Career Development: Get Focused

We suggest creating SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

• MLTI 2010 - This course will assist students as they prepare for effective participation in the Co-ops Program at the University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College. Through self-analysis, resume preparation, company research, networking opportunities, and interviewing practice, students will develop the professional knowledge and skills necessary to obtain and succeed in a co-op/internship.
• MLTI 2020 – This course will assist students as they observe and reflect on the internship, connect theory to practice, and evaluate the internship experience. In order to achieve the learning objectives, students will complete weekly journal entries that will aid in this reflection and assessment. At the end of the course, students will have increased their professional knowledge and skills as well as their ability to think critically about their experiences. Repeatable with permission of department unit head.

• Your resume is one of the most powerful tools you'll create to help you market yourself to potential employers — so you gotta nail this! Your resume needs to communicate exactly how your knowledge, skills and abilities make you the best candidate for the job.
• The Career Services Office can work with you if you are a first-time resume writer (download our Fundamentals of Resume Writing Guide PDF to get started) or have a resume that needs to be fine-tuned. Ready to meet? Schedule an appointment to strategize with a career coach in our office.
• VMock - VMock is UC’s virtual resume assistant. It gives you customized suggestions and instant feedback on your resume, based on criteria gathered from employers and UC standards. VMock is available online 24/7 and is free for UC students.

• Handshake is the University of Cincinnati’s career platform that helps all students find meaningful careers by connecting job-seeking students and recent graduates with thousands of opportunities at thousands of companies and organizations of all sizes and locations. Handshake is free to University of Cincinnati students and alumni. Find out more about Handshake and learn how to build out your profile.
• LinkedIn - LinkedIn is a professional networking platform. Many professional people use LinkedIn to search for jobs, research career paths and companies, share information, make connections, and keep in touch with other professional people.

• Cover Letters
  • When you apply for a job, the purpose of a cover letter is to get the hiring manager to read your resume. The cover letter should highlight specific reasons why you would be a good fit for the position and how you align with the organization.
  • Tips for Writing a Good Cover Letter
    • Address it to the person who will interview candidates, by name if possible.
    • Match the font style and size to your resume.
    • Keep your cover letter short (one page) and to the point. If you are writing a cover letter for a position in academia, it may be two pages.
    • Make your cover letter focused on the employer. Talk about how you can meet their needs, not how they can meet your needs. Prepare each cover letter individually; don’t use a form letter.
  • Cover Letter Template - Download Cover Letter Template as a Word document
• Elevator Pitch – An elevator pitch is a 30-60 second way to introduce yourself, get a point across, and make a connection.
  • Want to work on creating and/or practicing an elevator pitch? Create an appointment with Career Services today!