Student Resources
This page provides you with information to support your decision on a major or career path. We encourage you to come and speak with one of our professional staff members who can also provide you with personalized guidance.
Let us serve you, schedule a one-on-one appointment with your college representative
Our Staff Reccomends:
- Mining Majors: View internship opportunity sites, student, and professional organizations, online resources, related job sites, and occupations targeted to your major.
- Coursera's Career Academy: As part of The University of Texas System's Texas Credentials for the Future initiative, we are happy to announce that Â鶹¹ÙÍø students and alumni are invited to earn microcredentials through Coursera's Career Academy at no cost. Companies such as Google, IBM, Meta, Goodwill, and CVS are offering micro-credentials to Â鶹¹ÙÍø students to help develop knowledge and skills in areas such as data analytics, social media marketing, UX design, and sales operations.
- GoinGlobal helps new and experienced job seekers find opportunities at home and abroad. Since 2001, it has been the market leader in online career and employment resources. GoinGlobal provides a one-stop resource to help fast-track job and internship searches. GoinGlobal is currently used by more than 1,000 of the leading institutions around the world.
- Couri/Building Scholars: Explore and find information for students aspiring to become undergraduate researchers, for students already conducting research, and for research faculty mentors.
- Volunteer and make a difference while gaining skills and connections in El Paso.
- Choices360: Choices360 provides personalized career guidance and planning tools to help you explore career paths that align with your major and interests.
- Mining Majors: View internship opportunity sites, student, and professional organizations, online resources, related job sites, and occupations targeted to your major.
- "What Can I Do With This Major?" offers lists of potential career options and strategies specific to each major.
- The O-Net Interest Profile assesses students' interests and suggests careers that match their major and personal preferences.
- It’s a free resource customized to meet the specific needs of today’s students, allowing them to find and research the latest entry-level jobs and salaries, career tips, and more. Job seekers will get an insider’s perspective of what it’s like to work at a specific job at a specific company.
- Find descriptions of occupations and real-world information about them. Find career exploration tools, resources for veterans, information about tests and assessments, and questionnaires.
- Visit the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS (BLS) and see the Occupational Outlook Handbook to discover the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions for careers of interest.
- View videos on the many careers available. Explore careers, view salaries, and benefits, education, and training, conduct job searches, get help with resumes and interviews, and find people and places to help you. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
- SeekUT is a free, online tool and website that offers salary, debt, and jobs data all in one place. It presents data on the earnings and educational graduate outcomes from the University of Texas System Institutions. Students and their families can use SeekUT to help them make informed decisions about their education and their financial future. Click to see Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s data.
- Career Insights is a page on SeekUT that contains the lates data on popular industries, pay, and whether they stayed in Texas or left from Â鶹¹ÙÍø graduates. You can filter by your major, and only baccalaureates are included.
The StrengthsFinder® assessment can assist you with discovering and understanding your strengths and talents. Completing the assessment will provide you with a list of your "top five" signature themes, which can help you enhance the behaviors that lead to success. You will be able to focus on your strengths and understand how they can translate into a career or post-graduate education plan.
Completing StrengthsFinder® can help you:
- Recognize talents and shape them into strengths
- Identify skills that will help with your future career
- Assist with exploring careers that match your strengths
- Offer guidance about how to build your strengths and talents
To complete StrengthsFinder® please email: careers@utep.edu for an access code. This access code is unique to you. After completing the assessment, please schedule an appointment with a Career Center staff member to discuss your results!
GoinGlobal helps new and experienced job seekers find opportunities both at home and abroad. As the market leader in online career and employment resources since 2001, our specialized tools and content have helped millions of new and experienced professionals expand their horizons.
Created by local career experts, our products provide a one-stop resource to help fast track job and internship searches. GoinGlobal is currently used by more than 1,000 of the leading institutions around the world; so whether your clients are looking for a job or internship across town or on the other side of the world, GoinGlobal provides the career resources they need to achieve their goals.
- : Empower your clients to expand their horizons with country and city career guides written by local employment experts.
- : Our constantly updated job search guides are filled with all you need to know about living and working in major markets throughout the United States.
- : Expedite your job search with extensive location-specific employment resources.
- : Complimentary access to CultureWizard by RW3 LLC, a learning platform that helps people build skills to effectively engage across cultures.
- : Boost placement rates with access to more than 16 million worldwide job postings, updated daily.
- : Give students access to thousands of internship opportunities, both at home and abroad.
- : Help your clients find U.S. employers interested in hiring international talent with our proprietary H1B visa search engine. Plus, OPT-friendly employer listings with guidelines to help students navigate the OPT application and authorization process.
- : Help your clients locate prospective employers and make industry connections with access to thousands of multi-national and local employers based around the globe
Act now and enhance your résumé. Gaining experience during your time at Â鶹¹ÙÍø can increase your chances of finding your career path and being hired upon graduation. These experiences include:
- Internships: Dive into exciting hands-on learning opportunities with top employers in your dream industry.
- Finding On-Campus Jobs: Discover convenient, flexible campus positions that earn you money while developing your skills.
- Tap into amazing leadership growth and community-building through involvement with our diverse and dynamic student organizations.
