We’re here to help you with all things career! Find resources below for everything from career exploration, to resume writing, to job search strategies, and more.
- What Can I Do With This Major? Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people with each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. Continue your research through the websites provided.
- Explore all the majors offered to you at USM: Are you curious how your major relates to your future? Do you wonder what jobs and career paths match your interests, skills, and abilities? Increase your knowledge of potential career opportunities and gain insight and experience during your career exploration.
- O*NET: The nation’s primary source of occupational information. Its database contains information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors. The database is continually updated by surveying a broad range of workers from each occupation.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: is revised every two years by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OOH describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, training and education necessary, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
- Informational Interviews: A professional interview with someone in a field you are interested in investigating or pursuing. Explore the environment, confirm your level of interest, and gain valuable information.
- Career Readiness Competencies: The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has defined eight career readiness competencies for recent college graduates.Career & Self Development | Communication | Critical Thinking | Equity & Inclusion | Leadership | Professionalism | Teamwork | Technology
- Transferable Skills: Interested in learning how research experience can be used in your career? Register for the free program ‘Research as a Transferable Skill’(PDF) and gain essential research skills for long-term success! To register, go to courses.epigeum.com and click on the form in the top right-hand corner (the person icon in a white circle). Please use your maine.edu email. During the registration process, a token will be needed to register. The token for this course is: 881bf2ba
Resume
The purpose of a resume is to communicate your qualifications and accomplishments to a potential employer. Think of your resume as a way of promoting yourself. Your objective is to align your experiences and skills with the qualifications and essential skills required by an employer. Different types of resumes may be appropriate for different situations. Browse our guides to learn more and decide which resume is right for you.
- Master vs Focused Resume (video)
- Chronological Resume (PDF)
- Engineering Resume (PDF)
- IT/COS/CYB (PDF)
- Nursing Resume (PDF)
- Science Resume (PDF)
Cover Letter
First impressions count! Your cover letter introduces you to a prospective employer. A well-written cover letter demonstrates how you are a good fit for the company you’re applying to and communicates the value you can bring to the employer. Every cover letter should be customized to the job for which you are applying.
For more assistance with both resumes and cover letters, make an appointment with a Peer Career Guide on our Appointment Information page!
Networking is a strategic activity that involves building and maintaining relationships with people who can assist you in advancing your job search. These people can provide you with information about possible positions or refer you to others within the field. While your network can include a wide range of people, the closer they are to sharing your career interests, the more helpful they will be.
Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is a short introduction that outlines your professional experience, skills, and goals.
Informational Interviews
A professional interview with someone in a field you are interested in investigating or pursuing. Explore the environment, confirm your level of interest and gain valuable information.
Portland Office of Economic Opportunity Connector Program
Portland Professional Connections matches foreign-trained professionals with established business people and community leaders. This informal networking program is as simple as having a cup of coffee and a chat, and then Connectors share three contacts from their networks by making meaningful introductions for Connectees.
USM Job Shadow Program
Check out the USM Job Shadow program to spend one full day shadowing an employer to form connections and explore possible career paths.
Your online presence says a lot about who you are to a potential employer. Take time to learn about creating a strong online presence.
Interviewing for a job is an exciting component of the career planning process. This is a time for you to get to know the employer, the company, and the environment. It is also an opportunity for the employer to understand what skills, abilities, and qualifications you would bring to the position.
- How to Ace an Interview – pdf
- Potential Interview Questions -pdf
- Questions to Ask the Employer -pdf
- A Guide to Lawful and Unlawful Interview Questions – pdf
- Online Interviews: Virtual Presence and Communication Assessment
- We have partnered with Virtual Sapiens to provide a free virtual presence and communication assessment. This 5-7 minute-long experience is strictly private and designed to provide you with some high-level feedback that will help you gain confidence and comfort when communicating professionally over video. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge for best performance. Desktop only (no mobile)
As you become more engaged in racial justice and social impact, you may become increasingly conscious of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) during your job search activities. You may want to know if a potential employer values DEI.
“Conscious job seeking is searching for employment or contractor opportunities that align with your vision, mission, values, and goals,” explains Chelsea C. Williams, founder and CEO of College Code.
According to Williams, students using conscious job-seeking change their mindset from just getting a job to actually seeking an opportunity that aligns with their “big picture.”
Although DEI is not an important value for every student, for those who believe it matters, it is important to ensure that they are working within a company whose values match theirs. Williams says that a company that truly values DEI:
- Has made commitments to foster a safe and healthy work environment;
- Is taking actionable steps to improve representation across all levels and titles;
- Holds leaders, managers, and employees accountable for actions and behaviors; and
- Has sought to center equity through all aspects of the employee process—recruitment, training and development, promotions, pay, benefits, and more.
You can assess an organization’s commitment to DEI, in part, by asking potential employers questions that can help you to differentiate between organizations that have taken performative steps in this area and others that are truly committed to advancing DEI and have made progress.
“Asking questions will often provide students with an understanding of where the company is in their DEI journey,” Williams notes.
Williams offers a list of thoughtful questions that students might ask recruiters during interviews or other interactions to assess their organizations’ DEI priority and commitment:
- How does your organization define diversity? What lenses of diversity has your organization made a direct commitment toward?
- Does your organization have a chief diversity officer (CDO) or a designated leader to drive DEI and engage internal and external stakeholders?
- What social causes does your organization support?
- Does your organization actively support diverse suppliers, contractors, and small businesses?
- Has your organization made any formal commitments in support of racial equity?
