Summer break (and graduation) is approaching, but you still don’t have an internship or job lined up? Don’t stress—between Syracuse University’s Career Services team and resources and our alumni network, you’re in the right place for finding your next professional opportunity! Here are some internship and job search tips to help you make your goals a reality.
Review and Update Your Resume
Life moves fast in college—your classes, leadership roles, and club involvements change every semester, sometimes even more frequently. Updating your resume and ensuring it properly reflects your current commitments is key before applying to jobs. VMock makes this super easy—it’s a resume creation and editing platform available to all students at no cost. Create and edit your resume, and when you’re finished, upload it! VMock will provide you with an overall score and areas of improvement to ensure your resume is all set.
Follow Up With Your Connections
All those LinkedIn connections you’ve made aren’t for nothing! Following up with connections who are employed at companies you’re applying to is a great idea. However, it’s important to not only contact them when you’re in need of a job or internship. Make sure to build connections with them first, learn about their current role and prior positions, and then talk about a job search. Syracuse alumni are almost always willing to help a fellow Orange, but make sure to be respectful of their time and resources!
Apply and Search for Jobs on Handshake
Handshake is your one-stop shop for job searching, including post-grad/full-time jobs. You can sort Handshake to give your part-time, full-time and internship opportunities, depending on what you’re looking for. You can also view specific Syracuse job collections and filter job postings to see alumni who are hiring. Make sure to play around with Handshake and use all of its features, as it’s a program exclusive to college students! Handshake isn’t just used for on-campus jobs—it houses so many opportunities for students in all stages of their college career.
Make an Appointment With Your College’s Career Services Office
Did you know each college and school on campus has its own Career Services department? This way, your Career Services counselors have expertise tailored to the field you want to pursue. Additionally, they have insights relevant to the jobs you’re applying to! Make sure to find your home college’s Career Services department and utilize the resources they offer. You can schedule an appointment with them to discuss future career goals, get help with resumes and cover letters and ask internship-related questions.
While it may seem daunting, searching for jobs and internships doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. The extensive career-related resources at Syracuse University make it simpler for all students to find a job that suits them. Good luck with your job search, Syracuse!
Written by Mirren Grimason ’29, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs