Career Toolbox

The Career Toolbox provides quick access to what you needed to get started on building your career.

Check out our printable “How To” Career Handouts & Guides on a variety of career topics.

Exclusive Career Building Tools provided by the Career Development Center

Focus 2

Focus 2 is a Career Planning system with “Career Tests” to understand who you are as it relates to careers and fields of study:

Focus 2: Sign-In Instructions

  • Go to FOCUS 2 Career Login to create your account or login.
  • Complete the self-assessment areas: Work Interests, Personality, Values (Required); Skills, & Leisure (Optional).
  • Then click “Combine Assessments”.

Why Use FOCUS 2

  • Analyze your career and educational goals
  • Assess your work interests, leisure interests, skills, personality, and values
  • Explore career paths and education programs compatible with your attributes
  • Map out your career and educational goals, action plans, and personal development

 

GoinGlobal: Best resources for H1B info, city/country hiring practices & more

GoinGlobal: Sign-In Instructions

  • Go to GoinGlobal
  • Start navigating or watch the user training webinars

Why Use GoinGlobal

  • Features 39 detailed Country Career Guides
  • Contains 50 USA/Canada City Career Guides
  • Worldwide job/internship postings and corporate profiles
  • H1B database with sorting filters

 

CareerSpots

Career advice videos on topics from interview prep and effective job/internship strategies

CareerSpots: Sign-In Instructions

  • Go to the CareerSpots
  • Select the relevant career “Channel” on top
  • Videos are listed topic to the left
  • Click and watch career video

Why Use CareerSpots

  • Collection of 70 career advice videos
  • Get information in 2-3 minutes
  • Hear from recruiters and career experts
  • Print off the helpful Tip Sheets

 

SkillsFirst: Create resumes and cover letter, mock interview & more

SkillsFirst: Sign-In Instructions

First Time to Sign-In:

  • Go to SkillsFirst
  • Choose "Students click here to join" or "Alumni click here to join"
  • Complete information using your UIS email address

Established User Sign-In:

  • Login to SkillsFirst
  • Enter your UIS email address and unique password
  • OptimalResume Users: Sign in with your current OptimalResume email and password and your resumes and letters will automatically be imported to SkillsFirst.

Why Use SkillsFirst

  • Create a resume – Use targeted templates, view samples, and read helpful resources
  • Draft cover letters – Use samples and templates to compose your application letters
  • Practice Interviewing – Simulated interview tool with a coach and recording capabilities
  • Produce a Pitch – Record a 30-60 second video introduction of yourself to send to employers or professional contacts
  • Track Your Skills – Track skills learned in classes, jobs, internships, and extracurricular activities
  • Build Your Portfolio – Upload documents, videos, and projects to share with potential employers
  • Get Career Advice – Watch videos and get advice on various career topics. Take a short career assessment.

 

Career Planning Programs created by Career Center: Click & Go!

  • GOALS – Learn about you and your career development process and success strategies
  • Career Pathfinders – Connects field of study offered at UIS to skills, job titles, & more

Job Links and Resources

 

Helpful Calculators

  • Salary.com: Research average salary ranges based on experience, job title and location
  • PayCheckCity.com: Find out your take home pay after all the required withholding

 

Additional Helpful Tools

GlassDoor.com: Get the scoop about companies from their employees

  • Login to GlassDoor     No Password Needed
  • Inside look for over 300,000 company salaries, reviews, and interview questions
  • Learn from the employee’s perspective about company culture and values
  • Great resources, blogs and job posting site

Career Information System: Career prep and outlook information system by State of Illinois

  • Login to Career Information System Username: Illinois      Password: careers
  • Up-to-date, reliable information to help make important life decisions
  • Information on occupations, skills in demand, and job market trends for Illinois and nationally
  • Details about programs of study and trainings
  • Learn about owning your own business, tips for a successful job search and much more.

O*Net: nation’s primary website source of occupational information sponsored by the US Dept. of Labor

  • Browse O*Net groups of similar occupations to explore careers by industry, field of work, & science area
  • Focus on occupations that use a specific tool or software. Explore occupations that need your skills
  • Utilize crosswalks to search for specific educational, career, and training pathways

Career One Stop: The “Pathway to Career Success” website sponsored by the US Dept. of Labor

  • Visit Career One Stop to gather reliable information
  • Offers a wide range of career, projected salaries and education information
  • Find out what jobs and skills that are in demand and where

City Town Info: Information and analysis on US places, careers, colleges, and more

  • Find details on hundreds of careers, including salary data by occupation and city
  • Career videos and career stories from people currently on the job
  • Profiles on 20,000+ communities including demographics, climate,  neighborhoods, and economic forecast

If having trouble using or accessing the tools, contact the Career Development Center for assistance.