Career Services Resource Library

• 16 Personalities - This 10-minute online assessment helps connect your interests and skills to one of 16 personality types and then helps you see related careers and potential opportunities.
• Career One Stop Interest Assessment - This quick 5-minute, 30-question assessment helps you discover careers that match what you like and don't like to do. It's powered by the O*NET database and provides reliable career suggestions based on your interests.
• Career Perfect Free Tests - Answer these simple 24 questions to see what your work preference may be.
• CareerExplorer - This comprehensive 30-minute assessment uses advanced technology to match your personality, interests, and work preferences with over 1,000 career options. You'll receive detailed insights about your behavioral traits and get accurate career matches with percentage compatibility scores.
• MAPP Assessment - This 22-minute assessment evaluates your workplace motivations, interests, and natural preferences to help you understand what drives you professionally. The free version provides your top career areas and basic insights, while more detailed reports are available for purchase.
• Myers Briggs Personality Test - Explore personality types and related career information through this well-known personality framework that helps you understand how you prefer to interact with the world.
• My Next Move Interest Profiler - This assessment tool helps you discover work activities and careers that match your interests. The O*NET Interest Profiler offers personalized career suggestions based on your interests and level of work experience, making it easy to explore new career possibilities.
• Skills Matcher – Career One Stop - Tell this tool about your current skills and it will show you career options that might be a good fit. It's perfect for students who want to see how their existing abilities can translate into different career paths.
• VIA Character Strengths - Discover your top character strengths from 24 universal traits that make up your personality. This assessment helps you understand your natural talents like creativity, leadership, or kindness, and shows how to apply these strengths in your career and personal life.

• Career One Stop - This comprehensive government website offers career assessments to help you find your best career fit, plus tools for job searching and information about unemployment benefits. It's your one-stop resource for exploring careers, finding training programs, and connecting with local career services.
• Career Guides – Go Government - Explore career opportunities in federal government across 15+ different fields like engineering, creative arts, data science, and healthcare. Each guide shows you what types of jobs people in these fields do, which agencies hire them, and sample positions to help you understand government career paths.
• Explore the Toolkit – Study the Humanities - This data-driven toolkit shows the career success and earning potential of humanities majors through interactive graphics and research. It demonstrates that humanities graduates find employment at comparable rates to other majors and often see strong income growth over their careers.
• MyMajors -  Take a short assessment specifically designed for UC students to discover which majors at the University of Cincinnati might be the best fit for your interests and goals. This tool provides personalized results based on UC's specific academic programs and can help you explore major change options.
• O'Net Online - This detailed career exploration database provides comprehensive information about over 900 occupations, including job requirements, characteristics, and available opportunities. It's perfect for researching specific careers in-depth with reliable, government-backed data about the world of work.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook -This site, created by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides in-depth resources for thousands of different career paths. For each path, it describes general salary information, tips on how to enter this field, and a solid overview of common workplace expectations and environments.
• Picture Your Career - This free creative workbook uses visual thinking techniques to help you discover your strengths, develop your career vision, and design a path forward. It's packed with interactive exercises to help you visualize and plan your career journey.
• What Can I Do With This Major - Learn about the typical career paths for students with your major and the types of employers that hire graduates with your major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate by articulating the value of your major. Continue your research on majors and careers through major-specific links. You have to enter this site through this page to gain access to the resources.

• UC Cover Letter Guide - Learn how to write effective cover letters that get hiring managers to read your resume. This comprehensive UC guide includes templates, formatting tips, and specific strategies for highlighting your qualifications and demonstrating why you're the right fit for each position you apply to.

• Labor Market Projections - This government resource provides long-term employment projections and workforce data to help you understand which careers are expected to grow or decline over the next decade. Use this data to make informed decisions about career paths and see employment trends across different industries and occupations.
• ODJFS Labor Market Trends - The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides current labor market statistics, unemployment rates, and employment trends specifically for Ohio workers. This site offers valuable data about job growth, wages, and hiring patterns across different regions and industries within the state.

• 13 Dining Etiquette Tips for Your Next Business Meal - Whether it's for an interview or at your next job, at some point you will have to dine while talking about business. People lead busy lives but everyone has to eat! These tips are detailed and will help you become a natural at multitasking between food and work.

• Handshake Blog & Tutorials: The Handshake blog has many resources that can help you navigate using this resource as a student or employer.
• Handshake Profile Tips: Employers love to see a Handshake profile that is specific and clear. This resource walks you through things that can help your profile stand out. 
• Top 100 Companies: Discover popular employers that are actively hiring college students on Handshake today.
• Your Handshake Profile - Get started on Handshake with this basic profile setup walkthrough to begin your search for a career.

Until getting the interview, everything about you has only been on paper and you're only a 2D figure to your potential employer. The interview is the time to demonstrate your professional attitude that came across in all your paper documents.

