Houghton College Career Services

Helping students prepare for that all-important first job interview, or a new job is a vital part of the day to day function of Career Services.  We help students prepare through Resume Preparation & Critique (including grad school admission essays, cover letters); Practice Interviews; Credential (Placement) Files; Letters of Recommendation; and On-and Off Campus Career Events. 

Click here for Helpful Handouts, Career Services' on-line resource of handouts also available from the office or the hallway kiosk. 

RESUME PREPARATION & CRITIQUE

The Career Services staff regularly critiques resumes and cover letters for students and alumni.  You can also get help writing grad school essays.  Simply bring your documents in or email them.  For a specific appointment, please contact the office.  Click here for Helpful Handouts, Career Services' on-line resource of handouts, which are also available in paper format from the office or the hallway kiosk. 

Career Services also provides resume writing guidelines and a large volume of resume samples illustrating various layouts, methods of construction, type size and font for student use. Good on-line sources for resume construction and samples can be found at StudentCenter or College Grad Hunter. 

Some organizations charge a fee for this service, so we suggest you check all your possibilities before you agree to use one of them.
 

PRACTICE INTERVIEWS

Students are encouraged to polish their communication skills by participating in a video-taped practice interview. The 30 minute interview is followed by review and discussion.

Interview attire is required and resumes are recommended.  Make an appointment with the Career Services office. You may also take advantage of any workshops on interviewing skills offered by Career Services.  See Workshops. Career Services also has a number of books and videos available to assist with interview preparation.  Click here for Helpful Handouts, Career Services' on-line resource of handouts also available from the office or the hallway kiosk. 

For on-line help preparing for interviews, complete with practice questions and answers, visit Student Center or College Grad Hunter.   

 

CREDENTIAL (PLACEMENT) FILES  

WHAT IS A CREDENTIAL FILE?

A Credential File is a central file of information that serves as an unofficial record of the candidate's degree program, and includes letters of reference from those people who can give support to your candidacy.  Transcripts and copies of certifications may also be housed here.  The file is used by potential employers or graduate school admission committees. It is mailed to prospective employers/schools at the request of the candidate or at the request of the employer/school.

It is important to update the file periodically with new references from employers, graduate coursework, and any other changes you would like to make.  Files not kept current after five years will be considered inactive.

PLEASE NOTE:  Effective September 1, 2005, Career Services will maintain files as "active" for a period of ten (10) years.  Files not used or updated within the last five years will be destroyed.  It will be the responsibility of the candidate to contact the office before that time to request their file remain open.

WHO SHOULD ESTABLISH A FILE?

FORMS TO COMPLETE

Contact Career Services.  You will be provided the necessary forms and instructions electronically or in paper form, for your convenience.

To set up a file, contact Career Services for registration forms. Instructions will be provided.  The fee of $25.00 covers processing costs for ten complete, mailed files.

TRANSCRIPTS

A TRANSCRIPT IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY PLACED IN YOUR FILE.  You need to request one from the Records Office.

For transcript requests, contact the Records Office at 585-567-9350, or ext. 3500.

 

LETTERS of RECOMMENDATION

Decide who you will ask to provide written letters of recommendation for you. Professors, cooperating teachers, and past employers may be willing to submit a letter of reference. Please ask them, however, to be sure they are willing to provide you with a favorable recommendation.  If you know the qualifications and skills the employer is seeking, ask your recommender to address these topics in their letter of reference.

Be sure to place a stamp on a return envelope addressed to Career Services for your letter writer's convenience.

IF you plan to use the credential file service, you may use a "Recommendation Form" that we will provide for you, and also a pre-addressed return envelope. 

ON & OFF-CAMPUS CAREER EVENTS

Career Services posts information about on-campus career-related workshops and events, as well as off-campus job fairs and other items of interest.  One annual event we host each February is "Summer Employment Day", which introduces students seeking summer employment with employers seeking employees.  While many of the participants are camps, we strive to provide students a variety of options.  See "Workshops & Events."
 

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