The journey through career and major exploration, job searching, and professional development can be both exciting and challenging. Prioritizing your well-being throughout this process is crucial for success and sustained happiness. This page provides resources and tips to help you maintain a sound mind and healthy lifestyle as you navigate your career path. 

Key Steps to Start 

  • Understand the Value of Well-being: Recognize that your mental and physical health directly impacts your career success and satisfaction. 
  • Utilize Campus Resources: Explore the services offered by the University of Montana’s Wellbeing Center. 
  • Integrate Wellness into Your Routine: Actively incorporate self-care practices into your daily and weekly schedule, especially during demanding periods of career development. 

Featured Resources 

Tips to Stay Healthy and Well During Your Career Journey 

Here are categories and tips to help you stay well and of sound mind throughout various stages of your career development: 

  • Be Patient with Yourself: It’s okay not to have all the answers immediately. Exploration is a process. 
  • Focus on Self-Reflection: Understand your values, interests, strengths, and what brings you meaning. This clarity can reduce anxiety about choosing a path.
    • Check out this work values matcher to help identify your most important work values. 
    • Or take this free personality test to better understand your interests. 
    • Lastly, you can always sign up with Experiential Learning & Career Success to take the Strong Assessment to learn more about yourself and have your results interpreted by a professional.   
  • Talk to Others: Informational interviews with professionals in fields you’re considering can provide insights and reduce uncertainty. 
  • Avoid Comparison: Your journey is unique. Don’t compare your progress to others. 
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Imposter syndrome affects 70% of us and can hinder career progression and job applications. You can combat imposter syndrome by talking about it with others, exercising, writing out your achievements, and recognizing it as a symptom of success.

  • Set Realistic Expectations: The job search can take time. Celebrate small victories and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. 
  • Schedule Breaks: Dedicate specific time for your job search, but also schedule regular breaks and activities you enjoy to prevent burnout. 
  • Network Authentically: Focus on building genuine connections rather than just collecting contacts. This can make networking feel less transactional and more fulfilling. 
  • Manage Rejection: Rejection is a normal part of the job search. Don’t take it personally; learn from it and move forward. 
  • Maintain a Routine: Stick to a regular sleep schedule, healthy eating habits, and exercise to maintain energy and focus. 

Check out our Job Search Resource!

  • Focus on Accomplishments, Not Just Duties: This can shift your mindset from a task-list to a positive reflection of your impact. 
  • Proofread Carefully, But Don’t Obsess: Get feedback from career services or a trusted friend, but know when to stop editing. Excessive perfectionism can be draining. 
  • Tailor, Don’t Mass Apply: Sending out generic resumes can be frustrating and yield poor results. Tailoring your resume for each application can feel more purposeful. 

Check out our Top Tips for Resumes!

  • Research the Company and Role: Understanding who you’re writing to can make the process less daunting and more engaging. 
  • Tell a Story: Instead of just restating your resume, use your cover letter to highlight relevant experiences and explain why you’re a good fit. 
  • Keep it Concise: A well-written, brief cover letter is more impactful and less stressful to create. 

Check out our top tips for Cover Letters!

  • Practice, Don’t Memorize: Rehearse your answers, but avoid sounding robotic. Focus on conveying your authentic self. 
  • Prepare Questions for the Interviewer: This demonstrates your engagement and helps you assess if the role and company are a good fit for you
  • Manage Interview Anxiety: Practice deep breathing, visualization, or other calming techniques before and during interviews. 
  • Follow Up Thoughtfully: A concise thank-you note is professional and reinforces your interest. 
  • Use Free AI Resources to help with Interview Prep: ChatGPTBig Interview, and Gemini can help record your responses, provide feedback, and create industry specific interview questions.  
  • Tip: Before your next interview, try a guided breathing exercise!  

Check out our top tips for Interview Prep!

  • Curate Your Professional Brand: Use LinkedIn to showcase your skills and experience in a positive light. 
  • Engage Mindfully: Connect with others, share relevant content, and participate in discussions, but avoid excessive scrolling that can lead to comparison. 
  • Protect Your Time: Set boundaries for how much time you spend on LinkedIn to prevent it from becoming a distraction. 

Check out our top tip for creating a top-tier LinkedIn Profile!

  • Research Thoroughly: Understand the demands of graduate programs and ensure they align with your career goals and personal values. 
  • Connect with Current Students and Alumni: Gain realistic perspectives on the academic and emotional challenges. 
  • Assess Financial Implications: Understand the financial commitment and potential impact on your well-being. 
  • Develop a Support System: Identify mentors, friends, and family who can offer encouragement throughout your graduate studies. 

Need a CV for your application? Check out our CV Guide!

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Our Outcomes

This page provides a snapshot of University of Montana student career outcomes at graduation. This information is collected from student graduation surveys and public online data sources starting just prior to graduation until 6 months following graduation in accordance with standards set by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The response rates across years exhibit significant variability.  Data presented may not accurately reflect the characteristics of the entire graduating population.

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Starting Salary
  • Experiential Learning Participation
  • Employment Industry
  • Employment Function
  • Employment Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Degree Types
  • Fields of Study

First Destination

NACE’s First-Destination Survey captures information regarding how new college graduates fare in their careers within six months of graduation. The annual initiative provides data on the outcomes associated with a college education on a national scale.

Contact & Location

Phone
(406) 243-2022
Address

Aber Hall, 2nd Floor
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812

Career Service Hours

Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm