Job and Internship Search Tools and Strategies
When starting to look for your next internship, job, or other experiential opportunity, it is important to be prepared and equip yourself with the right materials. Stand out with a professional resume and well written cover letter, and impress employers with your strong interviewing skills. Learning how to network is also a tool that will play a significant role in your job search and will open doors and create opportunities.
Resume
A resume serves one purpose—to get you an interview. Most recruiters only spend 30-60 seconds reviewing your resume, so a good resume will say a lot with only a few words. Your resume should represent your skills and your career potential, but it should also convey your personality and tell your professional story.
To Get Started:
- Review resume templates by major and industry on our career communities pages.
- Review our list of Action Verbs.
- Explore resume writing resources on Handshake.
- Meet with a Career Coach with an appointment, drop-in, or Career Chat.
- Attend a workshop to learn how to improve your resume for the job and internship search.
Alternative Ways to Present Experience
Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV is used by students seeking fellowships, grants, postdoctoral positions, and teaching/research positions in postsecondary institutions or high-level research positions in industry.
LinkedIn is a way to network with employers, mentors, professors, alumni, peers, or other people in your industry.
Digital Portfolios are a way for students to showcase their digital work. ePortfolios can be used as an extension of a resume to market yourself to prospective employers.
Cover Letter
A cover letter is a targeted letter that introduces you and your resume to a specific prospective employer. Cover letters are often required by employers as part of a job application along with a resume and sometimes, work samples. Even when not specifically requested by an employer, they are highly recommended.
To Get Started:
- Review cover letter templates by major and industry on our career communities pages.
- Explore cover letter writing resources on Handshake.
- Meet with a Career Coach with an appointment.
- Attend a workshop to learn how to improve your cover letter for the job and internship search.
Outline
Introduction: The heading of a cover letter details both your contact information and your employer’s contact information. Start with your contact information, then post the date followed by the employer’s name, title and full address.
Section One: Briefly introduce yourself. If you are writing an application letter, state the specific position you are applying for.
Section Two: The body paragraph is where you describe your qualifications and why you are interested in working at their company.
Section Three: The last paragraph is the part of the cover letter that is most important for conveying your professionalism and show your appreciation for the opportunity.
SCHEDULE A RESUME OR COVER LETTER REVIEW
How to Be Successful in an Interview
BEFORE
- Research the company and position
- Identify top three professional skills to highlight
- Practice common interview questions
- Be prepared with a notebook and pen
- Have resume and portfolio available to provide
- If the interview is virtual, check your surroundings and technology
DURING
- Make sure to dress professionally
- Arrive and be ready 10 to 15 minutes early
- Take a moment to think before answering
- Ask at least three questions about the position and organization
AFTER
- Reflect and write down your thoughts about the position and organization
- Write a thank you note to the interviewers
- Contact references and share a copy of your updated resume