Take a look at some of these sample resumes for inspiration when creating your own. Career Services is always available for resume and CV building advice. 

LinkedIn Profile Checklist

Check out MC Careers on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mc-career-development

Sample messages: 

Sample 1: 

Email request for informational interview: 

Dear John,

I am a senior, psychology major at Mississippi College and member of the MC LinkedIn Group. I came across your LinkedIn profile and wanted to reach out to you as I have a passion for community service and a desire to pursue a career in the non-profit industry.

Would you be willing to meet briefly with me or spend 15-20 minutes over coffee/tea for a quick informational interview? I would be really interested in finding out about your experiences as the Marketing Manager for the American Lung Association and would appreciate any insight and advice regarding careers in the non-profit field.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

(signature) 

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Sample 2:

LinkedIn email request for an informational interview:

Dear Mrs. Cox,

I am an undergraduate business student at Mississippi College, interested in entering the financial services industry when I graduate in the Spring of 20XX. I came across your LinkedIn profile in the Memphis Financial Services Professionals group we are both members of and wanted to reach out to introduce myself.

Looking over your current and past positions within the finance industry, I thought you would be an excellent person to ask questions about XYZ Firm and the industry in general.

Having interned at ABC Firm as an analyst, I am now wanting to take my career in a different direction, and work on the business end within the biotech industry.

I would very much like to set up a time to speak with you, either over the phone or in person. Please let me know if this is possible. I can be reached at XX@mc.edu.

Thank you for your time,

Tom A. Hawk 

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After connecting, take some time to get to know more about their profession by asking these questions: 

• Please describe your career path into your current role?
• Why did you choose this career? This position?
• What does a typical day look like?
• What do you like most/least about your job?
• What type of advancement opportunities exist in your field?
• How did you prepare for entry into this field?

Imagine that you are in an elevator with someone in a profession, industry, or company that interests you. You have less than 30 to 60 seconds to share your background and capture that individual's interest. Similar opportunities arise at career fairs, networking events, and employer information sessions.

The elevator speech should address the following: 

Your Personal Brand

• In one sentence articulate who you are in the context of your present situation.

• Share one or two relevant skills developed from your experiences and academics.

What Have You Done?

• Include one or two experiences that are relevant to what you're looking for. Include any work experience first and then other learning such as volunteer experience, leadership in clubs, and athletics.

What Are You Looking For?

• Be open about what you want: a job, an internship, advice, connections, etc.

Quick Tips

• Research the intended recipient thoroughly and understand the nature of the organization’s products or services before you begin writing.  
• Keep your letter short, no more than 1 page.
• Prepare a specific letter for each employer.
• When possible, address each employer by name and title.
• Open your letter with a strong sentence that will encourage the employer to keep reading.
• Be sure to demonstrate how you can support the organization rather than how you hope to benefit from the job.
• Highlight your strengths through your experiences by telling story with real examples. 
• Tailor your letter to the interests and needs of the person to whom you are writing.  Focus on the outcomes that will help solve the employer’s problems.  
• >Check carefully for grammatical and typing errors.  Have someone else proofread your letter before sending.  Remember that your cover letter is evidence of your communication and writing ability.

These sample cover letters can provide you with inspriation when creating your own. Career Services is available for cover letter help too. Create an appointment today. 

This guide teaches you how to make the best first impression during a job interview. 

Overview

• You should send a thank you letter after any professional contact has been made. Whether you are writing to express your appreciation for being given a job interview or an informational interview, a thank you letter is essential in your job search.

• A thank you email may be preferred to ensure your note is received quickly while hiring decisions are being made. Thank you notes should be brief and personalized. Employers tell us they not only appreciate a well-crafted and sincere thank you; they often expect one.

• A good letter sets you apart from the other candidates and can influence a hiring decision in your favor.

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Sample Note: 

Dear Ms. Smith:

I want to thank you for interviewing me yesterday for the Coordinator of Public Relations. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more exciting information about your organization.

My enthusiasm for the position and my interest in working for LR Communications were strengthened as a result of our meeting. I am confident that my education and experience, especially my year as editor of Mississippi College Collegiate magazine,  fit nicely with the job requirements. I have also worked with Clinton Courier to put together a quarterly newsletter that goes out to the community of Clinton.

I would like to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you. The Coordinator of Public Relations position is the ideal opportunity that I seek. Please feel free to call me at (925) 123-4567 if I can provide you with any additional information.

Again, thank you for the interview and consideration.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

SALARIES & JOB OFFERS 

Have a job offer in-hand and wonder what comes next? Or, would you just like to be prepared for when the day comes? Surprisingly, there's a lot more to consider than just the salary when evaluating a job offer.

