Bartlett Academic Success Center

1435 E. 4th Street, Room 301 AA

(520) 621-2588 | [email protected]
career.arizona.edu

Table of Contents
Introduction
It's the Journey and the Destination....................................................... 4

Career Exploration & Self Discovery

Career Exploration & Self Discovery .................................................... 5
Creating a Plan ............................................................................................ 6
Learn by Doing ............................................................................................ 7

Develop Skills & Gain Experience

Get Involved and Get Connected .......................................................... 8
Get Hands-On and Get Engaged .......................................................... 9
Grow Your Leadership Skills .................................................................... 10
Job & Internship Search
How to Make the Most of Handshake ................................................. 11
Career Clusters ........................................................................................... 12
Get Resume Ready ................................................................................... 13
Show Your Skills Through Your Actions............................................... 14
Tailor Your Resume..................................................................................... 15
Resume Examples ..................................................................................... 16
Resume Checklist ...................................................................................... 22
Cover Letters ............................................................................................... 24
LinkedIn to a Professional Network...................................................... 26
Master Your Job Search: 5 Tip .............................................................. 27
Interviewing Tips ........................................................................................ 28
Virtual and Video Interviews .................................................................. 29
What Exactly is Networking?................................................................... 30
Informational Interviewing ....................................................................... 31
Evaluating the Job Offer .......................................................................... 32
How do You Talk about Salary?.............................................................. 33

The Grad School Track ................................................................... 34

@wildcatcareer @uarizonacareer
 It’s the Journey and the Destination
Picture a busy subway platform with lots of movement, people, and trains coming and going. Imagine
traveling alongside you are Arizona students like you, deciding on routes to take to their destination.

Careers are like traveling to a destination that has many different routes for getting to where you want to
go. Not everyone will select the same track, and in fact, you may take any number of routes, each headed
in a different direction.

The first step in your journey is to engage during your time at the university. By conducting research,
volunteering in your community, completing an internship, or seeking out meaningful experiences, you’ll
be forging a path uniquely your own. Ask questions and take advantage of the advice and resources you
find – in this guide and in your life – to make informed decisions about your next steps. This is your time
to explore, so get started. The possibilities are many, and so are your career options!

Alyssa Benefield /
B.S. B.A.
Nursing, 2020
Nursing
“Being a first generation student, I had no idea what to
expect when it came to college. Student Engagement &
Career Development helped me advance in my future
nursing career by helping me build confidence in myself
and in my interviewing skills as I prepared for my nursing
interviews. They also acted as a great support group,
keeping up with me to see how I was feeling about my
upcoming interviews. I am so happy to have discovered
this resource to help me succeed in my nursing career.”

ICON KEY
Look for this icon to find assessments When you see this icon, take action
that will help you discover insights about to find more resources online or to
yourself like your strengths and values. connect with career education support.

Look for this icon to find opportunities Look for this icon to learn tips
to get involved on campus and to
build in-demand skills. ! or discover resources to learn
something new!

4
 Career Exploration and Discovery
The best careers are those with purpose, where you can combine your values, strengths, and
skills to make an impact on something you care about. How do you discover your purpose? By
exploring — yourself! Identify the things you value and love to do then you can find a career
where you can put those values and skills to work.
Here are a few quick activities you can do to get started on your own right now:

ASK
Reach out to someone in your life who knows you really well. Ask them:
• What are my greatest strengths/skills?
• Based on the things I’ve said and done, what would you say I value?
• When am I at my best?

REMEMBER
Some of our early experiences can give us insight into our strengths,
personality, and values. Think back over your life from your earliest
memories until now:
• What were some activities you were naturally good at as a kid?
• When did you shine?
Look for patterns in your activities. These could point to the kind of work that inspires you.
Take those patterns with you into the next pages to inform your career plan.

Assessments can help you identify and discuss your strengths and values. Free strengths
assessments such as viacharacter.org can offer insight into what you value most.

Want to Dive Deeper? Visit LifeLab.

Personalized support that'll get you from here to career.
Exploration & Discovery Skills & Experience Search & Apply

When you’re ready to take the next step in your career exploration and
preparation, the LifeLab Guides can help you uncover areas of interest,
! and identify resources for further exploration to get you moving in the
direction you want to go. Visit LifeLab in-person or virtually.
lifelab.arizona.edu
5
 Create a Plan
Explore Who You Are and Careers You May Like
Career planning is an important strategy to organize and manage your short and long-term career
goals in actionable steps. Student Engagement & Career Development’s career resources will help
you prioritize and make informed decisions about how your experiences will influence your career
goals. Start career planning as early as your first year at Arizona and continue to work on specific
action steps as your plan progresses.

Use the activities below to start your plan.

Personal Inventory
Suggested Activities

• Career Explorer: See your compatibility with over 800

careers at careerexplorer.com.
• 16 Personalities: Get a "freakishly accurate"
description of who you are and why you do the things
you do at 16personalities.com.

“LifeLab allowed me to get that

Industry and Occupation Research
second opinion that reassured
Suggested Activities
me that I could apply for that job,
that internship.”
• Career Clusters Quiz: Explore beyond your major
and think about what work environments and job
duties excite you, and start exploring from there. Kendra Martinez /
Learn more about career clusters on page 12. Psychological Science
career.arizona.edu/career-clusters.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: What kinds of skills and experiences does your industry
require? Check out www.bls.gov/ooh to explore skills that are recommended for different
industries. Use tools like O*Net (onetonline.org) or Glassdoor (glassdoor.com) to explore what
employers are looking for to help you create your plan for the skills you want to develop.
• Handshake: Update your career interests on Handshake (arizona.joinhandshake.com) to
have curated content to support your plan! As a student, you get a free Handshake account
connected to your NetID. To find out more about Handshake, jump ahead to page 11.

How you can get started:

! Need help executing your plan or ideas on how to get the skills you
want? LifeLab is here to help. Visit us in-person or virtually.
lifelab.arizona.edu

6
 Learn By Doing
Build Skills Through Involvement

Whether you want to fight for change in campus government, build a professional network, or
explore the world, you can translate your classroom knowledge into hands-on experiences and
launch a career for life.

As you look at ways to get involved and build

skills, ask yourself these questions:
How does this help me achieve my goals? Recognize the skills you want to develop and
identify how the experience will help you achieve that goal.

What’s a good use of my time? Choose quality over quantity. You won’t be able to do
everything, so identify opportunities you want to focus on and devote your energy to those.

Does this help me think differently? In experiences such as Design Thinking Challenges,
study abroad, or an internship, you often work collaboratively with others. Find experiences
that allow you to see value in the unique perspectives others bring.

What skills do I want to build? The skills you build through involvement are valuable
for future employment! For example, in a group project, club, or a part-time job, you’re
developing the ability to work on a team. Think of what skills you need and how your
involvement can help you grow.

Will I have fun? Get involved because you enjoy it! Activities you like outside of school and
the workplace are important. They can promote balance, time management, and encourage
you to meet new friends, build your support system, and expand your network.

7
 Get Involved and Get Connected
Ways to Get Involved

Get Involved with Research

ur.arizona.edu

Engage in a Real-world Challenge

career.arizona.edu/design-thinking

Gain Workplace-ready Skills in Weeks

career.arizona.edu/build-professional-skills

Get an On-campus Job

arizona.joinhandshake.com
"On my first day in my research lab the head of the
Grow Your Leadership Skills lab took me on a tour and attempted to explain what
leadership.arizona.edu the Mach 5 Tunnel was and the physics behind it. My
mind struggled to grasp some of these concepts, but
Join a Student Organization it excited me to know I was going to be taking part in
clubs.arizona.edu
something so fascinating."
Volunteer in the Community
volunteer.asua.arizona.edu Nina Mackey / Mechanical Engineering

“My job shadow experience at Freeport-McMoRan taught

me a lot about the mining industry, more than I could ever
imagine. I gained a whole new perspective on the day-to-
day activities of an environmental engineer, and as someone
who will be joining the industry soon, I’m positive that this
experience will go a very long way.”

Shruti Thakur / M.S,

M.S.Environmental
EnvironmentalEngineering,
Engineering2018

How you can get started:

This is a big campus, full of big opportunities! Meet

! with a guide in LifeLab to uncover the clubs and

activities that'll fit your interests and goals.
lifelab.arizona.edu
8
 Get Hands-On and Get Engaged
Arizona's "100% Engagement" initiative offers transformational experiences for every student.
These hands-on opportunities ensure that you're prepared with the skills and experiences you
need and what employers and graduate schools want.

"Through my summer internship and The Washington

Center [scholarship], I was able to connect with several law
school admissions officers, as well as multiple individuals
working within political/governmental fields; these were
important moments in expanding my network as I hope
to one day attain a federal job centered around law. I feel
confident in my decision to go onto law school next year."

Danny Bushacra / Law & Psychology

DID YOU KNOW?

Students who participate in an internship or student teaching experiences were about TWICE
AS LIKELY to report full-time employment than their peers. (Source: Graduating Senior Survey)AY2019-2020)

What is an engaged-learning experience?

Involve yourself in experiences and projects
where you apply the knowledge you're learning How to find a 100% Engagement Course

in your classroom to challenges in the field. Add 1. Login: UAccess Student Center.

these experiences to your resume to demonstrate 2. Under Enrollment, click on Class Search.

your skills and professionalism. 3. Expand Advanced Filters.

4. Under Course Attribute choose:

Experiences can include: • Student Engagement Activity OR

• Participating in a community partnership • Student Engagement Competency

• Developing a solution for an employer's 5. Under Course Attribute Value, choose

real-world problem • a Student Engagement Activity from the list.

• Working in a research lab to create a solution Visit career.arizona.edu/100%-activities

or new knowledge OR choose

• Leading an entrepreneurial challenge • a Student Engagement Competency from the list.

• Internships and other experiential learning Visit career.arizona.edu/100%-competencies

experiences

How you can get started:

! When it comes to engaged-learning experiences, the sky's the limit.

Get grounded with great suggestions from the guides in LifeLab.
lifelab.arizona.edu 9
 Grow Your Leadership Skills
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers,
leadership is one of the top 5 skills that employers look for on a resume.
Leadership Programs can help you
discover your leadership strengths,
learn your personal approach to
challenges, and identify ways you
collaborate best with others to work
toward a common vision. Practicing
your leadership skills both inside
and outside of the classroom can
help you define how you provide
innovative solutions to real-world
problems.

SECD's Leadership Programs

(leadership.arizona.edu) offer
opportunities to network with
professional staff, community partners, and peers. We also provide expertise in professional
preparation and guidance to help you along your leadership journey. A diverse set of experiences at
Arizona will help you define what you can bring to your future career as a leader.

Engaging with Leadership helped me highlight

my leadership qualities and skill sets to different
employers in multiple job applications. As I went
through job applications and interviews, instead
of just saying I held leadership qualities, I was able
to expand on what this meant and how I earned
them. I did not expect this experience to be so
impactful when job searching and it has helped
me grow by teaching me about different aspects
of leadership found within myself.

Karina Soriano /
B.A.,B.A.
Political Science
Political and Mexican
Science American
and Mexican Studies,
American 2021
Studies

How you can get started:

Whether it's one skill-building module or the full Blue Chip
experience, we have what you need to grow your leadership skills.
Visit lifelab.arizona.edu to explore.
10
 Find Your Next Opportunity on Handshake
15,000+ companies, including Fortune 500 and local business recruit Wildcats like you.

Handshake is your platform to find internships, jobs, and career events.

Find workshops, programs, and Favorite employers. Schedule an appointment.
events. Employer information Receive updates when employers Meet 1:1 with a peer coach or
sessions, career fairs, networking post internships or jobs, host professional career educator
opportunities, resume and skill- an information session, or are to get support, insight, or help
building workshops. attending a career fair. deciding what to do next.

