Search strategies: How do I search for a job or internship?

There are three main strategies one should employ when conducting a thorough job or internship search: respond to postings, target employers and network. In addition to the information below, the campus-wide Career Services Center provides a job and internship search website.

Respond to postings

This strategy includes searching for and applying to positions advertised by employers on Handshake, company websites or specific job search websites (such as indeed.com, milwaukeejobs.com, the LinkedIn jobs tab, etc.). 

  • Follow employers and job/internship postings: Access the Handshake student/alumni help center to learn more.
  • Participating in on-campus interviews is a great way to respond to employer postings.
  • Request "reciprocity" access to the online job board at another Jesuit college or university

Target employers

A good job/internship search will include efforts to react to employer postings and to proactively identify opportunities.  By creating a list of employers you would like to work for, you can:        

  • Search for openings on their websites
  • Contact them by phone or e-mail to inquire about opportunities
  • Seek out relationships through networking

To build your target list of employers, review resources for targeting employers.

Network

Networking is an important professional skill and a proactive job and internship search strategy, which may include 1) communicating with people you already know and 2) reaching out to contacts with whom you seek to build relationships.  Both kinds of contacts and relationships are important during a job search and throughout your career. 

When you network with people, you have the opportunity to learn about them and their areas of interest.  In turn, when you share your goals and interests, they may share their networking resources – industry knowledge and professional contacts – with you.  This broader sharing is why it is important to ask about more than just job openings

Review the Networking Resources page for more information about networking strategies and connecting with alumni.

Next page: Resources for targeting employers