Professional Resources

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's us serve you, schedule a one-on-one appointment with your college representative

(915) 747-5640 careers@utep.edu

As you make your way through your four years at UTEP, there are many important milestones to reach along the way. Use this checklist to help keep you on track and start this process early.

CREATE A PRELIMINARY RÉSUMÉ and have it reviewed by a Peer Career Advisor Click our Sample Documents for sample formats.
LOG IN TO YOUR HANDSHAKE ACCOUNT. Activate your profile and apply to student employment opportunities such as part-time jobs and internships.
EXPLORE THE TOOLS AND STUDENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE at the Career Center.
TAKE A SELF-ASSESSMENT. Discover with Choices 360 how your skills, values, and interest relate to the professional job market. This is a self-exploration phase.
SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM A PEER CAREER ADVISOR to determine if your major is best suited for your intended career path or start exploring on your own by clicking the “What Can I Do With This Major?” or Mining Majors links for guidance.
EXPLORE CAREERS and fields of interest by clicking the “What Can I Do With This Major?” or Mining Majors links for guidance.
DEVELOP A PLAN to acquire and master the overall skills which employers seek. This includes communication, interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills. We recommend that you click the “Pathways to ExCEL” to begin your journey to career readiness.
ATTEND CAREER CENTER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS. Explore the many career topics such as How the Career Center can help you, How to Navigate a Career Fair, and Crafting an Effective Résumé and Cover Letter.
ATTEND EMPLOYER INFORMATION SESSIONS AND CAREER FAIRS.Click the Career Center’s Employers on Campus and Career Fairs links for more information.
PRACTICE YOUR INTERVIEW SKILLS with the Career Center and participate in mock interview coaching sessions. Register and attend the “Mastering the Interview” workshop conducted by the Career Center.
BECOME INVOLVED IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES for personal and professional development. Click Mine Tracker link for a listing of all student organizations, as well as, the Center for Community Engagement for volunteer opportunities.

Careers for My Major

Choices 360

Career exploration program used to identify majors and careers that match your interests, abilities, and work-related values

Mining Majors

View internship opportunities, student, and professional organizations, online resources, related job sites, and occupations targeted to your major.

What Can I Do With This Major?

This tool allows you to explore majors and career options, you will learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people with each major.

Video Tutorial

O-Net Interest Profile

The O*NET Interest Profiler can help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can find out what you like to do.The O*NET Interest Profiler helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore.

Career Preparation

Mine Tracker

Use Mine Tracker to see the organizations on campus from various categories such as academic, advocacy, greek, graduate, health, international, professional, and more. Get involved!

Pathways to ExCEL

ExCEL stands for Education, Experience, Community Involvement, Eye to the future and Leadership . By following the Pathways to Excel, you will not only enhance your résumé but improve your chances of getting into graduate school and becoming a standout candidate to employers.

Career Investigation

The resources below support your investigation when looking for a job, exploring salary options, and seeing what jobs are currently available in the job market.

GoinGlobal

GoinGlobal Connects you to opportunities outside the U.S.

O-Net

Find descriptions of occupations and real-world information about them. Find career exploration tools, resources for veterans, information about tests and assessments, and questionnaires.

BLS

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.

Career One Stop

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.

U.S.News

Read additional resources on career preparation.

Seek UT-UTEP Edition

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 UTEP’s data.

Strengths Finder

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!

Please note that these are links to sites not tied to UTEP, please use due diligence when entering or providing personal information.

COMPANY REVIEWS

SALARY SEARCH

SEEK U.T.
PayScale
Salary Negotiation Guide
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)
Salary List
Texas Wages

COST OF LIVING CALCULATOR

Glassdoor : 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.

LinkedIn : If you have your LinkedIn profile updated with quality content, you can use it to apply directly to certain jobs on LinkedIn. Not all job postings allow this feature; however, your profile is essentially your résumé. It’s become very important for job seekers to have a LinkedIn profile.

USAJOBS : Access thousands of job opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations. You can find open positions for a countless array of occupational areas, from accounting and air navigation to oceanography and podiatry.

