In addition to the knowledge you acquire in your specific field, employers want to hire graduates who are career ready and prepared to take on the challenges of the workplace. A college degree in and of itself does not automatically lead to a good job. Employers want assurance that you can help them solve problems and reach their goals. They want to know that you have developed and demonstrated competencies considered essential in the workplace.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified and defined eight competencies that determine career readiness. Career readiness is defined as “the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace.”

Use the Career Competency Rubric (pdf) to assess where you currently rate in your career competency levels. You can also use it to determine areas for improvement.

Individual career advising sessions can be scheduled with the Director of Career Services. These sessions are designed to help students figure out how their academic and personal interests, abilities and values might relate to the career fields they are considering and how they can form career goals accordingly.

Career advising sessions are also used to help students:

• Develop career goals and means for attaining them
• Understand and develop career readiness competencies essential for career success
• Compose professional application materials (resume, cover letter, etc.)
• Learn and practice effective interviewing skills
• Learn effective job searching and application strategies
• Prepare for career fairs and networking events
• Find an internship, part-time or full-time job
• Learn how to negotiate salary and job offers
• Design and present their own personal brand
• Connect and network with industry professionals, alumni and recruiters
• Create a professional online image via LinkedIn, Facebook, and more
• Understand and demonstrate appropriate professional etiquette
• Assess and articulate skills, strength, knowledge and experience

Having trouble figuring out what academic major to go into or confused about what career you want to pursue? Career Services is the place to begin. We can provide assistance as you explore majors, discover options and select occupations that connect with your interests, abilities and values. We also offer several free assessments to help you begin to explore what direction you want to take your career in.

Available assessments

K-State Salina provides FREE career assessment consultations for all our students. You may choose from either the FOCUS 2 or YouScience assessment (or take both!).

FOCUS 2

FOCUS 2 is an online, interactive education and career planning system that combines self assessment, major and career exploration, and decision making into one comprehensive program. FOCUS 2 will help you clarify your skills, interests, and professional goals so you will be better equipped to identify potential majors and minors, to create an academic plan, and to map out a basic career path.

FOCUS 2 Career Planning Workbook – Be proactive with your career planning! This workbook is a helpful tool to use with your FOCUS 2 results in the career decision making process. In order for you to know what steps to take now and have goals for the future, it is important to create an action plan.

YouScience

By completing a series of fun and engaging ‘brain-games’, YouScience is designed to help you identify the intersection of your strengths, passions, and future opportunities. It begins with an assessment of 15 dimensions to identify both your interests and important characteristics that you possess. It then uses this data on your aptitudes and interests to identify promising career areas based on your assessment profile. You will learn where your natural strengths are, and how you can leverage these strengths in college and beyond.

Occupation information

Check out the career databases and resources below to explore different career paths and the type of degree programs associated with each one.

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook – browse by occupation groups, entry-level education, median pay, highest paying, fastest growing, and most new job projections.

O*Net – browse occupations by bright outlook, career clusters, green economy sector, industry, job family, job zone, and STEM discipline.

CareerOneStop – browse employment trends by state, what occupations are hot, search skills by job type or skills matching your job type.

At K-State Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, we work hard to help you secure a job in the field you wish to work. You may also be concerned with finding an internship or campus/part-time job to work while completing your degree. A listing of available campus jobs is sent out weekly via your K-State email with a job description and information on how to apply. There are also many local businesses that like to hire our students for part-time work. If you need help finding or applying for a part-time job off-campus, you can schedule a career advising appointment through Handshake.

Our internship and full-time job listing platform for K-State students is Handshake. If you want to know what companies and organizations are looking to hire our students, sign up for a Handshake account today!

Internships

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience, make connections in professional fields you are considering for career paths, and obtain valuable feedback from employers on your skills and proficiency levels in a particular field. Learn more about internships (pdf).

If you're interested in completing an internship - many degree options require one - contact the Director of Career Services for more information.

International Students

To participate in an internship, international students must obtain special approval through the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) Office. There are several different routes that international students can take to complete an internship, depending on your Visa type. More information can be found below. If you have further questions about the process, contact the Director of Career Services, or the ISSS Office at 785-532-6448 or isss@k-state.edu.

F-1 Students

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

J-1 Students

Academic Training (AT)

Did you know that most employers spend less than 20 seconds scanning a resume before making a decision about a candidate? There are many steps you can take to make sure your resume stands out and doesn't get passed up for someone else. The same goes for your cover letter, which should be written specifically for the job you are applying to. Schedule an appointment with Career Services through Handshake to make sure your career materials leave a lasting impression.

Resume Guide

The Career Center's most popular resource for students contains sample student resumes, cover letters, power/action verbs, and other job search correspondence. It is available online (PDF).

