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INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW10AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW IS a conversation to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a job,industry or company of interest by asking questions about their career path and current position. The interview could be donein person, by email or over the phone.QUICK TIPS Don’t be afraid to ask and be clear about your intention Proofread and edit your messages before sending(1) BE INTENTIONAL & CREATE A LIST: Family, friendsand UH alumni are great people to start with; find alumnicontacts through LinkedIn. Write down a list of people tointerview; think about companies, jobs and industries thatinterest you.(2) CONTACT PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST: Introduce yourself,share how you found their information and that you areinterested in learning about their career; attach your resumeto the message. Ask for a time to meet over the phone or inperson within the next 2-3 weeks and share your availability.Write a message below to the contacts on your list. Dress business professional and bring your resume Research the person and company prior to the interview(3) PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW: Plan 6-8 open endedand thoughtful questions to ask. These should be things yougenuinely want to know! Write down questions to ask duringthe interview (see next page for sample questions).(4) CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW: Bring your list of questionsand be prepared to lead the interview and take notes, ifdesired. Respect the person’s time by arriving early and/orcalling on time. Gain different perspectives and deepen yournetwork by asking for names of other people to meet.(5) FOLLOW UP & REFLECT: Send a thank-you note within1-2 days and express your appreciation for the time andinformation given. Write down what you learned, what youwant to know more about and your next steps.TIP: FIND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ALUMNI THROUGH LINKEDIN! Log into LinkedIn and type University of Houston fromthe search bar and click “see alumni.” You can filter results by where they live and work, what they do and what they studied.www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

SAMPLE QUESTIONSINFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW11Learn as much as you can before the interview about the person’s work history, interests and education by searching the internetand their LinkedIn profile so that you can prepare questions in advance and adapt the questions based on their experience.Write 6-8 questions on a notepad, bring them to the interview and be prepared to lead the conversation.Circle questions below that you will ask during the interview.PREPARATION Can you tell me about your career path and how you got where you are? I saw on LinkedIn that you interned at before graduating, did you find that internship helpful for finding jobs? What are the qualifications you or your organization looks for in a new hire? What types of employment or internships would you recommend? What’s one thing you wish somebody would’ve told you before going into this field? If you could go back and do anything differently, would you change anything?CURRENT JOB What are the major components of your job on a daily basis? What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job? What are some big projects you’re working on now or that you’ve finished up in the last few months? What skills or talents are most essential for effective job performance? How would you describe somebody who would excel in this career?LIFESTYLE/ INDUSTRY GROWTH What obligations does your work place on your personal time? How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours of work, vacation time or place of residence? How rapidly is your field growing? How do you see this job changing in the next 5-10 years?JOB HUNTING STRATEGIES How do people find out about these jobs in your industry? I noticed you are a member of (professional association)—have you found that helpful? Do you have any recommendations for other people I should speak with in the field to learn more? May I use your namewhen reaching out to him or her?NATURE OF ORGANIZATION How would you define the culture of your organization? What is the average length of time employees stay with the organization? What type of formal or on-the-job training does the organization provide?FOLLOW UP Would it be alright for us to stay in touch? Do you have any recommendations for other people I should speak with in the field to learn more? May I use your namewhen reaching out to him or her? Are there professional associations or experiences that you recommend for someone pursuing this field?WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? WRITE YOUR QUESTIONS BELOW:www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

ASPIRATIONSJOB / INTERNSHIP PLANNINGWhat do you see yourself doing after graduation? (0-5 years out)What do you enjoy doing? What issues are you most passionate about?What do you desire to learn and/or experience?GOALSWhat competencies/skills/knowledge are most desired in your industry?What are your goals for this job/internship search?What skills/abilities would you like to improve?What are you hoping to gain from the experience?PREFERENCESIn what type of organization/environment/culture do you want to work?Where do you want to work? Are you willing to relocate? Do you have transportation or housing?www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers12

IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS13As you begin your job search, it is important that you are aware of the skills you have developed over time.WITHIN THE BOXES BELOW: Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled in the area Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled in the area Place a “1” if it is an area that needs improvementCheck out the Top 10 skillsemployers are seeking atNACEweb.org.COMMUNICATIONPublic speakingListening attentivelyFacilitating discussionProviding appropriate feedbackDelivering presentationsFluency in another languageNegotiate thoughts and ideasTactfulnessEditing / proofreadingWriting reports and emailsLEADERSHIPMaintain posititive relationshipsResolving problems/situationsAdapting to changesSetting prioritiesManaging or supervisingDelegating responsibilityManaging a heavy workloadIdentifying improvement areasDetermining policySetting clear expectationsPROFESSIONALISMEthnical behavior and integritySetting and meeting deadlinesWork productively with othersBeing punctualManaging time and work loadAccepting responsibilityAttention to detailAsking for help or supportMaking decisionsLearning from mistakesExpressing ideas conciselyAssess impact of non-verbalsMotivate othersManage emotionsUnderstand impact actionsIdentify growth opportunitiesTOTALTOTALTOTALTEAMWORK / COLLABORATIONNegotiate and manage conflictFinding resolutionsBuild collaborative relationshipsWillingness to listenMotivating others and selfProviding support and careRespecting othersHolding teammates accountablePerceiving feelings/situationsExplain ideas clearlyTECHNOLOGY / ANALYTICALUse technology efficientlyAdaptability to new technologyCyber safety and securityCommon IT problem solvingDigital media knowledgeCritical thinking and actionInterpet and draw conclusionsQuick and efficient learnerIdentify connectionsAsk good questionsTOTAL up each section and writeyour scores below:Meeting team expectationsBeing engaged and contributingConduct analysis and interpretDetermine ProfessionalismTeamwork / CollaborationTechnology / AnalyticalWhat are your top 3 highest scoringcategories?What occupations require your skill sets?www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

