Career Development Scholarship Challenge Task List | Career Services (2024)

Complete any 5 tasks to be included in monthly prize drawings.

Eligible students who complete any five or more tasks by the last day of August, September, & October 2024 are entered to win one of the monthly prize drawings.

Complete 5 tasks from each level to be entered in the $2,000 scholarship grand prize drawing.

Eligible students who complete at least 5 tasks from Level 1: Get Started and at least 5 tasks from Level 2: Explore Further by November 30, 2024, will be entered to win one of the $2,000 grand prize scholarships.

This fall we will be drawing 2 grand prize winners!

Prize Catalog

Downloadable Task Checklist

Follow Career Services' Social Accounts

Step 1: Follow at least 1 UNL Career Services social account: Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and/or Facebook.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Utilize the Job Search Guide

Step 1: Read the .

Step 2: Complete this form.

Download the Handshake Mobile App

Use the Handshake app to explore jobs/internships, apply to positions, register for events, and more.

Step 1: Search "Handshake" on the App Store or Google Play or visit app.joinhandshake.com. Download and open the app, then log in with your University of Nebraska-Lincoln credentials. Follow the short onboarding process (watch this quick video for guidance).

Step 2: Complete this form.

Prepare Professional Attire

Step 1: Prepare your attire for an upcoming career fair, interview, or professional occasion. Check out the following resources:

• Job Search Guide: Look the Part
• 5 Free or Low-Cost Ways to Build Your Professional Wardrobe and Ace the Dress Code

Step 2: Take a picture of your outfit and complete this form.

Take a Headshot Photo

A professional-style headshot featuring a well-lit, chest-up photo of yourself is great for updating your Handshake and LinkedIn profiles.

Step 1: Take a professional-looking headshot photo. Need a good backdrop? Check out the Career Services Self-Service Headshot Stations (located on City & East Campus).

Step 2: Complete this form.

Activate/Update Your Handshake Profile

Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs! By completing your profile, Handshake will show you jobs and internships that match your interest and skills.

Step 1: Log into Handshake and complete or update your profile.

4 areas must be filled out on your Handshake profile for this task's completion:

• Job Interest Type
• Location
• Job roles
• Experience

Need help logging on? Check out this Handshake resource (link coming soon).

Step 2: Complete this form.

Explore Community Engagement Opportunities

Step 1: Attend a Nonprofit in Residence Event to network and learn about industries, internships, and volunteer opportunities. Take a picture with you and one of the representatives you met with.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Join a UNL Professional Based RSO (Registered Student Organization)

Join career-related student organizations to connect with like-minded students, gain valuable career preparation, and network with employers in your field.

Step 1: Become a member of a career-related RSO (Registered Student Organization). To see a current list of Registered Organizations visit NvolveU and filter by the Professional category.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Prepare Your Introduction

Step 1: Preparing your introduction in advance helps you make a positive first impression and connection with a professional. Prepare your own introduction at least 5-6 sentences long with clear and professional language. Access the following resources to help prepare:

• How to Introduce Yourself (Instagram)
• Job Search Guide: Interview Question Preparation, Question: Tell Me About Yourself

Step 2: Record a video of you introducing yourself, then complete this form.

Gain Global Awareness or International Experience

Developing a global mindset and gaining exposure to diverse cultures are invaluable assets that can effectively prepare you for future career opportunities.

Step 1: Review the Gaining Global Experience resource and identify ways you can build a strong global experience.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Research Graduate School Programs

Step 1: Assess if Graduate School is a good next career development step for your future career goals. To assist with this, check out the Pursuing Graduate School resource. Identify & research 3 graduate programs that interest you.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Attend an Undergraduate Research & Fellowships Event

Step 1: Attend one of the upcoming Challenge-eligible events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Zoom and in-person events are available and require you to register or sign into the event, respectively. See all Challenge-eligible events here.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Take the Focus 2 Career Assessment

The Focus 2 resource assesses your interests, skills, values, and personality and shows how they relate to career fields and UNL majors.

