Month: February 2022

Chyanne Davis

The Career Development Center at Purdue University Fort Wayne offers many services that can help better prepare students for the work force. Resume and cover letter workshops are just one of the many events held for PFW students.

The resume service is important because you can’t get a job without one, said Tracey Hanton, assistant director of PFW’s Career Development Center.

“I think it’s important [to attend resume and cover letter workshops] because it’s an opportunity for a student to hear the whole of how to put this resume together,” Hanton said. “It’s also an opportunity for them to look at what they might have… an opportunity for them to ask their own individualized questions and then they can go back, make any adjustments they need to, then they can send it back to me and clarify that the corrections were what we discussed in the workshop.”

Resume and cover letter workshops are held throughout the school year, on campus and at the Student Housing Clubhouse. Students in the Endorsed or Passport to Success programs are able to earn career readiness points by attending the workshops.

Workshops for resume and cover letters are only available to current PFW students. However, alumni are welcome to make an appointment with Career Development Center to build resumes and cover letters.

Appointments can be made online, by emailing the Career Development Center at careercenter@pfw.edu, or by calling (260) 481-0689. You can even make an appointment in person at Kettler Hall, Room 109 on PFW’s campus. There is also an option to email your resume directly to the Career Development Center for revision to resumereview@pfw.edu.

When you attend a resume and/or cover letter appointment, it is recommended that you bring a hard copy of your resume and cover letter to be reviewed.

COVID-19 precautions when attending an appointment of workshop consist of wearing a mask and social distancing when possible. If you are not able to attend a resume and cover letter workshop in person, you can also arrange to have a Zoom meeting of the workshop by emailing Tracey Hanton at thanton@pfw.edu.

The website also has tips on how to create a resume, cover letter, and a LinkedIn profile. There are examples of resumes and cover letters available there as well.

If you need help with writing a resume or cover letter and you are a current PFW student or an alumnus, you can attend a workshop or make an appointment at the Career Development Center.

Abby Gehlhausen | 11.6.21

Purdue University Fort Wayne provides a Career Development Center that offers essential resources to students taking steps toward their careers.

According to the Career Development Center’s website, its mission is to “invest in the holistic development of our students by infusing career readiness into our programs and services while bridging the gap between students, campus partners, and employers to positively impact the region and beyond.”

“The purpose really is to help students and alumni develop their career readiness skills,” Assistant Director Tracey Hanton said.

Students can have their resume critiqued by a career counselor, ensuring that it is acceptable for use and follows professional standards. Online career assessments help students narrow in on their personal interests and career path.

The Endorsed Program is a career readiness program that requires students to complete a variety of professional development activities in order to help prepare for the future. An online platform called Handshake helps students find part-time work on and off campus and internships.

The office hosts job and internship fairs at least once a semester, inviting local employers to the PFW campus, which allows students to network and ask questions. Immersion Excursions are events that give students the opportunity to travel to different businesses and connect with current employees and HR representatives.

Diversity Dialogues helps students learn how to navigate a diverse workplace where there are often many cultures and styles of communication. The office also offers alumni panel events where past PFW students share valuable information on how to best prepare for careers while still in school.

“You came here, you spent this money. You want a job. And you want a job doing something that you’re going to enjoy,” Hanton said.

She advised that students begin using the office’s resources early and often in their college careers.

Hanton also said resume building is the most important thing the Career Development Center can offer students “because you can’t get a job without one.”

Antonio Menson, the Purdue Fort Wayne Student Body Vice President of Finance and current senior, said that during his freshman year he was very confident with his resume skills, but decided to have his resume reviewed by a member of the Career Development Center anyway.

“I cannot imagine how employers would look at my resume if I was still using the same old template. I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people that work in the office and all of the work that they do,” Menson said.