COMPREHENSIVE
CAREER GUIDE
Preparing HPU Students for
JOB AND INTERNSHIP SEARCHING
INTERNSHIP ITINERARY
WHERE STUDENTS INTERN Below, we offer you some exciting examples of what your future internships can look like. The next page also outlines an internship itinerary you can follow to find an internship. See Where HPU Students Intern…
ASHTON KAJCIENSKI, ’22
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Fan Engagement Intern | Cleveland, Ohio “As a freshman, I went to Career & Professional Development and received help in creating a cover letter and resume to apply to internships. The office helped me get in contact with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to learn more about their internship program. Two years later, I applied and completed an incredible internship. This internship has changed my life forever. I will now move forward noting that I worked at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, creating graphics, interacting with guests and working in a fast paced, exciting environment. I have picked up valuable skills that will be applicable to any job in the future.”
Use this itinerary to guide you through the process of thinking about an internship search. Considering these items will help you make strategic choices about your search. REFINE YOUR BRAND Check completed items ❏ Resume ❏ LinkedIn Profile ❏ Clean Up Social Media ❏ Professional Voicemail GAIN CLARITY
DO I WANT TO RECEIVE ACADEMIC CREDIT? Yes
No
IS MY RESUME APPROVED ON HANDSHAKE? Yes
No
Fill in the blank
HAVE I USED LINKEDIN TO RESEARCH...
JOE MARONSKI, ’23
Location?
Alumni
Yes
No
Industry?
Companies
Yes
No
“From day one, I used the resources offered by HPU’s Office of Career & Professional Development. From taking personality assessments, to revising my resume and meeting with Career Advisors, I went to the office for everything and used all the resources available to me. The chance to interview at ABC is something I never thought I would have. Being able to talk to producers, executives and journalists is an amazing opportunity. The lessons that these people have already taught me are ones I will carry with me forever.”
Job Function?
Jobs
Yes
No
ABC News. Nightline Production Intern | New York City
AMIRAH DARNABY, ’21
NASA, Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Intern | Washington, D.C. “During the process of applying for internships, the Office of Career & Professional Development and my professors served a monumental role in preparing me for networking opportunities. I learned how to identify and understand my unique interests, values, personality traits and workplace preferences. This information taught me how to brand myself to employers, how to articulate what sets me apart from others, and how to find an organization that is the best fit for me. Through informational interviews, I was able to grow my network with professionals in my field of interest, which led to a number of internship offerings.”
Semester? Where will you live? Transportation?
HAVE I SET UP A SEARCH ALERT ON...
Is unpaid okay?
Handshake
Yes
No
Indeed.com
Yes
No
WHO CAN YOU NETWORK WITH IN YOUR DESIRED FIELD?
Yes
No
Another job board
Yes
No
Family: Friends:
I SHOULD...
Faculty:
• Attend Career & Internship Expos
Alumni: Employers/Recruiters:
• Treat the search like a four credit hour class
NEXT STEPS
• Attend Career & Professional Development workshops • Read the Handshake emails with featured opportunities
Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor on Handshake.
1 | HPU’S COMPREHENSIVE CAREER GUIDE
STEP 2: ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! | 19
STEP 2
RESULTS RULE:
RESULTS RULE:
INTERNSHIP ITINERARY
WHERE STUDENTS INTERN Below, we offer you some exciting examples of what your future internships can look like. The next page also outlines an internship itinerary you can follow to find an internship. See Where HPU Students Intern…
ASHTON KAJCIENSKI, ’22
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Fan Engagement Intern | Cleveland, Ohio “As a freshman, I went to Career & Professional Development and received help in creating a cover letter and resume to apply to internships. The office helped me get in contact with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to learn more about their internship program. Two years later, I applied and completed an incredible internship. This internship has changed my life forever. I will now move forward noting that I worked at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, creating graphics, interacting with guests and working in a fast paced, exciting environment. I have picked up valuable skills that will be applicable to any job in the future.”
Use this itinerary to guide you through the process of thinking about an internship search. Considering these items will help you make strategic choices about your search. REFINE YOUR BRAND Check completed items ❏ Resume ❏ LinkedIn Profile ❏ Clean Up Social Media ❏ Professional Voicemail GAIN CLARITY
DO I WANT TO RECEIVE ACADEMIC CREDIT? Yes
No
IS MY RESUME APPROVED ON HANDSHAKE? Yes
No
Fill in the blank
HAVE I USED LINKEDIN TO RESEARCH...
JOE MARONSKI, ’23
Location?
Alumni
Yes
No
Industry?
Companies
Yes
No
“From day one, I used the resources offered by HPU’s Office of Career & Professional Development. From taking personality assessments, to revising my resume and meeting with Career Advisors, I went to the office for everything and used all the resources available to me. The chance to interview at ABC is something I never thought I would have. Being able to talk to producers, executives and journalists is an amazing opportunity. The lessons that these people have already taught me are ones I will carry with me forever.”