• BigInterview is a virtual interview practice tool that mimics a real-life job interview. It also offers video and written lessons on professional communication skills, workplace etiquette, social media presence, wardrobe, body language and much more. BigInterview combines training and practice to help improve interview skills and build confidence. The service is free for UC students and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• 4 Moves You Didn't Realize Make You Look Unprofessional in an Interview: Professionalism is a delicate balance between being genuine and being restrained, both in person and via social media. It's important to make sure you're being true to yourself but don't burn bridges before you even have the job interview.
• 7 Ways to Banish (Almost) All of Your Pre-Interview Jitters: You get nervous before an interview? The good news is that you're not alone and employers understand the pressure of interviewing. Give yourself a break, take a breather, and use these suggestions to prep for an interview.
• 10 Types of Interviews and How to Ace Them: Did you know there's more than one, even more than two, types of interviews? Each one requires different preparation, knowledge, and a level of social intelligence. Make sure you know what to expect for the type of interview you have.
• 30 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview: While some questions and statements might seem like common knowledge to you, you'd be surprised what some people will say during a job interview. Make sure to check out this list just to avoid any potentially embarrassing situations.
• 51 Interview Questions You Should Be Asking: An interview isn't just about the questions you are being asked. At the end of every interview, the employer should give you a chance to ask questions, don't miss your shot! We recommend having at least 3-5 questions prepared. This will demonstrate your interest in the company and ensure you'll leave a lasting impression while getting your questions answered.
• How to Answer the 31 Most Common Interview Questions: There are some questions you'll hear in nearly every interview. Be prepared to answer them with these helpful hints.
• Phone Interviews: How To Put Your Best Voice Forward: Phone interviews vary from in-person interviews because you have to make an impression using only your voice. Here are some tips to make sure your personality and professionalism are coming across using only one of your assets.
• Smart Job Interview Advice No One Tells You: The interview is broken into three major parts. Here's how to make the most of each part in order to leave a positive and lasting impression.
• The Best Way to Answer "What's Your Biggest Weakness?": It's the question that everyone struggles to answer: what's your biggest weakness? This is the best, and most authentic, way to answer that difficult question.
• The Muse: We make study guides for exams so why not make one for the most important test of all? This list contains more than 50 of the most common job interview questions will help you create the perfect study guide to ace your interview.
• The STAR Job Interview Technique: Behavioral interview questions are formatted to give employers a window into the way you react in different situations. Using the STAR method is a simple way to break down your role and impact on each event and situation in order to fully answer the interviewer's question.
• The Ultimate Interview Guide: 30 Prep Tips for Job Interview Success: Practicing your answers for routine interview questions is good preparation for a job interview but preparation goes beyond your answers. Knowing the company and being in the right headspace are crucial to success.
• Why Phone Interviews Are So Hard, and How to Ace Them Anyway: Phone interviews are very similar to in-person interviews expect for one paramount difference - the interviewer can't see your face. Body language is half of the way we communicate and without that piece something can feel like it's missing. These steps for a phone interview can help bridge that gap while also avoid other common phone interview mistakes.

• Career Shift: Create a free account to customize your job search for careers in your field.
  
• College Central Network: Search for full-time, part-time, seasonal, co-op/internship, and volunteer positions; contact employers and upload your resume.
• Handshake: Handshake is the career platform used by the University of Cincinnati where students, career centers and recruiters come to meet, talk and share opportunities.
• LinkedIn Jobs:A customizable profile and search tool, and also our #1 recommended social networking site, to link students with over 35 million professionals. Harness the power of your network to uncover insights such as who you know at a company, providing you an edge in your job search. Be sure to check out our co-op/Internship search too!
• USAJobs: The official job listing site for the federal government. Shown are employment search, information center, veteran information and forms.
• VolunteerMatch: Your ultimate resource for finding that volunteering position that will set you apart on your resume.

LinkedIn is still the most professionally used social media platform. Being a member of this community can expand your network and help you discover potential jobs. Make sure to have a complete and professional profile in order to be noticed by top recruiters of your dream company.

• 4 Key Elements of a Killer LinkedIn Summary: Besides your professional headshot and your tagline, the summary is the first thing a potential employer will really know about you. Be engaging and unique with some of these helpful tips.
• Great Resumes Fast PDF- Use this guide and follow the 5 simple steps to find a job using Linkedin.
• How to Build a LinkedIn Profile That Turns Heads: "How to Build a LinkedIn Profile That Turns Heads" - in a good way! These four simple steps is all it takes to ensure you're getting the attention of recruiters and your connections.
• LinkedIn Jobs: A customizable profile and search tool, and also our #1 recommended social networking site, to link students with over 35 million professionals. Harness the power of your network to uncover insights such as who you know at a company, providing you an edge in your job search. Be sure to check out the co-op/Internship search tool!
• LinkedIn ProFinder: A freelance platform to connect freelancers with real business projects.
• How Recent Grads Can Leverage LinkedIn To Get A Job: One of the most helpful tools for recent grads, or soon to be grads, is LinkedIn - if you know how to use it correctly.
• LinkedIn Profile Examples: Need some help getting started with your LinkedIn profile? Want to revamp what you already have? Check out this profile examples broken down by section for some inspiration.