COVER LETTER WORKSHEET 14BE CONCISE AND PROFESSIONAL IN TONE: Cover letters should be only one page in length and will serve as anexample of your writing abilities. Use a professional and confident tone, and make sure you PROOFREAD!CONVINCE THE READER TO LOOK AT YOUR RESUME: The cover letter may be seen first—this is your movietrailer. It must grab the reader’s attention (in a positive way) and should be targeted to that particular employer.HIGHLIGHT YOUR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Using examples, identify specific skills and past experiencesthat are relevant to the position you are seeking. Try to connect to the needs of the employer.REFLECT YOUR ATTITUDE: Try to convey your personality, motivation, enthusiasm, teamwork, andcommunication skills.“T DIAGRAM”Step 1: On the left side, list 3 skills or qualifications from the job postingStep 2: On the right side, list 3 skills or experiences you’ve had that give “PROOF” to the skills listed on the left.The goal here is to show you have the skills or qualifications they are looking for!Step 3: Take the #1 (A) job posting skill and your #1 (B) experience/skills and craft the ideas into a paragraph.Step 4: Repeat for #2 and #3 and tie into a paragraph. (See PARA 2 under the sample cover letter for example)JOB POSTING SKILLSYOUR EXPERIENCES / SKILLS#1 (A)#1 (B)#2 (A)#2 (B)#3 (A)#3 (B)Craft #1 (A) and #1 (B) into a sentence: (repeat for #2 and #3)www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

SAMPLE COVER LETTER15[Month Day, Year] - Fill in[Dear Mr. / Ms. / Mrs. / Dr. Last Name / Hiring Manager] - Fill in[PARA 1] Introduce yourself, make sure you list the position you are seeking and explain how you found the position.This is also the space to mention any mutual contacts or connections you may have with the company.[Example] My name is Jane Doe and I am a senior student at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas majoring inBiology. I am writting you today because I am interested in the Mathematics Tutor position at ABC Corporation. I foundout about this position through Cougar Pathway and felt like it matched my skills and abilities. Below I have outlined theways my experiences directly connect to this position:[PARA 2] Pick a skill from the T-Diagram on pg 12: Describe that skill and give an example of how you havedemonstrated that skill. Repeat 2 more times. There should be 3 skills total listed in the whole paragraph. (only 1listed below)[Example] Communication: One of my top strengths is communication and in your job posting you mentioned you werelooking for someone with strong oral and written communication skills. Over the past 3 years I have developed this skillwhile working a tutor for XYZ organization. Within my role I met one-on-one with stduents and provided them supportregarding Calculus 1 homework and exam questions. I had to learn how to communicate with students and provide themexamples that worked for different learning styles. I believe this experience truly set me up to be successful in this role.[PARA 3] Tell why you are interested in the employer or that particular field/industry type. Demonstrate your knowledgeof the organization to relate your educational and professional background to the employer or position. Mention specificqualifications that make you a good fit for the employer’s needs.[Example] In the mission of ABC Corporation you mention diverse learning paths and how you tailor tutoring experiences.I truly believe in this approach and want the opportunity to contribute to this mission. I have seen customized tutoring experiences work wonders on previous student’s I’ve tutored. They’ve been able to flourish and understand the content better. Additionally, I appreciate the learning opportunities you give employees. I want to work for the company who wants tobetter me and will allow me to continue my education.[PARA 4] Thank the reader for their time and mention you are very interested. Add any additional information you feelwould be helpful.[Example] In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I hope you continue on to my resume for afurther explanation of my skills and experiences. I feel confident that I can excel as a Mathematics Tutor for ABCCorportation and look forward to hearing from you.Sincerely,Your Name and/or Signaturewww.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

