Career Resources - University of Houston
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University Career Services

Students

Career Resources

University Career Services provides many resources and services to students and alumni.

Below is our Quick Career Resource Guide. Our team has compiled this information to provide easy and efficient access for students and alumni to view relevant career resources. The list is separated by focus area and within each section, viewers can find specific videos, links to helpful websites, or worksheets.

Quick Career Resource Guide:

  1. Major and Career Exploration
  2. Job and Internship Preparation
  3. Career Fairs
  4. Graduate and Professional School
  5. Finances and Salary Negotiation
  6. Identity-Based Resources

Major and Career Exploration

Are you Career Ready?

  • Career Readiness is the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college students for a successful transition into the workplace.
  • The 8 competencies are highlighted in our Career Readiness Infographic.

Career Development Action Plans and Checklist

Career Assessments

  • Career or Vocational Assessment tools are designed to help students (1) identify their career and interests (2) help students explore their personality and how their preferences affect their interactions in the workplace (3) clarify their values, specifically what matters to them, e.g. making lots of money or feeling that what they do makes a difference, working alone or in a team.
  • We offer the following FREE assessment:
    • Focus 2 - Focus 2 is an innovative approach to career exploration and planning. This online tool is customized to connect your assessment results to the University of Houston's majors. Student instructions for Focus 2.
    • Explore Your Holland Codes to learn more about interests and careers that might be a good fit for you!
  • We offer the following assessments for $15:
  • Recorded Workshops

Choosing a Major

Job and Internship Preparation

Resume, CV, Cover Letter

  • Resume
    • A resume shows your relevant professional experiences, education, skills, volunteer activities, and honors in a written formal document and is used to apply for jobs or internships.
    • Sample Resume
  • Resume platforms
    • VMock SMART Resume Platform
      • is the top-rated professional resume writing and job search strategy business in Houston
    • Cover Letter
      • Cover letters serve as a written introduction of yourself expressing interest in a position within an organization. Cover letters are tailored for each position and highlight specific skills and abilities that relate to the job.
      • Sample Cover Letter
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
      • A curriculum vitae or CV is traditionally used in academic settings and tends to be multiple pages and could be used when applying for graduate or professional school, research positions, academic positions, or grant proposals
      • Sample CV
    • Recorded Workshops

Interview Preparation

Interview Resources

Informational Interviews

Regarding Gender Identity and Attire

  • Your research on a particular employer or field, in addition to your comfort level, will assist in your choice to wear clothes associated with your gender identity or to wear gender-neutral clothing.
  • Dress Code Policy
  • University of Houston University Career Services (UCS) has developed a dress code policy based on employer feedback for all Career Fairs occurring during the Fall and Spring academic years. This includes virtual career fairs. UCS requires students to dress professionally in order to represent the University of Houston in a positive and professional business manner to those individuals visiting our campus.
  • UCS advises to dress in business professional for virtual career events, and UCS asks students to refrain from wearing the following to in-person UCS Career Fair:
    • T-shirts
    • Short-sleeved shirts (tank tops or cut-off shirts)
    • Exposed backs, arms, and midriffs
    • Sneakers
    • Flip Flops
    • Casual Sandals
    • Shorts (Cargo, jeans, or khakis)
    • Jeans
    • Athletic Gear (Sweatpants, workout shorts, yoga pants, and hooded sweatshirts)
    • Hats

Professional Dress Resources

Currently enrolled UH-Main and UH-Sugarland campus students have access to the Professional Dress Assistance resources below. Please check the links to their websites and social media accounts for updates.

