CAREER PLANNING GUIDE - CAREER SERVICES EXPLORING CHOICES MAKING DECISIONS
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CAREER SERVICES
E X P LO R I N G C H O I C E S … M A K I N G D E C I S I O N S
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
C O N T E N T S Description of Resources and Services
1 Career Exploration
2 Experiential Education
4 Job Searching
Meeting the Employer
Graduate and Professional School Options
24 The Interview
Planning Ahead Know Your Employer
What Employers Want
5 Setting Career Goals and Exploring Options
Dress for the Interview
7 Networking
Structure of the Interview
The Informational Interview
25 Essentials of a Good Interview
Implementing Strategies 26 Types of Interview Questions and
9 Researching Employers Interviews
10 Distance Job Search 33 Thank You Notes
11 Principles for Professional Conduct
Decision Making
12 Policies for On Campus Interviewing
34 Offers and Acceptances
14 LUCIE (Lehigh University Career Information Exchange)
36 Job Search Checklist
15 Writing a Resume
General Information and Aesthetic Presentation
Resume Formats
22 Action Words
23 Tips for Writing Cover Letters
CAREER SERVICES
Description of Resources and Services
Career Exploration
CAREER COUNSELING CAREER COUNSELING
Meet one-on-one with a career counselor to discuss Workshops
your personal career plan. If you are researching career Take advantage of on-campus workshops designed to
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options, beginning a job search, or pursuing graduate help you develop the skills you’ll need in your job search
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
education, you can find professional guidance in or to prepare you for entering graduate or professional
Career Services. Counselors will help you with questions programs. Interactive and group-oriented workshops
related to selecting a career path, locating an internship, provide practical information on topics such as writing
writing a resume, developing interviewing skills, defining dynamic resumes, developing your interviewing skills,
job search strategies, researching companies or graduate conducting a fulfilling and productive job search, using
schools and evaluating job offers. the Internet in your job search, creating a career portfolio
Assessment and networking. Career counselors are also available to
Choosing a career path can be a difficult decision. present information to student groups, clubs and
Interest inventories and assessment tools can help you organizations, residence halls and Greek organizations.
to select a career path and/or generate options for pro- For information on requesting a program, please visit
fessions that will best meet your interests, values and skills. www.lehigh.edu/careerservices and click on Workshops
Make an appointment with a counselor to learn more and Events.
about using these tools as part of your career decision-
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Resume and Cover Letter Critiques
making process. Drop off your resume and/or cover letter to be reviewed
RESEARCH by one of our counselors or Peer Educators and it will
The Career Library contains a wide collection of books be ready for pickup within two days. You can also meet
and publications on the subjects of career planning, career individually with a counselor to review your resume.
fields and employers, graduate and professional schools, job Mock Interviews
listings and employer brochures. Information is also Do you know what a behavioral interview is? Have you
available on internships and summer jobs, as well as ever had a formal interview before? A mock interview
national and international job opportunities. allows you to practice your interviewing skills in a role-
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playing situation. A career counselor will interview you NETWORKING CONTACTS
for 15 to 20 minutes on videotape and, afterwards, provide The Lehigh University Career Advisory Network
feedback to help you develop interview skills. In addi- (LUCAN) is a group of more than 26,000 alumni
tion, you may meet with an industry professional for volunteers who are experienced professionals in their
a mock interview on one of our scheduled Mock chosen fields. You can ask these career advisers about
Interview Days offered in the beginning of each semester. career paths and specific industries. Our Career Librarian
can provide a list of these alumni through the LUCAN
PEER EDUCATOR PROGRAM
database, referenced by job title, industry or location.
The Peer Educator Program is a volunteer program
Career Services counselors will help you make the most
of trained peers who assist you with career-related issues.
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of these networking contacts.
Peer Educators are extensively trained in many aspects
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
of Career Services and in career development including PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
resume and cover letter critiquing, the Lehigh University Information, advising, workshops and newsletters are
Career Information Exchange (LUCIE) and the Career offered to students seeking careers in the legal and health
Library. (See page 14 for information on LUCIE.) professions. Numerous resources and information on
graduate and professional programs can be
found on file in the Career Library.
