The Job Search - Tips for Success
The CDC offers a variety of services to all Ship students. Start now and take advantage of the comprehensive workshops, resources, and opportunities throughout your academic career. It is never too early to start planning your future. The process is individualized and begins your first year. The following timetable offers a few suggestions:
Get Involved
- Campus activities: clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities
- Volunteer
- Internships/Cooperative Education Opportunities
- Research projects
- Class projects/assignments/presentations
- Become a member of professional organizations/affiliations
Develop A Portfolio: Showcase Your Accomplishments
- Honors/Awards/Scholarships
- Professional Development Opportunities: conferences/workshops attended
- Major accomplishments: research papers, class projects/presentations, performances
- Letters of recommendation/references
- Samples of coursework
- Leadership experiences
Prepare Your Resume
- Get feedback from faculty, Career Development Center staff, and supervisors
- Prepare cover letters
Attend Career/Internship Fairs
For a complete list of upcoming career/internship fairs, click here.
Be Proactive In Your Job Search
- Start early: Don't wait until two weeks before graduation
- Network with faculty, friends, family, acquaintances: this includes alumni, fraternity/sorority members, past members of clubs and organizations
- Always follow up: send thank you's, etc.
- Research all leads you may hear about through faculty, classmates, or others
Use All Available Job Search Resources
- Career Development Center (CDC)
- Newspapers
- Faculty
- Career Fairs
- Networking: through classmates, members of clubs/organizations, etc.
- Internet resources
- Be familiar with professional organizations: review websites/publications
Conduct Informational Interviews
Informational Interviewing provides individuals sessions for obtaining information regarding a specific field or prospective occupation and assists with career planning and decision-making by talking with professionals. A great resource for informational interviewing is the Mentoring Network, offered through the Alumni Office. Through this program, you can connect with alumni from specific majors, working in various industries, and find out more about career opportunities within their field. For more information on the Mentoring Network, or to obtain the password to access the system, please contact the CDC or the Alumni Office.
Job Search Tips [PDF files]
Job Offers [PDF files]