“Your student profile is one of the best features in Handshake

because this information is used to connect students with
employers and jobs. This feature helped me connect to jobs
that I would otherwise not have pursued.”

Madeline Melichar / Biosystems Engineering

Put Handshake to work for you.

COMPLETE YOUR HANDSHAKE PROFILE How to Start:
A complete profile presents a picture of who you The quickest way to complete your profile is to
are as a student and professional. Don't you want it upload your current resume. Once uploaded,
to be a good one? review the information pulled from your resume,
confirm that it is accurate and correctly formatted
Once that picture is complete, Handshake will
on your profile.
use what it knows to send you suggestions for
internships, jobs, or events based on the details in
Next add more details, like:
your profile.
Your Career Goals Additional Experiences
Desired industry Relevant coursework
Always assess your experiences to identify
Job Function Volunteering
new skills and keep your Handshake profile
Location Student clubs or
updated!
organizations

You already have an account! Login with your NetID

arizona.joinhandshake.com 11
 Explore Career Clusters
Career Clusters are related industries clustered together. When you search by cluster instead of by the
company, you can see ALL the opportunities in your area of interest and open up more possibilities that
you might never have connected.

Instead of asking, “What can I do with a major in ____?,” think about what
big questions, issues, work environments, and job duties excite you, and
start exploring from there.

Looking for a place to start exploring your career?

Start with one of these ten main clusters.

• Arts & Media • Education & Social Services

• Research & Academia • Environment & Resources
• Data & Technology • Business & Management
• Law & Justice • Infrastructure & Engineering
• Health & Biosciences • Global Impact & Public Service

On each Cluster page on our website, you can find:

Explore your cluster at career.arizona.edu/career-clusters

How you can get started:

If you don't know where to start with Career Clusters, take our
Career Clusters quiz. It will take you through a series of yes/no
questions that'll help you narrow down a few places to start.
career.arizona.edu/career-clusters-quiz

12
 Get Resume Ready
An effective resume helps you stand out to an employer so you can get an interview. Hiring managers
want to know what in-demand skills you have developed through your education and experience. Having
a strong resume that shows your skills and experience and what you have achieved through your
experience can convey to an employer how you might contribute to their organization. Focusing on your
achievements and contributions when writing your resume is very important!

Getting Started with your Resume

Brainstorming is an essential part of creating your “Resumes are your personal ticket to sell yourself
resume. As you begin a draft, write all the different to a company right off the bat. Make sure your im-
experiences you have had – including things like portant information is easy to spot within 30 sec-
your education, internships, part- or full-time jobs, onds so that the employer can remember your ac-
community involvement, athletics, leadership, complishments and what differentiates you from
projects, clubs, and even unpaid roles. your peers on one page.”

Next, brainstorm details. Think about the role you —Christopher Moulton
played within each experience – what skills did Digital Change Management Consultant,
you develop? What knowledge did you apply? Cognizant

As you brainstorm, try answering these questions for each of your experiences:
• What was a task or responsibility given to you?
• How did you complete the task? What skills did you use?
• What was the result? It helps to think - what was the overall impact of you completing this?

This is how to use the Action + Project/Problem + Result (APR) approach

to writing about your experience. The APR formula makes writing a little
easier and helps your accomplishments, actions, and skills stand out.

Here is an example:

Task: To raise money for a children’s hospital wing as a marketing assistant

How was the task completed: Created a social media campaign to involve
the community
Result: Raised $1500

Putting this idea together:

Created a social media campaign to support funding of a children’s hospital
wing which raised $1500.

13
 Show Your Skills Through your Actions
When writing using APR (action + project + result), select one project you completed, a problem you
helped solve, or a task assigned to you. Next, choose a verb that best describes the actions you took.
Include some details about the project or task and the result you achieved (the overall impact of your
actions).

TIP! Use verbs that are specific and varied; avoid repeating the same verb and less descriptive
words such as "helped," "worked," and "responsible for."

Communication Skills Leadership Skills Teaching Skills

Articulated, Briefed, Architected, Chaired, Adapted, Advised, Clarified,
Collaborated, Communicated, Championed, Decided, Cultivated, Demonstrated,
Consulted, Corresponded, Delegated, Directed, Eliminated, Discussed, Educated, Enabled,
Drafted, Edited, Influenced, Established, Initiated, Evaluated, Facilitated, Fostered,
Negotiated, Participated, Introduced, Led, Managed, Guided, Instructed, Mentored,
Partnered, Persuaded, Spearheaded, Strategized, Moderated, Trained, Tutored
Presented, Promoted, Supervised, Oversaw,
Responded, Translated, Wrote Recommended Problem-Solving Skills
Analyzed, Assessed,
Research Skills Organizational Skills Assembled, Automated,
Analyzed, Calculated, Collected, Addressed, Allocated, Conceptualized, Debugged,
Conducted, Discovered, Arranged, Audited, Budgeted, Detected, Discovered,
Documented, Ensured, Compiled, Coordinated, Enhanced, Evaluated,
Estimated, Experimented, Distributed, Established, Forecasted, Improved,
Formulated, Investigated, Executed, Implemented, Maximized, Optimized, Piloted,
Measured, Monitored, Improved, Inventoried, Programmed, Reduced,
Organized, Performed, Maintained, Outlined, Planned, Resolved, Revised, Streamlined,
Reviewed, Studied, Surveyed, Prepared, Resolved, Simplified Troubleshot
Tested
Design / Creative Skills
Interpersonal / Helping Skills Brainstormed, Built, A few more examples:
Advised, Advocated, Composed, Created, Curated,
Campaigned, Coached, Customized, Developed, Led redesign of a laptop case
Diagnosed, Encouraged, Designed, Engineered, in SolidWorks to improve user
Guided, Hosted, Mentored, Initiated, Introduced, Modeled, experience
Motivated, Provided, Modified, Produced, Revamped,
Represented, Supported, Transformed Provided exceptional service
Volunteered for guests to support a positive
brand experience

14
 Tailor Your Resume
Your resume tells a story of you as a professional and provides insight into how you are a
match for a position. Grab the reader’s attention by highlighting where you match the skills and
responsibilities in the job description by using similar verbs and phrasing in your resume.