  • Career Gear: Career Gear's Philosophy is that successful employment serves as a catalyst for men to emerge as better fathers and leaders. Since 2004, Career Gear has helped over 7,000 men-in-need builds better lives. Career Gear offers services to low-income, job-ready men of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. COVID-19 Update: Career Gear will continue to serve career readiness needs and those who have obtained gainful employment in the last 30 days. However, these appointments will only be available on Wednesdays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
  • Dress for Success: Dress for Success Houston promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since 1998, Dress for Success Houston has provided business attire to more than 50,000 women in the Houston community. COVID-19 Update: Referral can be made from our office by selecting a professional attire appointment in Cougar Pathway, and complete the Dress for Success Survey after the appointment.
  • UCS Career Closet: The UCS Career Closet is a service offered by UH University Career Services, where students care to rent business professional clothing. Business professional suits come in either pantsuits or skirt suits and are available in multiple sizes and cuts. COVID-19 Update: Due to COVID-19 concerns, we are no longer accepting professional attire donations at this time. We will institute the following precautious with the growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
    • STEP 1: Eligible students will schedule a "Career Closet" Appointment through Cougar Pathway via AccessUH.
      1. A student will arrive; check Cougar Pathway to confirm they have an approved career closet appointment. To verify availability, appointments must be scheduled one day prior.
    • STEP 2: Students will complete a career closet survey to determine the appropriate size. The student will arrive for their scheduled no contact "Career Closet" Appointment at the UCS office (Student Service Center 1, Room 106) and work with a UCS staff member to pick up the preselected suit jacket and pants or skirt.
      1. The career closet survey will be completed prior to arriving at your career closet appointment. In an effort to have a safe and contactless experience, there will be not an opportunity to try on the suit. It is important to take precise measurements and follow the size charts included in the survey.
      2. If suit size was shared in the survey and is available, it will be hung on the clothes rack behind the front desk with the student's name and PSID.
      3. If the student does not know their size, UCS staff will escort the student back to the UCS Career Closet (CC) and allow them to try on suits until they find one that fits appropriately. The student may use the changing room in the closet or they can use the restroom.
    • STEP 3: Once a suit has been chosen, the student will work with the UCS staff member to complete the suit sign out and pay $10 via credit or debit card only. Students must return the garments to the UCS office (Student Service Center 1, Room 106), or fines and UCS services penalties, will be incurred.

Networking / LinkedIn

Career Fairs

Career Fair Preparation

  • What is a career fair?
    • A Career Fair is an event where recruiters and students can meet to discuss potential internship or career opportunities. During a Career Fair (traditionally) recruiters will stand at booths and students will walk around the event, stopping at booths to introduce themselves to the recruiter and give their resume. At the University of Houston, there are multiple Career Fairs per semester. Below is a link to all UH Career Fairs. NOTE: Some Career Fairs restrict attendance to specific majors.
    • Career Fair FAQs - Know before you go!
  • Check out our list of upcoming Career Fairs
  • How to prepare for a career fair?
    • RSVP for the Career Fair via Cougar Pathway (Only applicable to UCS Career Fairs)
    • Review the employers attending on Cougar Pathway and research their mission, vision, and open positions. Use our Employer Research Worksheet to note your research.
    • Decide which employers you would like to meet with and plan a strategy for speaking with them
    • Prepare your resume with the help of a career counselor
    • Review our Career Fair Preparation Worksheet
    • Practice answering the “tell me about yourself” question or work on your Elevator Pitch
    • Pick our your Business Professional attire (Dress Code Policy)
    • Arrive early to park, prepare and relax!
  • Career fair etiquette
    • Dress Professionally
    • Bring mints to maintain fresh breath (no gum)
    • Do not wear strong cologne or perfume
    • Do not bring a backpack or large purse
    • Shake hands firmly, but not too firm
    • Turn off or silence your cell phone
    • Be enthusiastic and positive during the fair
    • Be courteous of the recruiter’s time
    • Thank the recruiter for their time
    • Follow up with the recruiter, if possible

Graduate and Professional School

Preparing for Graduate or Professional School

Finances and Salary Negotiation

Financial Literacy

Salary Negotiation

Identity-Based Resources

Resources for Community Members in Graduate School

Resources for Community Members with Criminal Records

Resources for First-Generation College Students

Resources for Veterans Community Members

Resources for African Americans Community Members

Resources for LGBTQ Community Members

Resources for Hispanic/Latino Community Members

Resources for Women Community Members

Resources for International Community Members

Resources for Community Members with Disabilities

Resources for Undocumented Students