What we do best is provide one-on-one assistance.

Whether choosing a field of study, information about jobs within your major, or the steps you will need to take to succeed along your career path, the Resource Center carries more than 130 vocational guidance books.

Available:

• Careers in Renewable Energy
• The Successful Artist's Career Guide: Finding Your Way in the Business of Art
• Military Social Work

One of the best advantages to attending a career fair is that you have a relax setting to cultivate a productive relationship with company representative. Drop-by and we can provide you with how to prepare and what to do.

Available:

• Mastering a Career Fair

Have an up-coming interview and need to find information on a company?

We have information on 150 companies that have attended Pittsburg State University Career Fairs in the last two years. If you are searching for the company mission/vision, the contact person’s name, address, email, or phone number we would be glad to aid you.

Web Resource:

• Reference USA - a government website that is a national business contact directory

The Resource Center has Peer Advisors who will provide one-on-one assistance in the computer lab, answering questions regarding formatting, examples or what the employers are looking for within your letter.

Cover Letter Writing

Available for check out:

• Step-by-Step Cover Letters
• Brilliant Cover Letters
• Knock em Dead Cover Letters

Are you looking for sources to provide the locations of companies in a specific field, classic sports market, or the names and locations of performance art orchestras, choirs, dance/theater companies? Available are reference books -to research possible job places.

Massive Reference Resources:

• Sports Market Place Directory
• Performing Arts Directory
• Directory of Business Information Resources

Web Resource:

• Reference USA - a government website that is a national business contact directory

Federal Government Job Opportunities:

USAJOBS

Federal Government Jobs

Information on how to apply successfully:

Job Hunt - 7 Steps to Land a US Federal Government Job

Evaluating Your Fit with a Job's Requirements: Apply or No:

Job Hunt - Determining if You Should Apply for a Federal Job

Resume Guidance:

Homeland Security - Tips for Writing a Federal Resume

Types of Resources Available:

• ADAR Review- Comprehensive Exam Preparation for Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)
• America’s Top Military Careers
• Federal Resume Guidebook
• Find Your Federal Job Fit
• Getting Government Job: The Civil Service Handbook
• Guide to America’s Federal Jobs
• How to Land Top Paying Federal Jobs

After the interview handshake, you will still have more communication with the employer. You may need to write a thank you letter, acceptance letter, request an extension on your decision, create a status inquiry letter, turn down or withdrawal letters. Here are a couple of the resources we carry for you to check out.

Available for check-out:

• 15 Minute Cover Letter
• The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book

See more here.

Find a complete list of Pittsburg State University Graduate Programs here

Web Resource:

• GradSchools.com - Graduate school directory

Available Resource:

• Peterson Graduate Programs carries essential information to find the right graduate program for you.
  Accreditation and Degrees Awarded, Tuition &Fees and Financial Support, Entrance Requirements and Contact Information, and Faculty Research and Student Demographics. (six book set available)

Boost your branding, make new connections, attract recruiters and find your next job! Several sources are available.

Available for check-out:

• How to Build the Ultimate Linked-In Profile in Under an Hour

Web Resources:

• 6 Ways to Increase your Brand's Online Credibility
• How to Brand Yourself Online! (A Personal Branding Guide)
• How to Boost Your Personal Brand with Social Media

Jump start your career with a summer internship. Come to the Resource Center we have information available about internships and provide on-campus and off campus opportunities. If you would like to talk to a staff member about specific questions you may have, you can call 620-235-4140 and make an appointment.

Available for check-out:

• Internship Survival Guide

See more here.

Thinking about an up-coming interview and looking to “ACE” the opportunity?

Resources available:

• Books and handouts
• How to get the interview and get hired
• Tying a Tie
• What to Wear
• Tips about body language
• Different kinds of questions and why employers ask them
• Facebook their googling your presence
• Types of interviews such as panel, phone, and Skype

Available for check-out:

• The Essential Phone Interview Handbook
• The Essential Digital Interview Handbook
• Teacher Interviews
• Style Bible: What to Wear to Work

See more here.

Need some tips for trailblazing the job jungle? Here are some of the great resources we have to help with
your job search. Look through vacancy listing called, Current Jobs in Art, Communication, Art Search, and/or International Business. 

Resources Available:

• Job Hunting Handbook
• Get the Job You Want Even When No One’s Hiring
• The 2-Hour Job Search
• Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities
• Best Jobs for Ex-offenders
• Finding a Job after 50
• How to Land a Top-Paying: Green Jobs, Automotive, Carpenters, Construction, Diesel Service, + Conservation

Available to check-out:

• What Color is Your Parachute?
• 101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again

You can go beyond governmental sources and find additional money to help you pay for college.

Resources Available:

• How to get money for College
• Peterson’s material on scholarships, prizes, and grants
• How to write essay that get the rewards
• The Ultimate Scholarship Book – most current edition
• Names of the best scholarships for the best students

We can provide Information about going to events and successfully networking with business representatives.
As well as: Turning a job fair experience into a job offer; Sources to aid you with creating an elevator speak
What to take with you to events; Plus knowing what to ask when meeting a recruiter for the first time.