It’s important to know what skills employers are looking for so you can continue to build them.
Referencing job descriptions for roles you are interested in (now or in the future) can help you
identify what skills are in-demand, where your skills may be a match, and what skills to build.

Functional and transferable skills

Functional skills have to do with strength in a specific technical area such as Python, Excel,
machine learning, or knowledge of hardware and equipment.

Transferable skills are skills you use in one environment that you can apply to another. For
example, communication skills used to coordinate a class project can also be used in patient
care, sales, marketing, IT, and client relations. Transferable skills can be used across many
careers.

Showing your skills on your resume and most importantly how you have used those skills will
demonstrate your strengths and how you might contribute.

“It’s so important to have a second, third, and fourth eye! The

feedback I received helped me think about what I do in a job
that is most valuable to put on my resume, and how using a
job description that I am interested in can help me be strategic
and focused.”

Moctar Saidynaly Sidi Ahmed /

B.A.,
B.A.Political Science,
Political 2018
Science

Some tips as you write:

• Show your transferable skills
• Use APR (action + project + result) to add in specifics
• Focus on your achievements, accomplishments, contributions
• Test out your tailoring and get suggestions for edits using www.jobscan.co.

What's Next?
Get 1:1 help from the career education team or
submit your documents to the Career Document Dropbox.
career.arizona.edu/make-an-appointment
15
 Reference this resume format for: Law, Education & Social Services, light experience, showing skills
through volunteer experience, adding coursework

Format of the resume is neat, well-

organized, and there is a good
John Hammond
use of space that is not crowded
with too much information. [email protected] | 520.621.2588 | Tucson, Arizona
[email protected]

Education
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice | Minor in Spanish
2025
University of Arizona, Tucson AZ | anticipated graduation: May 2023
GPA: 3.7 | Dean’s List | Academic Honors | Academic Distinction
Relevant Coursework: Statistics, Public Policy & Administration, Criminal Justice Ethics, Intelligence &
National Security, Critical Incident & Emergency Management
Headings are bolded to
stand out.
Academic Experience
2024 – December 2024
Data Analysis Project – Statistics 200 | University of Arizona, Tucson AZ | August 2019 2019
 Collaborated with 3 students to gather and formulate random sample data to determine the
correlation between sleep deprivation and academic success
 Developed procedures for quality assurance to ensure data collected was valid and legitimate
 Designed 5 likert scale questions to analyze behavioral responses to address trends
 Produced graphs with Excel software to visualize patterns and compare data against the hypothesis

Leadership & Volunteer Experience

Vaccination POD – Volunteer | University of Arizona, Tucson AZ | January 2020 – Present
 Support drive-thru and walk-in operations of state of Arizona’s COVID vaccine Point of Distribution
 Handle and store COVID vaccinations and equipment in accordance with CDC safety guidelines
2021 – Present
AZ Model United Nations – Member | University of Arizona, Tucson AZ | August 2019
 Collaborate with 9 Model UN students to showcase debates to 14 high schools in Southern AZ
 Coach 12 UN newcomers on basic debate rhetoric and techniques through weekly training sessions
2022 – Present
Arizona Mock Trial – Member | University of Arizona, Tucson AZ | March 2019
 Research and prepare a case with 3 other students and a Law student to present to a court hearing
 Perform as the lead prosecutor in a statewide trial competition with 12 other schools – placed 3rd
2017 – June 2024
Pantano Christian Church – Youth Volunteer | Tucson, AZ | April 2021 2019
 Organized and packed food for delivery to support monthly church outreach programs
 Assisted with set up and breakdown for monthly events and programs for children 14 and under
 Partnered with photographer during annual Christmas events to plan and organize shot list

Relevant transferable skills from volunteer and leadership experience

are highlighted and add value in place of having no experience

16 Find more resume samples here: career.arizona.edu/resumes

 Reference this resume format for: Arts & Media, Global Impact & Public Service, Marketing & PR

Along with a resume, a professional portfolio is often required for those going into a creative field such as writing,
advertising, graphic design, or computer programming. A portfolio highlights and showcases samples of your
best work, along with life experiences, values, and achievements. It does not take the place of a resume, but it
can accentuate your abilities and what you can offer in the chosen field.

This resume purposefully uses elements

geared toward creative industries. Skills in
Adobe Creative Cloud are highlighted in the Website shows portfolio of work
creation of a logo. – relevant for certain fields such
as the arts, film, and design.

[email protected] | 520.621.2588 | www.andreaobert.com

e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Art History e The summary statement
e is tailored to a desired
industry and focuses
on key skills, like
WORK EXPERIENCE collaboration and
Marke�ng Director 2024 ee leveraging marketing
e e e e e e e e e strategies, which are also
clearly demonstrated in
e e e e e e e e e e e e the experience section.
e e e e ee e e e e
e e e e e e e e

Photographer e e 2023 ee
e ee ee e e e e e ee
e e e e e e e
e e e e e ee e e e
e e e e e e e e ee

COMMUNITY SERVICE & LEADERSHIP

Volunteer Photographer e 2023 ee
e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e First bullet point helps
e e e e e e clarify organization’s
mission.
lue hip ea er hip e 2022 ee
e e e
e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e

Volunteer e e August 2022

e e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e ee e e e e
e e e e e e e e

SKILLS
e e e e e e
e e e e e
e e e e

17
 Reference this resume format for: Arts & Media, Business & Management, Global
Impact & Public Service, showing advanced writing skills, sales and marketing.