Select free business attire from clothing donated by faculty, staff, alumni and other professionals. The Career Closet is free and available to all K-State Salina students!

The interview is a critical aspect of a successful job search. You must be able to effectively sell yourself and your skills to a prospective employer. Whether it's for a part-time or campus job, an internship, or the full-time job of your dreams, you will want to make sure you know how to interview well.

Interview Prep

• Interviewing 101
• Virtual interviewing

Big Interview

Learn how to land the job with powerful video tutorials and virtual interview practice software. Students can log in with their eID and password.

Just been offered a job? Congratulations! But before you accept, you may want to consider how the offer compares to others in the field and whether the offer will meet your financial needs and goals. Use the information below to help you navigate job offers, salary and negotiating for terms that fit your lifestyle.

Post Graduation Stats

Each year Career Services collects employment information from our recent graduates. This data is compiled into a larger, University wide report produced by the KSU Career Center. You can find a snapshot of this data.

Report Your Job

Let us know what you're up to! We like to know where our graduates are working, and/or plans for further education.

Salary, Job Offers & Negotiation

Compare salaries for career fields, review national salary survey information, negotiation tips, and types of benefits.

Relocation Resources

What to consider if you're moving.

What do you want to be known for, and how can you express yourself in a way that communicates this to others?

As you explore and continue to have new experiences, you will slowly start to build and establish who you are and what you stand for. The unique arrangement of your skills, interests, attributes and personality that make up who you are, is your personal brand. Think of your personal brand as an outward or visible expression of this distinct combination — how you decide you will show up in the professional world, how others perceive you, and what you are recognized or remembered for.

You are the sole proprietor of your brand, no one else. You will want to consider carefully how you present yourself — in person, on paper, and online — and be consistent in portraying your image through all these channels.

Personal Branding

• Career Center's "Your Personal Brand"
• LinkedIn Cheat Sheet

Networking

• Professional Networking Basics
• Great Networking Conversation Starters
• Using Social Media in Your Career
• Informational Interviewing
• How to Work a Room (pdf)

K-State Salina Career Services is committed to diverse and inclusive practices in all of our career advising and professional development activities and programs. We recognize that some underrepresented populations have been marginalized based on their backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. In the effort to breakdown the various forms of systemic discrimination that exist in our society, Career Services strives to create an inclusive environment that values and respects all individuals for their unique viewpoints and diverse experiences.

Throughout our practices, we encourage all individuals to reflect on how their sense of identity influences their career development. This includes but is not limited to their career and employment choices, interactions with and biases towards others, understanding of work culture, power, and privilege, among others. We all identify differently and to varying degrees with the identities (ex. race, gender, ethnicity, culture, beliefs, class, personality traits, disabilities, etc.) that make up our being. Knowing how this impacts our personal view of the world, as well as how others view us based on conscious and unconscious biases, can lead to better awareness of the role that power, privilege, and bias play in one’s career development. The goal is that this will in turn promote greater dialogue and effective action toward a more just and equitable society.

A vast majority of employers consider diversity to be of high importance and are increasingly looking for leaders and employees who can work well with people from a variety of backgrounds. The K-State Career Center has compiled resources for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, as well as for those looking to learn more about diversity and inclusion, or who may be interested in working in a setting that promotes diversity.

Many professional and industry specific organizations offer great advice and information to help you in your career. Some are included below for your reference. We are always updating this page, so check back regularly!

Aviation

Airline Apps

Aircraft Owners & Pilot Association (AOPA)

Airline Job Finder

Airline Pilot Central

Arab Aviation

AviaNation

Aviation Jobs

AviationJobs.ME

Aviation Job Net

Aviation Pros

BizJet Jobs

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Jobs

Find a Pilot

Fly Contract

Future & Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA)

Flying Magazine

Jet Careers

JS Firm

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

Pilot Career Center

ProPilot World

Business

eFinancial

Computer Systems & Digital Media

Computer Science Career Guide

ComputerWork

Dice

Intelligence Careers

Job Search Engines

CareerJet

Special Populations & International Jobs

Best Aviation Jobs

Diversity Inc

FAA Diversity & Inclusion

Each year Career Services collects employment information from our recent graduates. This data is compiled into a larger, University wide report produced by the KSU Career Center. You can find a snapshot of this data.

Career Services is available to assist students with career preparation. Appointments are available year-round. Appointments must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

Types of Appointments

When making your appointment, please specify which type of appointment you would like to schedule. If you aren't sure or if you want to address multiple topics, this can be discussed in your initial meeting. Additional career advising appointments can be scheduled in the future, if necessary.

• Career exploration
• Career assessment for class assignment or follow-up
• Resume or cover letter critique
• CV critique
• Other applicant documents
• Job or internship search
• Mock interview

If you have questions or need assistance, please email jjdoak@k-state.edu.