Job and Internship Search

O'Neill Required Internship

Job and Internship Search

Resume &                   Cover Letter    

Job and Internship Search

Your internship/job search is composed of a series of steps to follow until you accept a position. Use this action plan to refine and focus your internship/job search activities. Repeat these steps as needed until they lead to interviews and an internship/job offer that you accept.

 

1. Positioning

Determine what you are looking for: Start by identifying your own values, interests, knowledge, and skills. Define your idea of meaningful work. View some helpful self-assessment tools.

Create your personal brand: organize your experiences and skills into your general resume and LinkedIn profile. 

 

2. Focus Your Search

Create a list of your target organizations and begin connecting:

  • Create and organize your list using the Internship + Job Search Tracking Form
  • Brainstorm your list of organizations by considering:
    • “Dream’ organizations you already know about, their competitors, organizations they partner with, vendors they work with, etc.
    • The products and services you use
    • Where alumni work
    • Organizations you find by searching LinkedIn, Handshake, and other job boards by job title or keywords
    • Employers who recruit on-campus and at O’Neill
  • Research industries and organizations to find your top priorities

Information to Gather

Industry:
  1. What is the line of business of organizations in this industry? (Do they provide a service, create, distribute a product, etc.) How do they make money to support their organization, are they supported by grants?
  2. What are the significant trends in this industry?
  3. Who are the major organizations (key players) in this industry?
  4. What are the key professional associations and journals for the industry?
Organization:
  1. Organization Type (public, private, nonprofit)
  2. Product/Services Offered (Complete current product/service line and potential new products/services)
  3. Organization size, parent company (if any), subsidiaries (if any), location of headquarters, geographic presence
  4. Organization’s competitors (other major players in the industry)
  5. Mission/Vision/Organization direction within the past year and future plans
  6. Key People (CEO, VP, Pres.), O'Neill/IU Alums
  7. Annual Report (annual gross, ranking, stock price)
  8. What are the “buzz words” in the organization?
  9. What is the “culture” of the organization? (Is it conservative, liberal, relaxed, etc) How diverse is the team?
  10. How has the organization been in the news in the last year? How does it interact with the community?
Function (Position):
  1. What department/division is the position housed? Who does it report to?
  2. What is the career path for this position?
  3. What are the skills and personal qualities that successful professionals in this industry share?
  4. What additional education/licensure/certifications will you need to be promoted in this area?

Job and Internship Search Sites

Non-Profit Job Sites

Art Industry Job Sites
Environment and Sustainability Job sites

 

3. Schedule Career Conversations

Learn more about the industry, the organization, the work that professionals do: Ask them for a 15 to 20-minute conversation. Approximately 85% of jobs are never posted, so it’s critical to know people who can tell you when a position has opened – and they can serve as your advocate with the hiring manager!

  • For each of your target organizations, use LinkedIn to find someone who works there.
    • If you aren’t connected in any way to the list of people you find, select one that is most relevant to your interests and send them an invitation to connect.
    • Look at members of groups you belong to and send any who work at the organization a message to connect.
    • Use the search function with phrases such as “organization name recruiter” or “organization name job title of interest” – get creative with your searches to find relevant connections
  • Request to connect with them and follow-up to ask about scheduling Career Conversations.
    • After completing a career conversation, take a few moments to review and complete your notes, highlighting insights and ideas about what to do next. If there is an open position at the organization, create your tailored resume and cover letter.

 

4. Tailor your Resume and Cover Letter

Create a competitive application packet: For each position you apply to, you need to create a resume and cover letter targeted specifically to the job and the organization.

 

International Students

F-1 visa and H1-B information is available in this article from Interstride, an online resource for international students. Interstride is a one-stop shop that empowers international students. Using data-driven technology, we’ve created a portal that provides international students with all the resources they need to transition and thrive in their educational journey abroad. Resources include Global career opportunities, Visa and immigration support, Student resources and services, Networking and mentorship, and Webinars and workshops.

The IU Office of International Services (OIS) is available to provide support and guidance for international students.

 

Fraudulent Employers

These “red flags” in no way cover all possible instances of fraud or all the red flags. Therefore, please always use your own discretion when applying to a position or interacting with a potential employer. Fraudulent job postings try to take your money, personal information, or both. The jobs often appear easy and convenient ways to make money with very little effort.

The following “red flags” are general markers to help you conduct a safer job search and protect your identity:

Personal and Financial Information
  • You are asked to provide your credit card, bank account numbers, or other personal financial documentation. Do NOT give out any financial information at any point during your job search and hiring process.
  • The position requires an initial investment, such as a payment by wire service or courier.
  • You are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account (often for depositing checks or transferring money)
  • You are asked to provide your social security and driver’s license information in the initial application. Personal information should never be asked during the initial application process.
  • You are asked to provide a photo of yourself.

Job Posting
  • The posting appears to be from a reputable, familiar company (often a Fortune 500). Yet, the email handle in the contact’s email address does not match the domain used by representatives of the company (this is typically easy to determine from the company’s website). Another way to validate is to check the open positions on the company’s website, by checking their careers/jobs page.
  • The posting includes spelling and grammatical errors.
  • The posting neglects to mention the responsibilities of the job. Instead, the description focuses on the amount of money to be made.
  • The position indicates a “first-year compensation” that is in high excess to the average compensation for that position type. The salary range listed is very wide (e.g., “employees can earn from $40K – $80K the first year!”).
Contact and Communication
  • Look at the company’s website. Does it have an index that tells you what the site is about, or does it contain information only about the job in which you are interested? Scammers often create quick, basic web pages that seem legitimate at first glance.
  • The contact email address contains the domain @live.com or an @ that is not affiliated with the company. Example: @gmail, @yahoo, @hotmail, etc.
  • Watch for anonymity. If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact, company name, etc., then proceed with caution. Fraud postings are illegal, so scammers will try to keep themselves well hidden.
  • When you Google the company name and the word “scam” (e.g., Acme Company Scam), the results show several scam reports concerning this company. Another source for scam reports is http://www.ripoffreport.com.
  • Google the employer’s phone number, fax number, and/or email address. If it does not appear connected to an actual business organization, this is a red flag. You can use the Better Business Bureau, Hoovers and AT&T’s Anywho to verify organizations.
  • The employer contacts you by phone, but there is no way to call them back (the number is not available).
  • The employer tells you that they do not have an office set up in your area and will need you to help them get it up and running (these postings often include a request for your banking information, supposedly to help the employer make transactions).

Interview
  • The interview is conducted online, via chat and an offer is given almost immediately.
  • The employer responds to you immediately after you submit your resume. Typically, resumes sent to an employer are reviewed by multiple individuals or not viewed until the posting has closed. Note: this does not include an auto-response you may receive from the employer once you have sent your resume.

If You are Already Involved in a Scam
  • If you have encountered a fraudulent posting, company or organization, please contact the Career Hub at 812-855-9639 or email careerhb@indiana.edu so the posting can be investigated and appropriate action can be taken.

Follow these safety tips when going for an interview:
  • Always ensure it is in a public place and that someone knows of your plans to interview and your location.
  • If your instincts tell you it’s suspicious, it probably is.
  • Do not feel pressured to give personally identifiable information in an application if you are not comfortable during an interview or during online/phone correspondence.
  • Ask to take the document with you to complete and return so you have time to research the issue further.

 

 

Career Hub, SPEA Room 200
1315 E. Tenth Street | Bloomington, IN 47405
p: 812.855.96390 | careerhb@iu.edu 

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Drop-In Hours:
Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

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