“I want my interpersonal communication skills to stand out as I want to go into roles in PR and event
planning. I used a format that shows my communication skills and my accomplishments. The 2-3 sentence
paragraphs give an overview of main responsibilities, and the bullet points show specific achievements and
contributions.”
Moctar Saidynaly Sidi Ahmed / Political Science

Moctar Saidynaly Sidi Ahmed

520.621.2588 • [email protected] • Tucson, Arizona • www.linkedin.com/in/moctarsaidynaly/

Adaptable student leader with experience facilitating discussions to empower students and youth in
personal development. Skilled in supporting social media marketing initiatives and coordinating
events to drive engagement. Social Justice-focused public speaker and influencer.

Skills & Key Areas of Strength

Interpersonal Communication • Public Speaking • Mentorship & Motivation • Customer Service
Student Leadership & Collaboration • Organizational Skills • Event Planning & Logistics
Social Media Engagement - Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter • MS Office • Trilingual: French & Zarma

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Minor in Psychology | May 2027
2019
The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona Numbers quantify
experience.
Experience
Building Leaders and Creating Knowledge, (B.L.A.C.K), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2024 - Present
Student Mentor, August 2017
Mentor 25+ college students and provide guidance on organizational skills, career readiness, and
cultural development. Engage students in conversations about identity to support development of
purpose. Establish an environment focused on community, leadership, and academic excellence.
• Coordinate topics for classes; prepare materials and presentations for student groups of 20+
• Host welcome events for students and parents; manage food preparation for 80+ attendees
• Partner with student organizations to promote and grow outreach initiatives

Educational Enrichment Foundation, Tucson, AZ

Intern, August 2017
2024 - December 2024
2017
Oversaw fundraising activities and ensured positive experience for 15+ sponsors by communicating
schedule of activities during events. Coordinated events team and assisted with planning and logistics.
• Collaborated with social media marketing team; photographed multiple events, selected
content, and posted photos on website and social media
• Oversaw database maintenance and record keeping to support and streamline processes

Hollister, Tucson, AZ
Brand Representative, October 2016
2022 - September 20172023
Delivered customer service in a fast-paced environment. Communicated fashion and product
knowledge to guests and provided styling tips. Assisted with replenishment and stock room operations.
• Organized product for inventory; collaborated with team to execute monthly visual changes
• Appointed to assemble merchandise to create looks according to branded direction

Affiliations & Community Leadership

Black Student Union, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Secretary, February 2016
2023 - Present
Collaborate with students to raise awareness of social justice issues. Speak at meetings and act as a
liaison between members and board members. Support open-mic nights and assist with events.

Paradigm Shift Group, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

2023 - Present
Co-President, January 2016
Lead weekly meetings for network marketing group. Coordinate social media marketing strategies and
organize tabling events to increase membership.

Work experience is listed in reverse chronological order. Experiences are written in bullet points that shows clear
action, project, and results and are tailored to show relevancy to desired roles.
18
 Resume Checklist
Now you’re ready to put it all together! Take everything you’ve learned and review the resumes on the
previous pages for ideas and strategies to determine the best format for your industry and goals. Use
this checklist as a guide.

Resume Structure & Content

Contact Information
‰ Include your first and last name in larger font (14 –16).
‰ Add a phone number and professional email address.
‰ It’s optional to add a city or state, but your address isn't necessary unless required (as on federal
resumes).
‰ Include the URL to your LinkedIn profile if you are active on LinkedIn.
‰ For fields where a portfolio is essential, include a link to your work.

"
When developing a portfolio, be critical and selective with what you include.
Your portfolio is a catalogue that clients can pick from, so don’t display work

# that you don’t want to do in the future. Choose your most unique and interest-
ing work, the things that excite you, and remember: quality over quantity!

Formatting & Appearance: Consistency is key!

‰ Stick to one page. Avoid using templates.
‰ If you adjust margins, set them between .7" and 1".
‰ Use 10.5 - 12 point font size in sans-serif fonts like Calibri and Arial.
‰ Differentiate sections by headings: i.e., Education, Experience, Community Leadership, and Skills.
‰ Organize headings in order of importance to show your most relevant experience.
‰ Use adequate white space between sections to keep your resume from appearing crowded.
‰ Be consistent with spacing, alignment, and punctuation. Whatever style you pick, stick with it.
‰ Emphasize titles/organizations with bold or italics. Don’t use more than two types of emphasis.
‰ Keep bullet points to one line or a nearly complete second line.
‰ Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting upon submission.

Education
‰ Include the formal name of institution, city, and state of the institution, full degree name, majors/
minors, and graduation month and year.
‰ You can also include courses that focus on your knowledge and skills. Include projects, research,
and thesis or dissertation titles.
‰ GPA is optional. Current students often include GPAs of 3.0 and higher.
‰ Include affiliations, memberships, trainings you have completed, and certifications.
‰ Show awards, honors, and scholarships if appropriate.
‰ Include conferences you have attended.
‰ Remove high school information after 1st year of college.

22
Experience - Employment, Volunteer Work, & Involvement
‰ List employer name/organization and your title. List city and state where employed.
‰ For dates, show month and year. Spell out months or use consistent numerical abbreviations.
‰ List experiences in reverse chronological order (starting with most recent).
‰ For lesser-known organizations, briefly describe the organization or its mission within your writing.
‰ Create strong bullet points by describing your experience using action verbs and the APR
approach.
‰ Ensure descriptions of current roles are in present tense and previous roles are in past tense.
‰ Where possible, measure your achievements with numbers, percentages, and results.
‰ Your strongest bullet points should be first. Try writing 3-5 bullet points for each experience.

Skills
‰ If you show skills, organize them by similarity.
‰ Highlight skills in which you are proficient. Functional skills such as proficiency in a programming
language and transferable skills like communication draw attention to your strengths and should be
expanded upon in the bullet points of your experience.
‰ If you have advanced technical skills, feature a technical table.
‰ Avoid adjectives such as hardworking and punctual. These qualities would be expected of any
candidate.

Content, Punctuation & Grammar:

‰ Use spell check! Ensure syntax and grammar are accurate.
‰ Writing is concise, clear, and tailored to keywords in specific job descriptions.
‰ Don't include first-person pronouns (e.g. I, my).

