Student Resources

What Can I Do With This Major website will help you connect your major to possible careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people within each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. Employment opportunities, professional associations, and the occupational outlook are also included for many career fields. 

Take assessments and review combined results to explore majors and occupations, learn more about yourself, and make informed career decisions with the Focus 2 Career tool. Create your account here by clicking the “Register” option and using the access code: scrappy.

Big Interview provides step-by-step video lessons and interview practice tools to help you strengthen your interview skills, whether you’re interviewing for a job or an internship.

Interstride is a one-stop shop for domestic students interested in careers abroad as well as for international students exploring U.S. employment options. It provides information on companies that sponsor employment visas, guidance on intercultural networking, job listings, and more.

All UNT students have access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers a variety of professional development online programming.

All UNT students have free, unlimited access to the Wall Street Journal online. Along with unlimited access to WSJ.com, the Student Hub is a place for students to find curated content on professional development, job prep, work/life balance and personal finance.

Activate Membership
Students must activate their membership to gain unlimited access to news coverage, career development resources, invitations to virtual events and more.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online provides detailed information about a variety of jobs, from tasks and required training to average salary and projected job growth.

Handshake hosts thousands of jobs and internships posted by employers seeking UNT students and alumni.

Upgrade your professional profile with a free headshot! Career Ambassadors are available in Sage 202 during drop‑in hours.

Business cards are produced on a first-come, first-served basis. It is our goal to create your business cards in 5 business days. However, the wait time may be a bit longer around career fair dates. The Career Center will always email you when your cards are ready. Use the link below to submit your business card order.

Please note:

• You must select from one of the two available templates.
• Please review your information carefully for possible spelling and grammar errors. Your request serves as your final proof.
• You will receive an email message once your order is ready.
• Use this link to submit your order – Free Business Cards Order Form.
• Watch this video for instructions on submitting your order.

 

How-to Series: Creating Business Cards

Note: To pick up your business cards please go to Sage Hall Suite 202.

Your resume is a critical tool to help you reach YOUR career goals! A clear, well-crafted resume increases your chances of landing the interview. Always tailor it to the job posting by highlighting your most relevant experience and skills. Be sure to incorporate keywords from the job description so your document aligns with what the employer needs—and so it performs well in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). ATS software screens resumes by scanning for keywords that match the job description, helping employers identify strong candidates.

After you’ve reviewed the information below and crafted your resume, use the Resume Review Request Form to submit your resume for review. In most cases, your review will be completed within 3 business days.

Step 1: Collect Your Experience

List jobs, internships, campus involvement, volunteer work, projects, research, and leadership. Focus on accomplishments and skills that match the job you want.

Step 2: Pick a Format

Your major, experience, and career goals matter. A Career Coach can help you choose.

Chronological Resume

This is the most commonly used format and lists experiences in reverse date order. It works best if you have relevant work, internships, or projects and is preferred by most employers. Non‑business majors may use the Basic Chronological Resume Template.

Functional Resume

A functional resume emphasizes skills and abilities rather than job history, making it a good option for students with little to no experience in their intended field. Use the Basic Functional Resume Template to get started.

Creative Resume

Creative resumes use design, color, and visuals to showcase personality and brand. They are most common in fields like marketing, design, visual arts, theater, fashion, and startups. Always consider employer guidelines and the application process before submitting this format.

Necessary Elements

Employment

Include each position’s title, organization, location, and dates, listed with the most recent first. All roles are valid if they show responsibility, reliability, or transferable skills. You may also include a brief description of the role or organization when helpful.

Leadership & Involvement

This section highlights student organizations, leadership roles, certifications, and volunteer work. Sophomores and above should exclude high school activities. List your role, organization name, and dates of involvement in reverse chronological order.

Action Verbs

Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and clearly communicate your impact, skills, and contributions to employers.

A Cover Letter is often required as part of the application process. If you submit one, it should sum up how your experiences fit the requirements of the position. A brief yet impactful cover letter can highlight your accomplishments and encourage the reader to want to learn more about you and what you can offer the organization!