Indeed : Browse jobs locally, nationwide, and worldwide. View salaries from over 50 million jobs, see the latest job trends and get advice on the forum. Create an account, post your résumé, and receive job recommendations based on your searches.

Work In Texas : This site provides recruiting assistance to Texas employers of all types and sizes, and job search assistance to any individual seeking work in Texas.

Inside Higher Ed: Inside Higher Ed is the leading digital media company serving Higher Education Careers. Since our founding in 2004, we have become the go-to online source for higher education news, thought leadership, careers, jobs, and resources.

Asociacíon de Maquiladoras Index Juarez: Portal de Vinculacion

Simply Hired : Offers one of the largest job pools because they pull job listings from around the web, including those from social media sources.

CareerBuilder : Instead of searching and searching with keywords, you can now be matched based on the content of your résumé and have the right jobs come to you.

Dice : Best place for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs, with a focus on technology, security clearance, financial services, energy, and health care jobs.

MediaBistro : It’s ideal for individuals working in advertising, marketing, public relations, and journalism looking for jobs, training, or career advice.

Snagajob : Geared toward part-time gigs and specializes in hourly jobs — perfect for a side-hustle or short-term contracts.

LinkUp : Acts like Google by indexing company web pages and delivering the most up-to-date and relevant job data.

Monster.com : When it comes to providing resources to further your career beyond a simple job search, Monster.com excels. The Top Articles and Career Advice section is a good place to start if you’re researching different careers.

Job.com : A good source if you want to find nearby jobs, and their local approach helps simplify their search tool to a location and keyword box.

Jobing.com : Quick access to powerful job search tools with little hassle, and unique local job sites.

Idealist : Primarily non-profit oriented opportunities, including international.

CollegeGrad : Search for jobs and internships targeted to college students and recent grads. Learn how to write a resume, cover letter, and how to negotiate a job offer. Create an account and post your résumé for employers to view.

GettingHired : Search thousands of jobs nationwide. Join their network and receive resources for veterans, students, and jobseekers with disabilities. Build your résumé, take a career assessment, improve your interview skills, get job recommendations, and get advice.

Pathways to Science : Pathways to Science is a project of the Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP). Pathways to Science supports pathways to the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We place particular emphasis on connecting underrepresented groups with STEM programs, funding, mentoring, and resources.

One Wire (Finance) : Browse jobs locally, nationwide, and worldwide. Create an account, post your résumé, and receive job recommendations based on your searches.

Handshake: Handshake is one of the leading student-centered jobs boards in the country. Over 400,000 employers, including many in our region, use Handshake to recruit current college students and recent graduates for just about any career you can imagine.

Please note that these are links to sites not tied to UTEP. Please use due diligence when entering or providing personal information.

GVI: GVI offers outstanding international internships in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Australasia from 6 – 24 weeks. A GVI Internship provides students with practical work experience that enhances their personal and professional development.

Going Global provides country-specific career and employment information, including worldwide internship and job postings, H1B employer listings, corporate profiles, and career resources for 30 countries. USE your UTEP login to access this site.

Peace Corps: Volunteers travel overseas to make real differences in the lives of real people. Peace Corps at UTEP

Projects Abroad As an intern abroad with Projects Abroad, you have the opportunity to boost your résumé, gain new skills practical experience, and engage in meaningful cultural exchange. They offer internships in more than 30 developing countries around the world.

AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-run organization. Focused on providing a platform for youth leadership development, AIESEC offers young people the opportunity to participate in international internships, experience leadership, and participate in a global learning environment.

GoAbroad.com has over 27,000 opportunities abroad updated daily. Use their comprehensive directory to find your ideal study abroad, volunteer, teach, intern, TEFL, language abroad programs, and jobs. Pick a program or get assistance selecting one. Use the travel resources and tools to facilitate your transition abroad.

CEA: A CEA internship provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for students to experience holistic learning in destinations all over the world. They integrate academically rigorous courses with field-based programming, offered at affordable prices with on-site support from start to finish.

Study Abroad: Browse jobs locally, nationwide, and worldwide. View salaries from over 50 million jobs, see the latest job trends and get advice on the forum. Create an account, post your resume, and receive job recommendations based on your searches.

