There are a variety of tools and strategies that you can use to make your job and/or internship search more fruitful. Which strategies you choose will depend on what field you intend to pursue, what types of employers you are targeting, geographic location, and a host of other factors. Many employers from many different fields recruit students for jobs and internships through the Campus Interviewing Program.
For campus-based student jobs (both Federal Work Study and non-work study) your best bet is the Wildcat JobLink. In addition, you can try visiting departments of interest to you and asking about student opportunities.
When in doubt, you can always schedule an appointment to meet with a UA Career Counselor by calling 621-2588. First, look through these job and internship FAQ's to see if any of them apply to you:
- What is the best job or internship search strategy?
- How do I "do" campus interviewing?
- How do I work a career fair? Are they worth my time?
- Are there any really great internships here on campus?
- I am an international student. How do I find an internship or job?
- When should I start looking for a summer job or internship?
- How do I find an internship or job with an government agency?
- I am interested in finding a job or internship in the arts. What is my best strategy?
- I want to find a summer internship in the outdoors.
- How would I find a job or internship in the field of media, like with MTV, ESPN or a similar company?
- What is the best job or internship search strategy?
- Career professionals generally agree that NETWORKING is the absolutely best tool for finding jobs and internships. There is some truth to the old adage, "It's not what you know it's who you know." Most jobs and internships (estimates range from 60-90%) are found through word-of-mouth referral!
Professional networking is basically about meeting people (in-person or online), sharing information with them, and gaining the benefit of their expertise and advice as well as any contacts they may be willing to share.
Family, friends, friends of the family, and families of friends are a great potential source of networking contacts, along with professors, advisors, and practically ANYONE you might meet. Alumni of colleges and universities you have attended, as well as fellow members of clubs or professional associations related to a particular career field (join some!) also represent an often overlooked source of professional networking contacts.
Back to Top
- How do I "do" Campus Interviewing?
- Campus Interviewing refers to when employers visit the campus for the specific purpose of interviewing UA students for job and internship opportunities. To participate, students must be registered in the Campus Interviewing Program. Here is more information about the Campus Interviewing Program.
An added benefit of registering for Campus Interviewing is RESUME REFERRALS. Many employers recruit UA students without actually visiting the campus. Through resume referrals, your resume will be pulled and sent to employers requesting candidates with your qualifications. UA Career Services does an average of 12,000 resume referrals each year!
Campus interviewing should NOT be your only job or internship search strategy. You should be using other resources and strategies as well. Professional networking, career fairs, and visiting likely employer web sites are all strategies you should include in your job search toolbox.
Back to Top
- How do I work a career fair? Are they worth my time?
- Campus career fairs represent an important opportunity for UA students to meet face-to-face with the recruiters from various companies, government and/or public agencies. Yes, they are definitely worth your time, but you should plan your time well to make the most of each event. There are many career fairs throughout the year at UA. The largest are UA FALL CAREER DAYS and UA SPRING CAREER DAYS sponsored by UA Career Services.
Most career fairs publish a list of attending organizations well before the actual day of the event. Get a copy of this list and use it! Circle or otherwise highlight your "top 10" employers and make sure to visit them first. Career fairs take time, and many students become frustrated when they have to run to class before getting to their target employer.
Take career fairs seriously. That means, come prepared as the professional you are. Dress for success, bring copies of your resume (on nice resume paper), and ditch the backpack for a professional-looking portfolio or briefcase. Practice your "One Minute Commercial" so that you can quickly highlight your professional skills and experience to a recruiter.
Back to Top
- Are there any really great internships here on campus?
- Great question and YES absolutely there are. Many students don't think to look right here at UA for professional career-related experiences. Think of this campus as a city within a city. You name it, UA has it. From television and radio stations, to national-level athletics, to cutting-edge biotechnology, it all happens right here!
How do you find these opportunities? First check Wildcat JobLink. This is the most comprehensive listing of on and off campus student jobs and internships. Beyond that, think about what you are interested in and try to find a department on campus that deals with the same or a similar issue. Go there and ask about student opportunities.
Back to Top
- I am an international student. How can I find an internship or job?
