to better prepare yourself for making
contact with networks, companies, and organizations. Apply
for opportunities and follow up on your applications.
Network with individuals and conduct informational
interviews to gain knowledge and advice about an area of
work. Attend career and job expos—network and make
sure you bring plenty of resumes!
● To gain as much exposure as possible in the
internship/job market or career trends;
● To gather more names and referrals so that you can
continue to expand your network, gain more
information sources, get more exposure, obtain
still more referrals, etc.
Tailor your resumes and cover letters with each application
so that each markets you and your accomplishments
effectively and highlights the contributions you will make to
an organization.
39
Career networking has proven to be one of the most
effective means for students and graduates to explore and
enter careers and it has become increasingly important as
we experience economic downturns and tougher
internship/job markets. This relationship building process
often leads to more educated decisions on major and career
selection and serves as a useful strategy in “opening doors”
for students seeking internships, job shadowing
experiences, and summer and full-time jobs.
How to Obtain the Best Internship
Prepare For Interviews to Obtain an Internship
While being considered for an internship position, you may
be asked to go through one or more interviews with the
employer, by phone or in person or both. Although not all
internship positions require this, it is best to be prepared and
going through practice interviews will be a benefit to you
when you are conducting your full-time job search down the
road. Prepare for interviews by knowing your skills and
practicing how you will communicate them in your answers;
what to expect for the interview; and professional etiquette
for the interview.
Factors in Considering an Internship Offer
● Training (extent, time, comprehensiveness,
expectations, supervision)
● Your role in the organization
● How your assets, needs and interests match the
organization’s assets, needs and interests
● Access to other people and departments within the
organization (for interviews, conversations, research,
advisement, etc.)
● Opportunities for future employment or advancement
● Working conditions and hours (supervision, safety,
aesthetic environment, flextime, shorter work weeks,
longer lunch hours, etc.)
Accepting the Offer
When you are ready to accept an internship position, let the
employer know through a phone call and/or acceptance
letter and agree on a starting date. Have the details
confirmed in writing, including: position title, job description,
wage—if applicable, housing arrangements—if applicable,
start and end dates, hours and work schedule, supervisor’s
contact information, etc.
● Location (housing options, cost of living, distance from
family and friends, community offerings, etc.)
● Salary/wage
Inform employers with whom you were considering an
internship that you have accepted another offer so they can
remove your application from consideration.
● Additional perks (free parking, inclusion in company
events, use of fitness center, etc.)
Say Thank You
Send thank you letters to those in your network of
references, mentors, etc. and let them know you have
accepted an offer. Let them know you appreciate their
assistance and inform them of the results of your search.
(Note: Generally, the more personal the contact, the less
formal your correspondence would need to be. For more
formal and professional contacts, always send typed
letters.). Sending updates on your experience during or after
your experience also is another way to thank references and
mentors, contributes to your networking efforts, and
enhances your networking relationships.
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41
Online
Answering All of Your Career Needs!
http://www.epccedu/careerservices
Your life is busy; your time is valuable, so visit us online!
Whether you need information on upcoming career days,
resume samples, or tips on what you can do with your
major, Career Services has an online answer for you!
Sit back, flip on your computer, and let your fingers do
the surfing...
Countless students tap into
online resources every day.
Visit us for the following:
• Job Search
• Career Assessments, Career Exploration
and Career Planning
• Career-Related Internet Resources
• Career, Job, and Transfer Fair Information
• College Majors and Career Information
• Cooperative Education Program Information
• Employment Information
• Transfer Services Information
• On-Campus Interviewing
• Internships
• Upcoming Events
• FAQ’s
42
Online
Hot Internet Sites
Job & Internship Search:
College Majors & Careers:
http://www.rileyguide.com
http://www.wetfeet.com
http://www.CollegeGrad.com
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com
http://www.jobpostings.net
http://internships.wetfeet.com
http://www.inroads.org
http://www.rsinternships.com
http://www.wnjpin.state.nj.us
http://www.nj.com/careers
http://www.jobweb.org
http://www.careerbuilder.com
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
http://www.careershift.com
http://www.edu/careerservices
http://www.acinet.org/acinet
http://stats.bls.gov
http://www.bls.gov/oco
http://online.onetcenter.org
Job Outlook/Salary Surveys
http://www.bls.gov/oco
http://www.abbott-langer.com
http://www.jobstar.org/tools/salary/sal-surv.cfm
43
Business Attire
Men and Women
Dress appropriately for the interview; if
in doubt, err on the side of being
conservative to show you take the
interview
seriously.
Your
personal
grooming and cleanliness should be
impeccable.
● Conservative two-piece busness
suit (solid dark colors area best)
● Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse
(white is best, pastel is next best)
● Clean, polished conservative shoes
● Well-groomed hairstyle
● Clean, trimmed fingernails
● Minimal cologne or perfume
● Empty pockets—no bulges or
tinkling coins
● No gum, candy, or cigarettes
● Light briefcase or portfolio case
● No visible body piercing (nose rings,
eyebrow rings, etc.) or tattoos
“Regardless of how you feel
inside, always try to look like a winner.
Even if you are behind,
a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a
mental edge that results in
victory.”
Arthur Ashe
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46
Employment Opportunities for
International Students
Job Resources for International Students:
The Career Services Department is committed to prepare
El Paso Community College students to join the American
workforce successfully.
Career Services offers an online job-listing database,
Career Corner. This service is free of charge and can be
accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To create online
account students must follow these steps:
In accordance with the Student and Exchange Visitors
Information System (S.E.V.I.S.) regulations; to obtain
employment, international students must:
● Go to our website: www.epcc.edu/careerservices
● Be Full-Time F-1 or F-3 student.
● Click on Student Login
● Be in compliance with all Department of Homeland
Security’s international student status requirements.
● Read and Acknowledge “Student Agreement”
Statement
● Click on “Click Here to Register”
● Have authorization from EPCC’s International Students
Office to work on-campus (employment may be
performed at any of the EPCC campuses).
● Complete all fields and click on “Register”
● Follow instructions and submit profile
● Have employment authorization from Department of
Homeland Security prior to gaining employment offcampus.
For more information, please contact the International
Students Office at (915) 831-2296 or visit www.epcc.edu,
click “Admissions” tab, then click on “International
Students” tab.
Become the best candidate for the job; plan early
and prepare yourself.
We can assist
you with many
resources that
are available to
you at no cost.
Visit us at
www.epcc.edu/careerservices
to learn the many
ways we can
assist you.
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