Career Success Center

Looking for a Job? Red Rocks Community College is now on Handshake, the leading job board platform!

We are excited to announce our transition to a new platform to connect students and graduates to career opportunities. Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs.

RRCC students and graduates now have exclusive access to Handshake, the #1 career platform! Click here to watch a video to learn more. Check our website for more information about info sessions to learn how to navigate the platform, search for career opportunities, post your resume, attend events such as virtual and in person Career Fairs, and more!

Current students: Log in to Handshake (click the link, or find it under "My Student Stuff" on The Rock) using your S-number.

Graduates: Create an account using your preferred email address and request to be added to our school. We will process your request within three (3) business days.

Resume

Resume - What is it?

A resume is a brief written account of one’s employment history, used when applying for a job, internship, and/or volunteer opportunity.

It is many times the first impression that you provide a prospective employer with, not only the first, but also one of the most crucial steps you take in your job search.

A resume is your personal promotional tool that outlines your skills and experiences that an employer can see, at a quick glance, how you can potentially contribute to their company or organization.

How to get started

Choosing the correct type of resume will depend on your personal job-search situation.

• People who can show a significant work history may choose the chronological resume as the one that best fits their personal situation.
• The functional or skills-based resume, which allows you to play down gaps in your experience, is especially well-suited for people entering the job market for the first time or when changing careers from one industry to another.

What do I include on my resume?

Name and current contact information (Primary phone and professional email only; no  longer any need to include your physical address)
Profile/Skill Summary - (Shouldn’t I use an Objective Statement? No. Write a  clear/concise objective in your cover letter!)
Education

• Degree & Institution
• Major(s) & GPA

Related Experience - use action verbs (administered, assisted, budgeted, completed, gained, inspected, reduced, organized, upgraded, structured, etc.) and avoid using first-person pronouns (I, We)

• Jobs
• Internships/Volunteer Work

Resume Tips

• 1-2 page resume—depending on experience and your professional field
• Emphasize skills, results, and contributions
• Eliminate fluff while giving enough information
• Quantify and qualify, use technical language if appropriate
• Do not use a MS Word template - it is hard to make changes when needed

Resume Worksheets/Samples

Chronological Resume worksheet – getting started
Functional/Skills-Based worksheet

Sample Resume #1 
Sample Resume #2 - No work experience
Sample Resume #3 - Brief work history
Sample Resume #4 - 10+ years of work experience

Cover Letter

A cover letter is a persuasive letter to introduce you to an employer and match your skills and abilities with what the employer is seeking.

Many career experts agree that sending a cover letter is very useful. In fact, many recruiters say they will not read an applicant’s resume until they first read their cover letter. They are interested to see that the person 1) writes proficiently and 2) if they are able to persuade them to know more about how they might meet their hiring needs.
If you are able to communicate well in these two areas, you can definitely separate yourself from other candidates that don’t give the time and energy to write a well-written and persuasive cover letter.

What to include in a cover letter

• Proper salutation (do not assume or guess gender)
• 1st paragraph: Why are you writing? What specific position are you applying for? How did you learn about the position? Get their attention
• Body of letter:  Briefly summarize some of your strongest qualifications.  Match your skills to the employer’s needs and show how you would be a good fit for them
• Closing paragraph:  Refer the reader to your resume.  Declare you interest in an interview and offer to provide additional information upon request

Cover Letter Worksheet/Sample

Cover letter worksheet #1
Cover letter worksheet #2
Sample cover letter

Reference Page – Don’t these go on the resume?

As a rule, you should NOT include your job reference page with your resume. Why? It’s a matter of keeping the information private. Your references have agreed to let you give their contact info to your potential employers. But they most likely don’t want that info sent out to just anyone who says they have a job opening. Protect the privacy of your references by giving their contact info only to employers you know and trust.

Reference Page Worksheet

Job Search Strategies

1) Define what you want vs. what is realistic

• What is your “ideal job?” Small company? Large?
• Industry—corporate, non-profit, government?
• What is/are your preferred roles and responsibilities in a job?
• Salary and benefits? Work environment? Geographic location?
• What time frame do you have for finding a job?

