The Office of Advising and Career Services is a resource to assist EKU students and Alumni on their career journey. Connect with us to explore majors or careers, find a co-op/internship position, prepare for the job search, and network with potential employers.
If you would like to practice, you can either call our office at 859-622-1296, email oacs@eku.edu, OR schedule online. You will receive immediate feedback and follow-up resources needed to help you be successful on the interview.
Resume & Cover Letter Reviews
Resume and cover letter reviews are easy on our distance students as well. Simply email your document to resumes@eku.edu and a staff member will review your resume and provide you recommendations for improvement via email in a timely manner.
Dress for Success
Dress for Success Closet
Get an outfit to wear for FREE to your next job interview or Job Fair. Professional clothes are expensive and we don’t want any EKU student to miss out on an opportunity just because they weren’t able to “look the part.”
Dress for Success Closet Guidelines
Usage of the closet is completely confidential.
The individual must have an interview scheduled for a professional part-time job, co-op position, internship, full-time job or graduate school/professional school interview or to attend an Office of Advising and Career Services networking event like a Job Fair.
Each individual is limited to one outfit.
Clothing is to be kept by the individual for future use.
To schedule an appointment to visit the closet by calling 859-622-1296 or visit this site.
Professional Dress
If you need help identifying appropriate professional attire for an event, we’re happy to help! Feel free to call the office and make an appointment to meet with a member of our staff.
We host Dress for Success workshops and events such as Suit-Up to help you learn to look your best!
Resumes and Cover Letters
Your resume and cover letter often serve as your first introduction to a potential employer. It is important that the documents are well organized, error-free and professional. The following tips will help you get started:
Resume
Be consistent with the same letterhead (font, design) on your resume, cover letter, and reference sheet.
Avoid using templates.
Entry-level resumes are typically one page. Use two pages only if you have extensive experience in your field.
Use action words to describe your previous jobs and experiences. Write in third person (avoid “I” or “my” statements).
Be professional – make sure your format and wording are clear and concise Avoid using clipart and pictures. Keep it simple.
Focus on relevant information. Do not include personal information such as age, health, race, marital status or hobbies.
Proofread your resume several times. Have other people proofread as well. Visit the Office of Advising and Career Services for a resume critique.
Save your resume as a PDF before uploading it to a job posting system or emailing. This will ensure the document appears correctly for the viewer.
Cover Letter
Keep the look of all your documents consistent. Use the same letterhead, font, and design that you have created for your resume.
Address your letter to the hiring manager. Greet the hiring manager/recruiter with “Dear First Name Last Name” and a colon. If you don’t know the recruiter’s name, contact EKU’s Office of Advising and Career Services to find out the name of the person or use a neutral greeting such as Dear Hiring Official.
Do not send form letters. Tailor each letter to the company, department and, if possible, specific position. Clarify why you want to work at this particular company, and explain why you and the company are a good fit.
Keep your cover letter to one page. Focus on three questions – why are you writing, why should the employer hire you, and how will you follow up with the employer.
Be honest. When outlining your achievements and credentials, be confident in your letter, but don’t exaggerate, brag or lie.
Read, edit and re-read your letter for typos. Utilize EKU’s Office of Advising and Career Services for help with resume and cover letter critiques and personalized feedback. Schedule your resume and cover letter review on our website.
Interview Tips
Getting invited to an interview is a very exciting, yet intimidating time for many people. There are many ways that you can prepare to make the process more relaxed and enjoyable.
Know about the job. Be sure to have read the entire job description several times. What will the job entail?
Know about yourself. Have a clear idea of what you bring to the table. How do your skills align with the job? Why are you the best candidate? Why do you want the job (other than you want a paycheck)?
Know about the organization. Research the organization. Why do you want to work for the organization? What questions do you have about the organization? (Remember, salary questions are not appropriate for the interview.)
Dress for success. Dress appropriately for the interview. Be conservative in your attire choices (save your favorite red stilettos for another day).
Be professional. Remain professional in your appearance, language and correspondence with the employer. Use professional language in your conversation with the employer. Avoid slang words. Once you have interviewed, even if they are extremely nice, keep the relationship strictly professional. Avoid Facebook friend requests or messages!
Be prepared. Take several copies of your resumes to leave with the employer. Take work samples in a nice presentation format (consider purchasing a portfolio or nice folder).
Practice. Review some interview questions before you go. Grab a friend and discuss a few questions or write out your thoughts about some sample questions. Complete a Mock Interview in Career Services.
Be on time. Make a plan for the interview day. How long with it take you to get there (remember traffic)? Where can you park? Arrive to the interview location 15 minutes early.
Follow up. Send a thank you card, note or email to the employer. This is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other candidates.
Sample Interview Questions
Below are a few questions to help you prepare for your interview. A more extensive list of questions is available at the bottom of the page.
Tell me about yourself.
How has your college experience prepared you for a career?
How would a professor/ employer who knows you well describe you?
Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
Tell me about a time when something did not turn out as you expected. What did you learn from that?
How have you motivated yourself to complete a task you did not want to complete?
Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new in a short period of time. How did you proceed?
Think about a time when you had to interact with a difficult person. What made the situation difficult? How did you respond and interact with the person?
What leadership positions have you held? Describe your leadership style.
Can you describe a time when you generated an idea or suggestion at school or at work?
