Job & Internship Searching

Job boards or job search engines are websites where employers will post their positions. Not all job boards serve the same purpose: some are industry specific, or target a specific audience of applicant such as college students. Below are a few places to start your search.

Handshake

Handshake connects students and graduates with top employers, offers personalized job recommendations based off of your profile, and connects you to career fairs and events. Employers that post on Handshake are typically looking for college students and recent graduates, which makes it a strong place to start your job search.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn allows you to build a profile and connect with other professionals in your field, in addition to job searching. As a networking platform, LinkedIn lets you gain additional perspective on your job search by seeing who else in your network interacts with different organizations.

Indeed and other Third Party Job Search Engines

Indeed and other search engines like it aggregate job postings from multiple sources. It's a great resource for finding many jobs, which also necessitates being more direct in narrowing down your search.

UMass Partner Internship Programs

There are a number of programs that UMass has worked with in order to help interns obtain access to specialized programs. You can browse these for opportunities that may match your interests.

• Use a variety of search terms: search engines are only as effective as the terms you use. If you find that certain search terms aren't work, try to mix things up:

  • Research what other terminology is used in your field. 

  • Use variations on keywords. For example, "lab" and "laboratory" may retrieve different results.

  • Don't just search for job titles. Search for skills you have, computer programs you know how to use, or companies that do interesting work.

• Add filters, but don't overuse them

• Check job boards regularly

• Be mindful of scams or offers that seem "too good to be true"

• Keep track of your applications or prospective jobs that may be appropriate to apply for when you have more experiences.

• If you see a company posting interesting jobs, visit their website and see what jobs they have posted there.

Read the job description carefully when applying

Job descriptions at their best are clear maps to follow when putting together your application materials. Often times a job description will identify key requirements that you must have in order to be considered for the role, so make sure you highlight those skills in your application for the role.

Customize your resume and cover letter for the job

A common mistake people make when applying for jobs is sending out the same resume for ever job, and only changing the name of the company and position in a cover letter. Putting a strong foot forward on these documents can make the difference in you getting a call for an interview.

• Your resume will be the first document most hiring managers read when reviewing your credentials, and most scan it for 30 seconds in their initial pass. Make sure you are using phrases and key words that are in the job description in order to catch their attention during that scan.
• Your cover letter is like a persuasive essay you get to write to convince an employer you would be a good fit for a position, so take the time to really sell them on your qualifications. 

How to Research Potential Employers

• Start with the company website. Read about their mission, vision, goals, and values, but also seek out news articles that they post to see what sorts of stories they choose to share.

• Review the company's social media presence. Almost every company has a LinkedIn that is carefully curated, but you can dig in deeper to see employees' profiles and get an impression of the kind of work being done.  Other social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter can provide insight into what the company cares about and see how they engage with their employees and clients.

• Google the name of the company and then click "News" at the top of  Google to find recent articles about the company.

Directly Contacting Employers

Most employers require people to apply through their Applicant Tracking System (ATS), and as a result, do not respond to messages received outside of those systems. However, directly contacting employers can be a successful means of supplementing your job hunting if you can get yourself to the hiring manager. If you do reach out through e-mail or LinkedIn: 

• Be brief: express your interest in working for their organization, as well as your reasons for reaching out
• Be bright: highlight something about your experience that stands out
• Be gone: allow them the time to see your message and respond if they are interested

Applying through an ATS is still the most effective way to apply for jobs. Even if no current positions exist, you can research and develop a list of potential employers in your desired career field. Bookmark their careers page, so you will see right away if a new opportunity is posted. 

Resources for Researching Employers

Buzzfile Index of Employers Sorted By Major
Glass Door

Rankings of Companies

Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
CollegeGrad: Top Entry Level Employers
JobStar: Best Companies
Working Mother's 100 Best Companies List

Working in government means you're employed by the local, state, or federal government to perform a specific series of tasks and duties. Employees in every sector of government work for the good of the people. Government jobs provide a sense of security because of the eligibility for permanent appointment in many sectors. You may also be eligible for student loan forgiveness if you take a public service job. To qualify for loan forgiveness, jobs must be in government, nonprofit organizations, or certain types of not-for profit programs.