Research jobs within these parameters, make a list/print off interesting positions that you find that meet your search criteria

2) Identify your applicable and transferable skills

• Identify current and transferable skills that you have learned through your previous jobs, internships, classes, group memberships, volunteer work, and hobbies
• Some examples of transferable skills include leadership, organization, and communication skills
• Build desired skills by doing any of the above or taking a class or workshop

3) Start your search with Handshake

• Search/apply for jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities 24/7 from organizations interested in RRCC students and alumni
• RRCC’s online job system offered through the Career Success Center

4) Use job search links

• There are dozens of job links that can help you find the right job. The Career Services website contains links to local and Colorado jobs as well as industry and career specific jobs

Professional Networking

The vast majority of job openings are never advertised; they’re filled by word of mouth. That’s why networking is the best way to find a job.
Unfortunately, many job seekers are hesitant to take advantage of networking because they’re afraid of being seen as pushy, annoying, or self-serving. But networking isn’t about using other people or aggressively promoting yourself—it’s about building relationships.

10 Tips for Successful Networking

1. At a networking event, first and foremost, try to relax. Think of it as a chance to make new friends, so try to smile and be yourself and people should be drawn to you accordingly.
2. If you see someone standing alone, go up and introduce yourself. Many others will feel just as nervous as you do so break the ice with a welcoming smile and “Hello”.
3. Ask yourself what you would like to get out of the networking meeting. Remember to be open-minded and take a long-term view. Some meetings are based more on learning or gaining inspiration rather than on career opportunities and openings alone. Remember it is better to make 3 good contacts than 20 rushed ones.
4. Develop an elevator speech. This is essentially a short summary of who you are and what you do that should be able to be delivered within the time span of an elevator ride. Be able to describe who you are professionally and the benefits you might bring. Intend for this to be captive and value-adding, with the hope to attract interest for the conversation to continue or for future interactions.
5. Remember that networking is not supposed to be aggressive. Just as you can’t stand an overbearing sales person nagging at you, be wary that you aren’t bombarding others. A pushy attitude may drive networkers away for good.
6. Ask Questions. This is your chance to learn as much as you can so take advantage of the opportunity - you will only get out what you put in. Have some questions ready to ask – for instance – What do you see as the main issues for your industry right now? What would you tell someone thinking of entering this profession?
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to participate in the conversation and make sure that you are alert throughout their responses. Act as a sponge and attempt to soak in everything that is being said. You will be thankful later when you try to recall what you have learned!
8. There is an increasing trend by employers to use employment agencies or staffing services to do their initial screening for jobs. Consider one in your area with a good reputation and experience in your industry.

Pros

• A temporary assignment may turn into a career position
• You are not committed to the job. Good way to explore
• You have flexibility
• You will earn while you learn

Cons

• Benefits for temp work are usually not as good
• An assignment may end abruptly
• You may find pressure to take a position you do not want

9.   Follow-up is the key. If you say that you’ll call or be in touch in anyway, make it your priority to do so promptly.
10.  Ensure that your online profile at LinkedIn or Facebook is always up-to-date. Recruiters often use social media to research potential candidates and review your skills and experience.

How to Best Prepare for an Interview

Before the Interview – the 3 R’s

Research – gather information about the position, organization, and the industry through company websites, job descriptions, annual reports, trade journals, newspapers, and magazines

Review – use the job description as your guide for the skills and qualities  necessary for  the specific job. Form connections between your background and the position description. Establish specific examples that illustrate your relevant skills.

Rehearse – Practice responses to frequently asked questions with a friend or schedule a practice interview with the Career Success Center. The purpose is not to memorize your answers, but to gain confidence in your ability to answer questions in an authentic manner and very your answer as needed.

At the Start of the Interview

During job interviews, you will want to be enthusiastic, likable, prepared, and informed. Provide a firm handshake and welcoming eye contact as most employers report their perception of you is strongly developed in the first 30 seconds. At this stage, these traits are all more important than your job qualifications. Because you know this and are well prepared, you can be confident that you will interview well.

The Actual Interview

Here are some strategies to use during the actual interview:

https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/10-killer-interview-tactics-you-ought-know/

Every candidate should be familiar with common Behavioral Interview questions, and how to respond. Here is a resource on common questions:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-behavioral-interview-questions-you-should-be-ready-to-answer

The STAR Framework is an excellent way to construct your best responses. Check out this helpful article on using the STAR Method:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-the-star-interview-response-technique-2061629

After the Interview – Now what?

• Immediately email or write a thank-you note
• Reflect on how the interview went
• When should I follow up – give it a little time. Do not want to come across as too impatient or desperate
• Inform your references that they may be contacted
• Keep your job search going! You can’t be sure that you will get the job so stay active in looking for other jobs that meet your search criteria

How to Ask for a Raise and Navigate Salary Negotiation

Check out this helpful step-by-step guide to negotiating salary:

https://www.moneygeek.com/careers/resources/salary-negotiation/

Navigating Disability in the Workplace

https://www.moneygeek.com/careers/resources/workers-with-disabilities-and-ada/

The Career Success Center at Red Rocks Community College looks forward to working with you to meet both your immediate and long-term hiring needs. Our Center’s mission is to assist our students in their employment pursuits, while supporting your recruiting efforts to find top-level talent in order to grow your business.

Post a Position

Red Rocks Community College is now on Handshake, the leading job board platform!

We are excited to announce our transition to a new platform to connect students and graduates to career opportunities. Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs.

New to Handshake? Click here to create an account and get started posting job openings and events, and connecting with students. Already on Handshake? Connect with Red Rocks Community College.

Tips for Recruiting RRCC Students and Graduates

• Set appropriate requirements. Make sure your desired qualifications, such as education, are appropriate for community college students (ie. positions that do not require a Bachelor's Degree). Many students won't apply if they feel they do not meet all the desired qualifications of a position.
• Offer a competitive salary. Consider additional perks and benefits, like tuition reimbursement.
• "Walk the Talk" regarding anti-discrimination policies, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.
• Offer flexibility. Keep in mind that many of our students have competing priorities: school, family, hobbies, etc.
• Put the individual first. There is no "average" RRCC student! We have a diverse student body, from recent high school grads to career transitioners.
• Indeed's tips for recruiting Gen-Z
• Handshake's tips for recruiting Gen-Z
• Handshake's guide to recruiting at Community Colleges

Questions?

Email us at rrcc.careerconnect@rrcc.edu. 

Additional Employer Services

Informational Tables in High-Traffic Areas (Will resume during fall semester, August 22, 2022. Please check our Academic Calendar prior to choosing dates)
Employers can reserve a table on campus to connect informally with students and talk about their organization and job opportunities.  Click here to request Informational Table 

• Tabling occurs Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm, on either our Lakewood Campus or Arvada Campus (Health Sciences only)
• $50/day tabling fee (waived for non-profits), payable online or in person
• Face-to-face contact with students is the best way to promote your opportunities and engage with students!

Employer Information Sessions
Employers can provide formal presentations on campus about their organization and what qualities they look for in employees. Contact Career Services for more information.

Internships, Job Shadowing, and Informational Interviewing
Offer internships and other student development opportunities to help students gain the knowledge necessary to grow in a professional work setting. Internships can also provide you the chance to assess their skills and growth potential for how they might fit into your organization, while allowing the student to see how they might like working with you in the future. 

Experiential learning is the process of learning through experience. This can range from conducting informational interviews or job shadowing a company, volunteering, or doing an internship. Experiential learning can help you learn more about the world of work and what you want to do after graduation as well as giving you the experience and skills to add to your resume and make you more marketable in the job market.

Informational Interviews

An informational interview is a meeting with someone working in a field you are interested so you can learn more about the field and how someone in the field got their start. This is one of the most effective ways to find what it’s like to work in a specific occupation. 

