Identity Career Resources | Business Career Center | College of Business

Identity Resources

The Business Career Center believes strongly in connecting with each student by creating an inviting environment that empowers students to develop confidence in managing their lifelong career potential. We recognize that you may align with multiple identities; we are providing this targeted information for your career development. Resources on identity are continually evolving; please contact the Business Career Center if you have ideas or suggestions to improve this content.

Sharing Your Identity

Terminology

BIPOC Students

Recognize that employers and other professionals may not be as familiar with identity terminology and may be uncertain of individuals’ preferred terminology. For example, some people may identify as African American while others identify as Black. But not all Black people are African American. Share your preferred terminology.

International Students

It may be helpful to define visa status in terms of length of time you may work in the U.S. and at what point of your academic program. For example, some employers may not be aware of J-1 Academic Training or F-1 Curricular Practical Training as a short-term internship option.

LGBTQIA+ Students

It may be helpful to spell out acronyms or to use explanatory terms. For example, LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more and describes a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Other terminology may be used to describe gender and sexual identities, legal sex, and sex assigned at birth.

Military Veterans, Active Duty, Guard, Reserves & Dependents

Recognize that employers and other professionals may not be as familiar with military terminology as well as the ranks and titles for different branches of the military. Consider defining your rank in terms of years of service or as in a progression of promotions. It will be helpful to spell out military acronyms or to use explanatory terms that translate military-specific skills or responsibilities into its civilian counterparts.

Students with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits job discrimination against qualified employees and applicants with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation. You are responsible for letting employers know if you need an accommodation; they are not required to provide accommodations if they are not aware of the need. You have a legal right to accommodation as long as you are qualified to perform the essential job functions. Carefully review the job description to ensure you are qualified to perform the role before you apply.

The choice to disclose your disability is up to you. Disclosing is a personal decision; you are not under any obligation to do so. However, if you know that an employer is specifically trying to recruit people with disabilities, it makes sense to disclose upfront. If you’re not sure, you can wait until after you have a job offer.

If you require an accommodation for your disability, be aware of jargon related to technology or equipment. It may be helpful to explain the use of the accommodation, especially if it may affect others in the workplace.

Recognize that employers and other professionals may not be as familiar with visible and nonvisible disability terminology. Spelling out acronyms or use explanatory terms. For example, ASD is the acronym for autism spectrum disorder but may not be a common acronym to employers.

Experience

Your identity is part of what you bring to your future employer. You may have been very active in organizations and causes related to your identity and want to share that with employers. You also may have chosen to not disclose parts of your identity. When applying for positions, you get to decide what you want to share.

If you are an international student, eventually, you will need to share your eligibility to work in the United States.

When sharing your experience, target your bullet statements and interview answers to relate to the employer’s needs. As appropriate or applicable, consider including aspects of your identity.

Navigating the Workplace

Many organizations have employee resource groups (ERGs) around different identities. Typically, these are also open to allies as well. Consider getting involved with your organization’s ERG and, if they do not have one, talk to human resources about starting one.

Your professional organizations may have affinity groups within the organization that can further support you. There also may be identity-based workplace groups that may provide support. For example, the Society of Hispanic Human Resource Professionals is a membership based organization dedicated to the promotion of diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace.

Chambers of Commerce often sponsor Young Professional Groups that can connect you with others in your community who may share your identity.

Know your rights. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov) is responsible for enforcing federal laws related to employment discrimination. They provide resources for employees, job applicants, and employers.

Assessing Workplace Culture

Prior to applying for roles, research the organization to see if the workplace culture may be a good fit for your identity.

Start with their website; do you see information on employee resource groups related to your identity? Do they have a diversity statement that describes their commitment to your identity? Are there images that show support for diversity? Are there news articles that show their community involvement?

Review websites such as Glassdoor, equality indexes, and best places to work to see how this organization is portrayed.

Use LinkedIn or Husker Connect to find professionals at the organization who may be willing to offer their insight into the workplace culture.