- It is generally more difficult for international candidates to find job or internship opportunities, but it IS possible. Perhaps begin with a list of employers known to sponsor H1-B visa candidates. This list is available through the GOING GLOBAL web resource. Click on USA City Guides and then on H1B visa sponsors by state.
Finding related work on campus is a place to start. UA employs many international students on campus. Try to find a department or student position that will offer you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the professional skills you want use in your career. Try Wildcat JobLink for the most comprehensive listing of student employment opportunities.
Networking with UA alumni and fellow professionals through professional associations is extremely important for ALL students, including international students. Meeting people with the right bit of information at the right time may yield a great opportunity.
Be sure to check with the International Student Programs and Services office here at UA to learn about any specific restrictions to your employment options. In addition, here are some excellent resources that should be helpful in finding likely employers:
Back to Top
- When should I start looking for a summer job or internship?
- For some prestigious programs (with NASA for example) the deadlines for summer programs may be as early as October of the preceding year. Most student internship and summer job deadlines fall somewhere in the Spring semester (between January and May). Start putting together your resume and cover letter well ahead of deadlines, so that you have plenty of time for revisions.
You will generally need a resume and cover letter when applying for summer jobs and internships. Some may even require recommendation letters and personal statements from you. In other words, it doesn't hurt to start looking early so that you have time to assemble the "package" of information they may require.
Back to Top
- How do I find an internship or job with a government agency?
- While there are some excellent opportunities out there, government agencies tend to have lengthy, formal application procedures. The applications themselves can be quite extensive, and may call for you to submit supporting documents such as transcripts from high school and/or college. Once you have submitted the application (assuming you didn't make any mistakes causing you to start the process over) then you may have to wait several weeks, to several months for any type of communication about your application status.
This reality is both bad news and good news for government job and internship seekers. Yes, it will take some time and effort, but that controverted process is what keeps the competition from storming the gate! Generally you will have less competition for these opportunities. See the Web Resources page for more information about government opportunities.
Back to Top
- I am interested in finding a job or internship in the arts. What is my best strategy?
- The "Arts" covers a very broad area, from creative writing to music, from acting to painting and sculpture, and everything in between. Arts employers can be difficult to identify, but with some persistence you can definitely land a great opportunity.
It pays to meet the right people. Artists and those who love them (including employers) tend to move in the same circles. Your best bet is to learn who the employers are, and then approach them directly about jobs and/or internships with thier organization(s). Community and professional associations are an excellent way to meet the movers and shakers in the arts.
You will still need a professional resume, cover letter, and references BEFORE you go out there shopping for opportunities. If you are in one of the performing arts, there will be some sort of audition as part of the process. If you are interested in management of the arts (marketing, sales/promotion, administration) then you will probably have a more traditional process of application, interview, and hire. Here are some excellent resources for career opportunities in the arts:
Back to Top
- I want to find a summer job or internship in the outdoors.
- Summer jobs and internships in the outdoors are plentiful. From summer camps, to adventure excursions, to working in the conservation field, there are many resources for finding opportunities. Remember, you will need a solid resume if you are going to be taken seriously as a candidate.
Summer camps often recruit right here at UA Career Services during the Spring semester. Register with the Campus Interviewing Program if you would like to apply. In addition, here are several great websites focusing on outdoor and summer opportunities.
Back to Top
- How would I find a job or internship in the field of media, like with MTV, ESPN, or a similar company?
- The world of media can be tough to break-in to. It is considered a "glamour" industry, and is therefore very popular. There is print media, television, radio, cable networks, and the Internet to name some of the larger media fields.
You will need to be diligent and persistent in order to land an internship in media. Jobs go to those with experience, and you generally get the experience through an internship or part-time job with the media organization of your interest. Internships are almost always unpaid in media, but housing and stipend are also common. It never hurts to ask about any housing and/or transportation assistance the employer may offer.
A solid resume and cover letter are "musts" if you are to be taken seriously as a candidate. Then, your most effective strategy will be to meet the right people to refer to you specific employers and opportunities. It really is "who you know," especially in media. Join professional associations related to media, and network with UA faculty and alumni already in the field. Here are some resources to get you started:
Back to Top