Searching for a job or professional opportunities can feel exhausting. Between searching, applying, and writing résumés, it can feel like a full-time job in itself. Creating a schedule specifically for your job search with outlined goals can help you feel more in control of your career.
Determine what kind of opportunity you are looking for.
Think about your schedule and current availability. Are you looking for a full-time job, part-time job, or internship? This will help you narrow your field of opportunities as you search for the ones you want to apply for. Also think about the type of opportunity you are looking for in terms of industry and position. Try to be open minded when thinking about these types of positions, especially in the current job market conditions. You might not be able to find the exact position you are looking for, but making a list can help you get as close as possible to the job you want.
Make sure your master résumé is updated.
Before you start looking, update your master résumé. This will help you to have a good picture of all your experiences and skills. Creating a specific résumé for each job will also be easier if you have a complete master résumé. A master résumé is essentially a long document where you list all your education, work experiences, skills, etc. Anything that you might want to use later in a résumé, interview, LinkedIn profile, online CV, etc should be included in your master résumé. If you don’t have one or have never created a master résumé, we have a template for you here. To edit this template, simply download it as a word document file or add a copy to your own Google Drive. Remember, this document is just for you and is meant to be fairly long and grow over time. Feel free to add as much information as you need.
Create a schedule.
Thinking about the job search like a part-time job (or a full-time one) in of itself can help you stay focused and secure your next position in a timely manner. Use a calendar or planner to help plan when you want to focus on job search as compared to other daily activities. We’ve put together a couple of templates you can use to help outline your goals and when you want to achieve them each week.
Look at your professional network.
Many professional opportunities never even make it to public job boards, so utilizing your professional network can be essential for your next job. Look at the companies or positions you are interested in on Handshake. Are there any UNO students or graduates who have worked there in the past? Reach out to them via Handshake.
You can also utilize your connections and UNO’s graduate network on LinkedIn, which is especially helpful if you are interested in working for a particular company.
Adjust your schedule as needed.
If you start to feel overwhelmed or find yourself with too much time on your hands, be sure to periodically adjust your schedule. Sometimes, it is best to start with smaller time blocks and gradually increase your time each week. If you are having trouble finding a good balance, make a job or internship search appointment through Handshake.
Utilize your resources- US!
Remember that our career services are available for all students and graduates, and we currently offer all of our career services online, so you can achieve all your career goals no matter where you are located. Most of our services are only available during business hours, but we do have some online services that you can use at any time. Here is a breakdown of all our services and programs and when you can access them.
Services
One-on-one meetings are accessible during business hours (8 AM - 5 PM CST). You can schedule an appointment through Handshake or by calling our office at 402-554-3672. Schedule a meeting to:
Review your résumé
Practice interviewing skills
Get connected with professionals in Omaha (Prototype)
Explore your major and career options
Create an individual job and internship search strategy
Project your personal brand online, especially on LinkedIn and Handshake
After business hours, you can submit your résumé for review. One of our staff members will review your résumé and send you feedback within 2-5 business days.
Big Interview, our online interview platform can help you practice interviewing at any time. You can also learn more about communication and negotiation skills through their curriculum. Feedback on your practice interviews are usually sent back within 2-5 business days.
***Note that for Big Interview and the Résumé Submission Tool, our feedback emails are sometimes sent to students’ junk or spam folders, so be sure to periodically check those if you decide to utilize these services.
Programs
Success Series: Virtual Career Chats is an online webinar series that will help you to gain the skills and information you need for the next step in your career. These webinars are more of a relaxed format and conducted via Zoom, so you can join in from anywhere. Though they are only available during business hours (8 AM - 5 PM CST), we often post some information from the webinars on our website or social media channels. You can also make a one-on-one appointment for individualized assistance.
All event and registration information is on Handshake, and we also send periodic email announcements with upcoming event information, so be sure your email on your Handshake profile is up-to-date. To change your email address, simply email us at unoacdc@unomaha.edu and follow these directions. We will have your email updated within five business days after you send the request.
Coffee and Careers is a fairly new program where ACDC career staff chat with Omaha employers about their profession and career advice. This program is available on many different platforms:
YouTube | Anchor | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Breaker | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic