Job & Internship Search
Make an appointment with a Career Advisor to write a targeted resume, set up your Handshake and professional social networking profiles, or create an internship or job search strategy.
Handshake
As a Suffolk student or alumnus, you have access to Handshake - an internship and job search management tool that can help you in all phases of your job search: from identifying employers of interest, to finding job listings which match your goals, to finding people with whom to network, to managing your search campaign.
You can use Handshake to research employers you wish to contact by type of employer and geographic location. You can use your target list of employers to search for Suffolk graduates who may work for those employers and contact them via the Peer Messaging feature. Sign in to Handshake using your single-sign-on Suffolk credentials, or learn more about how Handshake can work for you.Job Search Safety Tip!
The Career Center vets every employer associated with Suffolk University on Handshake. However, you should conduct your own research on employers on Handshake and other platforms to avoid scams. Review this resource [PDF] to learn about identifying red flags during your job search and what you can do to say safe.
When in doubt - ask Career Services. Report suspicious job postings to us immediately!
- Never give out personal identification information, credit card or bank information
- Do not transfer money for another party in exchange for payment
- Do not respond to job ads that seem “too good to be true”
- Avoid unprofessional listings
Search Strategies
1. Define your field of interest and the skills/ experiences you bring
Explore your field of interest so you know the different job titles you should be searching for: you may want to make a list of relevant job titles or search terms and use that list as a reference throughout your search. Confer with resources such as My Next Move, Career One Stop, and the Suffolk University Career Communities overview of different industry careers.
2. Write a tailored resume and cover letter
Develop two resumes, one targeted to your primary career interest and a more generic version that can serve additional purposes. Remove irrelevant experience from your résumé, and make sure it is easy to read with no typos, well organized, and clearly shows your qualifications. Always include a cover letter (unless told otherwise by the employer) with key words and phrases from the job description or website.
3. Network Utilize Multiple Resources
Ask family, friends, colleagues, faculty, administrators, alumni, affinity groups – for referrals to people in your field. Arrange face-face meetings and leave each one with a referral, a new resource, a job lead, and/or advice. Break out of your comfort zone—meet people, be visible in your field, ask for help and advice, initiate and follow-up. If you feel you need to grow your professional network, check out RAMP or the Job Shadowing Program.
Utilize social media as a job search and networking tool to keep in touch with new contacts, especially LinkedIn. You may also find helpful information or job listings through industry and professional association websites, employment agencies, job search support groups.To maximize LinkedIn as a job search tool, consider the following:
- Use the “Jobs” tab to search for, review, and apply to positions. Jobs that might interest you will appear on your homepage, too, based on keywords from your profile.
- Create a search alert and get notified of targeted job opportunities so you don’t miss out!
- Set your career interests and keep them updated. Let recruiters know that you are looking for a job when setting your career interests.
- Use the “Apply” feature to apply for positions you are interested in. Some may direct to you to the company’s website, but some will let you apply directly from LinkedIn.
4. Attend Job Fairs and Initiate Employer Contacts
Attend the annual Career Center job fair in the spring semester, other Career Events on campus related to your field, and other career fairs in the surrounding area to help you seek out employers. Reach out to the ones most relevant to you and prepare; recognize that employers are pre-screening for candidates whom they may want to interview later. Be sure to follow up.
Target employers you have an interest in and send a cover letter and resume to the hiring manager or a relevant contact. Consider keeping a target list of 20-30 employers that you can reference throughout your search.
5. Consider Short-term Alternatives and Persist
Enhance your skills and build your network through part-time, freelance, or temporary work or through internships in your field. Pursue training opportunities to develop and add skills – LinkedIn Learning is a great place to explore and build skills.
Expect a 3-6 month campaign. Be prepared to speak succinctly and enthusiastically about your chosen career path. Always follow up. Stay focused, determined, and committed.
Stay Organized!
Job or Internship searching is a lot to keep track of - applications through Handshake, LinkedIn, and other job boards, connections through networking and attending events, and your direct search of targeted employers. Use Microsoft Excel’s Job Search Template or a free online tool to stay organized!
Where should I search?
While Handshake and LinkedIn are incredibly helpful places to start, you will want to use multiple resources in your job or internship search. These general job and internship boards might be great for that purpose. Need more information about what jobs you should be looking for? Explore your career opportunities to better target your job search and know what job titles you should be looking for.
| CollegeGrad | CollegeGrad specifically posts entry-level positions and internships and also provides additional resources about career information, resumes, and interviewing. |
| National Labor Exchange | NLX allows you to browse jobs by state or company, and provides specific resources for special areas of interest including veterans, disability, and diversity. |
| College Recruiter | College Recruiter believes that every student and recent graduate deserves a great part-time, seasonal, internship, or entry-level job. Search by major as well. |
| CareerBuilder | CareerBuilder lets you browse jobs by title, area of interest or state, receive job alert emails, and compare salary data in addition to providing career exploration and advice resources. |
| Indeed | Indeed is a general job and internship board with company review and salary information |
| Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce | The Chamber of Commerce provides an updated job board for the Greater Boston business community. |
| GoinGlobal | GoinGlobal provides international students with U.S. city guides, job postings, cultural advice, and an H-1B Visa Directory. It also provides international city guides and information for students who plan to study or work abroad. For off-campus access: sign in to Handshake select the Career Center tab, and find it under Resources. |
| Glassdoor |
Glassdoor provides a number of helpful resources in job hunting, including a job board with company reviews, salary information and calculator, and interview feedback. |
| U.S. Jobs includes job listings in all sectors and geographic areas for the U.S. Federal Government. | |
| TalentDesk | TalentDesk’s Career Finder uses US Census Data to report which careers people choose based on their education and how much they earn in those positions. It allows you to search for jobs or companies, and perform valuable research. |
| SimplyHired | SimplyHired acts as the Google of Job Boards. |
| Internships.com | Internships.com allows you to browse internships by industry or by major city in the United States. |
| WayUp | WayUp offers internships and jobs from over 20,000 employers from startups to Fortune 500s. |
| Idealist | Idealist connects you to all non-profit internships, jobs and organizations throughout the country. |
| ZipRecruiter | ZipRecruiter is a job search engine for entry-level and internship postings. It additionally provides salary information and job market insight and resources. |