Double Check for Common Mistakes:

‰ Don’t include text boxes, shading, photos, graphs, headers, and footers.
‰ Remove references from your resume.
‰ Avoid using passive phrases like “worked with” or “responsible for.”
‰ Avoid repetition; offer something new when describing similar experiences.

Optional Addition: Adding a Summary

A summary is a strong opening statement that calls out top skills and clues the reader into core
strengths they will see throughout your resume. It is tailored to the roles you are seeking and is
often utilized by someone who possesses more experience. As this is the first thing a recruiter will
read, ensure that the strengths listed in the summary are your top skills in which you are significantly
proficient.

Example: Innovative leader and Psychology student with 2 years of experience supporting campus
program development. Recognized by peers for the ability to motivate teams.

Try creating your own summary!

What are two or three things you would like a hiring manager to know about you that is
relevant to your desired position? This could be a strength you have utilized, a skill you've
developed, or an environment you have worked within. Use the worksheet below.
career.arizona.edu/summary
23
 Cover Letters
Tailor Your Cover Letter from the Job Description
Using the job description as a reference, choose 3-4 key skills and responsibilities you want to
highlight in your cover letter using concrete examples. Below, key skills are bolded in the job
description and the cover letter so you can see where the language of both is a match but do not
bold text in your cover letter.

Research Program Coordinator

Responsibilities
Serve as study coordinator NIH funded research study.
Recruit and screen potential study participants.
Serve as liaison between multiple collaborators and disciplines and coordinate services and
the communication of information to all study participants.
Track visit completion and inform on upcoming appointments.
Assist in the preparation of IRBs and sponsor reports.
Conduct and track follow-up assessments in a timely fashion.
Adhere to guidelines regarding the sensitivity and confidential nature of patient information
and data quality guidelines.
Schedule investigator meetings and data management meetings.
Input, organize, and verify accuracy of data in databases.
Exercise good judgment, tact, and sensitivity.

Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's degree in related discipline.
Some related experience.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Able to work independently and manage multiple tasks, detail oriented, self-motivated.
Able to make decisions regarding work priorities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; database and spreadsheet knowledge.

Cover Letter Tips (see next page for examples)

1. Include your contact info at the top, in the same format as your resume.
2. If you do not have a contact to address your letter to, use Dear Hiring Manager, Dear Human
Resources Director, or Dear Hiring Committee.
3. Paragraph one introduces you and your interest in the position. Entice the employer to read on.
4. Paragraph two/three details what you can offer the employer based on the job description. It
highlights your experience, knowledge, and skills.
5. The final paragraph closes your letter by briefly restating your interest in the position/
organization, and thanks the employer for their consideration.

Find a detailed checklist here:

career.arizona.edu/cover-letter-checklist
24
 Danielle Rios 1
520.621.2588 | [email protected] | Tucson, Arizona

July 30, 2023

2021

Ms. July Cai

Johns Hopkins University
733 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205

Dear Ms. July Cai, 2

3
As a dedicated individual in the pulmonary sciences, having just earned a Bachelor of Science
in Physiology, I am thrilled to be applying for the role of Research Program Coordinator at
Johns Hopkins. I believe my experience working independently to conduct research visits,
my excellent communication skills, and my attention to detail fulfill the needs of this position.
These skills, as well as my educational background and my reliance on self-motivation, would
enable me to be a valuable coordinator and asset within your laboratory.

From June 2019 to May 2021, I volunteered with the Tucson Children’s Respiratory Study,
an NIH-funded laboratory, where I recruited and screened interested individuals, tracked
visit completion, and scheduled investigator meetings. In this role, I exercised sensitivity 4
and tact as I worked with children and their parents according to IRB standards. As I fulfilled
these duties, I often made decisions and established work priorities independently with limited
supervision to collect data from over 1,000 study participants.

Additionally, during the 2018-2019 academic school year, I worked at the University of Arizona’s
BIO5 Institute as an Office Assistant. In this position, I input and organized a diverse range of
data according to appropriate guidelines within different study databases. I also coordinated
and scheduled meetings as a liaison between several departments within the Institute. I
was consistently recognized for my proactive communication skills and was selected Student
Employee of the Month in February 2019.

I believe my lab experience, dynamic skill set, and the attention to detail I use in research 5
settings would allow me to become a cohesive part of the Johns Hopkins workplace. Thank you
for your consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about how my skills align with this
position.

Sincerely,

Danielle Rios

Keep in mind:
• A cover letter demonstrates your writing skills and etiquette.
• Follow the directions for submission. Common practice is to attach
your letter and resume as PDF files, unless otherwise specified.
25
 to a Professional Network
LinkedIn is the largest online professional network.
Use this checklist to tell your professional story.

1. Profile Photo
1
! Use a clear, current photo of yourself - a
friendly expression creates a strong intro to a
professional profile.

2. Headline 2 Example Headline

! Use commas, dashes, or vertical lines to Mechanical Engineering | 3D Modeling |
separate phrases – or – write a sentence Robotics Design – or -
highlighting what you would bring to an Detail-oriented Mechanical Engineering
environment. Include industry-specific keywords, Senior skilled in Robotics Design
titles, or skills.
Example "About"
3. “About” Section
! Write 1-2 short paragraphs about your career
3 After competing in a robotics competition,
journey. I fell in love with the technical work
! Use a personalized voice (“I”/ “me”/ “my”). that goes into designing, building, and
As you write, consider: programming robots. I gained experience
What got you interested in your major or a developing controls algorithms and
specific industry? How are you pursuing that sharpened my programming skills in
area? What are your current professional goals? Python and C++ through a volunteer
position in the UA Robotics & Neural
4. Experience
! Include jobs, internships, study abroad, job Systems lab. I am pursuing internships
shadows. and look forward to connecting with
! Detail your experience utilizing the Action- professionals in the field.
Project-Result (APR) approach (p.13).
Bullet Point Example
5. Education
! Include all majors and minors, GPA, specific
4 • Curate photos and text copy to diversify
content which increased followers by 10%
coursework, or academic awards in the
in one semester
“Description” section.

