Career Resources
As a Parkside student or alum, you have access to online and on-campus resources that will help you to position yourself for academic and professional success. These resources, along with advisors and mentors, will you help you along the way.
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What Can I Do With This Major?
16 Personalities Self-Assessment
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Upcoming Career Events
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Ease your nerves – Click here to help prepare for the Career Fair and other professional events.
Starting Your Career Path
Resume Guide
A resume is a one-page document that summarizes your qualifications for a position. Here, we will explain what content is appropriate in each section of a properly structured resume.
The header features an overview of your general information.
Your general information includes:
- Your first and last name
- Your professional email address
- A URL to your professional profile (i.e LinkedIn)
- Your home address
- Your phone number
A summary section uses 1-2 sentences to explain the major goals of your job search.
Including the summary section of your resume is optional.
- We highly recommend including a summary if you are applying to a role that is unrelated to your major or if you have limited experience.
- Example: “Upcoming Biology graduate pursuing an entry-level position in Human Resources after an internship with the local city council sparked my interest in employee support and internal communication. Looking to build practical HR experience in a collaborative setting with opportunity for long-term growth.
To begin the education section, you should list the full name of your degree and university.
- Example: “Bachelor of Science in Chemistry”
Include your GPA in this section only if it is above a 3.0.
Consider including the awards, certifications, on-campus affairs, and student organizations that best showcase your qualifications.
Instead of simply listing job duties and responsibilities, you should focus on the outcome of your work, emphasizing any transferable skills. You can accomplish this with your bullet points.
A good format for bullet points is:
- Action verb → Task → Outcome
Here is an example:
- “Supported council staff with administrative tasks, constituent services, and research on local issues to aid council decision-making.”
- “Supported” is the action verb
- “administrative tasks, constituent services, and research on local issues” is the task.
- “to aid council decision-making” is the outcome.
The format of this section’s bullet points should be similar to the format of the work experience section.
- However, you should only discuss unpaid activities and experiences in this section.
- Example: “Assisted in organizing and distributing food supplies to over 100 individuals weekly, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in service.”
- “Assisted” is the action verb.
- “organizing and distributing food supplies” is the task.
- “ensuring accuracy and efficiency in service” is the outcome.
This section is for information that does not require a detailed explanation.
Examples of self-explanatory information include:
- Languages
- Certifications
- Organizations
- Special skills
- Visa status
- Willingness to relocate
Include information based on what the job posting asks you for.
Do you want to dive deeper on developing a professional resume? Check out our full resume guide by clicking the button below.
Cover Letter Guide
A cover letter and a resume are separate documents. Your cover letter should not restate information covered by your resume.
- Not all employers require cover letters, but an acceptable cover letter can strongly influence an employer’s final hiring decision.
The header of your cover letter should be identical to the header of your resume.
- Remember: your header should include your name, your professional email address, a URL to your professional web profile (LinkedIn), your address, and your phone number.
Open your letter with the formal “Dear,” along with the lead hiring person’s name.
If the lead hiring person’s name is unknown, open your letter with “Dear [Company] Hiring team.”
Close with a colon or a comma.
Your introduction paragraph introduces your position of interest, the connection you have to the company or how you discovered the opportunity, and your ability to add value to the company.
- End your introduction paragraph by summarizing the points you’ll address in the following paragraphs.
Ideally, your support paragraphs will discuss three topics, with each topic spanning one paragraph.
In each support paragraph, include the following information:
- Highlight a skill you possess
- Provide an example from your past that proves you possess the skill.
- Emphasize how that skill will be useful for completing projects or duties related to your desired role.
Use your support paragraphs to showcase your unique experiences.
In the closing of your cover letter, briefly reiterate your confidence about being an exceptional fit.
- Include an invitation for them to reach out to you for an interview or follow up meeting.
End your cover letter with “Sincerely,” and your full name two lines beneath that.
Do you want to dive deeper on developing a professional resume? Check out our full resume guide by clicking the button below.
Sample Cover Letters
Below are some sample cover letters in various fields. Review these sample cover letters to strengthen your understanding of employer’s expectations for cover letters.
Interview Preparation
Now that your documents are ready, you should prepare yourself for the job interview. (Note: Some employers will do a phone interview first, along with a virtual interview, and then an on-site interview at the organization.)
Review these categories to learn the questions an employer may ask in a job interview.