Step 1: Take the Focus 2 Career Assessment. Free with access code: huskers. Complete the following assessments: My Career Planning Involvement, Work Interest, Values, Personality, Leisure, Skills. Upload your summary report.

Step 2: Fill out this form.

Submit Experiential Learning Survey

Step 1: Share your most recent experience: Internship/co-op, volunteer, research, or career-related experience via the Experience Survey in your MyRed account. Log into MyRed , click on the Academics tab and select Experiences Survey from the drop down menu. When completed, take a screenshot showing your submission.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Meet with a Career Team Member

Career Coaches and Career Peer Guides help with resume reviews, cover letters, job search strategies, networking, mock-interviews, and so much more.

Step 1: Meet with a Career Team member. To make an appointment find your Career Team member here.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Create/Update Your Resume

Step 1: Create/update your resume. Resume should include recent experience and should be transitioned from a high school resume to a professional format.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Research 3 Employers

Researching via Handshake, LinkedIn, social media accounts, and news articles can provide valuable insights. Tip: Follow employers and jobs on Handshake to receive timely alerts for job application deadlines and employer participation in career fairs or events.

Step 1: Research at least 3 employers in your future career interest. Learn out about their company structure, job/internship opportunities, values/mission, and other relevant information about the organization.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Apply for a Job/Internship on Handshake

Step 1: Log into Handshake and identify a job/internship that you are interested in. Apply to the position. Need help with your resume, cover letter, or application materials? Connect with a career coach and get assistance with your application materials.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Conduct Pre-Fair Research & Preparation

Step 1: Identify an upcoming career fair to attend. See upcoming career fairs here. Research and identify 3 employers you are interested in connecting with at an upcoming fair. Utilize the following resources to prepare:

• Preparing for Career Fairs: a collection of short videos with career fair prep tips and tricks.
• Fall Career Fair Focus Area Resource: lists of employers that may be recruiting in your interest area at the Fall University Career + Internship Fairs.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Attend a Career Fair or Event

Step 1: Attend one of the upcoming UNL-hosted Career Fairs. Officially checking into the career fair/event via the event check-in station is required for this step's completion.

See the upcoming event calendar here.

Step 2: Complete this form.

Utilize Big Interview

Big Interview is an on-demand interview training system to learn interviewing techniques and practice skills in a simulated video interview

Step 1: Access the Big Interview resource. Login/Register with the UNL organizational code of 4024. Once logged in, select the top Interviews tab and select Interview Assignments. Put in the access code: ##### to access the Career Development Scholarship Challenge Interview and complete the virtual mock-interview assignment. Have a specific job/internship in mind as you answer the questions in the interview assignment.

*note: you will need to allow your device to access your camera/webcam and microphone to complete this task

Step 2: Complete this form.

Build LinkedIn Readiness

Step 1: Create a LinkedIn account and complete your LinkedIn profile. Then begin utilizing the LinkedIn platform to research companies, engage in thread conversations, and communicate with recruiters. For task completion, the following items must be completed:

• Bio section completed & profile picture uploaded,
• Minimum of 3 sections completed (Education, Volunteer, work experience)
• Minimum of 10 connections. (connect with professors, classmates, current/former co-workers, career services professionals, etc)
• Minimum of 3 employers must be followed

Step 2: Complete this form.

Conduct an Informational Interview

Step 1: Utilize the What is Informational Interviewing? resource. Set up an in-person or virtual informational interview meeting with someone in a potential career path that you are interested in. The informational interview should be at least 15-minutes long.

Step 2: Fill out this form.

Participate in a Job Shadow Experience

Step 1: Review the Job Shadowing Resource, then participate in a job shadow experience.

*Job shadowing experiences must have occurred between the dates of 8/23/24-11/30/24 to be eligible for this task’s completion.

Step 2: Complete this form.