Key Points for Writing a Cover Letter

Paragraph 1:
Begin by introducing yourself and briefly summarizing your academic background and relevant experience. Clearly state the position you are applying for and mention how you learned about the opportunity. If you are submitting a letter of interest for future roles or were referred by someone, include those details and name the referral if appropriate.

Paragraph 2:
Highlight qualifications from the job description and explain how your skills and experiences meet those requirements. Use specific examples to demonstrate your fit for the role and show how your background aligns with the employer’s needs. Indicate that your résumé is attached or included for further detail.

Paragraph 3:
Conclude by expressing interest in next steps, such as an interview or conversation. Thank the reader for their time, provide your contact information, and reinforce your enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Always send a thank‑you email after an interview or meeting to demonstrate courtesy, professionalism and genuine interest while helping you stand out from other candidates. Send your message within 24 hours, and be sure to collect business cards so you have the correct names and contact information.

Send a personalized thank‑you to each person you met with, reaffirm your interest in the position and the organization, and reference a specific moment or topic from the conversation to make your note memorable.

Use a clear, appropriate subject line that references the job, maintain a professional tone, and carefully proofread before sending.

Used in pursuing academic and research opportunities rather than the resume, which is briefer and geared toward private industry jobs. In the United States, a resume is a short (usually one page) summary of education and work experience, whereas a Curriculum Vitae, also known as a CV, is a longer document with more academic and professional details. Oftentimes a CV refers to an academic resume. However, in Europe and in some other countries, resume and CV are used interchangeably.

Heading:
Begin your CV with a clear heading that includes your full name, email address, current mailing address, and phone number. This information should be up to date and easy to find so employers or committees can contact you without difficulty.

Education:
List your academic degrees with the most recent or in‑progress degree first. For each entry, include the institution name, city and state, degree type, field of study, and the month and year the degree was or will be awarded. If applicable, you may also include your thesis or dissertation title and the name of your advisor.

Relevant Experience:
Highlight positions that demonstrate your skills, expertise, and professional growth. You may organize experiences into categories such as research, teaching, or administration to strengthen your CV’s focus. For each role, include your title, organization name, location, and dates of employment, followed by brief bullet points describing your responsibilities, accomplishments, and outcomes using strong action verbs.

Publications:
Include full bibliographic citations for any articles, book chapters, reports, or other works you have authored or co‑authored. Use the citation style that is standard in your academic discipline for clarity and consistency. Be sure to note works that are forthcoming or under review when applicable.

Presentations (Oral and Poster):
List professional presentations by title, along with the name of the conference or event, dates, and location. If appropriate for your field, you may add a brief description of the presentation. Maintain formatting that aligns with disciplinary standards for a polished and consistent look.

Honors and Awards:
This section should include competitive scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, academic honors, and any teaching or research awards you have received. Focus on recognitions that reflect academic excellence or professional achievement.

References:
Include three to five professional references who can speak to your qualifications. If a job advertisement specifically requests references, provide those names on a separate addendum sheet. Otherwise, ensure your references are prepared to be contacted upon request.

You will likely want to receive feedback from a trusted professor or academic advisor. Sections and length can vary depending on area of study, so be sure to have a respected academic voice edit for consistency and clarity.

Technical Skills and Certifications: It may be appropriate to list special technical skills, language skills or relevant certifications from your area of study.

Grants Received: Include name of grant, name of granting agency, date received, and title or purpose of research project.

Institutional Service: List institutional committees you have served on, including offices held, student groups you have supervised, or special academic projects you have assisted with.

Professional Associations: Memberships in national, regional, state, and local professional organizations. Also, list significant appointments to positions or committees in these associations. Student memberships in professional associations are appropriate.

Recent/Current Research: Description of research projects recently conducted or in progress. Include the type of research and a brief description of the purpose.

Community Involvement: Appropriate and relevant volunteer work, church work, community service organizations, etc. Avoid listing involvement from more than 7-10 years ago. 

Educational Travel: (Only if applicable) Names of countries, dates, purpose.