Job Search

Follow the links below to guide you through all of the pieces you will need for a successful job search.  Career Coaches are here to help you every step of the way.  Be sure to collect your Viking Score points as you complete each activity.

Senior Roadmap | 6 Viking Score points
A comprehensive checklist of what you need to do now to increase your chances of getting a job prior to graduation.

Career Goal Activity  | 20 Viking Score points
Career goals provide a roadmap for your professional journey, helping you stay motivated, make informed decisions, and ultimately achieve success and fulfillment in your chosen career path.

Research Employers and Graduate/Professional School Programs | 4 Viking Score points
Researching employers or graduate/professional school programs is a crucial step in making informed career decisions. It helps you assess whether a particular company or school program is the right fit for you and whether it offers the opportunities and environment you desire. This research empowers you to make more informed choices about your career path and job prospects.

Identify Your Career Readiness Skills
identifying your career readiness skills is a fundamental step in career planning and development. It empowers you to make informed decisions, stand out in the job or grad school market, and pursue a career that aligns with your strengths and aspirations.

Handshake Profile | 2 Viking Score points
Handshake allows students to schedule appointments with CORE, find career development resources, connect with employers, locate internship, part-time, and full-time positions, and register for career events.  Having a complete profile makes it easier for relevant opportunities to be highlighted for you.

LinkedIn Profile | 2 Viking Score points
Having a complete LinkedIn profile is essential for building a strong online professional presence, expanding your network, and advancing your career. It helps you make a positive impression on potential employers, connect with like-minded professionals, and access a wide range of career opportunities and resources.

Update your Resumes & Cover Letters then have a Resume Review | 4 Viking Score points
A resume is a vital tool in the job search process. It enables you to present your qualifications effectively, make a strong first impression, and advance through the hiring process. Additionally, it serves as a reference point for both you and employers, aiding in interviews and career planning.

Interview Prep or Practice/Mock Interview | 6 Viking Score points
The secret to interviewing is preparation and practice. While all jobs and all interviewers are not the same, there are certain questions that are usually asked of candidates during an interview. Even if you consider yourself an expert communicator, interviewing takes skill and preparation.

Prepare an Elevator Pitch
To make a positive first impression when meeting new people, in person or virtually, having a solid elevator pitch at the ready will help you, along with a warm smile, direct eye contact, a firm handshake or confident wave.

Interviewing Attire | 4 Viking Score points
In a professional environment, you will be evaluated on your professionalism. This includes how you present yourself. Employers and organizations can assume that how you present yourself for an interview is a reflection of your best self. Likewise, dressing professionally may boost your confidence, giving you an extra leg up on the other candidates.

Develop your Networking Skills
Networking is a valuable activity that can bring numerous benefits to your personal and professional life. It can open doors to opportunities, provide knowledge and support, and help you achieve your goals. Cultivating and maintaining a strong network is an essential part of career and personal development.

Target List of Employers/Graduate School Programs | 4 Viking Score points
A target list is a list of organizations where you would like to work or graduate programs you would like to attend.  These may be companies and schools that tend to offer jobs and programs that fit your interests, organizations that have the company culture you desire, and/or organizations with a mission you believe in. They are employers you would love to work for, given the opportunity.

References and Letters of Recommendation | 4 Viking Score points
A reference is someone who can talk about your skills, experience, abilities, and work ethic. A potential employer may call them and ask questions about you. Letters of recommendation are written evaluations of an individual’s performance whether at work or in the classroom. This information is an integral part of the world of education, health care, social services and many other industries. You can gather letters of recommendation from instructors, advisers, supervisors or anyone who has witnessed your abilities.

7 Presentation Skills That Go Beyond Just Speaking

When you hear “presentation skills,” you might picture someone standing confidently at the front of a room, giving a polished speech with perfect slides. But strong presentation skills go far beyond public speaking. They show up in meetings, one-on-one conversations, …

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Upskilling and continuous learning are critical for workers early in their careers | From Dorms to Desks Podcast | ep39

Today’s episode of From Dorms to Desks, a podcast by College Recruiter job search site, explores a significant career-related concern for those early in their careers: the importance of upskilling and continuous learning for students, recent graduates, and others early …

By College Recruiter
College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
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(Re)Introducing the Nonprofit Salary Explorer | Your Go-To Compensation Tool

Equity, negotiation, counter-offers, wage gaps, cost-of-living … the list goes on! Considering the breadth of topics and frequently asked questions that fall within the “salaries” category, it seems like it’s always a good time to discuss compensation. 

