Search for a Job / Internship – Career Services Administration | University of Minnesota (2024)

Research typical recruiting schedules for different industries. The average job or internship search takes 3-5 months.Prepare yourself mentally and strategically for a marathon rather than a sprint.

As an undergraduate student, your college has an entire office dedicated to help you search for an internship or full-time job.

• Find your career center

Career counselors will help you create a tailored plan for your situation. Contactthem to set up an appointment and see what other resources they offer.

• Amajoris an academic program that you focus on. Some majors prepare you for specific careers, while others prepare you for a broader industry.
• Anoccupationis a certain set of work activities, skills and knowledge that is done on an ongoing basis.
• Ajobis when you work in an occupation at a specific organization.
• Acareeris your experience or vision/aspirations related to a group of related jobs/occupations. Your career includes education, past jobs, community involvement, and hobbies that demonstrate self-development. Most people will have a few careers — they work in a few types of occupations at different times in their lives.

Tools for career planning

NACE Website advice about career development

NCDA Internet Sites for Career Planning

Understanding career management

A career fair is an event where employers have booths with information and representatives from the organization available to talk with you. They can talk to you about internships and full-time jobs.

Why would I attend a career fair? To build relationships (i.e., network) with employers so you can explore different career fields, discover position openings, and engage with employers about their organizations and learn what kind of skills they are seeking for their roles.

Will I receive an offer at the fair? Not likely. The purpose of a career fair is not to leave with an offer in hand, but with a better understanding of where you want to apply for positions, how to best represent yourself for those roles, and who to get in touch to learn more or ask questions. Making a positive impression at a career fair can help you get invited to interview.

Your individual college will host a career fair, and the University of Minnesota hosts one in February each year. They are typically in-person events, but some are virtual or have a virtual option, such as the University of Minnesota fair.

Interested in working on campus in a University department or office? On-campus jobs offer flexibility and an opportunity to gain experience without leaving campus.

Search for student employment opportunities

If you have work study, make sure to apply it to your on-campus job:

1. Check if you have been awarded work-study funds in your financial aid package with the University. For questions about your work-study award, contact the Office of Student Finance at 612-624-1878.
2. Accept your award.
3. Check deadlines. You’ll need to have a work study position lined up by a certain point in the semester.
4. Search for eligible studentjobs.
5. Apply! For help with application materials,contact your career office.

While you are still in school, part-time (or full time) jobs and internships help build your resume while giving you a look into the kind of work you do or don’t like. Some things to consider:

• Qualities of an effective internship
• Makingthe most of your internship(video)
• 14 Career Advice Tips for College Students
• Co-ops for engineering and computer science students

We also want our students to be aware of resources available if they facesexual harassment in a job orinternship.

It’s not all about jobs and internships! There are many ways to gain valuable professional experience that employers want to hear about:

Community Involvement

• Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL)helps you get involved in our community throughvolunteering, service-learning classes, and other unique experiential opportunities. These experiences complement classroom learning, foster personal, professional and civic development, and allow you to work with others to enhance the well-being of our communities.

Campus Involvement

• Student Organizationsoffer another great way to get involved with the campus community and gain transferrable skills that employers are looking for. Some common examples:
  • Leadership in officer roles
  • Facilitating meetings
  • Communicating clearly and effectively with members
  • Project management
  • Working well as a team
  • Volunteer organization
  • Event planning
  • Recruiting speakers
  • Graphic design
  • Marketing events, speakers, etc

Projects from the Maroon & Gold Network

Get hands-on experience for your career with short-term professional experiences supported by alumni. With a Project from the Maroon and Gold Network, you can gain new skills, explore different industries, and make valuable career connections.

Micro-Internships with Parker-Dewey

Parker Dewey is a non-UMN platform advertising micro-internships, another word for projects. These paid experiences give you short-term work experience with employers to help you explore career fields, gain resume building experience, and network with companies of interest.

Did you know you can intern or conduct research while learning abroad?

Internships abroad

Internships are available in a wide variety of industries and areas, and placements are available for students in any major. The specific internship placements vary by program.

Research abroad

The Learning Abroad Center offers a number ofinternational UROP-eligible programsthat include research opportunities and are eligible for the Learning Abroad Center’s research scholarship.