During your interview and onsite visit, be observant about employee workspaces and common areas. Do you see employees reflecting their identity in their workspaces? Do you see things that would make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable? Is your identity represented in the décor?

Recognize that workplaces are ever evolving. As you join a workplace, you also influence the culture and may have opportunities to share aspects of your identity to help improve the workplace for others.

For International Students:
Employers who have a global presence may appreciate your experience living in another country.

Employers are on a continuum related to their interest in hiring international students. Some employers are willing to sponsor the H-1B, others are only open to having international students as interns, while others are unable or unwilling to hire non-citizens. Start with their website; do you see global locations or that their products or services are global? Are they a federal contractor and, thus, unable to hire non-citizens?

Review their job postings; do they specifically say that they will not consider non-citizens? If so, it may be best to build a relationship with the employer in person through networking and career events.

BIPOC Experience Example

Resume Example

University Program Council. Events Team Member. Lincoln, NE. Fall 20XX – Present.

Planned welcome events as part of a team for over 4,000 new students to orient students to campus and build their confidence.
Reviewed print materials, websites, and social media posts carefully to include inclusive language and images.
Collaborated with community. members to organize campus-wide Juneteenth celebration, bringing music, activities, and educational materials to highlight this celebration.

BIPOC Experience Example

Interview Example

Describe a time when you worked as part of a team.

While serving on the University Program Council, my team researched potential speakers and programs to align with heritage months. We had to stay within budget but wanted to elevate heritage month programming equitably.

Each of us contacted speakers to learn about their presentations and total costs. We couldn’t do it all in one year, so I used my communication and problem-solving skills to propose a multi-year plan with internal programming and external speakers. I am really proud of this plan and think we have a model that would work for other types of programming. Our first event will be in October and I’m excited to see what the campus community will experience with a strong external speaker.

International Students Experience Example

Resume Example

University Program Council. Events Team Member. Lincoln, NE. Fall 20XX – Present.

Planned welcome events as part of a team for over 4,000 new students to orient students to campus and build their confidence.
Reviewed print materials, websites, and social media posts carefully to ensure that the content was clear to all students, with a special attention to those students whose native language was not English.
Proposed cross-cultural programming to expand student awareness of Middle Eastern geography, history, customs, and celebrations.

International Students Experience Example

Interview Example

Describe a time when you worked as part of a team.

While serving on the University Program Council, we looked at student demographic data and realized that there was an increase in students from the Middle East. We decided to develop some programs to celebrate their culture and increase awareness among other UNL students. We met with members of key student organizations and partnered to create a series of events, each with different cultural aspects. I worked closely to advertise the programs and was excited to see each event have more participants than the one before. Our Middle Eastern students felt more included in the UNL community and it was a good experience for everyone.

LGBTQIA+ Experience Example

Resume Example

University Program Council. Events Team Member. Lincoln, NE. Fall 20XX – Present.

Planned welcome events as part of a team for over 4,000 new students to orient students to campus and build their confidence.
Reviewed print materials, websites, and social media posts carefully to include inclusive language and images
Organized Pride Month social event for students and the community by contacting potential sponsors and raising over $2,000.

LGBTQIA+ Experience Example

Interview Example

Describe a time when you worked as part of a team.

While serving on the University Program Council, my team wanted to partner with community members for a Pride Month event. We developed a list of potential sponsors to seek their support either financially or in programming.

Together, we contacted 20 organizations and helped raise $2,000 to support our event. I was glad to see the event be so successful despite having fewer students on campus but know it was because we were clear in what we wanted to do and were committed to the program. Our team worked so well together that we have already started planning events for next summer.

Military Experience Example

Resume Example

University Program Council. Events Team Member. Lincoln, NE. Fall 20XX – Present.

Planned welcome events as part of a team for over 4,000 new students to orient students to campus and build their confidence, including a separate welcome for non-traditional and military connected students.
Reviewed print materials, websites, and social media posts carefully for compliance with University branding standards.
Managed logistics and risk management for large scale events that included students, community members, and vendors.

Military Experience Example

Interview Example

Describe a time you worked as part of a team.

