Internship and Job Search
Internships, Micro-Internships, and Pre-Professional experience
Gaining real world experience is an important part of your career development. Saint Xavier University offers several pathways for you to build skills, explore fields of interest, and strengthen your readiness for future opportunities.
Internships
Internships provide hands-on experience in a career field and allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to professional settings. Through an internship, you can increase your marketability, earn income, affirm your academic interests, explore different roles within your field, build a professional network, and potentially earn academic credit.
Micro Internships
The Career Development Center partners with to offer micro internships, which are short-term, paid, professional projects often completed remotely. These opportunities allow you to showcase your skills, explore various careers, and expand your network as you pursue internships or full-time roles.
Pre Professional Experience
There are many additional ways to gain experience during your time at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, including joining student organizations, working on campus, participating in leadership programs, job shadowing, engaging in research, or volunteering. These experiences allow you to explore potential career paths, build the skills employers seek, strengthen areas for growth, develop your network, and increase your competitiveness in the job market.
Before you conduct a job search, you will need to make sure you are prepared; this preparation can begin as early as your first year of college:
- Develop relevant skills through jobs and internships
- Prepare your resume and cover letter
- Identify areas of interest and use available career resources
- Create a LinkedIn profile and build your network
- Perfect your elevator speech and practice it at events
- Attend networking events and the College-to-Career Expo
For preparation suggestions by year, please review the Four-Year SUCCESS Plan. You may also refer to the Career Readiness Guide for more information or or schedule an appointment through to work with an academic and career resource advisor.
Handshake: Find Jobs and Internships
is the career management system used by ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ to connect students with career events, jobs, internships, and employment resources. Students can also use Handshake to network with other students across the United States. Students will use their ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ credentials to login and access resources. Through Handshake, students can find jobs, learn about employer events on and off-campus and network with industry professionals and alumni.
Disclaimer: Although we attempt to screen all employers and positions, the Career Development Center and ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ assume no liability for the accuracy of information shared through automated feeds and Handshake. The views and opinions shared by employers through Handshake do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Career Development Center and ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ. If you are unsure about a position or employer, please contact careerdevelopmentFREE³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ.
Forage: Job simulations with Trusted Employers
is a free online platform offering virtual day-in-the-life experience programs designed by leading companies. These self-paced modules allow you to build skills and gain a clearer understanding of various roles and industries by completing tasks similar to those found in traditional internships. Throughout each program, you will work through materials and assignments created by top employers that mirror the work you would complete as an intern or early career professional. All Forage programs are self-paced and typically take between two and four hours to complete, giving you maximum flexibility.
Benefits Include:
- Students who complete a Forage experience are 2.2 times more likely to earn an interview and 5 times more likely to receive an offer
- Sample real-life work at leading companies while developing essential, work-ready skills and boosting your resume
- All simulations are free for ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ students and can be completed at your own pace from home or your residence hall
- Gain potential visibility with recruiters from top organizations