Experiential Education
Gaining “hands-on” experience in a specific
job or industry gives you a deeper under-
standing of the field. Experiential Education
allows you to gain experience in a work
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environment while developing marketable
“real world” skills. The Career Services profes-
sionals can help find the right opportunity for you.
EXTERNSHIPS
Externships are designed to assist you in gaining
exposure to a specific career or career field.
Ranging from one to five days, they provide
a wonderful opportunity for you to “shadow”
a Lehigh alumnus or other professionals in the
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workplace. These externships, which are
scheduled during the winter break, are offered
in the Arts & Sciences, Business and
Engineering colleges.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (CO-OP)
Co-Op is a selective program at Lehigh available
to engineering students. Designed to provide
eight months of paid, full-time work experience
that bridges the gap between engineering
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NEED IMAGE
theory and application, a Co-Op position
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
allows you to graduate within a four-year
time frame. Because of the rigorous academic
schedule, only the top students in the
sophomore class are invited to participate in
the program. Interviews and selection by the
companies takes place in the spring semester
of sophomore year. Once selected, you attend
Lehigh for a summer schedule of junior-level
course work, then begin your first work
rotation with the sponsoring company in mid-
August. This first rotation lasts until the end
of December or the beginning of January,
when you return to Lehigh for the second semester of
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be purely for the experience. Internships provide you
your junior year. The Co-Op experience is completed with a valuable opportunity to develop skills that
with the second work rotation the following summer. complement your classroom learning and give you an
INTERNSHIPS opportunity to learn about the world of work. Internship
An internship helps you gain on-the-job experience in opportunities are posted on LUCIE (see page 14).
your field of interest. These experiences can be as short Meet with a career counselor to develop a search strategy
as a few weeks or as long as a few months. Some positions to that will help you find an internship to complement
are paid, others may receive course credit, and some may your academic achievements.
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Job Searching Graduate and Professional
JOB OPENINGS
School Options
LUCIE is a Web-based system that allows registered Not everyone decides to enter the work force upon
students and alumni to access job information and place graduation. Many students choose to further their
their resumes online. All registered undergraduate and education by attending graduate school. Counselors
graduate students can participate in the On-Campus can advise you on searching for schools and graduate
Interviewing process. You can review lists of employers programs, completing applications and testing proce-
recruiting Lehigh candidates and information about dures, writing personal statements, and making the
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upcoming on-campus employer information sessions at appropriate choice for your individual needs and
desires in a program.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
www.lehigh.edu/careerservices.
ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWING AND EMPLOYER INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
INFORMATION SESSIONS You can meet one-on-one to discuss graduate and
Hundreds of employers interview candidates on-campus professional school options and how to enhance your
for full-time, internship and Co-Op positions between candidacy for such programs through academics, internships
October and April. Many employers offer special on-campus and experiential learning.
information sessions to help you learn more about their WORKSHOPS
organizations. Employers interview students from all
Information concerning the application process for health
colleges. Go to www.lehigh.edu/careerservices to register
professions, law and graduate school is presented each
for on-campus interviewing. You can also attend overviews
semester. Please reference www.lehigh.edu/careerservices
of the on-campus interviewing program at the start of
for updated workshop and seminar information.
each semester.
GRADUATE SCHOOL TESTING
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CAREER FAIR
Information booklets (which include registration
Each fall, Career Services features a Career Fair for all
information) are available in the Career Library for
students. Come and meet employers seeking a variety
the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT, DAT, and OAT.
of candidates during the fall and spring semesters.
Check out the timetable to find the best time to
Whether you are seeking a full-time position or an
prepare for an admissions exam.
internship, meeting employers early can provide you
with a distinct advantage.
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Planning Ahead
Setting Career Goals... • How have I developed my communication skills?
• Do I enjoy structure or flexibility in the tasks I perform?
