Skip to Content
< Purdue.edu
Site Directory Services Staff Admin About
Students Employers Faculty & Staff Alumni

What We Offer

CCO Services
Invite the CCO to Speak
Career Closet
CCO Handbook
About The CCO

CCO Services

SERVICES OF THE CCO

The Center for Career Opportunities (CCO), located in Young Hall, room 132, serves as the centralized Career Services office for the West Lafayette Campus of Purdue University. The services listed below are for undergraduate and graduate students and also for Purdue Alumni within two years of degree completion

 

IF YOU NEED HELP WITH... CHOOSE THIS SERVICE 

Immediate Job Search Needs

  • Resume, CV & Cover Letter Review
  • Internship & Job Search Questions
  • myCCO Account
  • Career Closet

Drop-in  (15 minutes)

Monday - Friday 
10:00am - 4:00pm

 

Career Planning

  • Choosing or changing your major
  • Developing a career plan
  • Considering and exploring graduate school

Appointment  (60 minutes)

Monday - Friday 
9:00am - 4:00pm

Schedule an appointment here

Pre-Professional Advising

  • Exploring Professional Careers including law, medical, dental, veterinary & other health careers
  • Preparing for professional fields 
  • Navigating the application process: aptitude tests, personal statements, competitiveness, choosing schools, recommendation letters, and interviews

Appointment  (30 minutes)

Monday - Friday 
8:30am - 4:30pm

Schedule an appointment here

Getting to your Next Destination

  • Personal Statement Review
  • Job Search Strategies

 

Appointment  (30 minutes)

Monday - Friday  
10:00am - 4:00pm

Schedule an appointment here

Interviewing

  • Undergraduate Peer Mock Interview (offered during the academic year only)
  • Graduate Students - Mock Interview

 

Appointment  (30 mins)

Monday - Friday  
10:00am - 4:00pm

Schedule an appointment here 

Before calling 765.494.3981 to schedule a mock interview, you must record a practice interview on Big Interview

Need more career advice? See and hear employers, career services consultants, and your fellow students talk about the many facets of your career search. Click here to access CareerSpots videos. Click here to access the Purdue CCO Blog

Invite the CCO to Speak

The Center for Career Opportunities welcomes the opportunity to offer career-related programs for students, faculty and staff, and administrators. Click here to submit a request for a CCO presentation.

 

WORKSHOP TOPIC:

     GOALS:

Fact or Fiction - Writing a Resume That Works

How to create and polish a resume to catch the employer's eye.
  • Understand the purpose of a resume
  • Learn how to tailor the resume to individual backgrounds and strengths
  • Learn how to organize the information on a resume
  • Write an appropriate objective statement
  • Understand resume Do's and Don'ts

The 30 Second Commercial - Getting the Most Out of a Job Fair 

Tips about behavior and preparation to maximize performance at job fairs.
  • Understand the purpose of a job fair
  • Learn how to prepare for a job fair
  • Learn how to prepare the 30 second sell
  • Understand appropriate behavior/dress at the job fair
  • Understand the importance of follow-up after the job fair 

Acing the Interview 

Develop key interviewing skills.
  • Understand the purpose of the interview
  • Learn how to prepare for an interview
  • Understand professional etiquette
  • Understand behavioral interviews
  • Understand the importance of follow-up after the interview 

A - Z of the Job Search 

Learn the necessary steps to insure a successful job search.
  • Understand the Job Search process
  • Understand the pros and cons of different job search strategies
  • Understand informational interviewing
  • Understand how to market their degree 

Know Who You Know - Networking

Learn how to work a room, find jobs by talking to people, and how to take advantage of every opportunity to schmooze the crowd and meet people who can help with the career search.
  • Understand the purpose of networking
  • Define the individual's network
  • Learn the keys to networking
  • Learn the do's and don'ts of networking 

Getting What You Want - Offer Evaluation and Negotiation 

Learn how to compare offers, as well as learn how and when to negotiate the terms of a job offer.
  • Understand the evaluation/negotiation process
  • Understand the critical questions to address
  • Understand the factors for consideration 

myCCO: On-Line Resume Referral, Interview Scheduling, and Job Search 

Learn how to use the myCCO system.
  • Know how to enter profiles and upload resumes
  • Know how to refer resumes
  • Know how to schedule interviews
  • Know how to search the job listings 