Job Function?
Jobs
Yes
No
ABC News. Nightline Production Intern | New York City
AMIRAH DARNABY, ’21
NASA, Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Intern | Washington, D.C. “During the process of applying for internships, the Office of Career & Professional Development and my professors served a monumental role in preparing me for networking opportunities. I learned how to identify and understand my unique interests, values, personality traits and workplace preferences. This information taught me how to brand myself to employers, how to articulate what sets me apart from others, and how to find an organization that is the best fit for me. Through informational interviews, I was able to grow my network with professionals in my field of interest, which led to a number of internship offerings.”
Semester? Where will you live? Transportation?
HAVE I SET UP A SEARCH ALERT ON...
Is unpaid okay?
Handshake
Yes
No
Indeed.com
Yes
No
WHO CAN YOU NETWORK WITH IN YOUR DESIRED FIELD?
Yes
No
Another job board
Yes
No
Family: Friends:
I SHOULD...
Faculty:
• Attend Career & Internship Expos
Alumni: Employers/Recruiters:
• Treat the search like a four credit hour class
NEXT STEPS
• Attend Career & Professional Development workshops • Read the Handshake emails with featured opportunities
Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor on Handshake.
18 | HPU’S COMPREHENSIVE CAREER GUIDE
JOB AND INTERNSHIP SEARCHING | 2
FOR FINDING JOB AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Handshake is High Point University’s premier job and internship digital platform. Employers post full-time and part-time jobs as well as internship opportunities. The Office of Career & Professional Development individually approves all the postings to ensure that students have access to the most relevant opportunities.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking tool. You can use LinkedIn to connect to professionals in organizations that interest you, HPU alumni and actual job postings. LinkedIn is also a great tool for researching the job market within specific fields and geographic locations.
Search millions of jobs from thousands of job boards, newspapers, classifieds and company websites on indeed.com. Be aware that competition will be much higher on Indeed because it is a very large job board.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Use a search engine to find professional associations in your field. Professional association websites will often advertise openings in the field. Look for a “careers” or “jobs” tab on their website.
HANDSHAKE USER GUIDE
Handshake is High Point University’s premier job and internship digital platform designed to help guide you through your career search journey. No matter whether you know exactly what kinds of opportunities you are seeking or you are just starting out, Handshake has the tools to take you where you want to go. Handshake is the place to get hired – it has more opportunities for students and recent grads than anywhere else! WHY SHOULD YOU USE HANDSHAKE? Get hired
• • • •
Get discovered
• Get messages from employers that want to hire you
Get connected
• Connect with your peers for tips and advice
Get it all in one place
• • • •
1
Schedule appointments with a Career Advisor Upload your resume to receive feedback Register for career fairs or events View upcoming Career & Professional Development workshops by selecting “Events” along the top menu • Apply to receive academic credit for your upcoming internship
GET STARTED | ACTIVATE YOUR HANDSHAKE ACCOUNT Two simple steps: • Navigate to app.joinhandshake.com • Select High Point University from the dropdown
2
FILL OUT YOUR HANDSHAKE PROFILE • Click the “My Profile” link, located in the dropdown menu under your name • Edit your primary education section with your major(s), GPA, and expected graduation date • Employers find students based on your Job Interests in your profile. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what you are looking for – you can change your interests at any time!
SPECIALIZED JOB BOARDS
• The three must-have interests on your Handshake profile:
Some industries may have a specialized job board to help focus your search. For example, search usajobs.gov for federal jobs, idealist.org for nonprofit jobs, or teamworkonline.com for sports industry jobs.
Job type: Looking for an internship, part-time job, or full-time job? You can choose more than one. Location: Select the cities you would like to work in, and Handshake will show you jobs in that area.
COMPANY WEBSITES Depending on the industry or size of the organization, some positions will only be posted on a company’s website. If there are specific companies you are interested in, go to their employment or “careers” page to sign up to receive notifications when they post a new position.
Discover and land jobs and internships 400K employers of all shapes and sizes 100% of the Fortune 500 3.5 million jobs and internships in every industry
Job roles: Choose at least three jobs you would like to explore, like “marketing associate” or “software engineer.”
3
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CAREER ADVISOR • In addition to clicking the “Schedule Appointment” button on CPD’s website, you can also make an appointment directly on Handshake • One you log on to Handshake, select “Career Center” at the top right corner of the page • Next, you will select “Appointments” and then “Schedule A New Appointment” • Follow the prompts and get connected with one of our Career Advisors! highpoint.joinhandshake.com/appointments ➤
3 | HPU’S COMPREHENSIVE CAREER GUIDE
STEP 2: ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! | 21
STEP 2
TOP ONLINE RESOURCES
TOP ONLINE RESOURCES
FOR FINDING JOB AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Handshake is High Point University’s premier job and internship digital platform. Employers post full-time and part-time jobs as well as internship opportunities. The Office of Career & Professional Development individually approves all the postings to ensure that students have access to the most relevant opportunities.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking tool. You can use LinkedIn to connect to professionals in organizations that interest you, HPU alumni and actual job postings. LinkedIn is also a great tool for researching the job market within specific fields and geographic locations.