No doubt you have already been asked by someone,
Use this information to create a profile for setting goals
“What do you plan to do when you graduate?”
based on your strengths and interests. You can arrange
or “What can you do with a major in...?”
an appointment with a counselor to work on your self-
There are no magic formulas or simple answers to assessment and career goal setting. Counselors may use
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either of these questions. In fact, most people average assessment tools such as SIGI3, the Myers-Briggs Type
seven to ten jobs and three to five careers in a lifetime.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory in assisting you
The probability of change in your professional life is with your career planning.
very high.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE
REVIEW THE PAST
Once you have identified and prioritized your career
As you think about your immediate plans and the needs and preferences, you can begin evaluating options
long-term possibilities, you will want to assess carefully from both short- and long-term perspectives. Consider
and candidly your own unique interests, abilities, work functions, settings, cultures, organizational
skills and values. relationships and geographic locations. Also consider
Ask questions like: what elements will be necessary to balance your personal
• What skills and interests have I developed through class- and professional goals.
room/campus activities? What are my greatest person- It will be helpful for you to set short- and long-term
al/academic achievements? goals. Employers will evaluate you not only for what you
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• What were my favorite courses and why? If I could can offer immediately, but also for your future potential.
take one course over again, which would it be? Thinking ahead and planning in the context of your
• What responsibilities did I have in summer and part- career will demonstrate your ability to apply these skills
time jobs and campus/civic functions? What skills did to your future work responsibilities.
I use/develop in these activities?
• Do I work well in large groups, small groups or by
myself? Why? With what type of people do I most
enjoy working?
5…and Exploring Options • Education: Various career options in addition to
teaching and administration are available in public
MAJORS AND CAREERS and private schools, colleges, and training centers.
Your major is not the title of your future job, nor is it • Nonprofit: Various agencies and organizations offer
necessarily related to the field of your career interest. diverse opportunities; options include social services,
In most cases, students in the same major begin their hospitals and medical services, cultural foundations
careers in diverse environments and job functions and and centers, museums and community services.
continue to expand their professional interests in a • Professions: Law, medicine, clergy, etc., attract
variety of ways. candidates from all disciplines.
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Like many Lehigh alumni, you will experience changes in • Private Enterprise: Individual and private ownership
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
your career and will need to be knowledgeable about the in a variety of forms, including entrepreneurial initiatives
world of work, the marketplace and how your needs can like start-up companies and small business ventures.
be met there. Don’t limit yourself by looking for an GRADUATE STUDY
easy formula that suggests certain majors lead to certain
Graduate programs are designed to prepare you for a
jobs. Instead, manage your own career development by
setting goals based on your interests and awareness of profession (i.e., law, medicine, business, social work,
the options available. research, teaching, etc.). You will need to evaluate the
choice of graduate study in terms of your long-term
Listed below are some of the options you will want to goals. Your commitment will require more detailed
explore as you set out on the career path of your choice. focus of interests, study in greater depth and more
EMPLOYMENT independent efforts and direction toward future goals.
Within each of the work sectors identified below, you ALTERNATIVES
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will need to consider the kind of work you want to do. Some individuals may want to volunteer, use interim
Research career fields in the Career Library, conduct employment to develop skills and knowledge, or try
informational interviews with professionals, and gather self-employment to pursue unique interests. It may be
information on different employers. helpful to meet with a counselor to discuss strategies
• Business/Industry: Employers vary in size, type of for pursuing these options.
product/ service and the candidates they hire.
• Government: Federal, state and local opportunities are
available for candidates in all disciplines.
6Networking
Networking is an ongoing process
of forming contacts and then
maintaining the relationships by
keeping your contacts aware of your
progress. It enables you to establish
relationships with people in your
field or industry of interest. The
people you connect with are invalu-
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able resources for advice and poten-
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
tial job leads.
POTENTIAL CONTACTS
• Friends and relatives
• Faculty
• Alumni - you can find alumni
who are involved in specific
career fields through LUCAN.
• Former employers and over the winter break. These are great opportunites to
colleagues meet alumni and other professionals in various industries
from your area of interest.
