ENGINEERING CAREER SERVICES
 
10 Suggestions to Effectively Use ISU CMS

                                                  

Employers post job listings and interviews in ISU CMS. ISU CMS depends upon your action to submit your resume for listings and interviews. All students may apply for job listings with a resume. Employers may have qualifications for interview schedules. You are encouraged to attend Information Sessions to learn more about employers. Learn how to use ISU CMS more effectively with these suggestions:
 
1. Where can you find the most extensive list of employment opportunities?

Access your account at https://ecms.eng.iastate.edu/students. If you do not have a password enter  your complete ISU e-mail address and click 'Forgot my password'. Your password is emailed to you in a few minutes. If this does not generate a password, e-mail ecs@iastate.edu for a password. When you enter your account:
m  Click the Jobs tab on the header
m  On the right, click Show List with Status. This list includes interviews and job listings.
   

2. What do the initials mean that appear in the Show List with Status & Type column?
m  “P” equals Pre-select: Companies establish qualifications for on-campus interviews. If you
fit the qualifications or screening criteria, you may submit your resume for the company to review. If you are selected, you may sign up for an interview time. Watch your home page for an Alert. If interested, sign up quickly. Deadlines are important. The steps in this process are important and are covered in #8.
m  “O” equals Open: If the on-campus interview schedule appears in your account, you may
 choose a time on the schedule. If interested, sign up quickly. Deadlines are important.
m  “J” equals Job Listing: These opportunities are more numerous than interview schedules.
Take advantage of submitting your resume for these positions. There may be qualifications in the job descriptions, if you qualify submit your resume. The company will collect resumes and follow-up directly with the applicant. The company has not committed to on-campus interviews.
   

3. How can you “filter” some of the jobs that do not apply from the extensive list?

In the Jobs tab on the left click the tab Advanced Search:
m  In Show Me select All Jobs & Interviews
m  Select your major by clicking Majors/Concentrations
m  For the statement, Ignores Jobs with all Majors Selected click Yes
m Choose the appropriate dropdown for Position Type. Experiential Education is summer, 
  intern or co-op work experience.
m  Click Submit
 

4.  How do you upload a resume?
m  Prior to accessing ISU CMS, complete a resume using a format that you develop rather
than a template.
m  Access ISU CMS and from your homepage, click Documents
m  Click Add New
m  Type a label. Recommendation for the label: type your last name, first name and the name
  of the company if the document is specific. Improve your competitive edge by including a letter with your resume. The letter should be specific to the job description. You may upload the letter and resume as one document. Use a page break at the end of the letter and include the resume as the second page. If the company asks for a letter and resume, upload separate documents.
m  Click Browse and choose the correct document; click submit
m  You can upload up to 30 documents
 

5. How do you submit a resume? Why is submitting a resume important?
m  On the Job Postings page, click on the Title
m  Observe the Job Description on the left
m  On the right, the Application Status box is the place to submit your resume. You will either
  get a message that:
m you can submit a resume
m you do not match the qualifications or screening criteria
m or the resume submission date either has not started or has ended.
NOTE: Use the Back button within ISU CMS rather than on the browser.
 

Clicking Submit means the employer will electronically receive access to your resume. Resume Books ARE NOT CREATED. Employers NEVER see your resume unless you submit your resume. Employers do not browse through the system. You action is responsible for the employers having access to your resume.
 

6.  On the job posting page, what does Screening Criteria mean?
The terms qualifications and screening criteria are synonymous. The Profile tab contains your qualifications. Access the Profile from the header. Click the Academic Information tab. The following five screening criteria may affect your qualification for interviews:
m Graduation date
m Applicant type
m Major
m Work authorization
m GPA.
Your GPA is the ISU record and is downloaded from the Registrar and can not be changed. A GPA from another institution is not averaged into your ISU GPA.

If you did not qualify for an interview schedule, check each of the above. For example, if the company listed an Experiential Education position you must select that option under Applicant type.
 
7. How can you submit a resume if you do not meet the qualifications or screening criteria?

Send your cover letter and resume to the contact listed on the Job Postings page. If available, the contact information appears in How to Apply located on the left side of the screen. Maintain a record of the contact information for your future reference.
 
8. What happens after you submit your resume to a company for an interview schedule?

For a Pre-select schedule:
m After you are selected, you will have an ALERT on your homepage. Click the hot link that 
  takes you to the Position Information page. In the upper right hand corner, you have the option to select a time.

For an Open schedule:
m Click Interviews I Qualify For under Quick Links on your homepage or you can access the
  same information by clicking the Jobs header and under Show Me you may select Interviews I Qualify For.
m Choose the position Title and if there are available time slots, you may choose a time.
 

9. How can you cancel or reschedule an interview time?
On your ISU CMS home page click on Scheduled Interviews. Choose the appropriate interview schedule. Click the cancel interview or the reschedule tab under the Interview Details section. Before clicking reschedule make certain that times are available for you to choose.
 

10. Why is the events tab on the header important?
m The Career Fair tab provides a list of companies who will attend the next fair. From the
  participants tab select Engineering from the Day drop down. Apply search or use Advanced Search. Clicking the name of the company on the left may provide a position description along with the screening criteria. Sometimes the position description may not be available. Use this information to advantage when you visit the fair.
m The Information Sessions tab is very important.  Information Sessions provide opportunities 
  for you to meet company representatives. In some cases, they may have open slots for interview schedules. This is an opportunity to obtain business cards to add to your file of contacts.
 
Link to ISU CMS