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Career Center
 

Boots to Suits

Information for Veteran Students
The Boots to Suits program helps student veterans at CU Denver enter the workforce. Veteran Student Services, the Career Center, and the Experiential Learning Center have collaborated to create this program, which includes:
  • Employability Preparation
  • A Mentorship/Internship Program
  • A partnership program with employers interested in hiring CU Denver student veterans
The University of Colorado Denver is working with a major retailer to offset the cost of a new suit as part of the program. Stay tuned for more details.​​

Veteran Student Services and the Career Center have partnered to match highly-trained student veterans with company needs for permanent positions.  Student Veterans bring to the workforce a dynamic blend of top-notch education, professional and technical skills, an extraordinary work ethic, and a drive to succeed. 

The Career Center desires to help student veterans reach their professional potential and act as a bridge between student veterans and employers to maximize career success.  We pride ourselves in making the employment process as easy as possible for student veterans like you by giving you access to a wide range of services to make you attractive to employers.  Please utilize this page as a guide in your preparation for the Boots to Suits program.

Veteran Student Services, the Career Center, and the Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare for a successful experience in the Boots to Suits Program. Your advance preparation is critical for your success in this program. The ultimate outcome of this program is for you to gain necessary skills and connections to secure a professional position. Our offices have developed a series of steps to help you to maximize your time and effort. We realize that not all students gather information in the same manner, so we have developed both online and personalized one-on-one assistance. Below is a list of recommended steps to help you move closer to earning your FREE suit and to gain employment!

  1. Register with Veteran Student Services to complete an application of interest in this program.
  2. If you are unsure of your career/industry direction, make an appointment with a Career Center Counselor to help you crystallize your career path. An appointment with a Career Counselor can help you focus on a direction that will be fulfilling for you. Call us at 303.556.2250 to set up an appointment.
  3. Begin to utilize the Certificate of Employability, an online resource with nine modules on the job search process. To gain access, log into Blackboard to complete the nine modules of the Certificate of Employability. Take the online exam when finished to test your acquired knowledge. After passing the exam, you will be provided with a Certificate of Employability.
  4. If you believe you are focused and ready to get started, make an appointment with the Career Center to have your résumé reviewed to increase your chances of landing an interview. Develop a 1-2 page résumé oriented for mentorship or internship according to the Certificate of Employability and the Guide to Writing Exceptional Résumés. You will have an opportunity to ask questions that came up during the Certificate of Employability Modules. Complete a virtual mock interview making sure to save your practice session.
  5. Meet with your Career Center Counselor for additional help with interviewing or to request a personalized mock interview.
  6. Complete the Mentorship/Internship Program and meet with your Experiential Learning Center Advisor. Contact the ELC at 303.556.6656 to make an appointment.
  7. Make an appointment with a Career Center Counselor to discuss how to translate the new experience gained through the Mentorship/Internship Program into an updated résumé.
  8. Demonstrate your professional readiness to a Career Center Counselor to receive a CU Denver Boots to Suits Voucher, which can be redeemed for a free suit! Completing the previous recommended steps will make it much easier to demonstrate your professional readiness.
  9. Consider joining the CU Denver Boots to Suits Veterans Résumé Book to get your résumé in the hands of more employers.
  10. Continue to visit the Career Center as needed for additional support and guidance.
In this highly competitive job market, candidates need to be at their best to secure employment in their chosen fields. Completing this nine-part Certificate of Employability, created by the Career Center, can give you an edge over the competition and create confidence in your job search skills. This program will teach you the best practices for job search strategies including targeting employers, understanding the online job hunt, building your résumé and cover letter, networking with employers, becoming noticed at job fairs, preparing for interviews, and best of all, negotiating the offer. Don’t miss out on job opportunities because you aren’t prepared!
 
Contact the Career Center at 303-556-2250 to register and have this course added to your Blackboard account. This program is offered free of charge to all CU Denver students. Another perk is that you can complete the Certificate of Employability at your own pace.
 
This program acts as a supplement to the information that the Career Center staff provides and consists of nine self-contained modules—each containing a wealth of information and a corresponding video presentation.  You can access the Career Center Certificate of Employability Program by looking at individual modules as needed. To formally complete the program and receive an official Career Center Employability Certificate, an online exam must be completed. You can also schedule an optional in-person meeting at the Career Center to discuss results and ask any further questions about the program.
 

Career Center Certificate of Employability Modules

  • Job Search Strategies
  • Targeting Employers
  • Online Job Hunting
  • Résumé Building
  • Writing Cover Letters
  • Networking
  • Utilizing Job Fairs
  • Interviewing
  • Negotiating Offers
All of these easy-to-navigate modules are available 24/7 in Blackboard, accessible here
 

Benefits of the Certificate of Employability

  • It's free!
  • It's like having a Career Center appointment available 24/7
  • Self-paced, accessible online
  • Introduces students to the expectations of the professional work environment
  • Ensures that more CU Denver students are prepared to enter the job market
  • Eliminates some of the worry associated with job preparation
Follow these steps to find jobs through the Just ASK! Job Link
  1. Go to ucdenver.edu/careercenter and enter your username (Student ID #) and password (ucd) into the Just ASK! Job Link login box. If you do not have a username and password, click Need to Register.
  2. Update your profile by highlighting "My Account" and then clicking on "My Profile."
  3. Be sure to select "Yes" under veteran status. After filling in the appropriate fields, you should take time to upload a résumé. Many jobs posted on Just ASK! Job Link will allow you to submit your résumé and other documents directly to the employer from the website. You can do this by highlighting "My Account," then clicking on "My Documents." You can also upload cover letters, letters of recommendation, and other documents here.
  4. Now you are ready to start your job search. Begin by highlighting the Job Search menu at the top.
  5. Enter keywords and select applicable criteria and click Search to view jobs that match your objectives.
NOTE: For fields that allow multiple selections, use CTRL to select more than one. Be sure to take advantage of the "Job Agent" and "Save Search" features.
 

On-Campus Interviews

For some positions, employers will hold on-campus interviews. These positions will have a "!" next to the job. Clicking on it once will expand the interview schedule. Then click the second blue exclamation point, which will take you to the interview page. Click on one of the dates listed to view time slots and/or sign up for an interview.
 

Contacting Employers

For all other jobs, the preferred contact method will be listed in the job posting. In many cases, you may submit your résumé and cover letter directly through Just ASK! Job Link. If this is the case, a "Submit Resume" button will be available at the top and bottom of the page. Employers participating in the Boots to Suits Program can be searched for by adding the "Boots to Suits" qualifier to your search.

How can I find out more about the suit program?

The University of Colorado Denver is working with a major retailer to offset the cost of a new suit as part of the program. Stay involved in the Boots to Suits program, complete all aspects, and when the program is finalized, we will provide you the details on the suits program.
 

How do I register for the Certificate of Employability?

You're already registered. Login to your blackboard account and click "UC Denver Career Center Certificate of Employability."
 

How do I make an appointment with the Career Center?

Give us a call at 303.556.2250, or stop by our office at Tivoli 267.
 

How do I get a mentorship or internship?

Work with the Experiential Learning Center to find a mentorship or internship. Give them a call at 303.556.6656 or stop by their office at Tivoli 260.
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