• Professionals you know
• Customers or suppliers with whom you have worked
The Informational Interview
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• Members of professional organizations
An informational interview is a meeting you arrange
• Members of your fraternity or sorority
with someone in your field of interest. The purpose
• Contacts found in directories, registers and profes- of the meeting is for you to ask questions and gather
sional magazines, newsletters and journals information and advice about the field. It’s also an
You will establish contacts in a number of different set- opportunity to practice your interviewing and presen-
tings, including networking receptions, career fairs and tation skills. Remember – you never know when the
informational interviews. Lehigh’s Career Networking professional you are interviewing will connect you
Receptions are held in various geographic areas, typically with a contact or potential job lead.
7Consider the following suggestions for devising strategies • What led you into this type of work?
to speak with people whose jobs seem appealing to you. • How did you prepare yourself for what you
PREPARE A PLAN are doing?
• What do you like most and least about your job?
• Define your field of interest. Consider work
environments, career areas and positions in • What educational background, experience and
particular organizations. skills are necessary for success in your career field?
• Determine the kind of information you want • What do you do in a typical day?
to obtain. • What types of projects do you work on and what
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• Review the recruiting literature and other resources types of people do you work with?
• How can I meet and make contacts with others
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
in the Career Library to get background informa-
tion on a wide variety of organizations. in this profession?
• Clarify your own interests and skills; create FOLLOW-UP
questions that can lead to information about
• Create a positive impression through prompt and
how they relate to the jobs and career paths you
effective communications.
are exploring.
• Write a letter expressing your appreciation for the
DEVELOP CONTACTS AND ARRANGE person’s time and consideration. Include details
INTERVIEWS from the informational interview that you found
• Introduce yourself to networking contacts (through especially interesting and useful.
mail or phone) by stating a common connection EVALUATE AND ASSIMILATE
(Lehigh, for example).
• Use the information you have gathered to help
• Set up a brief interview time (about 30 minutes).
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develop and refine your career interests/objectives.
• It is good practice to conduct the interview at the Also, you can use the network you have developed
professional’s place of work. for potential contacts and send them your resume
• Take notes during or after the interview so that you when you are ready to apply for specific jobs.
can evaluate the information you receive.
• Respect the individual’s busy schedule and don’t
overstay your welcome.
• At the interview, ask questions that are most
important to you, such as:
8Implementing Strategies
Researching Employers WHY DO THE RESEARCH?
• You can better tailor your cover letter and your
There are a multitude of resources in interview answers to meet the needs of the
our Career Library that provide you with company/organization.
information regarding various career fields, • When the employer asks you questions, you can show
that you’re prepared and knowledgeable; this indicates
industries, specific company backgrounds professionalism.
and alumni connections. Electronic resources • When it is your turn to ask questions, you can ask
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usually provide the quickest and most up-to- questions that are pertinent and insightful. Employers
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
will see that you are proactive in your search for
date information. Our career counselors and
information.
Career Librarian will help you navigate through • You can show the employer your specific interest in
these resources as you plan your career. working for them.
• You’re able to look at the company/organization
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COMPANIES
to determine for yourself if you really want to
AND ORGANIZATIONS work there.
• History of development
WHERE CAN I LOOK FOR INFORMATION?
• Products/services/markets Company/Organization Web Sites
• Market share/competitors Career Library
• Company/Organization size • Electronic Resources (Lexis-Nexis, Dow Jones
• Recent changes within the organization News/Retrieval Service, Wall Street Journal)
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• Strategic plans • Hundreds of books, brochures and articles found
both in hard copy and in online periodicals,
• Financial status of company/organization —
e-journals and books, and various databases.
current and trends over recent years
• LUCAN: Lehigh University Career Advisory Network
• Location of the company/organization (see page 2)
(and what transpires at the site in which you are interested) • Students can use the computers in our Career Library
• Overall reputation to access employer Web sites.
• Contributions to the industry or field • Company literature is available in a variety of formats
• Career paths offered for your use.
9Distance Job Search LONG-DISTANCE SEARCH
• Participate in Lehigh’s local alumni club activities.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE
UNITED STATES • Network with Lehigh professionals through
• Familiarize yourself with current immigration legisla- LUCAN (see page 2).
tion and the special issues you face in your job search. • Attend career fairs and relevant professional meetings
Contact Lehigh’s International Students and Scholars in your targeted area. Take advantage of opportunities
Office for information. to meet with potential employers for that area.
• For the best long-term employment opportunities in • If possible, visit the area in advance to become
the United States, research employers who will value
familiar with your options. Use your time effectively
both your expertise and specialization.
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by making contacts and arranging interviews prior
• Use Career Library resources to identify options in
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
to your visit.
the United States and abroad with multinational
employers. • If you are going abroad, register with LUCIE
• Set up appointments with the Career Services staff to (see page 14) before you leave.
discuss resumes, interviewing and your special job WORK ABROAD FOR U.S. STUDENTS
search needs.
• Identify specifics from your background and
• Attend fall semester workshops offered by Career Services
experience (e.g., courses, travel, internships, language
and the International Students and Scholars Office.
proficiencies, etc.) to emphasize on your resume.
• The two most important job searching skills are
• Research options using faculty and others in your
networking and marketing to prospective employers.
Build these skills by participating in activities outside network of acquaintances, along with Career
of the classroom. Library resources, campus career programs, etc.
• Join student clubs and professional organizations. • Familiarize yourself with requirements for
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• Talk to your professors during office hours. permission to work in foreign countries through
• Meet and build relationships with professionals
Lehigh’s International Students and Scholars Office
from your home country by contacting your and the Study Abroad Office.
embassy/consulate or Lehigh University alumni • Consider options for beginning an international
who work internationally. career, such as teaching, volunteer work, foreign
• Develop networking connections through cultural service, etc.
and social organizations in your home country. • Begin early! This type of search is time consuming.
10Principles for Professional • Adhere to the interview schedule.
• Notify organizations of the acceptance or rejection of
Conduct offers by the earliest possible time and no later than
Career services and employment professionals are the time mutually agreed upon.
involved in an important process — helping students • Honor an accepted offer as a contractual agreement.
choose and attain personally rewarding careers, and Once an offer has been accepted,
helping employers develop effective college relations withdraw from the interviewing process and notify
programs that contribute to effective candidate selection Career Services, as well as other employers that have
for their organizations. This process requires commit- extended offers.
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ment from everyone, including students, to follow • Expect reimbursement of expenses incurred during
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
principles for professional conduct. the plant/office visits only for those
These principles are intended to serve as a framework expenditures pertinent to the trip.
within which the career planning and recruitment • Notify Career Services of post-graduate plans including
processes should function, and as a foundation upon job offers and acceptances, graduate school choice, etc.
which professionalism can be promoted. Lehigh’s Career EMPLOYERS’ PRINCIPLES
Services Office is dedicated to:
• Be responsible for the ethical, legal and professional
• Maintaining open and free selection of employment conduct of your organization’s representatives
opportunities in an atmosphere conducive to objective throughout the recruiting process.
judgement
• Use your company’s qualified and trained interviewers
• Maintaining a recruitment process that is fair and who use professionally accepted recruiting, interviewing
equitable to candidates and employing organizations and selection techniques.
• Supporting informed and responsible decision making by • Make a full and accurate presentation of your organi-
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candidates zation, employment opportunities and any other
STUDENTS’ PRINCIPLES relevant information during the recruiting process.
• Honor Career Services policies and procedures. • Maintain equal employment opportunity (EEO)
• Prepare for job search and interviewing and compliance and follow
accurately present qualifications and interests. affirmative action principles in recruiting activities.
• Request interviews only when genuinely interested • Maintain the confidentiality of student information.
in the position for which the organization is • Cooperate with the policies and procedures of the
interviewing. Career Services Office.
11This includes honoring scheduling arrangements and Policies for On-Campus
recruitment commitments, notifying the department
of all job offers and final acceptances, and honoring Interviewing
all employment offers that are accepted as a On-campus interviewing provides you
contractual agreement. with opportunities to meet with various
• Respect the legal obligations of Career Services and
employers who have posted jobs with
request only those services or information that legally
can be provided.
Career Services. This service is avail-
• Advise Career Services of all recruiting-related activities able to undergraduate and graduate
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not conducted through that office. students who are enrolled in an
academic program at Lehigh University.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
• Reimburse student expenses that are incurred on
plant/office visits. Our career counselors will help you
These principles have been reprinted with the permission decide which positions match your goals
of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, and interests and will assist you
copyright holder. through this process.
