myCCO: The First Step in Your Job Search Journey
By: Alyssa Chaffee
As students attempt to navigate the career world, the internship and job application process can be daunting, even to those who feel the most prepared. There are new job sites popping up constantly, so it can be difficult for people to know where to start. For Purdue students, the perfect step one is myCCO. Not only does myCCO offer endless job opportunities that they match to you based on graduation date and major, but for those who are not in an active job application season, students have the option to upload a resume and allow recruiters to come straight to you.
Why myCCO?
With all of the job listing websites and apps popping up in current times, the question comes up of how to choose which one is right for you. MyCCO offers many benefits to Purdue students that they cannot find on other platforms, so if you are new to the job search world, it is the perfect place to start.
The secret to myCCO is that the site is used by over 1800 employers looking specifically for Purdue students and graduates. Unlike other job listing sites, this narrows the competition extensively and gives you a better chance to get noticed by some of your top employers. You can also promote yourself further through the resources panel where you can get more contacts for networking and have a higher chance of putting yourself on the job market. Also, there is never a limit to how many job sites you can sign up for. In fact, myCCO has a spot where you can add your LinkedIn account in order to up your chances of getting noticed.
MyCCO is incredibly simple to get noticed on. However, it is always beneficial to apply for a specific job you want, and myCCO makes that simple for you too! Jobs can be sorted by graduation year and major, as well as search terms and filters, which can lead you directly to the perfect job. Many job applications on myCCO are as easy as just attaching your resume since the employers have access to the rest of your information on your profile. The job listing also shows a timeline on how long the application is open and when you can expect to hear back, which prevents you from having to wonder if you will ever hear anything back. Interviews with the employers you are applying for can also be scheduled directly through myCCO.
Another perk is that myCCO caters equally to all majors. All students can sign up for an account on myCCO and get started with the application process. If you login to myCCO and find a lot of listings for majors other than yours, our staff at the CCO recommends that you keep checking at other times, as some markets are seasonal. Also, always remember that you can apply for any job on myCCO! Even if the job title does not seem to fit your skills, always read the entire listing, and even if you think you have even half the skills they list for the job, apply! It is always better to throw your hat in the ring.
myCCO and Career Fairs
MyCCO is not only good for its individual job applications and resources, but it is also extremely beneficial for students to use the site for career fairs. Career fairs will be listed on the site as their date nears, and if a student clicks “attend,” their resume will automatically be put into the resume pool for that career fair. Employers who are attending that career fair sort through the resumes that were posted before or after the career fair, giving students a higher chance of being noticed if they click that they are attending before the career fair begins. Employers can reach out directly to students that they noticed from myCCO. In fact, our faculty has seen cases of students being invited to private dinners and other networking events just because they clicked that “attend” button. These private dinners were only offered to students found through myCCO, and many students have been given internship and job opportunities directly from these events.
You can learn more in our coming blog about Purdue’s career fairs!
Setting Up Your myCCO Account
Every registered Purdue student is automatically set up with a myCCO account, but this account is not active until students login and upload a resume. After the resume is uploaded, students should select the option that allows employers to see your documents, and the resume will immediately be visible to employers. Basically, your resume will work for you! It is important to note, however, that the resume needs to be updated at least once every six months in order for your account to remain active. This is to ensure that employers are viewing the most up-to-date information possible.
Here are the steps on how to upload a resume:
1. Go to https://www.cco.purdue.edu/Home/myCCO and login with career account credentials
2. Go to “Accounts” and read and acknowledge the Participation Agreement
3. Go to your profile and complete the questions (aim for 100% completion)
4. Select “Yes” for the following;
- Receive email notifications
- Receive alerts
- Be included in Resume Books
5. Select“Resumes etc.” on the left navigation bar
6. Select “My Documents”
7. Select “Add New”
8. Label your document with a title that will help you remember each document
9. Select document type (use “Other Documents” for your transcript)
Resumes are the most important document to upload to myCCO as they help to activate your account, but you can also upload transcripts, portfolio links, and more onto your profile.
An optional, final step to setting up your account is making it public by toggling the “publish” switch on your profile. This allows employers to see your profile and view the information you put there. This can include a personal statement, experience, skills and competencies, and projects (course work, personal, etc.) An update is expected to be released this year which will add more features.
One Giant Leap Into the Job Market
No matter where you are in your Purdue journey, or even whether or not you are actively looking for a job, myCCO has something to offer. Its ability to allow employers to see your resume as soon as your account is activated distinguishes it from any other job site. MyCCO has employers from all over the world looking for Purdue students, and all you have to do is upload your resume! MyCCO offers a great first step for students who are overwhelmed by the job market and need something easy to get started. It’s also perfect for students taking a more active approach as there are thousands of job listings waiting for you to add your name in, and who knows? It might be your dream job!