Search millions of jobs from thousands of job boards, newspapers, classifieds and company websites on indeed.com. Be aware that competition will be much higher on Indeed because it is a very large job board.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Use a search engine to find professional associations in your field. Professional association websites will often advertise openings in the field. Look for a “careers” or “jobs” tab on their website.
HANDSHAKE USER GUIDE
Handshake is High Point University’s premier job and internship digital platform designed to help guide you through your career search journey. No matter whether you know exactly what kinds of opportunities you are seeking or you are just starting out, Handshake has the tools to take you where you want to go. Handshake is the place to get hired – it has more opportunities for students and recent grads than anywhere else! WHY SHOULD YOU USE HANDSHAKE? Get hired
• • • •
Get discovered
• Get messages from employers that want to hire you
Get connected
• Connect with your peers for tips and advice
Get it all in one place
• • • •
1
Schedule appointments with a Career Advisor Upload your resume to receive feedback Register for career fairs or events View upcoming Career & Professional Development workshops by selecting “Events” along the top menu • Apply to receive academic credit for your upcoming internship
GET STARTED | ACTIVATE YOUR HANDSHAKE ACCOUNT Two simple steps: • Navigate to app.joinhandshake.com • Select High Point University from the dropdown
2
FILL OUT YOUR HANDSHAKE PROFILE • Click the “My Profile” link, located in the dropdown menu under your name • Edit your primary education section with your major(s), GPA, and expected graduation date • Employers find students based on your Job Interests in your profile. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what you are looking for – you can change your interests at any time!
SPECIALIZED JOB BOARDS
• The three must-have interests on your Handshake profile:
Some industries may have a specialized job board to help focus your search. For example, search usajobs.gov for federal jobs, idealist.org for nonprofit jobs, or teamworkonline.com for sports industry jobs.
Job type: Looking for an internship, part-time job, or full-time job? You can choose more than one. Location: Select the cities you would like to work in, and Handshake will show you jobs in that area.
COMPANY WEBSITES Depending on the industry or size of the organization, some positions will only be posted on a company’s website. If there are specific companies you are interested in, go to their employment or “careers” page to sign up to receive notifications when they post a new position.
Discover and land jobs and internships 400K employers of all shapes and sizes 100% of the Fortune 500 3.5 million jobs and internships in every industry
Job roles: Choose at least three jobs you would like to explore, like “marketing associate” or “software engineer.”
3
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CAREER ADVISOR • In addition to clicking the “Schedule Appointment” button on CPD’s website, you can also make an appointment directly on Handshake • One you log on to Handshake, select “Career Center” at the top right corner of the page • Next, you will select “Appointments” and then “Schedule A New Appointment” • Follow the prompts and get connected with one of our Career Advisors! highpoint.joinhandshake.com/appointments ➤
20 | HPU’S COMPREHENSIVE CAREER GUIDE
JOB AND INTERNSHIP SEARCHING | 4
NOTES
The purpose of a career or internship expo is to provide opportunities for students to learn about different companies and organizations, explore future internship and job openings, and build connections with industry professionals. All students, regardless of class year, can benefit from attending career fairs. BENEFITS TO ATTENDING A CAREER EXPO: • Interact one-on-one with employers of interest
• Gather company information and learn about potential job and internship opportunities
• Practice and enhance networking skills
• Receive interview invitations
5 TIPS FOR PREPARING 1
Create a strong resume and update your LinkedIn • Use resources on pages 38 - 44 to create and edit your resume • Make sure your LinkedIn is up to date and craft a strategic headline • Visit drop-in hours to have your resume and LinkedIn critiqued • Bring copies of your resume to the career fair to hand out to employers
2
Develop and practice your elevator pitch • When introducing yourself to a recruiter, it is helpful to be able to quickly describe who you are, your career goals, core strengths and relevant experiences • Use page 30 to craft a winning pitch • Practice delivering your elevator pitch before you go; the more you practice, the more comfortable you will feel
3
Do your research • Review the list of employers attending the fair on Handshake • Identify your top three to five companies you want to talk to before the event by researching the organizations on Handshake and LinkedIn • Prepare pertinent questions to ask employers
4
Dress for success • Prepare to dress in business professional attire for the Career & Internship Expo (see page 62 for professional dress advice) • Remember to silence your phone, smart watch and any other devices
5
Connect and follow up • Confidently approach company booths and use your elevator pitch to start the conversation • Collect business cards and determine your follow-up plan • Send a thank you email or LinkedIn message within 24 hours (see a sample email on page 59)
5 | HPU’S COMPREHENSIVE CAREER GUIDE
NOTES | 23
STEP 2
CAREER & INTERNSHIP EXPO PREP