Please refer to the eligibility, registration and sign-up
procedures listed below:
A. ELIGIBILITY
1. If you are a graduating senior you may interview
on campus for full-time employment for a total of two
semesters, and for up to six months after receiving
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your Lehigh degree. If you decide not to interview
for a given semester, you should contact Career
Services in order to ensure your ability to take full
advantage of two semesters of interviewing.
2. If you are enrolled in a graduate degree program,
you may take campus interviews at any time after
you have begun your studies, but no more than six
months after receiving your Lehigh degree.
123. You may interview on campus for summer or
internship employment if you are enrolled in either
an undergraduate or graduate program.
4. There are a number of opportunities if you are an
alumnus who is beyond the post-graduation inter-
viewing time frame. You may use employer contact
information from LUCIE to arrange independent
interviews and also attend employer information
sessions on campus. Contact Career Services to obtain
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your alumni LUCIE account at (610) 758-3710.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
We encourage contacting the Lehigh University
Alumni Association (LUAA) to participate in their
you need to discuss this with Career Services at
specialized career planning services. You can view
least three working days before the interview.
the LUAA Web site at www.lehigh.edu/alumni.
3. Missing an interview without the proper notification
B. PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS is disrespectful to the company and doesn’t allow
To participate in on-campus interviews, you are: another student to take the interview. If you miss one
1. Required to register with LUCIE interview, your privileges will be temporarily cancelled
and you will be required to submit a letter of apology
2. Encouraged to attend the “Career Services
Overview” session and review the Principles for to the corporate representative (with a copy provided
Professional Conduct on page 11. to Career Services) in order to resume interviewing.
4. If you miss more than one interview (e.g., not
INTERVIEW PRESELECTION AND SIGN-UPS signing up without prior notification to Career Services
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1. You must apply for interviews through LUCIE. or not showing up for an interview),
Once you have applied for the interview, the the remainder of your scheduled interviews will
company will preselect candidates for interviewing be cancelled. You may appeal this decision by
based upon their requirements for the position. submitting a written statement to the Director of
You are required to sign up for interviews for Career Services for review and appropriate action.
which you have been preselected.
5. You are expected to sign up for your own interview
2. It’s important for you to attend all interviews for slots. If circumstances arise (e.g., office and plant trips)
which you’ve been selected. If there is an extenuat- that make you unable to sign up on the prescribed day,
ing circumstance why you can’t make an interview, contact Career Services staff to discuss alternatives.
13Lehigh University Career 2. Resume and Academic Profile
You will need to create a resume and academic profile
Information Exchange (LUCIE) in order to apply for on-campus interviews. Your
online resume will also enable you to participate in
Lehigh University Career Information the Lehigh Resume Books, our resume referral service.
Exchange is a Web-based system that 3. Lehigh Resume Books
allows Career Services to provide access This service provides resumes to employers in a
to job information, on-campus inter- searchable database. When you participate in this
viewing and additional career services. service, your resume can be viewed by employers
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based on the career preferences you provide. Employers
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
HOW TO USE LUCIE: who view your resume and consider you a candidate
for a position will contact you directly to set up
1. Go to the Career Services Web page
an interview.
Our address is www.lehigh.edu/careerservices. On the
main page is a link to LUCIE. 4. Information Sessions
Recruiters often use Information Sessions to
2. Register
familiarize students with their companies and the
In order to register, you will need to follow online
opportunities available for students. Please note
instructions to activate your account.
that attending Information Sessions is a critical
3. User Guide part of the recruiting process. If you have been
Obtain a student user guide in Career Services to lead selected to interview with a company, you should
you through the LUCIE system. make every effort to attend these meetings. It is
FEATURES ON LUCIE INCLUDE: often a great way to meet the recruiters in a less
formal setting, as well as to learn more about a
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1. Searchable Job Listing Database
company and the company culture.
All positions that employers list with Lehigh
University are in this database. You can search for
these positions based upon a wide array of criteria.
You can apply for on-campus interviews by submitting
a LUCIE resume. Other listings will provide you
with contact information so you can submit your
resume with a cover letter directly to the employer
via mail, email or fax.
