Moraine Valley Community College

Alumni & Community

The Job Resource Center is here to help alumni and community members take their next best step toward meaningful employment. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce, you’ll find helpful tools and resources to guide you through every stage of your journey.
Preparation is key for your next best step.

Home » Student Resources » Job Resource Center » Alumni and Community

Your Step-by-Step Path

Step 1

Explore Your Next Best Career Step – Discover the Career That Fits You

Choosing a career path doesn’t mean you’re planning for the rest of your life — it’s about identifying your next best step.
Whether you’re a prospective student, a returning adult considering a career change, or a professional looking to reskill or upskill, this process will help you explore your interests and connect them to Moraine Valley programs that prepare you for your future goals.

In just three simple steps, you can:

  1. Take the Career Interest Assessment.
  2. Return to the Job Resource Center website to explore your results and match them to Moraine Valley certificates and degrees.
  3. Take action with Admissions (for new or prospective students).

Explore Your Next Best Career Step

Take a Career Interest Assessment
Step 2

Career Exploration

  • The Forage – a free online platform offering virtual job simulations created by top companies to help students and job seekers gain real-world experience, explore career paths, and build employable skills through self-paced, accessible programs. Free virtual job simulations and career prep | Forage
  • Career One Stop – CareerOneStop’s Career Videos page offers short, informative videos on hundreds of careers, organized by industry clusters, showcasing job tasks, work environments, education requirements, and employment outlooks to help users explore career options visually. Career videos | Videos | CareerOneStop
Step 3

Strengthen or Update Your Skills

Now that you’ve explored your career interests and reviewed the Moraine Valley certificates and degrees that align with your results, the next step is to strengthen or update your skills.

Ask yourself:

  • What skills do I already have that are valuable in this field?
  • What new or updated skills will make me more competitive?

Ask yourself:

This step is about preparing for what’s next—making yourself career-ready and future-focused through continued learning at Moraine Valley.

Step 4

Build Strong Materials (ATS-Friendly)

Select two or three real job postings that interest you.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
Use Jobscan to make sure your materials are ATS – Friendly to match what employers are looking for.

Helpful links:

Step 5

Apply Strategically

Focus your search on a few quality opportunities each week.
Use trusted job boards and keep a simple tracker of your applications and follow-ups.

Recommended job boards:

Step 6

Interview with Confidence

Practice sharing your experiences and skills in a way that shows you’re a strong fit for the job.
Research each employer, prepare examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), and come ready with thoughtful questions.

Helpful tools:

Quick Tips

  • Preparation is key. Research, tailor, and practice before every opportunity.
  • Use the STAR method for interview questions (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  • Focus on two or three target jobs and customize your materials for each.
  • Track your progress with a simple job search log or spreadsheet.

Helpful Resources

Explore & Learn

Prepare & Apply

Job Search Tools

Share Your Success

If you’ve landed a new job or achieved a career milestone, we’d love to celebrate with you!

Share your story through our Success Story Form so we can highlight your journey and inspire others.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

Prospective Students

If you are a first-time student, returning adult, or career changer who is not yet enrolled, we can help you connect your interests to a college program.

Contact the Admissions Department to learn more about programs that fit your goals:

(708) 974-5355
admissions@morainevalley.edu
Building S, Room S101

Apply Now

Start your admission application.