Division of Student Life | Career Development Center
Division of Student Life | Career Development Center
Career Development Center

Job & Internship Prep

Applying for a Job

When applying for any position, make sure you are doing your due diligence to ensure that the employer and opportunity are legitimate experiences. The Career Development Center offers access to various websites to help you identify internship and job opportunities. 

Explore Career Search Tools

Avoid Fraudulent/Scam Job Postings

Resumes & Cover Letters

Resumes

A critical aspect of your professional presence, your resume is a document that articulates and markets your professional skills and accomplishments to a prospective employer. Your resume should change to meet the requirements of different positions and should be updated as you gain experience. Ultimately, your finished document should help you stand out from other applicants.

Cover Letters

An important aspect of your professional presence, your cover letter is an opportunity to communicate your unique qualifications to an employer for a specific position. When starting your document, reflect on these questions:

  1. “What are the key skills/qualifications listed in the job description?” Highlight those you have.
  2. “Why this employer/why this position?” Communicate excitement and interest.
  3. "Why me? What makes me stand out?” Provide examples.

The answers to these questions should connect the dots between what an employer is seeking and your experiences.

Avoid including a generic cover letter with your application and make sure you are not repeating your resume word for word. Make every attempt to obtain personal contact information and position title for a specific individual within the organization to whom you can address your letter.

To get you started, take a look at the following samples below and review our guide for writing cover letters for a detailed explanation of best practices:

Note: Cover letters uploaded to Handshake are automatically approved without a review. If you want your cover letter reviewed by a counselor, bring your cover letter and a job description to drop-in hours or schedule an in-person, phone or Skype appointment by logging into Handshake.

Interviewing for a Job

The Career Development Center supports your development of interviewing competencies, such as professional communication skills, articulation of industry-specific keywords and skillsets and facility with a variety of interviewing styles and types. Interviewing is a skill and practice makes perfect. Make the most of your interviewing opportunity by following the tips below.

  • Ask: When scheduling the interview ask for details:  

    • Who will you be interviewing with?  
    • Length of the interview?  (30 minutes? All day?)  
    • Other logistics about the day? (Arrival instructions, parking, lunch)
    • Is this a phone interview? If yes, review this our guide on what to do on a phone interview. 

     

    Reflect: Think about the following questions:

    • Why do I want this job?
    • Why do I want to work for this organization?
    • What makes me stand out as a candidate?
    • What skills have I developed that can be transferred to the responsibilities of this position?

     

    Research the organization: Know about their mission, their strengths, products and services, culture and competitors. Look to the organization’s website and review current industry-related news. Know how you fit into the position and the organization.

    Prepare answers to common interviewing questions such as:

    • Tell us about yourself.
    • Why do you want to work for us?
    • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
    • Do you have any questions for us?

     

    Know how to answer behavioral-based interview questions. Check out additional questions on this app.

    Practice: A mock interview can help you articulate your strengths, add polish to your presentation and increase your confidence. Conduct a mock interview by scheduling a mock interview with a career counselor through your Handshake account.

    Review: Read the Guide to Interviewing for a detailed explanation of best practices and more sample questions.  

  • First impressions matter: Shake hands firmly with the employer, smile, maintain eye contact and treat everyone you interact with professionally.

    Make the connections clear: Relate your experiences to the needs of the position and the organization.

    Ask questions: Well-prepared questions help you stand out as a candidate and demonstrate your interest in the position. Refer to the list of questions you prepared. 

    Express gratitude: Thank an interviewer for their time, ask about next steps and request a business card so you can follow up.

  • Directly after the interview: Write a thank-you e-mail to the employer (with your resume attached) within 24 hours. This communication should thank the employer for the opportunity, reiterate your interest in the position and remind the employer how your skills meet their needs. 

    2 weeks after the interview*: If you are still waiting to hear, follow up with the employer at the two-week mark with a phone call to inquire about the status of the search and to let them know you are still very interested in the position.

    Throughout the process: If you need assistance in navigating follow-up, talk to a career counselor to discuss an individual plan of action.

    *Timing for follow-up is dependent on information received from the employer regarding hiring timelines. Adjust your follow-up accordingly.

Virtual Interviews

You’ve been offered an interview for a great internship/job opportunity! There’s just one catch: It’s virtual. While virtual interviewing has become more common, there are still ways to ensure you leave a lasting impression with a hiring manager, even if it’s done online. In our Virtual Interview Guide, you'll find tips to help you navigate the virtual interview, from how to prepare to follow-up practices.

Read Virtual Interview Guide

Follow-Up Tips

An email or telephone call following a job application or interview is an opportunity to reiterate your level of interest in the position while demonstrating professional communication skills. Communicating with the hiring manager demonstrates your understanding of the importance of timely follow-through, and may help your resume reach the top of the pile. Read on to learn about smart moves to make after submitting your application.

