Career Services

Credential

Lewis University
Career Services
Box 270
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 836-5282
Fax: (815) 838-4614

Credential File Registration Procedures for Education Majors

A credential file is made up of documents maintained for current students or alumni in the field of education. It is an established job search tool that is used to support your application for employment.

To set up a credential file, make an appointment with a Career Services staff member. Bring a typed rough draft of your resume to your appointment. (Information and handouts about how to write a resume are available in Career Services.) The staff member will meet with you to finalize your resume and assist you in planning your job search.

A completed credential file consists of the following items only. No other materials will be accepted.

• Your resume.
• 3 – 5 letters of recommendation. The enclosed recommendation form can be given to a faculty member in your field of study and/or to an employer who is able to comment on your abilities. The letter writer may use the enclosed form, or the letter may be written on letterhead stationery.
• For recent graduates, your student teaching evaluations from your university supervisor and cooperating classroom teacher should be put in your file and will count as two letters of recommendation.
• An unofficial copy of your Lewis transcript.

You are responsible for setting up and maintaining a quality credential file. Please keep copies of everything you have in your file. Career Services is responsible for the duplication and mailing of your file to prospective employers, but will not duplicate copies for you. It is important to keep your file up to date. Periodically evaluate your file to delete and revise information no longer applicable to your current job search. Ideally recommendations should be no older than three years. You are responsible for changing and/or updating your resume and the letters of recommendation in your file.

There is no fee to set up a credential file, and the first 10 requests to have your file copied and mailed will be honored at no cost to you. Thereafter, the cost to process a copy of your file and mail it to a specific address is $3.00. All requests must be made in writing and will be honored within two business days. To request that your file be sent, please fill out the attached form and bring or send it to us along with the appropriate fee. We are unable to send any credentials without your written request and proper payment. Do not send a credential file unless the employer requests it.

Credential files are kept active for 5 years. You will be notified at the end of the 10-year period and may reactivate your file for another 10 years for a fee of $10.00. Files that are not reactivated will be shredded, or you may request that your file be sent to you.

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