- Do rewarding work that truly makes a difference while gaining skills and connections in El Paso.
- Couri/Building Scholars Explore and find information for students aspiring to become undergraduate researchers, for students already conducting research, and for research faculty mentors.
- Study Abroad The mission of the Study Abroad Office at The University of Texas at El Paso is to provide quality international educational opportunities, which will contribute to the college and career success of Â鶹¹ÙÍø students and enhance Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s global presence.
- The Archer Fellowship Program offers Â鶹¹ÙÍø students unparalleled academic and professional experiences through living, learning, and interning in Washington D.C.
- Peace Corps: The Peace Corps offers U.S. citizens aged 18 and above free training in technical skills, cross-cultural understanding, and languages, enabling them to volunteer in over 60 countries across various sectors, including receiving pay and living expenses.
- Coursera's Career Academy: As part of The University of Texas System's Texas Credentials for the Future initiative, we are happy to announce that Â鶹¹ÙÍø students and alumni are invited to earn microcredentials through Coursera's Career Academy at no cost. Companies such as Google, IBM, Meta, Goodwill, and CVS are offering microcredentials to Â鶹¹ÙÍø students to help develop knowledge and skills in areas such as data analytics, social media marketing, UX design, and sales operations.
Searching for a job can be both exciting and challenging! It's a time to showcase your skills and experiences while discovering new opportunities that align with your aspirations. This section aims to provide insights and practical tips to effectively navigate the job search process, empower you to make informed decisions and successfully securing your next career move.
Step 1: Get Ready for the Job Search
Get Ready for the Job Search
- Identify values, interests, priorities, and skills/strengths by using and Clifton StrengthsFinder
- Search keywords of job skills to identify job functions that may be worth considering
- Complete or update your profile
- Create a account and have it reviewed by the Career Center
- Develop a résumé and cover letter and have them reviewed by the Career Center
- Request and prepare at least three individuals to be references
- Explore these videos from Indeed:
Step 2: Implement Your Job Search Strategy
Implement Your Job Search Strategy
Create an MS Excel Sheet to Track Your Job Search and Applications:
Using an Excel sheet can help you stay organized and keep track of all your job applications. Here are the key columns to include:
- Job Title: Record the specific title of the job you're applying for. This helps you remember what positions you've applied to and target your applications more effectively.
- Company: Note the name of the company. Research the company thoroughly and customize your application to align with their values and requirements.
- Salary Range: If available, record the salary range for the position. This information can be useful during salary negotiations and for comparing different job offers.
- Application Deadline: Keep track of the application deadlines to ensure you submit your materials on time. Set reminders a few days before each deadline to give yourself ample time to apply.
- Job Engine: Specify the job search engine or platform where you found the job posting (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake). This helps you understand which platforms are most effective for your job search.
Here's an example of how your Excel sheet might look:
| Job Title | Company | Salary Range | Application Deadline | Job Engine |
| Marketing Intern | ABC Corp | $15-$20/hour | August 15,2024 | |
| Software Engineer | XYZ Tech | $70,000-$80,000/year | August 30, 2024 | Handshake |
Download a Template:
Network Actively:
- Leverage Your College’s Career Services: Use resources like career fairs, networking events, and workshops provided by your college’s career services office.
- Connect with Alumni: Reach out to alumni from your college who are working in your desired field. They can offer advice, mentorship, and potentially job referrals.
Tailor Your Applications:
- Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter: Tailor each application to the specific job by highlighting relevant skills and experiences. Use keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Follow Up: After submitting an application, follow up with the company to express your continued interest. This can help you stand out and show your enthusiasm for the position.
Prepare for Interviews:
- Research the Company: Before an interview, research the company’s mission, values, and recent news. This knowledge will help you answer questions more effectively and demonstrate your genuine interest.
- Practice Common Interview Questions: Prepare for common interview questions and practice your responses. Consider conducting mock interviews with a friend or using resources like Big Interview to refine your skills.
Step 3: Apply for a Job
Apply for the Job
It's important to research a company before applying or an interview. This will assist you in understanding the culture, mission and vision, salary expectations, and cost of living.
- Glassdoor offers a vast database of employee reviews, salary reports, and interview experiences, providing job seekers with a transparent view of what it's like to work at specific companies.
- Career Bliss provides insights into company culture, salaries, and employee satisfaction, helping job seekers make informed decisions about potential employers.
- LinkedIn connects job seekers with detailed company pages, employee networks, and job postings, enabling comprehensive research and networking opportunities with potential employers.
These links will assist you in identifying a salary range for potential negotiations.
- Job Seekers Salary Calculator: This tool helps job seekers estimate potential earnings by providing detailed salary information for various roles within a company.
- SEEK U.T. provides detailed salary data for various job positions within the University of Texas system, helping job seekers understand compensation standards in this educational institution.
- PayScale offers personalized salary reports based on job title, experience, and location, assisting job seekers in determining competitive pay rates for their roles.
- The Salary Negotiation Guide provides strategies and data to help job seekers negotiate better salaries by understanding market rates and industry benchmarks.