Services of the Center for Career Opportunities

Learn about the services of the CCO.
  • Know the purpose of career counseling and how to schedule an appointment
  • Know the types of walk-in services and hours of walk-ins
  • Know the purpose of myCCO
  • Know how to schedule and prepare for mock interviews
  • Know about the resources available on the CCO website
  • Know about CCO clinics and where to find information about them 

Oh the Things You Can Do: Choosing a Major 

Learn the steps of the career exploration process.
  • Begin to identify interests, abilities, values, and skills
  • Understand the world of work
  • Understand how interests, abilities, values, and skills relate to the world of Work
  • Understand the importance of exploration and research
  • Understand how to proceed through the career exploration process

LinkedIn – Career Networking

Learn how to create a LinkedIn profile and use LinkedIn in order to network and apply for jobs.
  • Learn how to create the best LinkedIn profile and understand how recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates
  • Understand the alumni tool and how networking with Boilermakers can increase your chances of landing a job
  • Learn about other social media that can enhance one's network
  • Understand how to transition an online connection to a real-world contact
 

 

Career Closet

At the CCO, we want all students to be successful regardless of their financial circumstances. To assist our Boilermakers who are on a budget, the CCO Career Closet will provide professional clothing to students who are unable to afford proper interview attire.

Need clothes for an interview, career fair or professional event, but don't know how you can afford it?

The CCO Career Closet may have the right fit for FREE. Here's what will happen with you visit the Career Closet:

  1. Greet a career services consultant or CCO Peer Consultant in Young 132 during our Drop-in times, Monday-Friday from 10 am-4 pm.
  2. Proceed to the second floor to explore the Career Closet.
  3. Try on items in a private dressing room.
  4. Seek assistance from the career services consultant or CCO Peer Consultant in the nearby waiting area (if you have questions or want fashion advice).
  5. Find your perfect interview outfit (in 20 minutes or less).
  6. Walk into your interview feeling confident!

Important Notes

  1. Students may select 1 outfit per academic year to keep.
  2. Because clothing supplies are based upon donation, we may not be able to provide you with the correct size.
  3. If you don’t find an outfit that fits, you can always come back again to browse our new arrivals! 

 image of clothes in a closet

Want to make a difference in the future of a Boilermaker?

The Career Closet is in need of the following items:

  • Men and women’s suits
  • Blouses and shirts
  • Men and women’s dress pants
  • Belts, ties, etc.
  • Gently worn shoes

Donations can be brought to the CCO in Young Hall 132 between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, or you can contact askcco@purdue.edu for more information.

CCO Handbook

About The CCO

Purdue CCO Logo

Thanks for visiting the Purdue University Center for Career Opportunities website. Whether you're a student or alumni seeking assistance with your career decision-making or job search; an employer searching for outstanding Purdue students and graduates to fill your positions; or another interested party seeking to learn more about the CCO's offerings, be assured that our dedicated staff are eager to assist you.

As you explore the information provided on this website, you'll get a sense of the many programs and services that the CCO has to offer. We also welcome personal visits, as well as questions via email as they relate to our services and opportunities to respond to employers seeking to address their hiring needs. 

Tim Luzader, Executive Director

 

MEET THE CCO STAFF

 

MISSION

The Center for Career Opportunities informs and empowers students and graduates using transformative career services, innovative technologies and collaborative synergies to connect with professional opportunities within Indiana, the United States and the world.

 

VISION

Every Boilermaker Empowered for Lifelong Success. 

 

VALUES

  • Individual Choice: We value the right of students and graduates to make their own career choices.
  • Student Focus: We value students and regard them as our primary constituency.
  • Diversity & Inclusion: We value the unique backgrounds, beliefs and contributions of individuals. We strive to create an inclusive and positive environment.
  • Integrity: We value the demonstration of responsibility and accountability among staff and stakeholders. We respect professional ethics and standards set forth by the university, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, National Career Development Association and National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.
  • Accessibility: We value the accessibility of services and facilities to all constituents.
  • Adaptability: We value adaptability to the ever-changing global landscape and strive to be leading change agents.
  • Campus Collaboration: We value collaborating with key faculty and staff to carry out our mission.
  • Employer & Stakeholder Partnership: We value partnerships with employers, professional and graduate schools and professional associations that benefit current and future students and graduates.
  • Data-Driven Operation: We value sound decision making and insights based on data.
  • Innovation: We value creative ideas and we put them into action.
  • Fun: We value making the workplace fun.