And here at …

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The (New) Most Powerful Job Search

As you may have seen, there were two recent changes to the biggest job boards:

1) LinkedIn has moved to a new AI-based job searching system – which, while cool, makes it hard to get a handle on exactly how …

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Federal Job Interview Questions: What to Expect and How to Tackle Them

When it comes to federal job interviews, they’re a bit different from those in the private sector. The process can be long, detailed, and highly competitive, with many applicants vying for the same position. The stakes are high—after all, a

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Career Resources

Social Impact & Nonprofit Careers

Are you passionate about making a difference through advocacy, education, sustainability, or community empowerment? Careers in social impact and nonprofit …

Helping Professions: Careers in Social Services

Are you passionate about helping others, strengthening communities, or advocating for vulnerable populations? Careers in Social Services span a wide …

Internships & Jobs for Math Majors

Are you majoring in Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, or Applied Math? A math degree opens doors to careers in finance, …

Mechanical & Civil Engineering Job & Internship Boards

Looking for hands-on experience or entry-level roles in mechanical or civil engineering? These curated job boards and internship listings connect …

Post Grad Service Option: Social Change & Public Service

Are you looking for a meaningful way to launch your career after graduation? Post-grad service programs offer recent graduates the …

Explore Opportunities in Environmental Careers and Internships

This list includes job boards, fellowships, and training programs across government, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors—designed to support students and …

Labor Market InsightsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Skill Building Courses

Coaching for Continuous Improvement

Taught by Tina Agustiady
How do you help your employees keep improving on the job? You can’t just expect them to read your mind.…

Disability Readiness for Leaders and Managers

Taught by Tarena Shanaberger
As a manager, you play a key role in ensuring that everyone, including people with disabilities, can contribute fully to…

Hiring and Managing UX Professionals

Taught by Cory Lebson
UX professionals help shape your product into something your users will love. You need people with the creative skills to…

Attracting, Hiring, and Working with Gen Z

Taught by Sophie Wade
The youngest and most digitally literate generation is now entering the workforce: Generation Z, also known as post-millennials. Gen Z…

Delivering Employee Feedback

Taught by Todd Dewett
As a manager, you’re charged with helping your employees stretch and grow their skills. This is largely accomplished via the…

Performance Management: Conducting Performance Reviews

Taught by Todd Dewett
Performance reviews can have a huge impact on your employee’s future. In this short course, the second installment in the…

Considering Transferable Skills in Talent Acquisition and Retention

Taught by Don Phin
If you’re an employee, identifying and utilizing your transferable skills can lead to career opportunities and growth. If you’re an…

Evaluating Your Growth as a Leader

Taught by Todd Dewett
Everyone knows that their progress will be reviewed with a regular performance evaluation. In addition, they might receive bits of…

Running Effective Design Critiques

Taught by Tom Green
Most people want and appreciate feedback and constructive criticism about their work—until they get it. If done poorly, a critique…

The Expat Survival Guide

Taught by Jon Devitt
If you are moving abroad, or work in human resources assisting those who are moving abroad, this course is packed…

LSC- 401: Career and Life Design: Strategies for Career Success

Taught by Shelby Olson
For SENIORS considering or pursuing grad school, job search, gap year, or those with no plan Using an innovative framework…

When a Paycheck Is Not Enough

Taught by Boston Consulting Group
Pay, promotion, and benefits have traditionally been the cornerstone of successful hiring and employee retention strategies. But what happens when…

The Shift Toward a Skills-First Mindset: A Thought-Leader Roundtable

Taught by Elyse Rosenblum
Skills, not just degrees, are rapidly becoming the new employment currency as we reevaluate a candidate or existing employee’s ability…

Skills-First Talent Management

Taught by Tiffany Poeppelman
Managing talent with the skills-first approach can help to unlock your team’s hidden potential. It allows you to identify, develop,…

Generative AI, Recruiting, and Talent Acquisition

Taught by Glen Cathey
Generative AI will have profound effects on fields like recruiting and talent acquisition. But how quickly will these changes take…

How to Give Feedback People Can Actually Use

Taught by American Negotiation Institute
Feedback is a gift, but how can you make your feedback valuable to its recipients? In this course, adapted from…

Reverse Mentorship Essentials

Taught by Patrice Gordon
A reverse mentorship—where a senior leader is mentored by an under-represented individual, including junior colleagues—can truly transform a business by…

Skills and the Internal Talent Marketplace

Taught by Erica Keswin
“Look inward” may sound like new-age advice for personal growth, but it’s also a great strategy for finding and hiring:…

Becoming More Coachable

Taught by Dave Crenshaw
Learn skills to help you become a more coachable and mentorable lifelong learner. Working with a great coach or leader…

Team Coaching Strategies for Project Managers

Taught by Ruth Pearce
The best project leaders know how to develop the team as individuals and together. And the best tool for resource…

Contact & Location

Phone
309-794-7339
Address

Olin Center
639 38th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201

Career Service Hours

Day of the week
Office is Open Drop-Ins (When Classes Are In Session)
Monday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Drop-in topics include:

  • Resume & Cover Letter Review
  • Resume & Cover Letter Writing
  • Viking Score Overview
  • LinkedIn Headshot Photo
  • Career Resources Overview