NACElink CONNECT

STUDENT USERS’ GUIDE

This guide includes:

1. About NACElink Connect

2. How to register

3. Changing/updating your profile

4. Job-search tools

5. Managing your resumes

6. Managing your cover letters

7. Managing other documents

8. Using job-search agents

9. Searching for jobs

10. Managing your applications

About NACElink Connect

Welcome to NACElink Connect, an online, national job board for college students looking for all types of employment, including full-time and part-time jobs, internships, cooperative education positions, and volunteer and summer work. This service is provided to you by your institution's career center as a benefit of their membership in the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Once you have registered with NACElink Connect, you can search for jobs. If you choose, you also can:

• Maintain online versions of your resume, cover letter, and other job-search documents in a PDF form (which retains any formatting you've done for your documents);

• Reply to job listings online, through the system;

• Keep an ongoing history of applications you've sent;

• Set up job-search agents (that will send you an e-mail when a job is posted that meets your skills and requirements);

• Keep private notes on your job-search efforts; and

• Change, update, or delete any information you've put into NACElink Connect at any time.

You must register the first time you use NACElink Connect. Find the login box on your school's career center web site and click the link to register for the first time.

After you have registered, you'll use the login and password boxes on this page to login to NACElink Connect.

If you forget your password, click on the forgot password link on the registration page. You'll enter information into a password reminder page (you'll need your user name) to get your password e-mailed to you.

How to Register

Registration will take about five minutes—and will give you access to a valuable tool for your job search. (Please take a minute to read the NACElink Connect Privacy Policy so that you will know how your personal and private information will and will not be used.)

1.      Go to the login page on your career center web site and click the link to register for the first time.

2.      Type into the boxes:

• A user name

• A password

• The same password again (to confirm your choice).

(Write this information down in a secure place so that you won't forget how to get into the system. Do not share this information with anyone.)

3.      On the next page, enter your contact information in the boxes provided. Click submit information when you are finished.

Educational Information

Next, you'll enter information about your educational record at your current school, including:

• Degree

• Major

• Graduation month and year

• Class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, etc.)

• Cumulative GPA (freshmen enter 0.00)

• Major GPA (freshmen enter 0.00)

Then choose one of the following links to continue the registration process:

Completed entry of degrees; no further study planned—This means you've entered all your college educational information and do not plan to return to school after graduation. You will move on to the next part of the registration process.

Completed entry of degrees; I plan to study in the future—This means you've entered all your current college educational information and plan to return to school to earn another degree/go to graduate school. You will be prompted to enter details on the next page.

I have completed degree(s) from other institution—This means you have earned a degree from another college/university. You will be prompted to enter details on the next page.

I have additional degrees from this institution—This means you have earned another degree from your current school. You will be prompted to enter details on the next page.

Demographic Information

Next, you will be prompted for demographic information, including your gender, your ethnicity, whether you are authorized to work in the United States, and whether you are a U.S. citizen/permanent resident or hold a visa.

Visa information is required. All other information is optional (choose the option prefer not to disclose). Any information you provide will be used only in a way that is not personally identifiable. Employers will not have direct access to any of this information.

Changing/Updating Your Profile

You'll have a chance to see the information that you've entered in your student profile. If you want to change anything in your profile, click on edit at the top of the section and then enter the correct information on the next page.

When you've verified the information in your profile, click on click here to complete your profile!

You can change your profile at any time by clicking on the my profile link in the navigation bar at the top of each web page.

1. On the profile page, click edit at the top of the section that contains the information you wish to add, update, or delete.

2. Change the information.

3. Click submit at the bottom of the page so that your changes are saved.

Job-Search Tools

Each time you log in, you'll go to the My Job-Search Tools page. On this page, you'll find links to a variety of tools that let you:

• Search for jobs

• Manage resumes

• Manage cover letters

• Manage other documents

• Manage job applications

You will also find links to tools that help you set up job-search agents, review notes you've made about your job search, edit your user name and/or password, and review and edit information in your profile.

Uploading Job-Search Documents to NACElink Connect

(Note: You can search jobs in NACElink Connect WITHOUT uploading your job-search documents e.g., resumes and cover letters, in the NACElink Connect data base. However, you do need to upload your documents into the NACElink Connect data base if you wish to apply online. If you include your resume in the NACElink Connect data base, you can also elect to include it in a data base that is searchable by employers.)

You will need to have a number of important documents to conduct a successful job search, including resumes, cover letters, and other documents, including writing samples, transcripts, and portfolios. NACElink Connect allows you to upload formatted documents—so you know how they're going to look when an employer views them—to an online data base. You can edit, delete, send, or download those documents as needed.

Uploading Documents

Resumes, cover letters, and other documents must be created before they can be uploaded to the NACElink system.

Uploading means using the system to move a document from a file on your computer to the system data base. During this process, the document is converted into a Portable Document Format (PDF) for display purposes. A PDF document preserves the design, including fonts and type sizes, of your original document.