 

Young Hall, Room 132
155 S. Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2114
Phone: (765) 494-3981
Fax: (765) 494-6959
MyCCO Tips
Participation Agreement
Missed Interview Policy
MyCCO Tips
Participation Agreement
Missed Interview Policy

WHAT IS MyCCO?

MyCCO is where Purdue University students and alumni search and apply for internships and full-time positions, schedule interviews, and see what companies are coming to campus for career fairs and information sessions.

HOW DO I ACCESS MY ACCOUNT?

If you are a current student, simply click the Login button to the left and enter your Purdue login and password.

HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY ACCOUNT?

Edit Profile Privacy to be included in Resume Books and receive emails from myCCO.

Resume Books are a feature of myCCO that allow employers to pull resumes from students who meet the criteria of a position they are looking to fill.  When you say Yes to Resume Books in the Privacy section in your Account Settings, you have more opportunities to have your resume seen by employers.

Upload Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript

Your myCCO account will not be active until you upload a resume

  1. Click on “Resumes ETC” on the left side navigation bar
    2. Select “Add New”
    3. Add a descriptive label to help you remember each document. Employers will not be able to see the label.
    4. Select your document type. Use “Other Documents” for your transcript.

Search and Apply for Jobs & On-Campus Interviews
1. Click on “Jobs” on the left side navigation bar.

  1. Click on “Discover.”
    3. Use the search bar and the “More Filters” search options to find job postings relevant you.
  2. Click the “Apply” button and submit the required documents. If you see you are Not Qualified, it means you do not meet all screening criteria, including major, degree, graduation date, and work authorization.
    Note: Read the job posting carefully as the employer may also refer you to the company website to apply.

Create Job Alert
1. Using the My Filters dropdown, select your criteria and click “Apply.”
2. Click “Create Job Alert”
3. You can then go to the “Job Alerts” located under the Search key to see all of your saved searches and select how often you would like to receive emails with your alerts. You can    also delete job alerts.

 

WHAT ELSE COMES WITH MyCCO ACCOUNT?

From the myCCO Desktop, select the “Resources” tab for access to additional resources that are exclusive to Purdue student:

  1. Career Spots Videos is a virtual library of various careers and expert advice from professionals on how to find a job and internship.
  2. Career Explorer uses U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online to learn more about careers
  3. Career Finder helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.
  4. Diligence Lab helps you know what your online presence says about you to possible future employers.
  5. Mergent Online Database offers a wealth of textual detail on companies
  6. Career Beam is a full service career development portal designed to provide all the resources necessary to guide individuals through the strategic job search process and achieve their career goals.
  7. Big Interview helps you learn and practice your interview skills whether you are interviewing for a job or graduate school.
  8. Versatile PhD is an online resource to help graduate students and PhDs in all fields identify, prepare for, and succeed in non-academic careers.
  9. JobNow provides you with practical tools to help you get a job.
  10. Ascend Indiana is a catalyst across industry sectors to help connect the supply of skilled talent to demand from Indiana employers.
  11. MBA Exchange is a job search tool dedicated to business school students and alumni with global coverage.

Have questions? Please contact the CCO at askcco@purdue.edu.

I agree to:

Accurate Information: Certify my job search documents to be truthful and accurate

Grant Access: Allow CCO to provide my job search documents to prospective employers

Honor Commitments: Keep all appointments that I've scheduled with employers and CCO Staff

Genuine Interest: Sign up for interviews with only employers with whom I'm interested in working

Professional Conduct: Accept an offer of employment in good faith and immediately notify employers of acceptance or non-acceptance of the offer. Withdraw from interviewing process and no longer pursue positions with other employers

Report Suspicious Inqueries: Understand that job seekers can be deceived by organizations posing as legitimate employers. Evidence of this behavior includes requests for personal information (i.e. social security numbers or credit card numbers) and requests for money. If you're suspicious of such an organization, do not respond to them and please share details with us at askcco@purdue.edu

Consequences for Non-Compliance: Accept that failure to adhere to any point in this agreement may result in the removal of my interview privileges in the Center for Career Opportunities

The CCO agrees to:

Provide Services: Assist you with your career decision-making and job search activities

Access of Information: Provide access to a range of career opportunities and types of employers

Non-Discrimination: Provide access and reasonable accommodations to prospective employers without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability

Protect Confidentiality: Exercise sound judgment and fairness in maintaining your confidentiality

Student Advocacy: Respond to employer EEO non-compliance concerns and unethical behavior. Follow-up with those posting suspicious vacancies, when possible, and consult with students and alumni affected by this dubious behavior

On-campus Interviewing: Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy

If you must miss an interview, you are required to cancel it in advance. When you fail to cancel your interviews in a timely fashion or do not appear for your interviews, your actions reflect poorly on you as an individual and on the University as a whole. Not only do you inconvenience the employer, but you may also deprive another student of a valuable interview opportunity. These situations, if unchecked may also have more serious implications on the University's relationships with employers overall.

