Build Career Skills: Resume, Job Searching, and Interviewing

While there is no “one size fits all” resume, there are some standard elements that should be included. Depending on your major and the industry you are considering, the style and content of your resume will vary. Check with your college's career center for more specific examples.

While a resume lets an employer know what you can do, your cover letter is a chance for an employer to hear about who you are in your own voice, while also connecting your skills to a specific opportunity. Learn more about how to make a cover letter that tells your story, your way.

Networking -- whether through a pre-planned meeting or an impromptu conversation at a conference, career fair, information session, or anywhere else -- will likely help you find your first job and also be crucial as you advance in your career. Students often identify networking as one of the most awkward and intimidating elements of their job search but there are many resources available to help you in this process.

Based on your major and career interests, there will a variety of job boards and platforms that post available positions. Your College Career Center website is a good place to start to learn about the most popular of these sites in your area of interest. UMass Amherst uses the online platform Handshake as its recommended site for employers and students for career events, job, internship and co-op postings and advising appointments.

Landing an interview with a prospective employer is a big achievement, and how you prepare for that interview is crucial to getting an eventual job offer. Employers want to see how you present yourself, how good of a fit you are for their company’s culture and that you have – or are capable of learning -- the professional skills that are required for the job. Gain access to interview questions and build confidence through hands-on interview practice with Big Interview.

Congratulations if you have received a job offer, or perhaps even multiple job offers! Employers anticipate that you will need a few days to consider the offer and you should use this time to objectively evaluate whether the job is the right fit for you. For many entry level jobs, salary negotiation is not an option, but it is sometimes possible to negotiate a hybrid work arrangement or some other benefits.