Conducting a Successful Job Search

When embarking on a job search, it's essential to have a strategic approach.

5 Steps for a Successful Job Search

1. Self-reflection: Reflect on your interests, skills, and values to pinpoint potential career paths that resonate with your strengths and passions.
2. Networking: Engage with professionals in your industry to explore potential job opportunities and cultivate connections that may lead to future job offers.
3. Job Search: Scan through job listings that align with your skills, experience, and education to identify roles that match your career objectives.
4. Resume and Cover Letter: Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight how your qualifications and experiences align with the specific position you're applying for.
5. Interview Preparation: Prepare thoroughly for interviews by practicing responses that demonstrate your strengths and qualifications, ensuring you make a compelling case for why you're the ideal candidate.

By following these steps, you can methodically approach your job search and increase your chances of securing the right opportunity.

Internships and Co-ops

While many students are interested in securing a full-time position after graduation, it's worth considering non-permanent opportunities like internships and co-ops to gain valuable work experience in your field.

Internships

An internship offers temporary work and training experience directly related to your major or industry of interest. It allows you to apply classroom learning or research experience in a professional setting. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the conversion rate from internships to full-time employment is consistently 50%, making internships an excellent pathway to secure a permanent position.

To discover internships, visit DBU.Joinhandshake.com and begin searching for opportunities at least two semesters before you plan to intern.

Helpful Resources for When Looking for an Internship

• Start With This List When Pursuing an Internship 
• 6 Reasons Why Internships Are Important
• How DBU Internships Turns Your Faith-Based Learning into Real-World Experience

Co-ops

A co-op is a full-time, temporary position designed to provide practical training in your field of study. These positions can extend beyond a single semester, sometimes lasting up to six months. Co-ops are valuable for developing applied skills that complement your academic coursework and research.

Co-op opportunities can be credited from 0 to 4 credits on your degree plan. Consult with your academic advisor or research supervisor to inquire about the availability of co-op courses. Even if a formal co-op course is not listed in the course catalog, departments often offer independent study options that can

fulfill this requirement. Students participating in a co-op are classified as full-time equivalent for enrollment and insurance purposes.

Job Search Resources

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctoral students have access to numerous resources that can help in their job search. Here are some to get you started:

Handshake

The DBU Center for Career & Professional Development utilizes Handshake for job postings and event listings. Handshake is a career community platform of 1500+ college and university partners, over 9 million students, and 900,000+ employers.

• Job Postings: Create an online profile to access thousands of available positions.
• Receive Event Notifications: Be in the know and receive alerts for upcoming Career Expos hosted on campus.
• Register for Career Expos: Front face with talent acquisition managers and DBU Alumni seeking prospective hires.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and has resources such as job search information and a job posting board.

O*NET

The O*NET Program is the nation's primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and the U.S. economy. From this information, applications are developed to facilitate the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce.

MyNextMove

MyNextMove is an interactive tool for job seekers and students to learn more about their career options. The site has tasks, skills, salary information, and more for over 900 different careers. Users can find careers through keyword search, by browsing industries that employ different types of workers, or through the O*NET Interest Profiler, which offers personalized career suggestions based on a person's interests and level of work experience.

HigherEdJobs

HigherEdJobs is an online resource with job listings, news, and career advice for jobs in academia.