As the summer approaches, internships and post-graduation employment are all many college students can think about. The uncertainty surrounding the current global pandemic can make this search discouraging; some students may not know where to turn during this time to get their career hunt and professional questions answered. Enter Career Services! Career Services is still open (even during the summer!) and offering a number of virtual resources that students can take advantage of from home. And if you’re worried you can’t access these services after graduating, don’t! Even as alumni, Career Services is here to help.
Career specialists Dan Pack and Kate Mercer are available to meet with students throughout the day either through an appointment or during scheduled drop-in hours. Schedule an appointment on Handshake and will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, individual phone calls or direct e-mail correspondences. Fifteen-minute drop-in sessions are also available via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can find the schedule, access links and view more virtual services through the Career Services website or the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience website.
For these appointments to be effective and efficient, it’s important that students come prepared with questions or any areas or topics that they would like to be covered. This can be anything from how to format a resume, to connecting with an alumni on LinkedIn. If students want to get an idea on what they could be focusing on in these meetings, they can take a look at Dan and Kate’s Career Coffee Chats. This YouTube series covers everything from discussing Career Services’ different offerings to showing students how to navigate LinkedIn.
If students want to discuss a resume or cover letter, it is recommended that we send a copy ahead of time. That way career specialists can take a look at it before their appointment. All documents can be emailed to careers@syr.edu with the subject line “Document Review–Your Name.”
If you’re struggling with where to start on a resume or cover letter, it may be a good idea to take a look at sample resumes in your field. In addition, it is important to remember to include only the most relevant and important information to ensure that it stays one page. It can also be beneficial to use active language and highlight any important achievements or skills. Cover letters should expand on the resume, explaining the relevance of various experiences and how those will be beneficial for future employment. Most importantly, students should remember to proofread their resume and cover letter to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. You can find more helpful tips on resumes and cover letters on Handshake’s blog.
To help with your career and internship search, here our our top tips:
- Establish a strong online presence through LinkedIn and Handshake or through your online portfolio.
- Ask questions and seek advice early. Career counselors are always more than willing to help.
- Leverage your personal network and the University’s alumni network. Just remember that these relationships are never about asking for a job, and more about gaining insight into a specific career path, job experience or building new connections.
- Try not to get easily discouraged, and know that you are capable. The more you prepare and the more strategic you are in your search, the better chances you’ll have at securing a great opportunity.
If students are looking for more information that is more to specific to their field of study, you can always connect with your home school or college’s career advising office. Career Services is a great place to get started and have those broad career development questions answered, but your home school or college might be able to provide more field specific resources or help you connect with the school’s alumni network.
For any further questions about Career Services or their virtual offerings, email careers@syr.edu.
Written by Shannon Hope ’20, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Ryan Hecker ’22, College of Visual and Performing Arts