6. Skills & endorsements Summary Example

! Include technical and transferable skills I create content and curate photos for our
club’s social media to increase visibility. I
7. Other Sections You Can Add: also incorporate other member’s voices to
Licenses & Certifications, Volunteer, Projects, diversify our content, which contributed to
Courses, Honors & Awards, Languages
a 10% increase in followers..

Connect with SECD to stay informed on career-related topics.

26
https://www.linkedin.com/company/uarizonacareer/
linkedin.com/company/uarizona-student-engagement-career-development
 Master Your Job (or Internship Search)

1
Prepare for the time it takes
Start as early as possible with research (up to 6 -
9 months before graduation). Remember that in
2
Use multiple strategies
Avoid using just one search method – instead, use
many! Use resources like Handshake, LinkedIn,
many industries your job search begins with an campus recruiting, company websites, job search

3 4
internship after your sophomore or junior year. websites, and networking.

Stay open to possibilities Develop an action plan

All organizations need people with different Gather information like job titles, companies, and
backgrounds and diverse skill sets. For example, application materials. Create a plan to help you
with a degree in Computer Science, you may track each step in your process. You can create a
be thinking of tech companies, but retailers spreadsheet to track applications that include the
need software engineers, and healthcare job title, website, and application deadlines.

5
organizations need systems analysts.

Research jobs and

internships in your areas
of interest on Handshake.
arizona.joinhandshake.com
Practice resiliency
The job search is a long process. Evaluate what
you’d like to change in your approach to get
better results. Lastly, celebrate every step – enjoy
your successes and the progress you’ve made
throughout the process.
27
 Interviewing Tips
Before Your Interview - Prepare!
• Research the organization and learn about what they do so you can have an engaging conversation.
• Review the job posting & reflect on related experiences you have and skills you’ve developed that
show how you’re an ideal candidate.
• Prepare questions you would like to ask – this can be specifics about the role, workplace culture, or
the interviewer’s career path with the organization.
• Practice a tailored response to the question “tell me about yourself”.

During Your Interview

What are Behavioral Questions and How to Prepare
Behavioral interview questions are one type of question employers use to prompt candidates to talk
about past situations that demonstrate the skills and work behaviors the employer wants in the “ideal”
candidate. Behavioral questions often start with “tell me about a time...”

Use the STAR Approach to tell your story by describing the:

Situation: where & when, challenges, circumstances, issues
Tasks: your responsibilities and roles in the situation
Actions: your behavior and the skills you used (spend the most time talking about your actions!)
Results: outcomes, accomplishments, what you learned, how you were effective

After Your Interview

Send the employer a thank you within 24 hours. This can be by mail or email, but email will be the fastest
way to express your gratitude. The thank you note should be short, reiterating your interest in the position
and referencing something you discussed or enjoyed learning about during your interview.

“I made a mock interview appointment with a career educator. I

improved every time I met with them. I learned methods to improve
my ability to think quickly and recall relevant experiences. I also
learned how important it is to be prepared. The mock interview
process boosted my confidence and motivated me to apply for
positions I wouldn’t have before.”

Madison Michaeloff / B.A. Psychology

B.A., Psychology, 2018

Practice your interviewing skills by meeting with

a member of the career education team. Make an
appointment in Handshake.
career.arizona.edu/make-an-appointment
28
 Virtual and Video Interviews
Virtual interviews allow employers to reach a wide range of candidates and gauge a candidate’s
interest, level of skill, and how they are a fit for the role. Employers hold the same expectations of
professionalism for virtual interviews as they do for in-person interactions.

For both in-person and virtual interviews, focus on:

• Being prepared – having done research.
• Making a good impression – showing professionalism.
• Being ready to talk about yourself – speaking to your skills.
• Demonstrating your communication skills.
• Dressing for the job you want & appropriately for the industry.
• Virtual doesn’t equal more casual.

For virtual interviews, also keep in mind:

• The challenge of gauging non-verbal communication - increased
active listening is needed
• Technology plays a big role
• Familiarize yourself with the platform that will be used.
• Prepare for tech issues and disconnection – communicate
ahead of time to have a plan in place – this can show how
you take initiative to problem solve.
• Test technology – practice with someone to test sound and
lighting.
• A space to interview – let housemates know when you’ll be in an interview.
• Your background – consider the backdrop, lighting, and noises that can interfere.
• Showing your personality – put effort into expressing your interest and enthusiasm to
“break out” of a video square. Practice being expressive and using inflection to ensure your
personality comes across.
• Eye contact – this means looking at the camera. You can also take notes, use the chat, look at
others in the setting – this will keep it varied and natural.

One type of interview you might encounter is a request for

pre-recorded video responses. In this case, an employer will direct you
to the interview platform that will be used and will send you instructions
regarding when and how the recording should be submitted. Carefully
read and follow the instructions and complete all the preparation you
usually would for an interview. Practice using Big Interview
(arizona.biginterview.com).

For more interviewing tips:

career.arizona.edu/interviewing
29
 What Exactly is Networking?
You’ve probably heard that networking is one of the most important things you can do to discover
opportunities, but what is networking, and how do you do it?

Simply: networking is asking for directions. You can network by talking with recruiters during career fairs,
connecting through Handshake and LinkedIn, or interviewing professionals. These conversations help pave
the way to stronger relationships that can lead to referrals, references, or professional opportunities.

Professors, advisors, coworkers, recruiters, family friends, other students—many people are already part of
your network, and any of these connections can help you find your way.

Start Today
It’s important to build your network now,
even before you might need a reference or
referral. Make a list of those around you who
you might ask for directions, or who might
have valuable ideas to share, and you will find
you’re on your way to building your network.
Professors,
Classmates,
Coworkers,
Supervisors

Recruiters,
UA Alumni,
Employers,
Family
Friends
Campus Programs,
Student Clubs &
Orgs, Greek Life,
Professional social
media groups

Start networking with Wildcat Alumni

using the Bear Down Network
30
beardownnetwork.com
 Informational Interviewing
One easy way to build and strengthen your network is through informational interviewing.
Informational interviews are quick, career-oriented conversations that can help you learn more about
an industry or a person’s professional journey.