14Writing a Resume when you are applying for an internship or Co-Op
position to differentiate you from those seeking full-
An effective resume does more than serve time employment.
as a summary of the facts about your- A summary statement provides additional information
self. It focuses the employer’s attention about your career goals and showcases your attributes in
greater detail. You should add noteworthy success factors
on your special abilities for a particular
from your experience or background.
career field or function. Your resume
For example:
is really an advertisement or sales • Won first place in a student group project, which
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presentation about you. The resumes on enabled me to obtain an internship from a select
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
the following pages are examples of how industry employer.
your resume may look. Generally a resume When using either the objective or the combination
should include the following: objective/summary statement, avoid cliches such as
“opportunity for advancement,” “a challenging position,”
OBJECTIVE/SUMMARY STATEMENT and “a progressive company.” These terms may sound
Most employers look for a specific career objective on appealing but have little meaning to the person selecting
your resume, while others may look for a combination candidates. Your wording should be realistic, concise
career objective and summary statement. and targeted. Your career counselor will help you decide
which approach to use and will critique your choice of
A career objective is a brief functional statement of your
wording for the best presentation.
career goals or interests and should help organize your
resume. It can describe the position you are seeking, the EDUCATION
industry in which you wish to work, or both. Using This section should include the name and location of
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both criteria narrows your objective to a very specific area. Lehigh and other colleges attended in reverse chronological
For example: order; major and graduation date; significant courses in
• To obtain a position as (type of position) using (skills) your major/minor/electives; honors and special projects.
in (type of industry). G.P.A. is optional but is suggested if it is above 3.0.
• A position in a management training program in the SPECIAL SKILLS
(type of industry or company). Skills can include computer competencies (list applica-
A career objective is especially helpful on your resume tions in order of importance), procedures/techniques
when you are widely distributing your resume without utilized in your field, equipment you can operate
a cover letter (e.g., a career fair). They are also helpful (scientific, etc.), foreign languages, etc.
15EXPERIENCE employer. You should consider what you learned in each
Experience can be listed in one or more separate categories. role that can “transfer” to another role. Examples of
All experiences should be listed in reverse chronological transferable skills include organization, creativity,
order. Include title, organization name and location and design, writing, fund raising, research and planning.
dates. Use action verbs to describe responsibilities and Specific, or technical, skills should be associated with
achievements (see Action Words, page 22). positions you describe in the Related Experience section.
Related Experience is any experience that relates to your Leadership, whether as an individual with an official
career objective. Therefore, part-time or summer jobs, title or as an involved member, gives you skills and
internships, Co-Ops, class projects, volunteerism, and experiences valuable to any employer. Leadership
{
clubs can all be related experience. You should activities should be described almost as a job experience.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
describe in detail, as though it were a “job,” any Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities.
experience in this section. Listed below are some examples Leadership activities can include:
of activities that can be used in the related experience • Resident Assistant • Study abroad
section. Make sure that your activities relate to your career (Gryphon) • Conferences attended
goals. (If it does not relate, it may be Leadership,
• President/Vice • Presentations
Research, Other Experience, or any section you choose
President/ Chair of a • Leadership by example
to create.)
club or committee • Volunteerism
• Brown and White • Baja Racing Car Team
ACTIVITIES
• Senior Thesis • Epitome
List clubs, committees and organizations of which you
• Teaching Assistant • LU Management are a member, including sports, clubs, Greek affiliations,
• Clubs/Organizations Assistance Council hobbies, etc. However, do not repeat clubs and organi-
• Amaranth (LUMAC) zations listed on your resume in a different section.
}
• Integrated Product • Design Classes
Development (IPD) • Internships
• Externships • Independent Research
• Investment Club • Volunteer Positions
Other Experience includes any other employment or
experience that demonstrates transferable skills.
