Student Services
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News Students Can Use
December 3, 2023

Career: Unwrap Your Potential

Make Your Job Search Merry and Bright with Handshake and Career Events …more!

Posted in: Announcements, Career, Events, Featured News

Image of Rocky the Red Hawk sitting outside in the campus Quad looking at a tablet.

Tis the season to unwind, reflect and start planning for next semester. By taking small, consistent steps such as saving your job search filters, working on your resume and completing your Handshake profile make it easier to achieve your career goals.

Helpful Handshake How-To’s

Upload Your Documents for Feedback

Documents you can upload to your account include resumes, cover letters, letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, references and examples of work.

Complete your Profile

A complete profile allows you to present a picture of who you are as a student and professional. Students who complete their profiles are five times more likely to be contacted by a recruiter in Handshake. A complete profile includes:

  • Name and photo: Profiles are seven times more likely to be viewed when there is a photo!
  • Skills and career interests.
  • Education, work experience and extracurricular activities.
  • Courses and projects.

Streamline Your Job Search

Select filters to help narrow your search and show the most relevant positions that match your background and interests. Additional filters include:

  • Job type: (internship, on-campus, full-time, part-time, paid, unpaid.)
  • Interviewing on campus.
  • All employers preferences match: This will only show positions where your profile matches the qualifications employers listed.
  • Work authorization for international students.
  • Industry: Limit your search to organizations with positions in the industries you select.
  • Employer: Limit your keyword search to open positions with the employers you select.

Access Additional Handshake How-To’s!

Career Centers Lead to Job Offers and Paid Internships!

Don’t just take our word for it, the data speaks for itself. Earlier this year, The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that students who use their career centers not only receive more job offers but also receive more paid internships.

“Our data also shows that for every additional service seniors used beyond just one, their average number of job offers increased by 0.05,” says Shawn VanDerziel, NACE Executive Director. “The correlation between student use of the career center and their success in the job market is strong.”

NACE Survey Snapshot

  • Paid interns receive a higher number of job offers.
  • Students who worked with their career center at least once received more job offers than those who did not.
  • The services career centers provide have the greatest impact on job offers.
  • Stand-out services include mock interviews, networking preparation and assistance finding a cop-op or internship.
  • Graduating seniors who participated in paid internships are more likely to state that their degree and job are directly related.

Access the Press Release, Now!

Handshake Jobs and Internships

On-Campus Jobs

Additional Positions

CART Alumni Spotlight

Erin Lawlor ’23, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Digital Media.
Current role: Multimedia Journalist with WBNG TV 12.

Initially a Child Advocacy major, Erin chose to switch gears after developing an interest in the news and realizing how common misinformation was. She secured three internships in her time at Montclair State University which helped her discover what she truly enjoyed. These experiences helped build a foundation and grow the skills she needed to succeed when interviewing.

Erin’s Advice:

  • Use LinkedIn and tap into your current network.
  • Work closely with your professors.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask people for help.
  • Be prepared for curveballs.
  • Prepare for your interview.

“I tell everyone, and I cannot say it enough, Montclair helped me immensely to prepare for my career,” said Lawlor. “Professors like Siegelin, Effron, Gantt, McCarthy and George, who really care and want to see their students succeed, helped me so much. Being pushed hard, and receiving honest feedback and criticism pushed me as a student journalist to becoming a good professional journalist. I would not have had a lot of the opportunities I did at Montclair if it was not for my professors.” – Erin Lawlor – Read the Full Article! Written by, Sophia Ruggiero

Upcoming Events!

  • Job Search Workshop for Graduate Students: Wednesday, December 13, 1 p.m. Online. This workshop provides Graduate Students with tips on how to navigate the job search process. It will review important topics such as interview skills and resume and cover letter tips. We hope you will take advantage of this valuable and resourceful workshop!
  • How to Receive Academic Credit for Your Internship – CHSS: Monday, December 18, 4-4:30 p.m., Online. Cooperative Experiences are opportunities to earn academic credit for practical experiences such as internships. Join the CHSS team to learn about the process of enrolling in a co-op experience!

Don’t Forget to Complete The Graduation Survey

For each graduating class, Montclair State University administers the post-graduation survey to collect feedback about students’ experiences while studying at Montclair State as well as their post-graduation plans. Your responses help to identify students who may be seeking employment immediately after graduation and compile and report information for national ranking surveys, accreditation and certification. Access the Graduation Survey, Today!

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