The following file types can be used for cover letters, resumes, or other documents: 

Managing Your Resumes

You may have multiple resumes in the system at any time. This means you can tailor resumes to fit several different types of jobs for which you might apply.

For example, if you have a double major, you can have a resume that highlights each major. Or, if you're looking for a job in several industries, you can tailor resumes to target specific industries. Or, you can have resumes that contain different objectives or career goals.

You can create, update, delete, or download a resume (or resumes) at any time. If you apply for a job through the system, you will designate which resume you want employers to receive. The employer actually receives a link to your designated resume. This means that if you send a resume to an employer and later update the resume (by saving your updated resume under the same name), the employer will be able to access your updated resume through the provided link.

Adding a Resume

1. At the My Job-Search Tools page, click on store resumes.

2. If you haven't put a resume into the system, click on add a resume. If you have resumes in the system and want to add another, click on the link click here to add a resume.

3. Find your resume on your computer. You can type in the address or click the browse button to search your computer. When you find your resume, highlight the name of your resume and click open.

4. In the next box, give your resume a descriptive name. The name should help you distinguish this resume from any others you add to the system. For example, if the goal of this resume is to find an engineering job, name the resume engineer. Be sure you give your resume a professional sounding name—potential employers will see the name of your document and you don't want to scare anyone off with a silly or foolish name. 

5. Click the word upload.

6. You will return to the Manage Resumes page where you will see that your resume has been listed.

7. There are other links on this page to help you keep your resume current, including an update selected resume, delete selected resume, and make selected resume primary. You also can view how your resume will look to potential employers by clicking on the click here to download selected resume link.

Designing a Primary Resume

Use the radio buttons under the Select column to designate a primary resume.

To select a resume, click in the empty circle next to the name of the resume you wish to designate as selected.

You can change the primary resume at any time.

Making your resume available to employers searching the data base

The second box on the Manage Resumes page—the Primary Resume Status box—allows you to control whether employers can see your resume. To make your primary resume available to employers searching the data base, click in the box. A check mark will be added to the box.

You can remove your permission for employers to see the primary resume by clicking in the box and removing the check mark.

Adding/Managing Cover Letters

You can have up to 10 cover letters in the system at any time. This means you can tailor cover letters to fit each job opportunity you apply for.

You can create, update, delete, or download any of these cover letters at any time.

1. At the My Job-Search Tools page, click Store Cover Letters.

2. If you haven't put a cover letter into the system, click on add a cover letter.

3. Find your cover letter on your computer. You can type in the address or click the browse button to search your computer. When you find your cover letter, highlight the name and click open.

4. In the next box, give your cover letter a descriptive name. You might use the name of the company where you are sending your application or a date to distinguish between cover letters. Be sure you give your cover letter a professional-sounding name—potential employers will see the name of your document and you don't want to scare anyone off with a silly or foolish name.

5. Click the word upload.

6. You will return to the Manage Cover Letters page and note that your resume has been listed in the Current Cover Letters box.

7. You can add another cover letter by clicking on the add a cover letter link and following the same steps as above.

Selecting a Cover Letter

Use the Select column to choose a cover letter you wish to update, delete, or download.

To select a resume, click in the empty circle next to the name of the resume you wish to select.

...Update

1. Rewrite/update your cover letter in a word processing program first.

2. Return to the Manage Cover Letters page and select the cover letter you want to update.

3. Click the Update Selected Cover Letter link.

4. Find the cover letter in the word processing program, highlight it, and click open.

5. Give this cover letter the same name as the cover letter you wish to update—or give it a new name to reflect a new job opportunity.

6. Click on the upload link.

...Delete

Select the cover letter you want to delete.

Click the Delete Selected Cover Letter link.

...Download

Select the cover letter you want to download.

Click the Download Selected Cover Letter in PDF link.

If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, the program will open and the cover letter will be displayed. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can get a free copy of the software at www.adobe.com.

Managing Other Documents

You can have up to 10 other documents stored in the system at any time. You can store writing samples, your portfolio, a copy of your transcript, or any other document you need to send to an employer when applying for a job. These documents can be in a word processing program (see the list that appears above in “Uploading Documents), or in gif, .jpg, .eps, .bmp, or .pdf format. Do not try to attach uncompressed or graphic files larger than 10 megabytes.

You can create, update, delete, or download any of these documents at any time.

Adding Other Documents

1. At the My Job-Search Tools page, click on the store other documents link. 

2. If you haven't put any other documents into the system, click on add a document. You can save almost any type of file to your other documents folder, including graphics.

3. Find the document you wish to store on your computer. You can type in the address or click the browse button to search your computer. When you find the document, highlight the name and click open.

4. In the next box, give your document a descriptive name. The name should help you distinguish this document from any others you add to the system. Be sure you give your documents a professional-sounding name—potential employers will see the name of your documents.

5. Click the word upload.

6. You will return to the Manage Other Documents page and note that your document has been listed in the Current Documents box.

7. You can add another document by clicking on the add a document link and following the same steps as above.

Selecting a Document to...

Use the Select column to designate a document you wish to update, delete, or download.

