Graduate Students

Take the time in your first year to complete these career and professional readiness strategies.

Know Yourself & Explore Options

• Explore your interests, values, and skills
• Identify the skills you need to get the job you want
• Visit W.I.S.E. to explore your strengths and interests
• Explore career options through career conversations/informational interviews and shadowing employers and alumni

Take Action

• Identify and build your next steps towards your career goals
• Explore career options and learn job search strategies
• Meet and network with graduate students and faculty in your department
• Attend networking events with employers and University of Central Missouri alumni
• Attend career-related workshops hosted by the Career and Life Design Center and Graduate Studies
• Update your resume/CV, Handshake profile, and LinkedIn profile on a regular basis

Explore career and professional development opportunities.

Get Focused

• Take on a leadership role relevant to your interests (i.e. mentorship, graduate student organizations, etc.)
• Expand your skills and experiences though departmental committees or volunteer opportunities
• Create an personal pitch about your research and experience to use at conferences and at networking events

Take Action

• Choose volunteer work, a research position, or graduate assistant opportunities to gain experience relevant to your career goals
• Find job and internship opportunities through Handshake
• Attend conferences or professional development events in your field
• Build your professional brand and expand your network by updating your Handshake profile, creating a LinkedIn profile, and connecting with alumni
• Get feedback on your CV, resume, and cover letter at the Career and Life Design Center’s Walk-In Studio Experience (W.I.S.E.), in person or virtually

Prepare for the transition into the workforce and advancing your career by engaging in career and professional readiness tasks.

Connect

• Take advantage of career readiness resources offered through professional organizations (i.e. training, services) and scholarly and professional conferences (i.e. workshops, networking events)

Take Action

• Attend UCM-hosted career fairs/events and other employer events to connect with recruiters
• Inform network contacts that you’re actively looking for a job and secure references
• Make use of websites, job boards, and Handshake to apply for positions
• Tailor your resume/CV and cover letter to jobs that interest you
• Attend career-related workshops hosted by the Career and Life Design Center and Graduate Studies

Start by identifying the specific job or career area you’re aiming for. If you’re still deciding, connect with a W.I.S.E. coach for guidance.

A broad, one‑size‑fits‑all resume won’t stand out. A targeted resume highlights what makes you a strong match for a particular role, and shows employers exactly how you can contribute to their organization.

Tips for targeting your resume:

• Emphasize the skills and experiences most relevant to your goal.
• Choose past roles or projects that align with the position, even if they’re not your most recent.
• Use bullet points to show accomplishments, not just duties.
• Lead with the most relevant tasks under each experience.
  Example: applying for a writing role? Put writing‑related bullets first.
• Avoid copying job descriptions. Focus on results: improving a process, saving time or resources, or contributing to a successful project.

What is a CV?

While a resume is a one- or two-page summary of work experience, a CV doesn’t have a page limit. It is a much more detailed account of an applicant’s accomplishments, including education, teaching and clinical experience, research, publications, presentations, grants, volunteer positions and membership in professional organizations.

When should I use a CV?

A CV is commonly used when applying for graduate or professional school, academic positions, research opportunities, fellowships, and certain scholarships or grants.

How long should a CV be?

A CV does not have a strict page limit. For students and early-career professionals, a CV is typically between two and four pages.

What sections are typically included in a CV?

Most CVs include contact information, education, research experience, teaching experience, professional experience, presentations or publications, awards or honors, and relevant skills.

Should I tailor my CV for each opportunity?

While a CV provides a comprehensive overview of your accomplishments, it is still helpful to organize and emphasize the experiences most relevant to the opportunity you are applying for.

How often should I update my CV?

You should update your CV regularly as you gain new experiences, such as completing research projects, presenting at conferences, earning awards, or publishing work.

Can the Career & Life Design Center help me with my CV?

Yes. Come meet with a WISE Coach during our WISE hours.

A cover letter is your chance to spark interest, show alignment with the position, and invite the employer to explore your résumé. Every letter should be customized to an individual job and employer; no templates, no copy‑paste.

How to Build a Strong Cover Letter

1. Learn About the Organization

• Visit the employer’s website and look at their mission, culture, and recent work
• Identify why the organization genuinely interests you.

2. Study the Position Posting

• Highlight key skills, responsibilities, and qualifications
• Make notes about where your background (experiences, skills, etc.) overlaps

3. Pick Your Best Examples

• Choose 2–3 experiences (courses, jobs, leadership, projects, involvement) that clearly show you can do what the employer needs
• Think beyond job duties: what did you achieve or contribute?

4. Connect the Dots Clearly

• Explain how your experience directly prepares you for this specific opportunity
• Focus on clarity and relevance over length, but keep to 1-page

• Know what you want – Identify the roles, industries, and work environments that fit your goals. Different fields hire on different timelines — plan accordingly.
• Be intentional with your search – Set aside time to look for positions and tailor your resume/CV and cover letters to each opportunity. Use multiple platforms (Handshake, LinkedIn, professional associations) and track where you apply.
• Leverage your network – Talk with faculty, alumni, classmates, and employers. Networking should happen before, during, and after applications.
• Choose strong references – Ask faculty or supervisors who can speak to your graduate‑level strengths. Keep them informed when you’re moving forward in a process.
• Evaluate and adjust – If you’re not seeing results, refresh your application materials, broaden your search, or seek interview practice.
• Find the right fit – Research each organization’s culture, values, and inclusivity practices. Ask thoughtful questions during interviews to assess whether it aligns with your priorities.
• You’re not alone – UCM Career and Life Design can help at any point, from refining your materials to strategizing your search.

There is no one way to build your network, and that’s because your network will likely not all come from the same place. Rather, there are several tools and locations graduate students can use to build their network here at the University of Central Missouri:

• UCM-hosted career fairs and events
• Non-UCM hosted events
• Graduate Studies
• Graduate Student Association
• Central Connect (student events and organizations)
• UCM offices, colleges and schools
• Alumni Relations and Development (Alumni Foundation)
• Handshake (People)
• University of Central Missouri LinkedIn Alumni Tool

Students can also work on building their network at professional conferences, events, and resource organizations. Networking and building relationships can happen anywhere!

Interviewing is an important skill that is often learned and practiced over time.

While a resume can land you an interview, a great interview(s) is what gets you the job.

There are many things you can do before, during, and after an interview to successful present yourself as a candidate.

To enhance your interviewing skills, visit W.I.S.E to meet with a coach for interview coaching or to participate in a mock interview.