Start: Building Your Professional Foundation

Embarking on your career journey is both exciting and important. As you step onto campus, you're not just gaining academic knowledge—you're also laying the groundwork for your future professional success. The Hegi Family Career Development Team is here to support you with a wealth of resources and opportunities for growth, exploration, and self-discovery. 

From crafting effective resumes to building a professional brand, we provide the tools you need to make a strong impression on potential employers. Schedule an appointment with a Hegi counselor for personalized guidance and ensure you're well-prepared for the exciting path ahead.

Career Exploration and Assessment

We encourage students to begin their career journey with career planning assessments, which can help you understand your strengths, interests, and values, guiding you toward career paths that fit you best. It’s okay if you’re unsure of your future direction right now—we’re here to help you figure it out.

Our variety of assessment tools serve as a roadmap, helping you explore different possibilities and make informed decisions about your major and career. These assessments provide a strong foundation for making choices that lead to a fulfilling and successful career.

 

Exploration Tools

O*Net Online 
Explore careers and analyze jobs effortlessly with this tool! O*NET OnLine offers in-depth insights into career trajectories, essential skills, and personal interests.

Assessment Tools

FOCUS 2 
Focus2 offers several assessments that can help you outline your career interests, professional strengths, skills, values, and your personal development needs. Focus2 generates prolific information on various occupations and industries that align with your assessments.

Building A Brand

Building a strong professional brand means presenting yourself with confidence, authenticity, and consistency. It's about more than just dressing the part—it's mastering communication and etiquette to engage meaningfully with others. Your brand reflects your professionalism and values, shaping the connections you build and the opportunities you attract.

Professional dress is crucial in job searches and internships, as it shapes employer perceptions. Dressing appropriately conveys professionalism and respect, reflecting your readiness and understanding of workplace expectations while building credibility and confidence as a candidate. 

Key Reasons Why to Dress Professionally: 

  1. Demonstrates respect 
  2. Provides another level of confidence
  3. Leaves a great first impression

Check out the guides below for comprehensive assistance.

Hegi has partnered with My Career Closet to offer curated resources and support for students. Create your free account with your ÃÛÌÒ½´email address, and access resources under the members tab for guides and blogs about attire, dress, and industry specific knowledge.

Need help making sure your dressed for success? Make an Appointment with a Hegi Counselor on ÃÛÌÒ½´12twenty.

In addition to looking the part you must also be able to speak in a manner which provides another impression that you will leave. Your email serves as an opportunity to establish a meaningful connection and convey your intentions clearly and effectively. Whether you're seeking guidance, mentorship, or networking opportunities, the tone should be courteous and concise, showcasing your professionalism and understanding of the recipient's time constraints.

Do’s of an effective professional communication 

  • Express your admiration for their expertise and achievements
  • Build a connection with some common ground between each other 
  • Articulate your purpose for reaching out.
  • Create a tracker sheet of conversations and dates spoken 
  • Be conscious of every ones time 

Need help crafting the email? Make an appointment with a Hegi Counselor on ÃÛÌÒ½´12twenty.

Resumes

A professional resume is a crucial tool in your career development, especially as you transition through college. It serves as a snapshot of your qualifications, skills, and accomplishments, often forming the first impression an employer or recruiter has of you. To ensure your resume stands out, it should be polished and well-organized, featuring clear and distinctive sections that effectively highlight your experiences while maintaining consistent formatting. A strong resume not only lists your activities but strategically presents them in a way that aligns with the job or opportunity you’re pursuing, helping you demonstrate your qualifications and make a compelling case for why you’re the right fit.  

Questions? Make an appointment with a Hegi Counselor on .

General Resume

This formatted ÃÛÌÒ½´template provided here can serve as a valuable tool for various job opportunities, internships, and organizational endeavors. Refer to the examples below as you embark on crafting your resume.

Ready to get started? .

Additional examples for different classifications

 

Industry Specific Resume

These formatted templates can be useful for more targeted industries i.e. STEM, and for professional school i.e. Medical, Dental, Law. Here are examples you can follow:

Creating Strong Bullet Points

Creating strong resume bullets is crucial for showcasing your skills and accomplishments. Each bullet point should clearly communicate what you did, how you did it, and the impact. Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Result.  

  1. Action Verb: Start each bullet with a dynamic verb like "Led," "Developed," or "Managed" to make your contributions sound impactful.
  2. Describe the Task: After the action verb, briefly describe the task or responsibility you handled. Be specific about what you did, so employers can understand your role.
  3. Result or Impact: Conclude the bullet point with the result of your actions, using measurable outcomes when possible, such as "Increased social media engagement by 20%" or "Reduced wait times by 15%."

Example of a strong resume bullet:

"Organized and led a fundraising event that raised $5,000 for a local charity, exceeding the target by 25%."

For further assistance, check these resources before meeting with a counselor for review: 

  • : Learn to transform regular descriptions into strong ones.   
  • : Get additional tips for crafting strong descriptions. 
  • : Access a list of verbs to avoid repetitive language.

Cover Letters

The purpose of a cover letter is to make a compelling case for yourself as a candidate for a particular job, and it complements what’s in your resume. It’s an opportunity to tell an employer more about you than just what they’ll see in your work history. Showcasing the detail impact and skill set you have that best matches the role in which you are applying .

  • : Examples of cover letters for various job types plus a checklist of what to include in a cover letter. 
  • : This example provides additional topics to consider when creating your cover letter. 
  • : This is an editable Word document to use as a starting point for your cover letter.