• Care Center: Volunteers are a big part of this non-profit organization. Lend a helping hand to provide relief to those experiencing poverty in the Cincinnati area.
• CityLink Center: CityLink volunteers can dedicate their time to help guide clients along their journey towards an improved life. With many different roles to choose from, there is a good chance something will work for you!
• UC Volunteer Portal: Looking to give back to your community but you don’t know where to start? UC’s Center for Community Engagement resource page is the perfect place to find volunteer work near you. Search under different causes to find which agency would be best for you!

Having a strong network is vital to finding a job. Building up your network takes time and energy but is worth it knowing it's the most common way people are hired. It's not necessarily what you know, it's who you know.

• 7 Conversation Starters Better Than "What Do You Do?" and 7 That Are Even Worse: How do you start a conversation with a stranger you want to connect with? Here are some simple one-liners you can use, and some not to use.
• 8 Networking Conversation Starters that Work Every Time: Networking can be intimidating but there are conversations that will always help break the ice and that everyone can relate to. Here are some to get you started.
• Informational Interviewing: Looking to build your network? Use these informational interview questions to find the answers you are looking for. 
• Hunter: Search for professional’s email address to connect with and create a relationship and build your network. 
• The 5 People You Need in Your Professional Life: Whether you realize it or not, people in your network all help you achieve certain outcomes. Having these 5 types of people will help you succeed and advance your professional career.

Professionalism means a lot of different things. Not sure where to start? Check out these resources. For additional information, or to get connected with local companies that offer free and/or discounted professional attire, set up an appointment with UC Blue Ash Career Services.

• Decoding: Dress Codes 101: This quick infographic by Mannix Marketing is an easy and quick guide to how to dress at the office and for more formal events.
• What Not to Wear to Your Next Job Interview: Interviews are all about first impressions and what you wear can go a long way in telling people who you are before you've even started speaking. Take these steps to ensure you're professionalism comes across in your first impression.

Your resume is one of the most powerful tools you'll create to help you market yourself to potential employers — so you gotta nail this! Your resume needs to communicate exactly how your knowledge, skills and abilities make you the best candidate for the job.

UC "How to Write a Resume" Resource

Additional Resources:

• Fundamentals of Resume Writing Guide: This overview serves as a guide to help you to create and organize your resume to make it stand out to employers.
• Great Resume Fast Resources Library: This link provides an array of free resources to help improve the looks of your resume, plus which words to avoid and add.
• How Do I Use Resume Keywords: Help your resume stand out by adding these keywords and improve your chances at landing an interview!
• The Muse Resume Tips: Creating a resume that will wow employers is a hard task to achieve. This article gives a step-by-step guideline to help create a winning resume. 
• The Muse Dos and Don’ts: Wouldn’t life be easier if we were told what to do? Well, this article lists 42 Dos and Don’ts of resume-writing to relieve just a little bit of the stress that comes with job hunting.
• What Is the Best Format for A Resume: Did you know hiring managers only look at resumes for 6 to 7 seconds? Use these helpful tips to make the most of your resume format.
• Zety Resume Critique: Do you have a resume but you’re not sure if it is up to par? Use this free checklist to review your resume and make any improvements that will enhance your chances of scoring the interview. 

Your “brand” is a great way to highlight your skills, experiences, and professionalism. Think of it as a “first impression” that allows you to really highlight who you are.  

• 4 Ways To Give Your Brand A Little Swagger: Give your brand some swagger! Being professional doesn't mean you can't be passionate and fun. Know your brand and your industry and how they align.
• How to Craft Your Personal Brand Statement: Crafting your personal brand can help ensure your social media profiles portray your professional self so make sure your brand is a true depiction of you.
• 10 Ways to Clean Up Your Social Media Profile for a Job Hunt: Social media can make or break your chances of getting the job. Employers will be weary if you don't have social media. When you are posting on your accounts make sure that you follow these guidelines so you can 1) get the interview and 2) the job!

Negotiating your salary can be stressful and worrisome for both parties. These articles discuss different ways to approach the sensitive subject with your supervisor and when the time is right.

• 5 Smart Approaches to Take When You're Asked to Name Your Salary (Besides Just Writing All the Zeros): When naming a price know your value and what benefits you can offer the company. Always put yourself in your employer’s shoes and consider what justifications they want to hear.
  
• 5 Rules of Salary Negotiation: Don't let the fear of being perceived as pushy or feeling uncomfortable about the negotiation process keep you from earning the salary you deserve.
• 6 Tips for Negotiating with Someone More Powerful Than You: Your mindset during salary negotiation can determine how an employer views your request. Stay calm, stay positive, and use these tips to help set your mind at ease.
• 6 Resources for Salary Research: When you're negotiating your salary, you should know the statistics on current salary for your job title. Use these resources to help you determine your professional value.
• 10 Tricks to Getting a Higher Salary: This quick infographic is a great way to prep for salary negotiation when you have a short time window. These simple steps summarize the large points of salary negotiation.
• A Fail-Safe Guide to Salary Negotiation: Confidence is key! But there are a few other keys that might be helpful for your success. This slideshow presents a more in depth look at some vital steps for salary negotiation.
• Job Seekers Free Salary Calculator: Discussing money can get a little uncomfortable, not knowing what is too little or too much to ask for. Try searching for the average salary of your occupation in your area to determine what is appropriate to ask for.