- How does your organization center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging?
- Does your organization offer any formal employee training around biases, anti-racism, or general DEI?
- How has your organization prioritized executive accountability toward DEI advancement?
- Does your organization have any affinity groups or committees to support diverse populations? If so, how do these groups contribute to the culture of the organization?
- Does your organization complete an annual compensation equity analysis?
- What resources has your organization provided to its employees in support of COVID-19 and racial injustices?
The answers you receive could help you make a decision about which employers to pursue employment with and those with whom, perhaps, to end the recruiting process because their values do not align.
“Students are looking for authenticity and progress from employers,” Williams explains. “An organization may not check off all their boxes around DEI, but maybe it has made the commitment to do and be better. That’s wonderful!”
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Getting the best job that matches your skills, interests, and abilities will require know-how and organization. It is the result of determination, persistence, and finding resources to guide you through the job search process.
Researching a Company
Researching a company can help you prepare for job, internship, and informational interviews, as well as job fairs and job shadows. Doing a little research about a company before an interview or job fair can help you stand out from the crowd of other applicants, and give you insights into the organizational culture and industry operating conditions. Begin your research now!
Job Fairs
These are great opportunities to meet recruiters and potential employers and learn about a range of available jobs. At the fairs, you can gather information and apply for various positions. Treat each job fair as if it is an interview to make that professional impression.
USM Job & Internship Fairs hosted by the Career & Employment Hub, visit the Events Information page.
Additional Job Fairs:
Online Resources
USM Job & Internship Board | Through the MyUSM Campus Portal for up-to-date job and internship listings from local and regional employers. To see a list of current job openings, click the green “Job Board” icon in your MyCampus Launchpad. USM Job & Internship Board Disclaimer |
Indeed | Considered the #1 job site, it collects job listings from thousands of websites to assist you in finding the perfect position. |
Live and Work in Maine | Live and Work in Maine serves as the leading resource for students looking to start their careers in Maine – as a USM graduate, we invite you to join our Maine Career Network! |
Leverage the world’s largest professional network to connect with opportunity. With over 300 million members in over 200 countries – LinkedIn is the largest professional network. | |
LinkedIn Jobs | LinkedIn is one of the most powerful job-search platforms on the internet and is a must-have for anyone serious about advancing their career or speeding up their job hunt. 93% of employers use LinkedIn to recruit. |
LinkedIn Salary | See a detailed breakdown of salaries by job title and location. Explore how salaries vary by industry, years of experience, company size, education level, and field of study. |
Glassdoor | Helps you find a job and company you love. Reviews, salaries, and benefits from employees. Interview questions from candidates. Millions of jobs. How to Develop and Nail Your Elevator Pitch How to Get Your First Job How to Get an Internship Guide How to Write a Resume The Ultimate Job Interview Preparation Guide How to Network |
JobsInME.com | Your local employment resource, since 1999. JobsInTheUS.com’s mission is to help job seekers find real, local, jobs where they want to work, through our state-specific employment websites. |
MANP | The Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) empowers people with purpose—people and organizations at the forefront of the issues and opportunities that will determine Maine’s future prosperity. As a leading advocate and resource, we ensure that Maine nonprofits are adapting, thriving, and contributing in a fast-changing world. |
MaineDOL State Workforce Board | The State Workforce Board was established by the Maine Legislature to ensure that the State’s workforce development system helps Maine people and businesses compete successfully in the global economy. |
Maine Career Center Veterans Services | The CareerCenter offers specialized employment and training services for Veterans. If you served in the U.S. Armed Forces a CareerCenter Representative can help you find a job, obtain new skills, or access other state or federal resources available to Veterans. |
Maine JobLink | Maine JobLink is a web-based job-matching and labor market information system. It provides job seekers, employers, and training providers with easy-to-use tools that support a wide range of activities. |
Internships.com | Find internships and employment opportunities in the world’s largest internship marketplace. |
BioME (Bioscience Association of Maine) | Explore career opportunities available within Maine’s life sciences industry. |
ZipRecruiter.com | Internship Information Veteran Job Information Salary Data by Major |
MaineDOL Labor Statistics | Surveyed employers are asked about the number of wage and salary workers in detailed occupations and the wage distribution for those workers. |
Job Scams
NEVER respond to unsolicited requests, from any recruiter, for personal information (name, birthdate, social security number, or bank account number) by phone, mail, or online. Read how to Spot Fraudulent Employers & Postings. If you shared any personal or other contact information with a recruiter, you may want to take additional precautions or use a service such as LifeLock. We recommend contacting your financial institution immediately if you provided personal financial information to a recruiter. You can report your experience to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
You have been offered a job, now what? Employers expect professionals to negotiate; it’s all part of the hiring process. It’s how you demonstrate your worth to an organization, and how an organization acknowledges that worth!
To learn more, make an appointment with one of our Career Advisors! You can find their schedules HERE.
Are you considering graduate school? If so, check out these helpful resources:
- Council of Graduate Schools: Making A Grad School Plan: From Application to Orientation
- U.S. News & World Report – Graduate Schools
- Princeton Review – Graduate Schools
General Search Guides:
- Peterson’s Graduate School Search
- Gradschools.com
- Graduate Guide
- Grad School Match
- College Navigator
Financing Guides:
- Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) – Maine specific
Questions? Comments? Feedback?
For more assistance, please contact USM Career & Employment Hub at usmcareers@maine.edu or (207) 228-8505
210 McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success, Portland campus