RasGuides: *School of Design*: Career Preparation & Certifications

Career Services

Rasmussen University hosts a robust suite of on-demand, online resources located on the student portal to optimize the career-planning and job search process. When you are ready to engage in your job search, we encourage you to take advantage of these resources at any time throughout your professional career.

These resources can assist you with:

Updating and revising your job search documents
Portraying yourself effectively to potential employers through interview preparation
Review a suite of brief career focused videos on various professional development topics

For general questions related to career services resources, please email careerservicesonline@rasmussen.edu

Resume Resources

Hiration is a versatile and user-friendly online platform for job search management. It provides industry-specific templates to help you create and customize your resume, providing instant feedback on how to improve your profile. You can access Hiration at https://rasmussen.hiration.com/

Screenshot of Create a New Resume page with options for getting started including: use a pre-written sample, use a blank template, and upload an existing resume.

Not sure how to get started? Once you've started a resume, portfolio, or cover letter, look for the Help icon at the top right of the menu, and select 'Product Tour,' 'FAQ,' or 'Video Help' for more information about using the builder.

Complete Resume Writing Document

Cover Letter Resources

A cover letter aims to connect and motivate the reader with your interest in the position you are applying for. Your letter should be concise and complement your resume, not duplicate it. This is an excellent place to explain why you are a good fit, list a few soft skills, name connections or personal referrals to the company, etc. Keep it simple and professional. Cover letters are not as commonly used today as they have been in the past, but employers still see the value, so be prepared.

sample cover letter with formatting instructions

Sample Cover Letter with Formatting Instructions

Interview Resources

Come to the interview confident and prepared! Interviewers expect you to have researched and are familiar with their company. Learn about the company and industry by using the library databases. You'll find information about: the company's history, key executives, financials, number of employees, competitors, and much more! Additionally, explore various sections of the company's website, come prepared with intelligent questions, and watch the video below about how to master the interview.

Handshake
Handshake is an online career management platform and recruiting system providing job seekers the opportunity to connect with top employers across the country to explore events, job opportunities, internships and more!

Jump-start your Handshake experience in three easy steps:

Use the link above to login
Complete your profile
Explore Handshake to learn more about available opportunities, follow employers, and participate in events.

Certifications

Adobe certifications are not a requirement for graduation but are a recognized credential in the industry.

Click HERE for more information on how to register and prepare for Adobe Certifications.

ACE: Photoshop CC Exam Guide
Adobe Training Services provides this exam guide to help prepare partners, customers,
and consultants who are actively seeking accreditation as Adobe Certified Experts
(ACE). This guide, while designed to describe the exam in detail and provide as much
information as possible, is not meant to be the sole means of exam preparation. Adobe
Training Services offers courses that provide in-depth training on the exam content.
Hands-on experience with the Adobe product suite is also a critical element in preparing
to pass any Adobe certification exam.
Adobe® Training Services Certification FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about ACE and Creative Cloud

School of Design Certification Manual

Professional Development

ACM Siggraph
ACM SIGGRAPH is a thriving international organization. Everybody who shares ACM SIGGRAPH's love for computer graphics and interactive techniques is warmly invited to join ACM SIGGRAPH and attend SIGGRAPH or SIGGRAPH Asia.
AIGA: The Professional Association for Design
AIGA brings design to the world, and the world to designers. As the profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization for design—with 70 chapters and more than 25,000 members—we advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. From content that defines the global practice to events that connect and catalyze, we work to enhance the value and deepen the impact of design across all disciplines on business, society, and our collective future.
The CGSociety
The Art Society are the proud owners of the CGSociety. Their Mission is so cool it needs to be read. If you want a career in Graphic Design you need to be part of this!

Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
ISBN: 9781118099209
Publication Date: 2012-11-06
A revised new edition of the bestselling toolkit for creating, building, and maintaining a strong brand From research and analysis through brand strategy, design development through application design, and identity standards through launch and governance, Designing Brand Identity, Fourth Edition offers brand managers, marketers, and designers a proven, universal five-phase process for creating and implementing effective brand identity. Enriched by new case studies showcasing successful world-class brands, this Fourth Edition brings readers up to date with a detailed look at the latest trends in branding, including social networks, mobile devices, global markets, apps, video, and virtual brands. Features more than 30 all-new case studies showing best practices and world-class Updated to include more than 35 percent new material Offers a proven, universal five-phase process and methodology for creating and implementing effective brand identity