Information on Informational Interviews

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is a work experience option where students learn about a job by walking through the work day as a shadow to someone working in their field of interest. The job shadowing work experience is a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student. Meet with the Experiential Learning Coordinator to brainstorm companies to approach and strategies for a successful job shadow experience.

Internships

Internships enhance the education of Red Rocks Community College students by placing students in work experiences related to their academic major or minor. The RRCC Experiential Learning Coordinator works closely with students and employers to match students’ skills and classroom training with positions in business, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. The Internship Program also works directly with faculty to ensure that internships meet the educational needs of our students.

Internship information is detailed on our Experiential webpage.

Consider the Possibilities

Explore your interests, personality and aptitudes by meeting with a Career Advisor and taking a Career Assessment. Through career counseling, you can discover your strongest Academic Pathway and career options. When you meet with us, we will provide highly individualized services tailored to meet your needs and support you in your journey.

Career Assessments

Career assessments are valid and reliable ways to measure your personality, interests, values and strengths. Your results will include career and occupational feedback based on your responses. 

We offer three Career Assessments:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: The MBTI looks at your personal preferences in four areas of your life:

• What gives you energy
• How you learn
• How you make decisions
• How you get things done

You will participate in an interpretive session with a career coach and receive a career report on your psychological type with a list of job families and possible careers based on your responses.

Strong Interest Inventory:

The Strong measures your level of interests among a broad range of occupations and looks at how your interests relate to those who are satisfied in their careers. You will participate in an interpretive session to go over your results and receive an in depth interpretive report.

Youscience is a proven, scientifically developed aptitude assessment that utilizes a holistic approach to measure natural abilities (what you do naturally well), specific interests (what you enjoy doing) and career opportunities (what the job market needs).

Exploring Majors and Careers

O*NET Online: 

www.onetonline.org has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!

What Can I Do With This Major:

https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/
Whether you are exploring multiple majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this site will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about the typical career areas and the types of employers that hire people with each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. Continue your research on majors and careers through the websites provided.

Career Development Course

PSY 110, Career Development: This comprehensive 3 credit course covers all areas of personal career development and the world of work. You will be participating in engaging exercises, activities and career assessments of your personality, interests, strengths, values, and skills. You will be active in your own career exploration, goal setting, decision making, networking, globalization, occupational resources, informational interviewing, resume writing and interviewing skills. You will create your personal career action plan. Offered both fall and spring semester and online during the summer semester. Can be used as an elective for the Associate of Arts degree and a general education requirement for many of the Associate of Applied Science degrees.

Additional Resources

VIA Strengths Assessment

www.viacharacter.org

The VIA Survey of Character Strengths is a simple self-assessment that takes less than 15 minutes and provides a wealth of information to help you understand your core characteristics. Most personality tests focus on negative and neutral traits, but the VIA Survey focuses on your best qualities.

My Next Move

Free Interest Assessment
www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip

My Next Move, also known as The O*NET Interest Profiler, can help you find what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can find out what you like to do.

My Majors:

www.mymajors.com
MyMajors is designed to emulate a human academic advisor. The program recommends actual college and university majors (not general categories or personality types). MyMajors is not a psychological instrument. It takes into account a student's academic abilities and personal interests to create a successful plan to become college and career ready.

Skills Matcher:

Skills Matcher is a self-reported skills inventory that matches you with careers based on your levels of 40 key workplace skills.

Red Rocks Community College is now on Handshake, the leading job board platform!

We are excited to announce our transition to a new platform to connect students and graduates to career opportunities. Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs.

Students and Graduates

Students now have exclusive access to Handshake, the #1 career platform! Click here to watch a video to learn more. Check our website for more information about info sessions to learn how to navigate the platform, search for career opportunities, post your resume, attend events such as virtual and in person Career Fairs, and more! Log in using your S-number. If you are a graduate and would like access Handshake, just create an account using your email and request to access Red Rocks Community College. We will follow up to verify your account with your S#.