- The OES program offers comprehensive wage estimates for different occupations across the U.S., enabling job seekers to compare salaries by industry and region.
- Salary List compiles publicly available salary data for a wide range of companies and positions, allowing job seekers to research and compare compensation.
- Texas Wages provides detailed wage information specific to various occupations within Texas, helping job seekers assess salary expectations based on regional data.
These links will support you in identifying the salary range for the area you anticipate living in comparison to El Paso.
- Texas Reality Check offers interactive tools to help users estimate the cost of living in different Texas cities, aiding in financial planning and budgeting.
- MonkeyGeek provides cost of living comparisons between various cities and regions, helping users understand the financial implications of moving to a new area.
- NerdWallet offers detailed cost of living calculators and financial advice, enabling users to compare expenses and make informed decisions about where to live.
- Best Places provides comprehensive cost of living data and comparisons, helping users evaluate different locations based on expenses like housing, utilities, and groceries.
- SmartAsset offers a cost of living calculator that compares expenses across various cities, assisting users in budgeting and financial planning for potential relocations.
- PayScale provides a cost of living calculator that integrates salary data, allowing users to see how far their income will go in different locations.
Step 4: First Day
First Day at your Job
On your first day make sure to make a great first impression.
- Get to work 15 minutes early
- Be confident (Introduce yourself)
- Meet one-on-one with coworkers
- It will be overwhelming (But it gets better)
- Attend new hire orientation (If applicable)
- Benefits Overview
- 401k, vacation time, health/life insurance
- Company Info
- History, philosophy, and future events
- Tour the Office
- Know the exits, emergency procedures
- Benefits Overview
Dress Code
- Overdress on your first day
- Business Professional
- Women: Pantsuit, skirt suit, structured dress, blazer/jacket, clean, scuff-free shoes
- Men: Tailored suit, solid or subtle pattern tie, clean, scuff-free shoes
- Business Casual (Post-first day)
- Women: Knee-length dress/skirt, tailored button-up shirts, more freedom with accessories
- Men: Button-up shirts, dress pants, khakis (No tie required)
- Business Professional
- Buy the clothes after the first day (you will see what people usually wear)
- Be Timely
- Acknowledge questions/requests within 24 hours
- Organize your Time
- Use a calendar app, agenda, or Outlook to plan
- Set aside specific times for tasks
- Know the priority of each task
- Maintain a Professional Workspace
- Keep your workspace organized and tidy
- Designate areas for documents and supplies
- How to Set Up Direct Deposit
Internship Support
Your Â鶹¹ÙÍø Career Center offers the following tips to help you avoid being scammed by fraudulent jobs. Remember that if a job sounds too good to be true then it may just be a scam. If you encounter any suspicious activity, please email us at careers@utep.edu and security@utep.edu .
Understanding the Offer
Begin by meticulously reviewing the job offer provided to you. Take the time to comprehend the entirety of the offer, including salary, benefits, job responsibilities, and any additional perks. Utilize resources such as and the to gain insight into industry standards and salary ranges.
Evaluating the Salary
Assess the salary component of the offer with precision. Employ tools like the and to conduct thorough research on comparable positions within your region. This data will serve as a solid foundation for negotiating a fair and competitive compensation package.
Negotiating Like a Professional
Approach negotiation with a blend of confidence and professionalism. Utilize the insights gained from your salary research to substantiate your requests. For expert guidance and strategies, refer to to ensure a successful negotiation process.
Timing Is Key
Understanding the optimal timing for negotiation is critical. Aim to discuss salary and benefits post-receipt of the initial offer but before formal acceptance. This demonstrates your interest in the position while allowing for mutually beneficial adjustments to be made.
Finalizing the Deal
Upon reaching an agreement, formalize the revised offer in writing and carefully review its contents before proceeding to sign. Address any lingering queries or concerns promptly to ensure clarity and alignment between both parties.
What is a background check?
- Employment History
- Education
- Criminal Record
- Financial History
- Medical History
- Social Media Accounts
An employment background check is done to evaluate a prospective employee’s background history for a position that requires a candidate to be looked at carefully before being accepted as an employee.
What can or can't be reported?
Provided that the position has an annual salary of under $75,000, background checks are not allowed to report the following:
- Bankruptcies after 10 years
- Civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest, from date of entry, after seven years
- Paid tax liens after seven years
- Accounts placed for collection after seven years
- Any other negative information (except criminal convictions) after seven years
What to know about credit reports
- Liens
- 100% credit utilization
- Bankruptcy
- Foreclosure
- Late
fees
Organizations extending job offers to students from The University of Texas at El Paso (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) are asked to provide students with a minimum of two weeks to consider and respond to an internship or full-time job offer. Summer interns who received full-time offers from their internship employer should have until October 1 to accept the offer. When making offers to students, we recommend that the offer come in writing (email/letter) and include:
- Position title
- Salary
- Benefits
- Location
- Bonuses
- Anticipated/Expected starting date
- Any other pertinent information
Organizations are responsible for all representations and
We encourage employers and students to be familiar with and abide by the widely-accepted National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Guidelines:
Adopted: 12/2018
Reviewed 7/27/2023