Therefore, the Center for Career Opportunities treats these incidents very seriously and advises you to take special note of the following Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy.

Interview Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations will NOT be accepted via email or voice mail.
  • Students must appear in person in Young 132 to complete paper work before an interview can be cancelled
  • Students are required to give three business days or 72 hours notice to cancel an interview
  • Always investigate an alternate date with the employer before you cancel an interview
  • It is your responsibility to speak personally with the employer representative and explain why you will not be attending the interview. Be aware, however that the employer may still report you to the CCO
  • If you cancel an appointment directly with an employer, remember to also contact the CCO
  • Regional Campus Students ( Purdue Calumet, IUPUI, Purdue North Central and IUPU Ft Wayne ) are required to work through their Regional Career Services office to cancel interviews. The Regional Campus Liaison will forward the information regarding the cancellation

Sudden Illness or Serious Personal Emergency on Interview Day

  • Students are expected to contact the CCO (765) 494 - 3981 prior to their interview time. Employers check-in between 8 and 8:30 AM and should be notified prior to that time

Employers typically are not in the office on weekends. Monday appointments should be cancelled no later than Friday morning.

If you miss an interview:

  • Your myCCO account will be locked
  • You will receive an e-mail from CCO with instructions to come to Young 132 immediately to resolve this matter
  • You will be required to meet with a walk-in counselor and discuss the reason you missed the business appointment to which you committed
  • The discussion and your reason for missing the interview will determine whether or not your file will be reactivated and if you will have the opportunity to use myCCO in the future.

What is myCCO?

MyCCO is where Purdue University students and alumni search and apply for internships and full-time positions, schedule interviews, and see what companies are coming to campus for career fairs and information sessions.

How can myCCO help me?

Employers posting jobs, internships, and other opportunities on myCCO want YOU. Using the myCCO service allows you to take advantage of Purdue University’s reputation and vast network of industry connections.

How do I get a myCCO account?

  1. As a first time user enter your PUID as both your user name and password.(NOTE: the first 2 digits MUST be a double zero (00) even if they're not included in your current PUID. For example: 0012345678). Your PUID (with the double zero) will always be your username to log in to myCCO. Once you have completed your myCCO profile, the system will send an email with your "NEW" password.
  2. Read the “Participation Agreement” and “Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy” before clicking “I Agree to Terms.”
  3. Complete all required fields when completing your profile.

* If you need to request your PU-ID: Click here to submit the Alumni PU-ID Request form and the CCO will respond to your request within 3-5 business days. 

HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY ACCOUNT?

Edit Profile Privacy to be included in Resume Books and receive emails from myCCO.

Resume Books are a feature of myCCO that allow employers to pull resumes from students who meet the criteria of a position they are looking to fill.  When you say Yes to Resume Books in the Privacy section in your Account Settings, you have more opportunities to have your resume seen by employers.

Upload Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript

Your myCCO account will not be active until you upload a resume

  1. Click on “Resumes ETC” on the left side navigation bar
    2. Select “Add New”
    3. Add a descriptive label to help you remember each document. Employers will not be able to see the label.
    4. Select your document type. Use “Other Documents” for your transcript.

Search and Apply for Jobs & On-Campus Interviews
1. Click on “Jobs” on the left side navigation bar.

  1. Click on “Discover.”
    3. Use the search bar and the “More Filters” search options to find job postings relevant you.
  2. Click the “Apply” button and submit the required documents. If you see you are Not Qualified, it means you do not meet all screening criteria, including major, degree, graduation date, and work authorization.
    Note: Read the job posting carefully as the employer may also refer you to the company website to apply.

Create Job Alert
1. Using the My Filters dropdown, select your criteria and click “Apply.”
2. Click “Create Job Alert”
3. You can then go to the “Job Alerts” located under the Search key to see all of your saved searches and select how often you would like to receive emails with your alerts. You can    also delete job alerts.

 

WHAT ELSE COMES WITH MyCCO ACCOUNT?

