SPECIALIZED RESOURCES

VETERANS

Returning to civilian life after serving in the military can bring about a variety of challenges and unique concerns. The University Career Center is happy to help ease the transition. Many employers, including the federal government, see the benefits of hiring veterans and have developed programs to increase recruitment of this population. Utilizing all of your resources in the University Career Center and the Veterans Resource Center will help you prepare for the transition ahead and succeed in your future profession.

HIRE HEROES USA hireheroesusa.org VETCENTRAL vetcentral.us.jobs veteransmember.asp COMBAT TO CORPORATE combattocorporate.com VETJOBS vetjobs.com FEDERAL JOBS usajobs.gov

LGBTQ+

Job searching for those within the LGBTQ+ spectrum can present additional challenges, especially for those individuals beyond the gender binary. As there is no blanket federal non-discrimination protection for LGBTQ+ job seekers, it is important to understand the applicable discrimination protections available in the state you are applying. You will also want to be aware of discrimination policies in place for housing and public accommodations. It is also important to note that employers within discriminatory states may have higher standards when it comes to equal employment opportunity (EEO) protections. The University Career Center counseling staff is Safe Zone trained and is able to help you navigate these issues in a welcoming and judgement free zone.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC) hrc.org LAMBDA LEGAL lambdalegal.org OUT FOR WORK outforwork.com

OUT AND EQUAL outandequal.org TRANS EQUALITY Transequality.org

ACCESSIBILITY

The University Career Center is here to assist with any accessibility concerns you may have while job searching. There are resources available through our office and the University that can assist you with preparing for employers.

OFFICE OF ACCESSIBILITY 1228 Haley Center accessibility@auburn.edu WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM aub.ie/WRP FEDERAL DISABILITY RESOURCES dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (COSD) cosdonline.org

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY nod.org Career counselors are available to meet students on campus or conduct online appointments if you have accessibility needs that could prevent you from coming to Mary Martin Hall. To schedule an online or out-of-office appointment, please call 334-844-4744.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Navigating the job search as an international student can be difficult, and there is a lot you will need to know before your search. Knowing what is allowed with your specific Visa is only the beginning of the process. Come to the University Career Center for additional information. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR F1 VISA STUDENTS:

− Allowed to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) for the University only. − Option of utilizing Curricular Practical

Training (CPT): while in classes to gain experience related to your major. Many restrictions apply and students must attend CPT workshops and go through the official process through the Office of International Programs. − Optional Practical Training (OPT): allows students to work part-time if done prior to completion of program or full-time after completion for program without needing immediate sponsorship from an employer.

Position must relate to degree earned and typically lasts 12 months. Many restrictions apply and students must attend an OPT workshop in the Office of International Programs and file paperwork with the government to qualify. − H1B Visa: work visa that must be sponsored by an employer for continued work in the United States.

Limited number of visas are granted each year and awarded in a lottery through the Federal Government.

For much more in-depth information, visit the Office of International Programs at auburn.edu/international. Here are some resources to help you in identifying internships, part-time and fulltime opportunities: GOINGLOBAL aub.ie/goinglobal NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY nod.org MY VISA JOBS myvisajobs.com

MARKET YOURSELF

Marketing yourself may be a foreign or just overwhelming concept, but it is an essential part of the job search and career progression. No, you are not a product, but like it or not, you are your own brand and it is up to you to let others know why they should be interested. What do you want people to remember about you? What skills and abilities do you bring to the table? The key to effectively selling yourself is to think like the employer and ask yourself, “What would I want to see in an applicant?” Use this as a guide when creating your marketing materials (résumés, curriculum vitae, portfolios, etc.) and be creative in how you get your information out there. Let’s face it, no one enjoys writing résumés, C.V.s and cover letters, but we all know they are important and will be needed for every new position, promotion, and even graduate/ professional schools. The purpose of these documents is to prove that you have the skills needed for the position and land the interview. It is just bad marketing to not adapt the documents to your audience or have misspelled words and/or grammatical mistakes. This is the first impression others will have of you, so make it exceptional. Just like you, employers are online and many are using the internet to find and research prospective employees before hiring. What will they see when they Google you? You will of course want to clean up any profiles or pictures that are not so flattering, but do not be afraid to use your online presence to promote yourself as well. Having a welldeveloped profile on LinkedIn and an online portfolio/ePortfolio are just two of the ways you can promote yourself and learn from others in your career field or industry. Both allow you to add artifacts that prove your skill-sets and add a picture to personalize your brand. Just remember to include the URL from your portfolio on your résumé to direct employers to your site. Even after landing a position, keep your profiles clean and updated so you can leverage them for a promotion or new position later. This sounds like a lot of work, but the effort will pay off in the long run. Remember, the University Career Center is here to help every step of the way. •

ADDYE BUCKLEY-BURNELL

Career Counselor