Transferable skills are those skills and abilities you
acquire in any position that can be utilized by a future
16REFERENCES Aesthetic Presentation
When employers request references, they will be interested
in people who can provide information on your performance LAYOUT
as a student, on the job or in extracurricular activities. Start with 1/2” margins to provide room for details. Use one
Carefully select references who know you well enough to font throughout your resume, no smaller than 11 points.
offer concrete examples of your strengths. While the Objective and Education sections will generally
Always contact references before you share their contact appear first, the rest of your sections should follow in
information with employers. order of importance in relation to the Objective. Consider
Make sure you provide your references with a copy of the readability of your resume: Do sections progress logically
}
your resume. You may also want to include a brief from one to the next? Do your degree(s), school(s), titles,
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
abstract detailing the position you are seeking, what has companies/organizations and skills stand out easily?
led you to this goal, and any major accomplishments or DESIGN ELEMENTS
experiences that have influenced your career path. Use highlighting techniques (bold, underline, italics, capital-
• Suggest in your cover letter that you would be happy to ization and size) to call the reader’s attention to important
provide names and contact information for references areas on your resume. Margins, indentation and spacing
upon request. contribute to a professional appearance. Use neutral-colored
• Your name, address and phone number should appear resume paper and an easy-to-read formal font. Proofread
at the top of your reference list. It should be printed carefully; errors and misspellings create a poor impression.
on resume paper. “References” should appear on the Laser-printed copies are best, although high-quality photo-
page, followed by three to five contacts. Include the copies on resume-quality paper are acceptable.
individual’s name, title, work address and phone LENGTH
number, and e-mail address if applicable. Place the
Limit length to one page, for undergraduate student
{
individual whom you’ve known the longest at the top
resumes. Length can exceed one page for graduate
of the list, or else the one who can provide the most
student resumes.
positive information about you.
• In cases where your references are recognizable to the FOR MORE ASSISTANCE:
employer, you may want to enclose them with your • Attend resume workshops offered throughout the year.
resume on a reference list. • Have your resume critiqued by a counselor or Peer Educator.
• Refer to resume resources in the Career Library.
• It is helpful to bring your reference list with you to
• Attend the Career Services Resume Marathons at the
interviews to have on hand if asked.
beginning of each semester.
17CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME #1
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21Action Words
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CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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22Tips for Writing Cover Letters
• Write to a specific person, using his or her name andMeeting the Employer
The Interview Employers look for evidence of achievement as a primary
factor when seeking candidates for their organizations.
Interviews provide the opportunity for both you and Significance is attached to achievement in academic
the employer to learn about each other in order to make performance, campus/civic activities, work experience
informed hiring and career decisions. Interviewing and volunteer work. Good grades do count; however,
formats and styles will vary from employer to employer high grades alone are often insufficient.What most
employers are seeking is a combination of personal
{
and from interviewer to interviewer. For this reason, it is
valuable for you to recognize these styles as you prepare and intellectual qualities which indicate potential for
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
competence on the job, a strong motivation and desire
for an interview.
to achieve, and the ability to work cooperatively with
Whatever the interview situation or style, you will need other people in the working environment.
to be able to communicate your strengths clearly, relating
them to the position offered by the employer. Dress for the Interview
Your attire for the interview should present a professional
Know Your Employer image. For campus interviews, conservative, corporate
Before you interview with prospective employers, it is your attire is generally appropriate. This includes classic suits
in blue, black and gray with light-colored shirts and
responsibility to prepare yourself by reading their Web page
blouses. Classic-style ties and shoes are recommended.
and/or corporate literature. You should know about the For women, be conservative with makeup and jewelry.
type of business conducted by that organization and be
prepared to ask and answer questions intelligently. Structure of the Interview
}
In particular, study the size of the organization, its
1. INTRODUCTION
financial status, the location of its sites, its products
The interviewer will generally set the tone with small
and/or services and their uses.
talk or other gestures to establish a positive atmosphere
and put you at ease. It is here that first impressions
What Employers Want and primary judgements are made on appearance,
What do employers look for in a college graduate? manner, enthusiasm, etc. Your evaluation starts the
Employers generally are looking for self-motivated minute you meet the interviewer. The way you look,
men and women who demonstrate verbal and written shake hands, sit and talk all play a major part in the
communication skills, self-confidence, a willingness impression you make.
to work, and will be an asset to their organizations.
24You can also read
