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The term networking usually provokes feelings of dread or anxiety in college students. For most students, the term networking evokes images of talking to people you don’t know. For others, networking is seen as a onetime event that you do when you need a job.

With these common misconceptions about networking, it is no wonder that college students tend to avoid networking all together. The good news is that these are misbeliefs and it isn’t as bad as one might think.

College students should focus on building relationships with people in their own area of study first. Overtime, all professionals expand their networking outside of their current job, but that level of complexity is not required for the entry-level employee.

Myth : A CV and a resume are interchangeable.

Fact: A CV means that you must have a lot of experience and accomplishments already and for that reason, the document is expected to be longer than one page.

A CV is typically used for positions in academia, but may be requested by a business organization as well.

Common Sections that are Included on a CV:

• Personal Information
• Education
• Teaching Experience
• Research Experience
• Publications
• Conference Presentations
• Certifications
• Memberships in Professional Organizations
• Licensure (if applicable)
• Awards and Honors
• Funding Received (ex. research grants/funding)
• Additional Training
• Post-Doctoral Fellows

A curriculum vitae is a comprehensive document that details all of your past education and professional competencies and experiences. Although it is similar to a résumé, there are several key differences:

VIEW SAMPLE CV

You got an interview, CONGRATULATIONS! This is where it all comes together. This is where you let those interviewing you get to know who you are and what you will contribute if they hire you. You should go into an interview prepared to tell a story, prepared to help the interviewer visualize you as a future employee.

Steps to Prepare for the Interview

RESEARCH THE COMPANY

This sounds simple, but it requires some thought. You should know the mission and vision of the organization, you should know who the people are and what role they play, and you should know enough about the company to engage in informed dialogue during your interview.

STUDY THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Every job description has a list of qualifications and responsibilities. You should be able to talk about yourself and what you have done in the past that demonstrates your knowledge of every qualification, competency, and responsibility in the job posting.

PRACTICE

You should do a practice interview every time. Using some standard behavioral-based interview questions, have an experienced person conduct a mock interview with you, someone who will give you good feedback.

What are behavioral-based interview questions?

These are questions that ask you about your past performance in a particular situation. These questions often start with “tell me about a time you…” or “what did you do during your internship to…”

Behavioral-based interview questions should be answered using the CAR formula:

C CONTEXT : Explain the situation in which you were required to act

A ACTION : Describe what you did specifically to solve a problem or create a new outcome

R RESULT : Talk about the outcome and what your learned. Connect this to the job you are applying for to help the interviewer visualize how you will perform if they hire you.

VIEW BEHAVIORAL-BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Did you know?

• Recruiters spend an average of just six-seconds scanning a resume before deciding to call the candidate in for an interview (LinkedIn, 2017)
• The average job opening attracts 250 resumes (Glassdoor)
• Only 14.9% of hires are made from a job board candidate. Most (39.9%) are made through employee referral programs.  (Jobvite)
• 75% of hiring and talent managers use recruiting software and/or applicant tracking software when hiring.  (Capterra)
• 45% of recruiter’s state that resumes will get rejected for not including a cover letter and 37% for not sending follow-up letter after an interview  (UpToWork, 2018)

Your resume should be deliberately written to briefly and effectively communicate your experience. Whether you’re applying for a part-time position, volunteer opportunity, internship, or a full-time job, you want your resume to professionally reflect your qualifications. We’ve provide a few resume samples to get you started.

For more detailed information on writing a resume, check out the UAB Career Guide.

Résumé Samples:

• Education
• Biology
• Communication
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Physics
• Biochemistry
• Computer Engineering
• Chemistry
• Public Health
• Engineering
• Student-Athlete
• Political Science Pre-Law
• Kinesiology
• Federal
• Marketing
• Industrial Distribution
• Economics
• General Management
• Business
• More samples coming soon.

Résumé Fundamentals

• Name and Contact Information
• Education
• Relevant Coursework
• Experience
• Skills and Certifications
• Awards and Accomplishment
• Free of spelling and grammatical error
• Avoid high school information (after your first year in college)
• Include data, numbers, percentages or amounts
• Avoid personal pronouns like “I” or “my”
• Proofread by three people (one of them should be your Career Consultant)
• Use strong action verbs and power words
• Consistent in formatting, font, and content
• Neat, well-organized, and easy to read
• Updated and current