To select a document, click in the empty circle next to the name of the document you wish to designate as selected.

...Update

1. Rewrite/update your document on your computer first.

2. Return to the Manage Documents page and select the document you want to update.

3. Click the update selected documents link.

4. Find the document in the word processing program, highlight it, and click open.

5. Give this document the same name as the document you wish to update—or give it a new name to reflect a new job opportunity.

6. Click on the upload link.

...Delete

Select the document you want to delete.

Click the delete selected document link.

...Download

Right click on the name of the document you wish to download.

Choose save as to download the document.

Tips for Producing Effective Job-Search Documents

• Give your resume, cover letter, or other documents names that you'll be able to remember easily when you are ready to upload the document or send it to an employer.

• Give these documents professional-sounding names. Employers see the names of your documents when you send them through the system.

• Use one-inch margins on your documents.

• Use common fonts (e.g., Times Roman, Arial, Helvetica). Unusual fonts do not translate well and may not display properly.

• Use the space bar to add spacing to your resume. Using the tab key may cause a text misalignment.

• Print your resume and have it critiqued by a professional career counselor. Get someone to proofread any document you plan to upload into the system.

Register for Job-Search Agents

Here are a few tips before you get started

• Be sure to select criterion/criteria in each field. The default for each field is ALL, so if you do not select something, it's as if you've selected every option within that field. This means, you may receive a lot of irrelevant e-mail notices and it may cause your job search to error out.

• Use the various fields to enrich your search. For example: selecting "accounting," "finance," and "audit" in the job functions category will give you jobs that have a job function of accounting OR finance OR auditing—and nothing else.

• Use accounting as a keyword will give you job descriptions that contain the word "accounting" somewhere within the listing. It could be the name of the organization, job description, qualifications, major, job function, industry, etc.

• If you are willing to work anywhere within the United States, you do not need to select all the states. The default is ALL STATES, Select a few states if you have specific areas where you are willing to work.

1.  Click on the job-search agents link in the Quick Links box on the right side of the My Job-Search Tools web page.

2.  You can register any or all of the following criteria:

• Industry(ies)

• Job function(s)

• State(s)

• Country(ies)

• Type(s) of work

• Date job was posted

• Keyword(s)

3.  Name your search agent and click create agent at the bottom of the web page. The newly created search agent will appear in a list at the top of the Job-Search Agents page.

You may create up to 10 different job-search agents that will function independently and simultaneously.

Change a Search Agent

1. If you want to change an existing job-search agent, go back to the Quick Links box and click on the job-search agents link.

2. On the next web page, click on edit under the Action heading.

3. To deselect a choice, hold down the control key and click your original choice again or select another choice.

4. When you've finished changing the agent, click on update agent at the bottom of the page.

Delete a Search Agent

To delete an agent, click on delete agent at the bottom of the page.

If you want to review the matches that each search agent has located, click on the view link under the View Results heading.

Searching for a Job

1. On the My Job-Search Tools page, click on search for jobs  (or click on search job listings in the navigation bar at the top of the page).

2. You can search using any or all of the following criteria:

• Industry

• Job function

• State

• Country

• Type of work

• Date job was posted

• Keyword

3. Click on your choice in each field. Hold the control key down while clicking to choose more than one item in a box. (If you want to remove something from your selection, hold down the control key and click on the selected item.)

4. Click on the perform search link at the bottom of the page.

5. On the search results page, click on the job identification number or the job title to read and print the job description.

The Job Description

If the name of the organization is highlighted in the job description, it is a link to the organization's web site.

Also, at the end of the job description, you can read how to apply for the job. It may specify that you should apply:

• on the organization's web site

• by mail

• by fax or

• by e-mail

• through the NACElink Connect system.

If the message how to apply is a link, clicking on it will take you to the next step, whether it is applying through the system, or taking you to the employer's web site.

Good luck in your job search. If you have any questions about how to write an effective cover letter or resume, or how to do a thorough job search, see the career services staff in your career center.

Using NACElink Connect to Apply

If an organization wants you to apply online using the NACElink Connect system, there will be a link at the end of the ad under the title How to Apply.

On the online application page, you can choose to send any or all of the following from your documents data base:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Transcript

• Other job-search documents

Choose the documents you wish to send. Click on send application at the bottom of the page.

The system will automatically send the documents you have chosen to the employer. You will be notified by e-mail that your information has been sent.

Managing Applications

The manage job applications link on the My Job-Search Tools page gives you a way to keep track of jobs you've applied for and the materials you've sent to potential employers.

Click on the manage job applications link to get to the View Applications page.

Use the drop-down box to choose the time frame for the applications you want to review. You can choose to review applications made within the last month, the last two months, the last three months, or all applications you've made.

Next, you can see a list of the applications you've made.

You'll see the name of the organization, the name of the resume and cover letter and any other materials you sent, and the date you sent the materials.

You can sort these by position title or organization by clicking on the headings position title or organization.

Within each individual application history, you can click on the name of the position title to see the original job listing. Or click on the name of your resume and cover letter to view what was sent.

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