Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. Does the Office of Career Services only provide résumé services?
- A. No! The Office of Career Services offers a full range of advisory services to better prepare undergraduates for internships and matriculating students and alumni for the selection process for career opportunities and graduate school placement. Specifically, the Office of Career Services provides mock interviews, résumé assistance, career channel search strategies, salary help and negotiating tips, all while leveraging our state-of-the-art technology (i.e., Symplicity and Optimal Resume).
- Q. Does the Office of Career Services offer any of the above services in any other venue outside of the Lehr-Kennedy House?
- A. Yes! Every quarter, the Office of Career Services sponsors workshops that cater to our students' schedules, including mock interview and Symplicity training. We also sponsor or participate in on- and off-campus career fairs.
- Q. Can I just walk in to the Office of Career Services and see a career advisor?
- A. Yes. However, please be patient if you decide to stop by the Office of Career Services without an appointment. You will be seen as soon as a career advisor is available to meet with you. To schedule an appointment just call 419-772-2145.
- Q. I'm graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences with a major in history and plan to take a year off before going to graduate school. Can Career Services assist me in my career search?
- A. Yes. Career Services will assist you in developing a career search strategy that will leverage your major or help you locate employers that are searching for liberal arts majors.
- Q. What type of skills do the so-called experts, or career advisors, have that will better prepare me for a career?
- A. The career advisors have been trained in every area of the employment-recruiting cycle and participate in multiple recruiting channels and trade organizations to stay on top of best practices in the area of human-capital acquisition.
- Q: Why is it so important to get involved in campus activities?
- A: Involvement in campus activities provides an opportunity for personal development and is a fun way to enhance your physical and mental health. It's a good way to meet people, make professional contacts and learn management skills such as planning, organizing and supervising. These activities will help you develop transferable skills that will enable you to be successful in the work force. Holding an executive position in campus organizations can build the leadership skills needed in any career. The student handbook provides a list of campus activities and organizations.
- Q: Why is my professor sending me to the Office of Career Services? I'm only a freshman!
- A: Your faculty wants you to use the resources, information and advising available to you to facilitate your career. The career search process lasts a lifetime, and it is important to develop an ongoing strategy for career success. The professional staff at the Office of Career Services advises you through your college and post-graduate years.
- Q: Why can't I just use the résumé from high school that I used to find summer jobs?
- A: The high school résumé often uses the chronologic style, which is used by individuals who have employment related to their career field. Developing a résumé that highlights classroom experiences and skills pertinent to a student's career choices will market you better.
- Q: I've been told to use Optimal Résumé to make a new résumé. What is it? Where will I find it? How long will it take me to get through it?
- A: Optimal Résumé is an online résumé tool available to everyone who has an ONU e-mail address. In approximately 30 minutes, this program walks you through a series of questions to help you develop a résumé that is appropriate for your current level of experience.