Idealist.org: Search for volunteer opportunities, events, and other concrete ways to get involved. Make sense of your options using our resource centers. Search job and internship listings, or sign up for Email Alerts to get them sent to you. Connect with people and organizations you’re interested in, and get your name out there.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great source for looking for international internships. LinkedIn is a worldwide phenomenon, and many employers are looking for interns to travel outside the United States. Be sure to look at the jobs tab for these opportunities. Enter, “Internships” or “summer internship” on the jobs by title, keyword or company search box, AND the city, state, postal code, or country in the location search box.

BUNAC’s overseas work/travel and volunteer programs offer students and young people an enriching and affordable alternative to package tourism. They offer work/travel programs worldwide, a wide range of support services, and help when needed.

IIEPassport.org: Search for a study abroad program, or go to the study abroad student center for a variety of helpful articles, the study abroad guide, and other resources that can help you decide your destination.

CulturalVistas: The internship abroad programs allow students to develop the expanding set of competencies demanded in today’s global economy through sustained immersion in a foreign country. This site connects students to more than 25 countries.

TransitionsAbroad.com: Search for work abroad, study abroad, travel abroad, living abroad, or volunteer abroad programs. Browse 10 years of Transitions Abroad magazine issues and read about other participants’ experiences.

IAESTE: Become a member and participate in a practical training exchange program between members in order to enhance technical and professional development.

Go Overseas: Their mission is to empower more people to spend meaningful time overseas. This site connects students to over 100 countries. Search internships by country, area of interest, or dates.

What is a background check?

Background checks are searches through databases, registries, and other public and private sources to find information about your personal and professional life, including the following:

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?

Employers will usually check a candidate’s application for falsified information, such as education or certifications, drug test results, and performance at previous jobs. The applicant’s consent is required for any background check.

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

Employers use credit reports to judge an applicant’s financial responsibility. While they do not research credit scores, they typically look for the following red flags:

Liens
100% credit utilization
Bankruptcy
Foreclosure
Late fees

Organizations extending job offers to students from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) 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 offers made to UTEP students by their representatives/recruiters. The UTEP Career Center expects all employers to refrain from “exploding” bonuses and job offers that require an on-the-spot or very time-constrained response. These practices are not recommended as students might make decisions that are not fully informed and may have unintended results. Additionally, if a student has already accepted a job offer from another organization or has decided to pursue an advanced degree, we discourage recruiters from knowingly pressuring the student to consider other opportunities.
We encourage employers and students to be familiar with and abide by the widely-accepted National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Guidelines:
NACE Principles for Ethical Professional Practice
NACE Advisory Opinion: Setting Reasonable Deadlines for Job Offers

Adopted: 12/2018

Reviewed 7/27/2023

Gaining hands-on experience in your field of study is a crucial step in developing the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. There are many ways UTEP students can get career experience right here on campus and in the El Paso community. Consider taking advantage of these opportunities:

As part of the University of Texas System's Texas Credentials for the Future initiative, we are happy to announce that UTEP students and alumni are invited to earn microcredentials through Coursera's Career Academy at no cost. The initiative seeks to graduate UT System students who are broadly educated and specifically skilled by supplementing traditional degrees with microcredentials.

Companies such as Google, IBM, Meta, Goodwill, and CVS are offering microcredentials to help learners develop knowledge and skills in areas such as data analytics, social media marketing, UX design, and sales operations. Please click the relevant link below to find out more about what's included and how to participate.

Learn More

Your UTEP Career Center offers the following tips to help you avoid being scammed by fraudulent jobs. If you encounter any suspicious activity, please email us at careers@utep.edu and security@utep.edu .

Remember that if a job sounds too good to be true, then it may just be a scam.

Federal Tips on Job Scams Fraudulent Job Postings Protecting Your Information

Don't Be Scammed (PDF)

Connect With Us

The University of Texas at El Paso
University Career Center
103 W Union Building
500 W University
El Paso, Texas 79968

E: careers@utep.edu
P: (915) 747-5640
F: (915) 747-5730