While serving on the University Program Council, I offered to manage logistics for the Homecoming concert. I found my military background in logistics and risk management helped me see potential issues and plan alternatives if needed. I communicated my ideas to the team and developed a written action plan so we all felt prepared before the event. Ultimately, over 2,000 students attended the concert with no medical or safety issues. I was glad everything went smoothly and that everyone enjoyed the concert.

Students with Disabilities Experience Example

Resume Example

University Program Council. Events Team Member. Lincoln, NE. Fall 20XX – Present.

Planned welcome events as part of a team for over 4,000 new students to orient students to campus and build their confidence.
Reviewed print materials, websites, and social media posts carefully to include inclusive language and images
Adapted virtual events by using Zoom technology so students with disabilities were able to fully participate

Students with Disabilities Experience Example

Interview Example

Describe a time when you worked as part of a team.

While serving on the University Program Council, my team wanted to create a virtual event to connect with students over the winter term. We researched options and came up with an interactive game for over 20 participants. I tested the platform to be sure students with disabilities would be able to participate fully. It was great to see the variety of students who signed in and I was glad that we spent the time to make sure that it would be a good experience for everyone.

Key Resources

Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Resources

UNL OASIS, Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services — unl.edu/oasis — offers student success resources, events, and programs

DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity — fair360.com/overview-of-the-diversityinc-top-50-companies-fordiversity — assesses performance of companies in key areas of diversity and inclusion management.

Diversity Jobs — diversityjobs.com — connects diverse talent with the companies who value them.

Equal Opportunity Publications — eop.com/index.php —includes career expos, job boards, and career magazines.

Asian Jobs — asian-jobs.com — is a career site for employers who want to reach bilinguals who speak English and Asian languages

#HireBlack — hireblacknow.com — offers events, resources, a job board, and a searchable directory of employers

Native American Jobs — nativeamericanjobs.com — provides employment opportunities for people from diverse, indigenous, and minority cultures.

Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancement — haceonline.org — a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the employment, development and advancement of current and aspiring Latino professionals.

LGBTQIA+ Student Key Resources

UNL Gender and Sexuality Center — gsc.unl.edu — campus resources focused on gender inclusiveness and sexuality, facilitating a greater responsiveness to the needs of women and the LGBTQA+ communities through education, outreach, community building, and advocacy.

Pride in Business — instagram.com/unlprideinbiz — a recognized student organization for those passionate about LGBTQIA+ issues and have an interest in business or preparing to best work in one after college.

Human Rights Campaign — hrc.org — includes targeted resources and articles as well as the Corporate Equality Index hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index that benchmarks organizations on policies, practices and benefits for LGBTQ employees.

Out for Undergrad — outforundergrad.org — provides unique conferences and career fairs in areas including business and marketing.

Out & Equal — outandequal.org — offers resources and guides on topics related to the workplace and organize leadership and advocacy programs.

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce — nglcc.org — is the business voice of the LGBTQ community, dedicated to expanding opportunities.

International Students Resources

International Student and Scholar Office — global.unl.edu/isso — provides support and services by providing information to help international students maintain their immigration status in the United States.

GoinGlobal — careers.unl.edu/resources/goinglobal — searchable databases of employers who have sponsored H-1Bs in the past as well as resources for countries and global cities. Access on campus for free.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — uscis.gov — information on visa categories and application processes. The H-1B Employer Data Hub, uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/h-1b-employer-data-hub, shows employers who have petitioned for H-1Bs.

My Visa Jobs — myvisajobs.com — information on visas, employers, and immigration attorneys.

The International Advantage — theinternationaladvantage.com — articles and resources to support international students’ job search.

Military Veterans, Active Duty, Guard, Reserves & Dependents Key Resources

UNL Military & Veteran Success Center — vetsuccess.unl.edu — campus resources for military connected students.

Veterans Employment Toolkit — va.gov/vetsinworkplace/supportveterans.asp — helpful resources to consider how military training translates to the civilian workplace.

CareerOneStop Veteran and Military Transition Center — careeronestop.org/Veterans/default.aspx — matches military occupations into civilian job titles.

