Bronze Certification
Silver Certification
Gold Certification
Bronze Certification Requirement
- Create LinkedIn, BYUI Connect, and Handshake Profiles.
- Learn about informational interviews:
- Watch all the informational interview videos in Activity 2
- Complete one informational interview
Watch the “Using Vmock” video in Activity 4 and complete both in Vmock:
- A Mock or Smart Interview (Elevator Pitch Interview does not meet the requirement)
- A Résumé Review (Upload your Résumé in Vmock)
- Record your “Me in 30 Seconds” pitch in Vmock Elevator Pitch
- Answer the "Tell me about yourself" question in Vmock Elevator Pitch (selecting and responding to other questions doesn't meet this requirement)
Once you’ve completed all the above, schedule a Certification Review Appointment with a Career Success Mentor. They will review your progress, confirm you've met all the requirements, and then award your certification.
Bronze Certification Awards
On-campus students who complete the Bronze Certification receive:
- A Bronze Certification to add to your LinkedIn Profile
- Lanyard and name tag to use at events like the Career Fair
- 30-minute early access to employers attending the Career Fair
- Free ticket to the Power to Become Conference in the semester it takes place
Online students who complete Bronze Certification receive:
- A LinkedIn Certification
Silver Certification Requirements
- Complete the Bronze Certification
- Watch the “Handshake “video in Activity 3 and fully complete each section of your Handshake profile
- Watch the “BYUI Connect” video in Activity 1. Then in BYU-I Connect:
- Fully complete each section of your profile
- Message 5 alumni mentors
- Join one group
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile by implementing everything in the Activity 3 video “Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile”
- Reach 50 LinkedIn connections
Watch all the résumé and interview videos in Activity 4 and complete both in Vmock:
- Your résumé is in the green zone in Vmock
- Complete 5 Mock or Smart interviews in Vmock (for a total of 6 interviews)
- Watch the “Managing Contacts” video in Activity 3
- Conduct 5 informational interviews (for a total of six informational interviews)
- Watch the following videos:
- “Employer List”, “Tips and Trick for Creating an Employer List” and “Connecting with Alumni on LinkedIn” (Activity 1)
- “Job Boards” and “Campus Societies” (Activity 3)
Once you’ve completed all the above, schedule a Certification Review Appointment with a Career Success Mentor. They will review your progress, confirm you've met all the requirements, and then award your certification.
Silver Certification Awards
On-campus students who complete the Silver Certification receive:
- A Silver Certification to add to your LinkedIn profile
- A silver ribbon for your name tag and lanyard
Online students who complete the Silver Certification will receive:
- A LinkedIn Silver Certification
Gold Certification Requirements
- Complete the Silver Certification
- Complete 5 informational interviews (for a total of eleven informational interviews)
- Reach 100 LinkedIn connections
- Learn how to create content on LinkedIn
- Watch the “LinkedIn Content” video in Activity 3
- Create 3 LinkedIn posts
- Receive 2 LinkedIn recommendations
- Develop a mentor relationship with a professional in your field
- Watch the “Cover Letter” and “Salary Negotiation” videos in Activity 4
- Complete 5 Mock and/or Smart interviews in Vmock (for a total of 11 interviews)
Once you’ve completed all the above, schedule a Certification Review Appointment with a Career Success Mentor. They will review your progress, confirm you've met all the requirements, and then award your certification.
Gold Certification Awards
On campus students who complete the Gold Certification will receive:
- A LinkedIn Gold Certification to add to your LinkedIn profile
- A gold ribbon for your name tag and lanyard
- A gold certified T-shirt
Online students who complete the Gold Certification will receive:
- A LinkedIn Gold Certification to add to your LinkedIn profile
What Are Gold Stars?
Gold Stars recognize students who go beyond Gold Certification by mastering advanced networking, interviewing, and professional communication skills.
- Earn 1, 2, 3, or 4 Gold Stars
- Display your Gold Star pins on your certification lanyard
How to Earn Each Star
To earn one Gold Star, complete all of the following:
- 2 Mock or Smart Interviews in VMock
- 1 in-person behavioral-based interview with a Career Center mentor, faculty member, or professional in your network (Feedback notes must be presented at pass-off)
- Add 100 additional LinkedIn connections
- Complete 10 informational interviews (Informational interview notes must be presented at pass-off)
- Once you've completed all the requirements above, schedule a Certification Review Appointment with a Career Success Mentor. They will review your progress, confirm you've met all the requirements, and then award your Gold Star.
What You’ll Achieve earning Four Stars
By earning four Gold Stars, in addition to completing Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certification requirements you will have completed:
- 19 Mock or Smart Interviews in VMock
- 4 in-person behavioral-based interviews
- 500 LinkedIn connections
- 51 informational interviews
What is the Diamond Trophy?
The Diamond Trophy is the highest recognition offered by the Career Center and represents both strong professional skills and meaningful real-world experience.
To earn the Diamond Trophy, students must:
- Complete all four Gold Stars and
- Pass a final résumé review with at least two experiential learning experiences clearly reflected on the résumé
Qualifying experiential learning experiences may include:
- Internships
- Experiential Learning courses involving real-world employer projects
- Integrated Business Core (IBC)
- Student teaching
- Practicums
- Clinical hours
- Or having a confirmed internship secured prior to graduation
Students who earn the Diamond Trophy will be honored at a Career Center Awards Banquet held at the end of each semester.
Note: This is a non-credit recognition and not a professional credential or academic degree.