Career Services FAQ for Students | Colorado Mesa University

Frequently Asked Questions by Students

University Center 107 at the bottom of the stairs, across from the MAVcard office.

Career Services is here to help you along your employment journey! We want to help you throughout your time here at CMU with anything career-related including but not limited to: resume and CV reviews, cover letter assistance, mock interviews, grad school preparation, internship preparation, networking, job fairs, and much more!

A career advisor is an individual who assists students with career-related documents and mock-interviews, as well as providing career guidance. Career advisors are available to help you reach your professional goals.

We recommend making an appointment.

To make an appointment, stop by the Career Services Office located in UC 107 or call our office at 970-248-1404. We also make appointments via Handshake.

You can use a variety of programs to start creating your resume, such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Canva! You can then schedule an appointment with a career advisor through Handshake to receive feedback and recommendations in order to make your resume more effective.

A resume is a professional document that highlights your skills, experience, volunteer work, and other categories. A CV is a similar document that is longer in length, as it is more detailed and usually geared toward academia.

We recommend preparing a cover letter and resume as soon as possible. It is always good to have one even before you’re applying to jobs. We do recommend customizing your resume and cover letter for each job.

In the Career Services Office, cover letter samples are available. Just like a resume, you can start a draft and then make an appointment through Handshake with our staff to refine it. You can also view sample cover letters.

Companies are looking for professional and academic references. Some good places to start are former supervisors, coaches, professors, and youth group leaders. Stop by the Career Services Center for a sample reference page.

Pro Tip: References should not be included on a resume. The reference page is a separate document that is formatted the same as your resume and cover letter.

We recommend making an appointment with us through Handshake to do a mock interview. This will give you an opportunity to practice questions and receive feedback on your responses. Mock interviews help ease your nerves before your interview.

Use the Handshake App to filter for on-campus jobs (Tip: Search for "Colorado Mesa University On-Campus Employment").

You can also meet with a Career Advisor to discuss on-campus job options. For more information about working on campus, please visit the Student Employment Page.

Go to Handshake and pick a filter, such as on-campus jobs, full-time jobs, or part-time jobs. Tip: Updating your Handshake profile with the correct major and interest area will help customize the job notifications you receive.

This will depend on your major. For career exploration, visit the "Explore Majors at CMU" webpage and/or make an appointment with Career Services via Handshake to discuss your options. You also can meet with your IRIS advisor for help with career direction.

There are several resources to find the perfect internship, including your academic advisor and Handshake (filter to Internships). Also, visit the student internship page, which includes information on how to recieve academic credit. .

If you are nearing graduation, you will want to gain leads on employers and start writing your cover letter and resume as soon as possible. We recommend sending out resumes/cover letters about four months prior to graduation.

Each major, minor and certificate will have differences; however, beginning with your academic advisor and other professors you’ve had is a great start.

There are also other options to consider as you begin looking for a job:

If you need to develop a strategic job searching plan, make an appointment with Career Services in Handshake or by calling 970.248.1404.
Attend a Career Services job fair or networking event.
Consider gaining experience by completing an internship (even if it isn't required for your degree).
Creat a free account on ConnectingColorado, part of a state and county-run system that delivers immediate, tangible results for your future. You can post your resume, apply for a specific job or do a self-directed job search through the jobs database.