2025-2026 Purdue University Career Success Handbook

CENTER FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES & PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISING CAREER SUCCESS HANDBOOK 2025-2026

Table of Contents

Career Success Services and Resources .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Career Ecosystem Map ................................... 5 Career Decision Making Four Year Career Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 6 The Job Search Navigating the Job Search. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 8 Fraudulent Jobs and Scam Postings . . . . . . . . . ........ 9 Leverage Your Graduate Degree Into a Job!. . . . . ..... 11

Resumes The Age of AI, ATS and You!. . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 24 Developing a Winning Resume. . . . . . . . . . .......... 27 Power Verbs for Your Resume. . . . . . . . . . . .......... 28 Sample Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 30 Curriculum Vitae (CV) Developing a Winning Curriculum Vitae (CV) . . . . .... 41 Sample CV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 42 Networking The Art of Networking. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 44 Leverage Your LinkedIn . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 45 Interview and Career Fair Preparation Researching Companies. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 46 Getting the Most Out of the Career Fair . . . . . . ...... 47 S.T.A.R. Method of Behavioral Interviewing. . . . . ..... 48 Sample Interview Questions. . . . . . . . . . . ........... 49 From Closet to Confidence: Your Professional Appearance .50 Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 52 Top 10 Etiquette Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 54 Offer, Negotiation and Ethics! Follow-Up Communications . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 55 5 Steps to Negotiation Success. . . . . . . . . . .......... 56 Non-Salary Negotiables. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 57 Ethical Job Search: Guidelines and Expectations. . . ... 58 Advertiser Index ...................................... 59

Advanced Degree Preparation Graduate School Application Components . . . . . ..... 12 Graduate School Application Timeline. . . . . . . ....... 14 Pre-Professional Advising in the CCO. . . . . . . . ....... 16 5 Things Pre-Health & Pre-Law Students Need to Know. 17 Tips for Professional School Interviews . . . . . . . ...... 18 PPA Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 19

Cover Letters Developing a Winning Cover Letter . . . . . . . . ........ 21 Sample Job Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 22 Sample Cover Letter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 23

2025-2026 Purdue University Career Planning Handbook was published by Career Media Solutions, 3330 Cobb Pkwy NW, Suite 324-246, Acworth, GA 30101; Telephone - Local: (770) 975-3300, Toll Free: (800) 955-5134. This guide cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior approval of Career Media Solutions or Purdue University. Contact Career Media Solutions at ads@cmedias.net for information on receiving a Career Guide for your university.