    • Keep track of all of your applications and always make time for a follow-up, no matter how busy you are.
    • Be prepared for someone to pick up the phone. Practice your talking points to make the most of the opportunity.
    • Show enthusiasm, not desperation. Show you have a sincere interest in the posted position, but do not sound eager to take any job open or act as though this is your only option.
    • Follow up regularly, but don’t overdo it. Don’t follow up with a hiring manager more than twice unless they request it.
    • Use multiple methods of communication. If you’re not getting a response from email, call (and vice versa).

  • If a hiring manager was listed with the job description, communicate with that person. If no hiring manager was listed, check the employer section of Handshake or CareerShift for a contact within the organization to communicate with.

    If you are unable to identify the point of contact, you can reach out to the human resources department to inquire about the status of the search and to request contact information for the hiring manager.

  • If a deadline has been posted:

    • Do not call or follow up prior to the close date. Give the organization an opportunity to review resumes. Follow up 5-7 business days after the close date. This gives the organization time to take the first step but does not let enough time pass that they have completed the hiring process.

    If no deadline or an extended deadline is posted:

    • If the application had no close date, wait one week after applying to follow up on your application.

  • Phone

    • Make the call from a quiet place, free from distractions.
    • Make an outline or have short notes to make sure you cover what you want to say. Keep the conversation focused on the employer, the position, and how you can help them meet their goals.
    • Keep a copy of your resume close by for your reference.
    • End the conversation by asking about the hiring process, their timeline, and if you may follow up again.

     

    If someone answers:

    • Introduce yourself and identify the position you applied for and when you submitted your application.
    • Inquire about the status of the search, reiterate your continued interest, and highlight your skillset.
    • Ask about their timeline and when would be a good time to follow up.
    • If the position is filled, thank the employer for their time. If the organization is of interest to you, let them know you look forward to learning more about open positions that you could be a fit for.

     

    If someone does not answer:

    • Leave a message! State your name, the position you applied for, reiterate your continued interest, and inquire about the status of the process. Leave your phone number.

     

    E-mail

    • Subject Line: make sure your subject line is engaging. For example: “Excited about the _____ opportunity”.
    • Always address the follow-up to the hiring manager.
    • Keep your message short and to the point. State your continued interest in the position and your key qualifications. Attach your resume for reference.
    • Spell-check and proofread your e-mail prior to sending it.

     

    Need help writing an email to someone in your network? Create an account with Mango and get assistance with writing polished, customized emails.

Professional Dress

The Career Development Center has teamed up with the SJU Chapter of the American Marketing Association, the Women’s Leadership Initiative, Hawk Hub and the Women’s Center to bring you the Career Closet. The Career Closet is housed in the Women’s Center where you can pick up new and gently used professional clothing for your next interview, career fair, internship, or job. Please check back here for hours. 

Social Media

The Career Development Center educates you about responsible use of social media, in a manner that demonstrates your professional communication skills and serves to highlight your strengths. 

  • LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, currently connects over 400 million professionals, offering access to the networks of others, job opportunities, news, updates and more. To get started, visit LinkedIn and create your free profile. As you're using this platform, keep these tips in mind:

    1. Add a photo: Profiles of people who have added a professional-looking photo are much more memorable.
    2. Craft a compelling professional headline: This section, found under your name, should reflect your career goals. For example, ‘Aspiring Public Relations Professional’ tells a reader more than does ‘Saint Joseph’s University Marketing Major’. The same is true for location and industry. If you currently live in Philadelphia, for example, but wish to work in New York City upon graduation, list NYC as your location.
    3. Complete the Experience section: Your profile should reflect current and previous positions and professional accomplishments.
    4. Include your skills: Include skills that are valued in your field(s) of interest to increase the likelihood that recruiters will find your profile when seeking these skills.
    5. Add your Education: LinkedIn helps connect you with your classmates and with SJU alumni.
    6. Customize your LinkedIn URL: Include your customized LinkedIn URL in the contact information section of your resume, on business cards and in your email signature.

  • Regardless of the platform — current or emerging — it’s important to know that people use your online presence as the basis to form judgments, including decisions about whether or not to interview or hire you. Make responsible, well-informed decisions regarding the photos and other content you post. Consider if what you’re posting, tweeting, liking, etc. in your personal life represents how you want those in your professional networks to see you. Quickly give it the “Billboard Test.” Ask yourself, “Would I want this content on a billboard in Times Square with my name on it?” If not — if it would be too personal, inappropriate, or negative — then avoid posting altogether.

    Unsure as to what constitutes negative content – potentially leading to an adverse hiring decision – from an employer perspective?  Some of the most commonly cited answers from a CareerBuilder.com survey of recruiters include:

    • Provocative or inappropriate photographs (46%)
    • Content about drug/alcohol use (40%)
    • Negative comments about previous company (34%)
    • Poor communication skills (30%)
    • Discriminatory comments (29%)

     

    However, there are many ways to leverage your social media presence in a positive manner.  In the CareerBuilder.com survey cited above, recruiters commonly found information that interested them in interviewing or hiring a candidate; among them:

    • Background info supported job qualifications (42%)
    • Personality seen as good fit with company culture (38%)
    • Social media conveyed professional image (38%)
    • Great communication skills (37%)
    • Creativity (30%)