Job & Internship Search

Conducting a job/internship search can be challenging, and having the right attitude is essential to success. To put yourself in a positive frame of mind for the job search process, it’s important to set realistic expectations and develop a growth mindset.

Industries may vary in how they recruit and hire candidates, so it's important to connect with people in your chosen field who can offer insight into industry norms and practices.

Resources for Researching Industries

Utilize the resources below to become familiar with specific hiring practices in your field and make your search as effective as possible.

Looking for a position takes time and effort. To conduct an effective job/internship search, it’s important that you create a realistic job search plan. To do so, consider the following:

Where will you look for positions?

While it is recommended that you use multiple job boards, don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to juggle dozens of sites. Try out different options and decide on a few you like. Visit the CDC Interest and Identity Resources page to research industry-specific job boards relevant to your search.

When will you apply for positions?

One of the best ways to set yourself up for a successful job and internship search is to create structure. This may involve creating a schedule for yourself (e.g., applying for jobs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 – 3:00 PM) and/or setting goals (e.g., committing to applying to three positions per week). Make sure that any schedules or goals you create are realistic given your other commitments.

Your resume is often your first opportunity to make a good impression with an employer. Be sure to create a resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills, education, and experience, and adapt it for each position to which you apply. Visit the CDC Resumes & Cover Letters page for guidance on creating an effective resume.

Employers are looking for candidates who can effectively communicate their interest in and qualifications for the position. In a competitive job market, it is essential that you invest time and effort in preparing and practicing for interviews. Visit the CDC Interviewing page for in-depth information on interview preparation.

Professional networking is a process of building relationships and exchanging information throughout your career journey. Networking can take place both formally (e.g., attending a job fair or scheduling an informational interview with a professional in your field) or informally (e.g., grabbing coffee with a classmate you don’t know or talking to others at a party about their career interests). Developing relationships with others in your field(s) of interest can help you gain valuable professional insight and even potentially find a mentor.

Additionally, networking can be extremely helpful in your job search process. Research has shown that 70-85% of jobs are filled through networking (Payscale.com, 2017). This means that building and sustaining relationships with professionals in your field will allow you to maximize your career opportunities.

Ready to get started? Follow the recommendations below to build an effective networking strategy.

Conduct Informational Interviews

One of the best ways to build professional relationships and learn about careers you are considering is to conduct informational interviews with professionals in jobs or companies that interest you. Learn how to request an interview and what questions to ask on the CDC Informational Interviews page.

Seek out a Mentor

A mentor is a professional committed to supporting and guiding you in your academic and career development. Some students find mentors on their own while others choose to participate in a formal program where they are paired with alumni or other professionals. Check out Mentoring at the Beach to learn about mentoring programs available through CSULB.

Connect with Employers

The Career Development Center's Career Events Calendar offers a number of opportunities for you to connect with employers each semester. CDC events include Job Fairs, Information Sessions, and Industry Speaker Series and provide a chance to meet employers interested in recruiting and supporting CSULB students.

Create an Elevator Pitch

Whenever you’re meeting an employer, the best way to make a good impression is to spend time in advance deciding what you want to say. What do they need to know about you that will help them understand what you have to offer? This information typically includes a brief overview of your professional and educational accomplishments, skills and career goals and is called an elevator pitch. The name elevator pitch comes from the idea that the information you share should be brief enough to present during a brief elevator ride (about 30 seconds), which is similar to the amount of time you have to talk to a recruiter at a job fair.

An elevator pitch consists of three parts:

1. Who You Are: 
   1. Your Name
   2. Your Education/Employment Status (major and year in school or current job title)
   3. Something Unique About You (student athlete, study abroad experience, honors you’ve received, etc.)
2. What You Offer:
   1. Relevant Experience/Achievements (jobs, internships, class projects, leadership roles, etc.)
   2. Skills You Bring (skills you want to emphasize such as being a quick learner or great with people, with an example of how you’ve used those skills)
3. What You Want:
   1. Your Goal from the Conversation (the kind of opportunities you are seeking and how you believe you can make a contribution)

Sample Elevator Pitch:

Keep in mind that your elevator pitch is not a speech that you will recite to employers word for word. Think of it more as an outline of information you want to share. To use your elevator pitch effectively, you must be so comfortable with it that it sounds natural when speaking to others.

Resources for Networking

Utilize these resources to being building your professional network.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the leading social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses.

Beach Nexus

Beach Nexus is CSULB’s exclusive online mentoring and professional network that connects alumni, students and community.

Your presence on LinkedIn and social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook is part of your professional identity and can impact how others see you. Make sure any online content viewable by employers portrays you in a professional manner.

Resources for Building Your Online Presence

The following resources can help you establish your professional identity.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the leading social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses.

Beach Nexus

Beach Nexus is CSULB’s exclusive online mentoring and professional network that connects alumni, students and community.