FedsHireVets — fedshirevets.gov — provides information on federal employment information for military affiliated individuals.

Recruit Military — recruitmilitary.com/job-seekers — connects employers through career fairs, a job board, employer branding, and a military-centric publication.

Military Crosswalk — onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC — provides details on skills and work activities for military occupations.

Students with Disabilities Key Resources

UNL Services for Students with Disabilities — unl.edu/ssd/ — creates accessible and inclusive educational and campus experiences for students with disabilities.

Your Employment Rights as an Individual with a Disability — eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/your-employment-rights-individualdisability — details protections and employment practices covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

AbilityJobs — abilityjobs.com — employment site where 100% of posted jobs are from employers specifically seeking to hire people with disabilities.

JAN Job Accommodation Network — askjan.org — assists individuals by providing information about job accommodation solutions and the ADA.

Should I or Shouldn’t I — abilityjobs.com/should-i-or-shouldnt-i — decide if, when, and how to share disabilityrelated information.

Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) — ourability.com/cosd — their mission is to assist students and recent graduates with the tools and knowledge to have a career of their choice.

Incorporating pronouns and Preferred/Chosen Name

Incorporating Your Pronouns and Name In Job Application Materials

Several opportunities exist to include your pronouns or name in your application materials. This choice can be highly personal and complex. There is no right or wrong decision. We encourage you to talk through the options with those closest to you or with a career coach.

Reasons To Incorporate

To let employers know what pronouns you use
To normalize the designation of pronouns
To express your identity
To be an ally to the LGBTQ+ population

Reasons Not To Incorporate

You don’t want to
You don’t feel comfortable doing so

Places you can showcase your pronouns and name in your job search include:

Résumé

Most people showcase their pronouns and name in the heading of their résumé. You can mix up the location in different ways. (See examples below)

Cover Letter

Some people use the heading from their résumé at the top of their cover letter. Others include their pronouns and name in the signature of their cover letter. (See examples at right)

Résumé Header Examples

Alex Nichols (he•him•his)
Lincoln, NE 68522 | 555-555-5555 | Alex.Nichols@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/alexnichols

Connor “Alex” Nichols
Lincoln, NE 68522 | 555-555-5555 | Alex.Nichols@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/alexnichols

Cover Letter Signature Examples

Sincerely,
Alex Nichols
Alex Nichols (they | them | theirs)

Sincerely,
A. Conner Nichols
Conner Nichols (preferred name)

Online Profiles (LinkedIn and Handshake)

You can use your preferred/chosen name without explanation in your documents. Some people are nervous about this, but your résumé/cover letter/LinkedIn profile/application are not legal documents. You need to use your legal name for background checks, Social Security documents and insurance forms, but otherwise, use the name that reflects your identity. People often share their pronouns and/or preferred or chosen name on LinkedIn in the headline or About sections. On Handshake, they often share in the name section (Add your pronouns after your last name) or in the My Journey section.

In Your Name/Headline

Add your pronouns to your name or in your headline (i.e. add “she | her | hers” after “Seeking Internships”). Refer to the resume section for more options about using your preferred name (i.e. with initials, parentheses, etc.).

In Your About/My Journey Section

Your About section is the best place to tell your story in whichever way you feel comfortable. Consider whether to open up about your journey or leave it out, depending on your comfort level. Some people decide to write “Member of the LGBTQ+ Community” or “Advocate for the LGBTQ+ Community.”

Some people choose to use their name in their headline and disclose their legal name in the About section. Disclosing your legal name in the bottom of this section will ensure you appear in searches if an organization looks for you using your legal name. You could list it like so: “Legal Name: Connor Nichols."

Email

The university has an email signature generator, which you can edit to add your pronouns and the name you want visible in your professional emails. Go to https://ucomm.unl.edu/signature-generator

Websites For Researching LGBTQ+ Friendly Employers

https://outandequal.org
https://www.hrc.org/resources/geneq-guide-to-entering-the-workforce
https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/corporate-equality-index
https://www.lgbtmap.org