Available for check-out:

• A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking

How to create a reference document. Here are some guidelines and formatting instructions:

The Reference Sheet

Guidelines

The reference sheet is simply a list of people that know you well and can attest to your work ethic, capabilities, and character. They usually are past employers, professors, or other individuals that have worked with you professionally.

It is important to have a reference sheet that is current, because most company will ask you for this information when you are at an interview or submitting an online application. 

Professionally it is polite to contact the individuals that you want to list on you reference sheet and ask them if you may use them as a reference in your current job search.

Formatting

What you will need to provide:

• You will want to use you contact information on the reference sheet as this will assist the recruiter in keeping your application documents together.
• List your references in reverse chronological order, with the most current first.
• We recommend that the references you list be left justified or centered on the page.
• Provide the references person’s name, position title, company name, street address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Print your reference sheet on the same quality paper as your resume.

Writing, reviews, handouts, and assistance with some of the questions you may have.

How-to Write a Resume

Contact us 
8:00 am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday
Located in 202 Horace Mann
(620)235-4140 / careers@pittstate.edu                 

Need a resume example for your degree and emphasis?
You can build a great resume even if you haven’t held a job before!

Could you use some tips on how to successfully get the attention of the employer?
When should you write a Curriculum Vitae rather than a business resume?
Using bullets and power verbs to focus on the skills required?     Use these Power Verbs

Available for check-out:

• Peterson's RIP Resume Job Search & Interview Power Prep Book
• Building Design Portfolios
• Expert Resumes
• Best Resumes & Letters for Ex-Offenders

Guideline for writing a Personal Statement
Start by asking your advisor about the department’s application process and about the specific personal statement questions they want you to address. The ticket to their program and your future career plans will be by putting together your abilities and keeping the committee members interested.

To convince the reader that you are smart and professionally driven to succeed, imagine yourself in front of an admissions committee answering their questions.  While it may take some time, the following tips and guidelines will aid you with developing your statement.
 
Here are some basics and the components to remember as you create your personal statement:

Format
Be sure to follow the stated word limitation.

Introduction: The first paragraph becomes the bridge to the rest of your statement and is therefore the most important. Grab the reader’s attention

The middle paragraph provides your experiences in the profession you are choosing. It is important to use the terminology that relates to that particular field. Some of the areas that you can draw from are: work, classes, conversations, books, seminars research, on-line resources and careers goals.

Conclusion: The last paragraph should be a statement of what you would like to do after graduating from the program. Envision your options and career path you will likely pursue. Be clear, confident, honest, and professional.

Additional tips for writing a personal statements found in the Resource Center.

Here are some sources to finding out your value and the current wages for positions that you are interested in seeking.

NACE Salary Survey

PayScale Salary Negotiation Guide

Available for check-out:

• Fearless Salary Negotiation

See more here.

Maximizing the international experience not only for global awareness and adaptation, but for developing unique professional skills. Opportunities and guide books are part of what we carry.

Pittsburg State University Study Abroad

Available for check-out:

• Study Abroad 101

Many of the study guides include online tools to prepare for standardized tests. The Resource Center carries 28 up-to-date practice examination books to check out.

Available Guides:

• Alternative Teacher Certification
• ASWB Bachelors Exam Secrets Study Guide
• ASWB Masters Exam Secrets Study Guide
• CBASE Part 1 of 2
• CBASE Part 2 of 2
• CBASE Secrets Study Guide
• Cirrus PRAXIS Core Study Guide
• Cracking the LSAT
• Kaplan DAT Prep Plus 2019-2020
• Kaplan GMAT Premier 2016 with 6 Practice Tests
• Kaplan GRE Premier 2016
• Kaplan GRE Prep Plus 2019
• Kaplan MAT Strategies, Practice & Review
• Kaplan MAT Strategies, Practice & Review 6th Edition
• Kaplan MCAT Biology Review 2018-2019
• Kaplan NXLX-PN 2014-2015 Strategies, Practice & Review with Practice Test
• Kaplan OAT 2017-2018 Strategies, Practice & Review with Practice Test
• Kaplan PCAT Strategies, Practice & Review 2015-2016 Edition
• Kaplan TOEFLiBT Prep Plus 2018-2019
• MCAT 2 Full-Length Practice Tests
• MCAT 7 Full-Length Practice Tests
• Master the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (Panre)
• NCE Secrets Study Guide
• Praxis Core - Reading, Writing, Mathematics
• TOEFL iBT Premier 2014-2015 Edition
• TOEFL iBT Premier 2016-2017 Edition
• Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements 2015 Matriculation
• Veterinary Technician (National Exam) VTNE

Career Development has a wide collection of web and e-resources available for Pittsburg State University students to use.

See this page for access.