RESUME WORKSHEET16This worksheet is intended to help you gather information about your education, work and other experiences to assist you informulating your resume. Don’t forget to add your contact information at the top!OBJECTIVE: State the position you are seeking and 2-3 relevant skills. Avoid the use of “I” and “me”. This is an optionalsection and can be used to connect your relevant skills to the position.EDUCATION: List all colleges and universities from where you received or will receive a degree. Do not abbreviate andstart with most recent. Include major and minor, GPA (optional if 3.0 and higher) and expected graduation date.EXPERIENCE: List relevant experiences in reverse chronological order. Include: Position title, employer name, location,employment dates, responsibilities & accomplishments. Use ACTION VERB TASK RESULT to format the bullets.SKILLS: List language(s) and fluency levels as well as computer programs, software, and languages relevant to theposition.HONORS, AWARDS & ACTIVITIES: For honors and awards, include name of honor/award, date received & name oforganization. For activities, include the name of the organization, your title, and the dates of activity or membership.Note: At least three professional references should be listed in a separate document.www.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

RESUME ACTION VERBS17The bullet points under each of your work experiences should focus on accomplishments and results, not just jobduties. Use the formula ACTION VERB TASK RESULT and don’t forget to quantify your ProvidedPurchasedwww.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - TransformedWon

18SAMPLE RESUME[FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME]Cell Phone Number - Professional Email Address - City, State, Zip - LinkedIn URL (if applicable)EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts (or Science) in (major)Month and Year of Graduation (or expected date)University of Houston- Houston, TexasMinorOverall GPA or GPA in Major (Optional- Only if 3.0 or higher)RELEVANT COURSEWORK (Pick 4-6 relevant courses)CLASS ONE CLASS THREE CLASS FIVECLASS TWO CLASS FOUR CLASS SIXACADEMIC PROJECTSProject Name, University of HoustonMonth Year Projects could include: team or invidiual projects, laboratory reports/projects, research papers Indepent projects (outside of the classroom projects could also be listed, as long as they are relevant) List your tasks and what you learned/skills you gained Use strong verbs to explain what you did and quantify, if possibleEXPERIENCE (“Work” - “Relevant” - “Research” - “Leadership” Experience)Position TitleName of Business or Organization, City, State Use the formula ACTION VERB TASK RESULT to format the bullets Put your strongest selling point first Focus on accomplishments and results, not just job duties Provide as much detail about your responsibilities as possiblePosition TitleName of Business or Organization, City, State If it happened in the past, make sure you use past tense verbs Avoid repetition: try not to use the same words and/or phrases over and over again Quantify any results whenever possible and use industry keywords/buzzwordsMonth Year - Month YearMonth Year - Month YearSKILLSComputer skills, technical skills, certificationsLanguage skills (fluent, bilingual, conversational)(No soft skills - “communication, teamwork, organization.etc”)HONORS Dean’s List: List semesters or range of semesters Include any Scholarships, Year AwardedACTIVITIES (“Leadership” - “Involvement” - “Professional Development” - “Volunteer Experience”) Student Organization, Member, Year(s) of involvement (If leadership role, list and discuss responsibilities) Volunteer Organization, Volunteer, Year(s) of involvementwww.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

C A R E E R FA I R P R E PA R AT I O NBENEFITS OF ATTENDING A CAREER FAIR: Learn about companies within your field Engage with currently employed professionals Practice your introduction Establish employment contacts Develop your communication skills Obtain internships or employment opportunities Network with employers, peers and future colleagues19CAREER FAIR ETIQUETTE Bring mints to maintain fresh breath (no gum) Do not wear strong cologne or perfume Do not bring a backpack or large purse Shake hands firmly, but not too firm Turn off or silence your cell phone Be enthusiastic and positive during the fair Be courteous of the recruiter’s timeHOW TO PREPARE FOR A CAREER FAIR: RSVP for the Career Fair via Cougar Pathway. Review the employers attending on Cougar Pathway and research their mission, vision and open positions Decide which employers you would like to meet with and plan a strategy for speaking with them Prepare your resume with the help of a career counselor Practice answering the “tell me about yourself” question Pick out your professional attire. Refer to the Professional Dress Etiquette (page 26) for examples Arrive early to park, prepare and relax!CREATING YOUR INTRODUCTION FOR A CAREER FAIRThese questions will get you started in creating your introduction and determining what you want to share with arecruiter: What is your full name, major and academic standing? What is the name of the company you are speaking with and what positions do they have open? Why do you want to work for that company? What interests you about the company or their open position(s)? What unique work experience, skills, and course projects are relevant to that company or their openposition(s)? Why should someone hire you? (Brainstorm - may not be sharedwww.uh.edu/ucs - 713-743-5100 - ucs@uh.edu - @CoogCareers

ELEVATOR PITCH WORKSHEET20This job hunting technique is known by several names: elevator speech, 30-second commercial, infomercial, andself-advertisement. It is a well-developed answer to the question “Tell me about yourself.” Creating this 30-60 secondmessage forces you to take stock of who you are, what you offer, and where you want to go. This spiel is anadvertisement for you; it is an opportunity to get your point across in a timely manner. It is concise and clever. Practiceit to make it a natural and powerful statement

U N I V E R S I T Y C A R E E R SERV I C E S . University Career Services is a full-service career center offering current students and UH alumni resources and assistance in the formulation and implementation of their career plans. The University of Houston's students and graduates represent a large and diverse pool of talented job candidates.