I recently received an offer from PriceWaterhouseCoopers for a summer internship and I could not have done it without UMKC Career Services. They helped me update and perfect my resume before sending it out to employers. I used CareerExec to set up six interviews with accounting firms from the area and held the interviews on campus which made it convenient for me. I had a mock-interview with career services before going into my interviews with recruiters and it really helped me improve the way I interview. Last semester I attended an Etiquette Dinner that was put on by Career Services that really helped me when I went on an office visit and had a lunch interview. The knowledge and assistance I received from UMKC Career Services was priceless.

I wanted to change my career field and after looking for jobs outside of my career field for four months with no interviews, I decided to get some help at UMKC Career Services. I started talking with a Career Counselor to gain insight as to why I was having so much trouble getting interviews and see what resources UMKC Career Services could provide me.

My Career Counselor was extremely helpful and positive, which gave me hope in a stressful time. He gave me examples for resumes and cover letters on the Career Services website (which I used) and to look at the Career Services' Blog. He also reviewed my resume and gave me some excellent advice for capturing my crossover skills and consolidating my resume to one page.

I got an interview with the first job that I applied for my new resume and continued to use the resources on the website and my Career Counselor. The interview went well and was followed up by a thank you letter that I mirrored off the example on the website. I then got a job offer that had a lower salary then I wanted. I called my career counselor to ask how to negotiate a better offer. He gave me advice that was appropriate to not insult the employer and to not feel cheated by not getting the salary that I wanted.

I am happy to say that with all of the resources and help that the UMKC Career Services provided me, I got the job that I wanted with the salary that I wanted. I wanted to sincerely thank the UMKC Career Services for helping me get my dream job.

Thank you,
Cynthia

I had an interview for a medical school program to which I had applied. I had two weeks to prepare for the interview, and found myself getting very nervous about the whole process. I had some idea of what would happen in the interview, but nothing specific prepared. A friend of mine suggested that I make an appointment at UMKC's Career Services. I cannot express how invaluable this experience was for me. The staff walked me through the entire interview process, from before I even walk in the door, to sending out thank you notes after the interview. They gave me tips on how to dress appropriately for the interview, as well as provided me with endless information and sample questions with which to practice. My career counselors had information for almost any field, job, or school that I could think of, and if they didn't have the specific field, they were able to find related resources. The mock interview process was extremely helpful as well. I came to the appointment dressed as if I were coming to an actual interview, answered the questions to the best of my ability, and then received positive, constructive criticism from the career counselors, all which served to help me be better prepared for the actual interview.

Because of my experiences with Career Services, when it was time for my actual interview, I found that I did not have the nervous feelings I had before. My interview consisted of a total of eleven people and took place over an hour long period. I was first interviewed by two current students in the program and then by a panel of nine program staff members. As they questioned me throughout the interview, I was surprised to find how comfortable I was answering their questions. Within a week, I was offered a position in the program. I sincerely believe UMKC’s Career Services helped me to succeed and I am very grateful for their expertise. Their staff clearly has something to offer anyone, whether you are in school, about to graduate, or currently in the job market.

Oh, and did I mention this was a free service for students? So take advantage of it!

I never knew all that Career Services offered until the Department came and did a resume building workshop with the Community Assistants in Residential Life. After the workshop, I felt really excited about spicing up my resume and sending it to perspective employers. I immediately scheduled an appointment so someone could help me polish my resume for the job I was applying for. Also, I scheduled a mock interview so I would not be nervous when I interviewed with my perspective employer.

During my appointment, I learned what employers look for on resumes and the little things that would make the employer not even look at my resume. This was very helpful to me because I did not know a lot of the information. The mock interview also helped me a great deal because I learned how to shorten my stories during interviews and to always counter a weakness question by stating how I am working on it. I never knew all of the work and stress involved in looking for a job. Career Services definitely eased my anxiety and now I am the Assistant Residential Life Coordinator in Residential Life at UMKC.

Thanks to the help I received from UMKC Career Services, I am graduating and stepping into a full-time position with benefits. What’s more, I am working within my field of study, which has become difficult for other graduates to do the same. Career Services helped me polish my resume. What’s more, they showed me how to create my first cover letter to accompany my resume. This semester, I went to the Etiquette Dinner they hosted on campus to brush up on my manners and to learn the protocol for a business meeting held during a meal. I have also found their new website extremely useful. It allows me to look up information from a reliable source at anytime. Most importantly, Career Services gave me the guidance I needed to feel confident in myself throughout my professional endeavors.

I was unemployed and between jobs and started applying to as many places as I could find, primarily through the internet because that seems to be the first step now in applying for most jobs. This is why it is important to have a great presentation through text, which I personally wasn't prepared for. I developed my resume and cover-letter but they were subpar until I got some great resume and job search advice from a UMKC Career Services Career Counselor at a job fair. Soon after I found an opportunity through a contact on LinkedIn.com and sent my documents off, surprisingly I was offered the job without any hesitations. Currently I am working for a Defense Company in California and the job has worked out well for me. I learned that during the unemployment and application stage of life, every little improvement can make a difference and I would like to thank UMKC Career Service for their support, even though I was not a current student.

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