From the myCCO Desktop, select the “Resources” tab for access to additional resources that are exclusive to Purdue student:

  1. Career Spots Videos is a virtual library of various careers and expert advice from professionals on how to find a job and internship.
  2. Career Explorer uses U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online to learn more about careers
  3. Career Finder helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.
  4. Diligence Lab helps you know what your online presence says about you to possible future employers.
  5. Mergent Online Database offers a wealth of textual detail on companies
  6. Career Beam is a full service career development portal designed to provide all the resources necessary to guide individuals through the strategic job search process and achieve their career goals.
  7. Big Interview helps you learn and practice your interview skills whether you are interviewing for a job or graduate school.
  8. Versatile PhD is an online resource to help graduate students and PhDs in all fields identify, prepare for, and succeed in non-academic careers.
  9. JobNow provides you with practical tools to help you get a job.
  10. Ascend Indiana is a catalyst across industry sectors to help connect the supply of skilled talent to demand from Indiana employers.
  11. MBA Exchange is a job search tool dedicated to business school students and alumni with global coverage.

Have questions? Please contact the CCO at askcco@purdue.edu.

 

I agree to:

Accurate Information: Certify my job search documents to be truthful and accurate

Grant Access: Allow CCO to provide my job search documents to prospective employers

Honor Commitments: Keep all appointments that I've scheduled with employers and CCO Staff

Genuine Interest: Sign up for interviews with only employers with whom I'm interested in working

Professional Conduct: Accept an offer of employment in good faith and immediately notify employers of acceptance or non-acceptance of the offer. Withdraw from interviewing process and no longer pursue positions with other employers

Report Suspicious Inqueries: Understand that job seekers can be deceived by organizations posing as legitimate employers. Evidence of this behavior includes requests for personal information (i.e. social security numbers or credit card numbers) and requests for money. If you're suspicious of such an organization, do not respond to them and please share details with us at askcco@purdue.edu

Consequences for Non-Compliance: Accept that failure to adhere to any point in this agreement may result in the removal of my interview privileges in the Center for Career Opportunities

The CCO agrees to:

Provide Services: Assist you with your career decision-making and job search activities

Access of Information: Provide access to a range of career opportunities and types of employers

Non-Discrimination: Provide access and reasonable accommodations to prospective employers without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability

Protect Confidentiality: Exercise sound judgment and fairness in maintaining your confidentiality

Student Advocacy: Respond to employer EEO non-compliance concerns and unethical behavior. Follow-up with those posting suspicious vacancies, when possible, and consult with students and alumni affected by this dubious behavior

On-campus Interviewing: Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy

If you must miss an interview, you are required to cancel it in advance. When you fail to cancel your interviews in a timely fashion or do not appear for your interviews, your actions reflect poorly on you as an individual and on the University as a whole. Not only do you inconvenience the employer, but you may also deprive another student of a valuable interview opportunity. These situations, if unchecked may also have more serious implications on the University's relationships with employers overall.

Therefore, the Center for Career Opportunities treats these incidents very seriously and advises you to take special note of the following Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy.

Interview Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations will NOT be accepted via email or voice mail.
  • Students must appear in person in Young 132 to complete paper work before an interview can be cancelled
  • Students are required to give three business days or 72 hours notice to cancel an interview
  • Always investigate an alternate date with the employer before you cancel an interview
  • It is your responsibility to speak personally with the employer representative and explain why you will not be attending the interview. Be aware, however that the employer may still report you to the CCO
  • If you cancel an appointment directly with an employer, remember to also contact the CCO
  • Regional Campus Students ( Purdue Calumet, IUPUI, Purdue North Central and IUPU Ft Wayne ) are required to work through their Regional Career Services office to cancel interviews. The Regional Campus Liaison will forward the information regarding the cancellation

Sudden Illness or Serious Personal Emergency on Interview Day

  • Students are expected to contact the CCO (765) 494 - 3981 prior to their interview time. Employers check-in between 8 and 8:30 AM and should be notified prior to that time

Employers typically are not in the office on weekends. Monday appointments should be cancelled no later than Friday morning.

If you miss an interview:

  • Your myCCO account will be locked
  • You will receive an e-mail from CCO with instructions to come to Young 132 immediately to resolve this matter
  • You will be required to meet with a walk-in counselor and discuss the reason you missed the business appointment to which you committed
  • The discussion and your reason for missing the interview will determine whether or not your file will be reactivated and if you will have the opportunity to use myCCO in the future.
I do not agree to the terms outlined above.
I agree to the terms outlined above.