Purpose: Confirm your qualifications for the role and express your general character and personality.
Strategy: Highlight how your skills, experience, or character equip you for success.
Examples of interview questions:
- What are your strengths as an employee?
- what feedback does your supervisor give you about your performance?
- Why should I hire you?
- Who are your heroes? Why?
- Tell me about your current job.
- What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
- Give me an example of a time you went above and beyond your responsibilities to get the job done.
- How do you ensure that your work is error free?
- What motivates you to do a good job?
- What does success mean to you?
Purpose: Discuss your basic approach to resolving problems in the workplace.
Strategy: Highlight how you pursue issues proactively, ask for assistance, adapt to change, and push forward new initiatives and projects.
Examples of interview questions:
- How do you go about making important decisions?
- What was the biggest (or most shocking) change you have ever faced at a job, and how did you adapt?
- Tell me about an improvement you made in your work process. How did this improvement help you and your team?
- Tell me about a project that you were responsible for but needed the help of others to complete the project. How did you handle this situation?
- How do you generally handle conflict?
- Are you known for anticipating problems or merely reacting to them?
- Did you initiate/enact any new procedures in your previous position? Tell me about them.
Purpose: Showcase your leadership and share your outlook on managing others.
Strategy: Focus on thoughtful responses, be positive, and show respect for positions of authority.
Examples of interview questions:
- How do you motivate others?
- You are a supervisor of a busy office. Two employees just called in and will be out sick for the next two weeks. How do you deal with this unexpected event?
- What do you believe is the role of management?
- How do you deal with individuals in the workplace who are acting as part of a problem instead of acting towards a solution?
Purpose: Showcase your communication style, strengths, and preferences.
Strategy: Provide clear examples and acknowledge the importance of strong communication skills.
Examples of interview questions:
Discuss a time when you had to explain a complex idea to someone with little or no background knowledge in the subject. How did you handle this situation?
- Tell me about a situation where your style of communication helped resolve an issue. What did you say or do to solve the conflict?
- Discuss a time when a misunderstanding happened at work. How did you address and resolve it?
- How do you show someone that you are fully engaged in what they’re saying?
- When you’re communicating important information, how do you ensure clarity and prevent misinterpretation?
- Describe a time when you had to communicate under pressure or on a tight deadline. How did you handle the situation?
Purpose: Discuss how you use time and organizational skills, even under pressure.
Strategy: Showcase your methods by talking about situations where you used them.
Examples of interview questions:
- How would you describe your organizational skills?
- Describe how you manage your time when you have competing priorities.
- Tell me about the last time you failed to complete a project (or assignment) on time.
- How do you take initiative when requirements on the job are slow?
- Typically, what do you do in the first and last hour at work.
- Describe a time when you felt overwhelmed by numerous responsibilities. How did you prioritize your workload? Were you successful?
- Tell me about a time when you used your organizational skills to solve a problem.
Purpose: Describe how you collaborate with coworkers and your ability to ethically make decisions in the workplace, especially when under pressure.
Strategy: Be thoughtful, stay positive, and highlight your responsibility in your actions.
Examples of interview questions:
- Tell me about individuals that you have trouble getting along with or who have trouble getting along with you.
- Do you prefer to work alone or with others?
- How would your co-workers describe you?
- Your supervisor tells you to do something that goes against policy. How do you proceed?
- Tell me about a situation where you and another person had a disagreement. How did you solve your disagreement?
- Can you take constructive criticism without feeling attacked? Give an example.
Professional Communication
Here, we’ll discuss the elevator pitch and the S.T.A.R. method—two communication frameworks that will enhance your professional communication skills.
An elevator pitch is a concise overview of the path that led you to this conversation. Your pitch should be brief (no longer than 1-2 minutes).
Parts Of An Elevator Pitch:
Introduce yourself, and then state your school, major, and class year/graduation year.
Discuss your relevant work experiences, providing a brief overview of your responsibilities.
Highlight key strengths or values you hold that relate to your future goals.
State your academic or career objectives, as well as your goals with the conversation.
Hi, I’m ___, and I’m a senior studying computer science at University of Wisconsin- Parkside. Last summer I worked as a Software Developer Intern for ___ where I learned to collaborate with a team of developers and business analysts to provide streamlined solutions for internal processes. Last spring, I enrolled in a community-based learning class where I helped build a mobile app for a local nonprofit, which solidified my understanding of full stack development. I’m skilled in Swift and JavaScript programming languages, and I love solving problems through code. I’m now looking for a full-time position and would like to know more about software development opportunities with your company.