Before the conversation, do your homework by researching industries, organizations, or roles that
interest you. Brainstorm questions you can’t find answers to online - questions like:
• How did you get your start professionally?
• What is a typical day like in your job?
• What skills or experience do you need to be competitive?
• Is there anyone else you would recommend I speak to?

Next, reach out with a short email to introduce yourself, explain what you want to learn, and ask for
20-30 minutes of their time. For example:

Subject Line: Request for Informational Interview Be prepared to lead an informational

interview using the questions
Thank you for being a part of my network of Wildcats you brainstormed. After your
in education professions! As a doctoral candidate, I aim conversation, be sure to thank them
to connect stakeholders with students to optimize the and stay connected.
support services of educational institutions, communities,
and self-determined persons. It seems like your roles in
Career Services are especially meaningful for college
students transitioning into many industries. This too is my
personal and professional value.

I’ve been researching similar roles in advising and think

your experiences working with university stakeholders
offer a wealth of knowledge. Would you be willing to
meet with me and share more about your career path? I
appreciate you considering my request, and I’d be happy
to connect via phone, zoom, or coffee for 20 minutes at
a time most convenient for you. Thank you in advance for
your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

"The most important take-away for me was the informational interview. The interview
I conducted in the SBS 311: Design Your Life course helped me to learn about a
position I thought I wanted to pursue, and in the end, I decided, it was not the route
for me! What a relief to feel more confident in the path I chose moving forward and
not be bogged down with the perpetual "what if.""

Jami Engebretson / B.A.

B.A.Law
Law
31
 Evaluating the Job Offer
$ Congratulations on receiving an offer (or two)! While you may be tempted to accept immediately,
take some time to think about if the position is the best fit for you. Consider:

JOB FIT
Does the role align with your interests and allow you to use
your strengths? How does it fit with your career goals?

COMPANY CULTURE
Do your values align with the organization? Can you visualize
yourself enjoying the work and forming relationships with
your colleagues? Will you be able to achieve your desired
balance between work and personal time?

COMPENSATION
Is the offer competitive for the industry, job level, and
location? Will it allow you to meet your financial goals?

BENEFITS
What is the “total compensation” beyond salary, and how
might your priorities evolve in the coming years? Benefits
increase the value of an offer, so look closely at paid
vacation, sick leave, health insurance, retirement, tuition
reimbursement, childcare, and other benefits.

LOCATION
Will you be able to live in a place you’ll like? Do you under-
stand the cost of living in relation to salary? Will you have
to relocate, and if so, will financial assistance be offered? If
remote work is offered, are you comfortable with the mix of
remote and in-office time?

ADVANCEMENT
Will the position challenge you and help you grow? Will
you gain experience to further your career goals? Are
promotions available?

32
 How Do you Talk About Salary?
During an interview, an employer may ask about your salary expectations. Be prepared with a salary
range based on research of the industry, position, and location. Because most employers are using
similar factors when determining salary, you can leverage that same information to understand what a
fair and competitive offer looks like. Use salary.com or Glassdoor.com to research salaries.

Reflect on where you might fall in the range based on your skills, level of experience, education,
and any additional experience or skill sets you would bring to the role. For example, if you have little
experience, you may be at the lower end of a range whereas if you bring some experience or an
additional skill set you might be at a higher point in the range.

Once an offer is made...

Know the Timeline

When you receive an offer, ask when the employer needs your response. Most employers offer several
days for you to make your decision. If you are anticipating other offers, it is okay to ask for more time
but be prepared to communicate your decision by the agreed-upon date.

Consider Negotiating
Having done your research, you will better understand how an employer arrived at an offer. You can
then determine what additional values you would bring to the role, and this can help you outline a
justification for a higher salary.

For example: “Thank you for the offer; I am excited about joining your team. I understand the level of
(responsibility/skill/leadership) required and know the level of experience I have in X. Is there room to
negotiate the salary?”

Or: “Thank you for the offer; I am excited about joining your team. I see that the average salary for this
role in this industry and geographic location is X. Would you consider matching that amount?”
It’s okay to still accept the offer if the employer isn’t able to increase the salary.

Tips for Accepting an Offer

• Accept through the platform requested by the employer
• If declining, still communicate your decision and thank them for their time
• Accepting a position is a major commitment. While things come up and you may have
to renege on an offer, remember that may negatively impact your ability to work for that
employer in the future.

Talk through an offer or try practicing a salary conversation

with a member of the career education team.
arizona.joinhandshake.com/appointments
33
 The Graduate School Track
Much like applying to jobs, applying to graduate school requires time: time to reflect, research,
network, and prepare your applications. If graduate school is part of your journey, give yourself
plenty of time to create a plan and get everything in order. Applying to grad school is different
than applying to a job in that:

• You’ll draft a personal statement instead of a cover letter.

• Some programs require a CV instead of a resume.
• Research or lab experience may be more important than an internship, depending on your
program.
• Letters of recommendation should come from faculty instead of supervisors, when possible.

Personal Statements
Some programs allow for a general personal statement while others require you to answer
specific questions. A personal statement should communicate your promise as a member of
the academic community and indicate what you have done to prepare yourself for success in
graduate school. While it is important to highlight the skills you possess, you will also want to
blend in information about who you are, your experiences, and your long-term goals.

Consider these questions as you get started:

1. Why are you interested in this field?
2. How do your experiences set you apart?
3. What do you ultimately want to do with this degree?
4. Are there red flags in your academic record that you need to address? If so, how?

As graduate program admissions criteria and curriculum

vary, be sure to reach out to the point of contact for the
specific graduate program you're interested in to get the best
answers to your questions.

And don't forget: you can utilize Handshake for life, and other
SECD services for a year after graduation.

Need a review of your CV, resume,

or personal statement? Get feedback
via the Career Document Dropbox.
career.arizona.edu/document-review

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