Employers

Join us on Handshake! Click here to create an account and get started posting job openings and events, and connecting with students. If you're already on Handshake, just look for our school. We approve connections within three (3) business days.

Questions?

Email us at rrcc.careerconnect@rrcc.edu.

Student Success

This is what #CareerSuccess looks like at RRCC!

Student Success Story: Nicholas Zucal, RRCC Graduate

My Pathway at RRCC:

EMT Certification (fall semester 2018) and Fire Academy Certification courses (spring semester 2019) with (FF I and Hazmat certs)

How do you like your career?

This job was made for my personality, I absolutely LOVE my job. I have dabbled in many career choices through the years in search of what I thought would satisfy my professional desires and all have fallen short to maintaining my interest except firefighting.

Did school prepare you for this, or were there any classes that helped you to be successful at this job?

The EMT certification course and Fire Academy provided through RRCC not only prepared me academically but molded my basic physical skills as a first responder. The instructors involved in both EMT and Fire Certification courses were experienced in my field of work. Having experienced proctors gave me valuable reference tools that I still utilize today. Whether it’s assessing patients on medical calls or trusting my instincts enough to not second guess a decision, I fall back on the words of my initial instructors from RRCC courses.

Do you plan on staying in this career, or moving on to other things in the future?

I plan on retiring with Westminster Fire Department. I’m in my 30’s and this was the final career change I was praying for.

Email us at: Internships@rrcc.edu

Internships for Employers

Students look for internships to gain experience in their academic area through practical work experience. By working closely with an expert in the field, students receive supervision and mentoring. Workplace supervisors provide opportunities for learning and professional growth.

Differences between Internships and Jobs

• An internship has an expectation of training and learning.
• The employer provides direct supervision by a knowledgeable professional.
• Students can register and pay for internship credit.
• Positions best suited for listing as jobs instead of internships include:
  • Commission-based positions
  • Positions not related to Red Rocks courses.
  • Positions where the employer does not possess the necessary skills to show
    the student how to do the job (i.e. creating a website).
  • Want to know more? Click here to read the full Internship Guidelines.
  • Is your position a job? Click here to post an off-campus job.

Setting Up an Internship

• Post a position on RRCC Career Connect.
• Students apply directly to employers.
• Select a student.
• Direct the intern to the RRCC Internship Office for an internship orientation prior to
  putting in hours.
• Sign the Internship Training Agreement and Learning Objectives.
• The student can start!

Ready to Post an Internship?

Go to RRCC Career Connect to create a company profile and post an internship.

About Internships for Students:

• Most RRCC internships are for credit, from 1 to 6 credits, and subject to current tuition rates.
• Students enrolled in an internship work a minimum of 45 hours for every 1 credit earned.
• Typical internships are for 3 credits (135 work hours).
• For-credit internships yield a letter grade.
• Internships can be paid or unpaid.
• Students in unpaid internships can apply for an Internship Grant.
• Current RRCC students who find paid internships are not required to register for internship credit.
• For a paid, non-credit internship, a student sets up the internship with the RRCC Internship Office and will receive a certificate of completion, verifying the professional nature of the internship.

Qualifications:

• All internships are reserved for currently enrolled Red Rocks Community College students.
  We also welcome interested RRCC alumni to apply for credit bearing internships.
• For-credit internships require a fundamental knowledge in a RRCC field of study, usually
  one or two semesters of successfully completed RRCC course work.
• A cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 is required.
• The student will provide a signed Instructor Recommendation form, verifying that the student
  has the professionalism to represent RRCC in the workplace, and the skills to do the job.
• An internship site is needed. Finding an appropriate site will be discussed during the initial
  internship appointment.

Ready to Get Started?

The first step is to register with RRCC Career Connect. Once you have registered, the internship office will be in touch with you to set up a short informational meeting. In RRCC Career Connect, you’ll have the opportunity to create a profile, upload and send your resume, apply for internships, and search the employer/job databases.