To ensure you provide specific, detailed information in your interview, use the STAR method to develop your responses to interview questions.
Parts Of The Star Method:
Situation
- Where were you? Who was involved?
Task
- What was the goal you were working towards?
Action
- What steps did you take to address the situation?
Result
- What was the specific outcome?
Questions For The Employer
At the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask “Do you have any questions for us?’ Always have questions ready.
- First, always ask about the next steps in the interview process. The employer’s answers will highlight their expectations of you.
- Ask detailed questions based on your previous research of the company/role
- Ask open-ended questions (AVOID YES OR NO QUESTIONS)
- Never ask about salary or pay during the interview.
Questions For The Employer
At the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask “Do you have any questions for us?’ Always have questions ready.
- First, always ask about the next steps in the interview process. The employer’s answers will highlight their expectations of you.
- Ask detailed questions based on your previous research of the company/role
- Ask open-ended questions (AVOID YES OR NO QUESTIONS)
- Never ask about salary or pay during the interview.
Examples of follow-up questions to ask the employer:
- How will outcomes and success be measured for this role?
- What skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill?
- How do you typically onboard and support new employees?
- What is the most shocking element of the job for new employees?
- What do you enjoy about working here?
- What challenges or barriers have you experienced here that may limit progress towards a goal?
- What opportunities exist for professional development and ongoing learning?
Don’t forget to send a thank you note the same day, referencing something memorable from the interview.
Use this conversation as an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and demonstrate knowledge of the organization. This is the last impression you will leave with your interviewer!
Resume and Cover Letter Resources
Resume Guide
A resume is a document that summarizes your qualifications for employment or another opportunity. It lets the reader know the highlights of your educational experience, skills, and other information.
Personal Statements
Some opportunities, such as academic program applications, will require personal statements.
Cover Letter Guide
Don’t forget about this valuable method to connect your resume with the desired qualifications in your own voice. Many students struggle with cover letters, so these simple tips will make sure you are ready to stand out.
Apply Your Knowledge, Skills, And Strengths To Take Your Next Step With Confidence.
Career Search Resources
Handshake
Employers use Handshake to post their employment and internship opportunities, and many employers do so because they are interested in Parkside graduates specifically. The majority of positions listed on Handshake require a degree, making this an ideal resource to use when begin your search and beyond.
Parker Dewey Micro-Internships
Students and recent graduates from all majors can complete short-term, paid, typically-remote, professional projects that allow you to build and demonstrate skills while exploring potential career paths. These Micro-Internships can take place at any time of year, and are used by companies across the United States, ranging from those in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups. Micro-Internships are facilitated via the Parker Dewey platform, which connects students and recent graduates with organizations in need of support.
Job Boards
Explore various job boards for openings, including those that are specific to certain industries or sectors. We’ve compiled a list for you to use as a jumping off point.
Forage (job simulations)
Forage is a free, self-paced platform where you can try real “day-in-the-life” job simulations from top companies, build skills for your resume or LinkedIn and discover career paths that match your interest. These short, hands-on experiences help you explore careers with confidence. You can access it on the Navigate app.
LinkedIn Learning
Log into LinkedIn Learning with your Parkside credentials to discover relevant content on a variety of career development and exploration topics.
Preparing for Career Fairs
Preparation is the key to success. Learn more about how you can prepare yourself for a career fair!
See All Career Events
See all upcoming career events, including fairs, Meet the Recruiter visits, and more!
Graduate School Resources
Is Grad School Your Next Step?
Thinking about Graduate or Professional school? You’ll want to thoroughly evaluate programs to determine your best fit. We have compiled some questions for you that will help review factors worth considering. The Advising and Career Center is available to help you along the way.
Graduate School Admission Tests
Different programs require different admissions exams and some programs do not require any. We’ve compiled a list of the most common exams. Working with an advisor at Parkside and reviewing information from the institution that offers your program of choice will clarify which test is next for you.
Thank you to our Handshake sponsor
Advising and Career Center
262-595-2040
advisingcenter@uwp.edu
The Commons
Wyllie Hall D1
900 Wood Rd.
Kenosha, WI 53144
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