Congratulations, you got a job offer! Now what?

As you evaluate a job offer, consider:

Company/Position Fit

• Are the work environment (team, culture...), position duties, and management style a good fit?

• What are the opportunities for growth?

• What skills or experience can you expect to gain?

Salary/Benefits

• Are you being offered a fair market value for your skills and experience? How does this offer compare to similar job titles and organizations?

• What employee benefits are offered by the organization? Do these benefits offset the salary?

• What is the job market like right now for current students and recent grads?

Sample Acceptance Message

Dear Ms. Shook:

As follow-up to our conversation on June 24, 20XX, I would like to confirm my acceptance of your employment offer. The position of Human Resources Assistant will provide exactly the kind of experience I have been seeking. I feel very confident that I can make a significant contribution to the City of Madison, and I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me.

As we discussed, I will report to work on Monday, July 6, 20XX. I understand that I will have a starting salary of 30K. Again, thank you for your offer. I will keep in touch as my start date nears.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

 

Sample Decline Message

Dear Dr. Railey:

Thank you for meeting with me on Friday to discuss the opportunity for employment within your Research and Development Department. The enthusiasm and warmth of the Entergy people I met impressed me, and the position is challenging.

However, while I appreciate your generous offer, after considerable thought I have decided to decline the position. I have accepted a position elsewhere that I feel is better suited to my long-term goals.

Again, thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Professional Communication 

Communicating with Employers by Phone

• Make sure you are calling from a quiet location, free of any potential distractions.

• Speak professionally, clearly and with confidence.

• Smile 

• Always be very polite with administrative staff and assistants.

• Check and respond to all messages promptly (within 24 hours). You may need to call several times before you are able to connect with the employer. Be mindful of the time you are calling (what are the business hours of the employer you are contacting?)

• If nervous, create a phone script. See below for phone script templates.

• Keep your call short and to the point. Always be prepared to take notes and have your schedule available in case they would like to arrange a meeting.

• End your call politely by thanking the employer for their time.

• If you receive a call from an anonymous number and you think it may be a prospective employer, it's okay to let the call go to voicemail, especially if you are rushing to class or are at all unprepared to take the call. Check the voicemail and call the employer back when you are calm, collected, and prepared to speak with both your resume and the job description in front of you.

• If you are leaving a voicemail, speak slowly and clearly. Be sure to state your first and last name at the beginning of the message and state the number you can be reached at two times. ("again, that number is .......").

Communicating with Employers by Email

• Use professional business letter formatting, and avoid the use of colors, unusual fonts and emoticons.

• Include a subject line that is clear and concise. Do not use slang or short forms. Common short forms used when texting are unacceptable when emailing, and create a negative first impression.

• Use a professional greeting, avoiding the use of informal language such as "Hey", "Hi there" or "What's up". "Dear Mr. or Mrs." or "To the hiring managers at ....." are examples of professional greetings.

• Be precise and ensure your message is clear to the recipient.

• Proofread and spell check your email before you hit send. Consider having someone else read your email as a second round of editing.

• Check your email regularly and respond to new messages promptly.

• Create an email signature with your contact information and a link to your portfolio (if applicable) or LinkedIn profile.

Teamwork

• Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.
• Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?
• Describe a time when you struggled to build a relationship with someone important. How did you eventually overcome that?
• We all make mistakes we wish we could take back. Tell me about a time you wish you’d handled a situation differently with a colleague.
• Tell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn’t very responsive. What did you do?

Ability to Adapt

• Tell me about a time you were under a lot of pressure. What was going on, and how did you get through it?
• Describe a time when your team or company was undergoing some change. How did that impact you, and how did you adapt?
• Tell me about the first job you’ve ever had. What did you do to learn the ropes?
• Give me an example of a time when you had to think on your feet in order to delicately extricate yourself from a difficult or awkward situation.
• Tell me about a time you failed. How did you deal with the situation?

Time Management Skills

• Tell me about a time you had to be very strategic in order to meet all your top priorities.
• Describe a long-term project that you managed. How did you keep everything moving along in a timely manner?
• Sometimes it’s just not possible to get everything on your to-do list done. Tell me about a time your responsibilities got a little overwhelming. What did you do?
• Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you go about ensuring that you would meet your objective?
• Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?

Communication Skills

• Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully persuade someone to see things your way at work.
• Describe a time when you were the resident technical expert. What did you do to make sure everyone was able to understand you?
• Tell me about a time when you had to rely on written communication to get your ideas across to your team.
• Give me an example of a time when you had to explain something fairly complex to a frustrated client. How did you handle this delicate situation?
• Tell me about a successful presentation you gave and why you think it was a hit.