Jordan College Advising and Career Development Center
Internship & Career Development Resources
Success Begins With Being Intentional
Thinking about what you want to do for the rest of your life can be scary and the journey is not always smooth. But you don't have to do it alone. That is why we provide career and professional development resources to guide you every step of the way to ensure your long-term career success. At the Jordan College Career Development Center we offer:
- Career Development Advising and Coaching
- Club and Professional Organization Connections
- Field Trips to the Food and Agriculture Industry
- Job and Internship Search Assistance
- Job, Internship, and Networking Events
- Internship Development
- Mentoring Connections
- Professional Conference Attendance
- Professional Speaker Workshops
- Professional Development Workshops
- Scholarship Search Assistance
The key to success is having a solid game plan and executing that game plan early in your academic career. Schedule an appointment to meet with us or make informed career decisions following these steps:
How to Independently search for an Internship or Job position.
- Self-Assessment
Identify Goals: Determine what type of role you’re seeking and why. Consider your career goals, interests, and skills.
Update Your Resume/CV: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences. Include any projects, volunteer work, or coursework that is pertinent. - Research
Industry Exploration: Research the industry or field you’re interested in. Understand the key players, trends, and requirements.
Company Research: Identify companies you’re interested in. Look into their culture, values, and recent news to see if they align with your goals. - Networking
Connect with Professionals: Attend University Career Fairs/Professional Roundtables/Networking events/workshops to engage with Industry leaders. Use online platforms like a University job board (HireFresnoState) or LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals and seek available positions or learning opportunities. Join relevant groups and participate in discussions.
Attend Events: Look for industry events, job fairs, or meetups. Networking in person can provide opportunities and insights. - Job Boards and Company Websites
Job Boards: Use job search engines and boards such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Set up job alerts to receive notifications for positions matching your criteria.
Company Websites: Visit the career pages of companies you’re interested in. Apply directly through their portals. - Tailor Applications
Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application. Highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the job description.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter: Explain why you’re interested in the role and how your background makes you a strong candidate. - Follow Up
After Applying: If you don’t hear back within a couple of weeks, consider sending a follow-up email to check on the status of your application.
After Interviews: Send a thank-you note or email to express appreciation and reinforce your interest in the position. - Prepare for Interviews
Practice Common Questions: Prepare answers for common interview questions and scenarios related to the job.
Research the Company: Know the company’s history, mission, and recent developments. Be ready to discuss how you fit into their plans. - Stay Organized
Track Applications: Keep a spreadsheet or a document to track the jobs you’ve applied for, interview dates, and follow-up actions.
Set Goals: Set daily or weekly goals for the number of applications to submit or contacts to make. - Leverage Social Media
LinkedIn: Regularly update your profile and use it to connect with potential employers or industry groups.
Professional Groups: Join forums or groups related to your field to stay updated on job postings and industry news. - Seek Feedback
Resume/CV Review: Have your resume reviewed by mentors, career services, or professional resume writers for feedback.
Interview Practice: Conduct mock interviews with friends, mentors, or career coaches to improve your performance. - Stay Persistent and Adaptable
Be Patient: The job search process can take time. Stay persistent and keep applying.
Adapt Strategies: If you’re not seeing the results you want, adjust your approach, try new strategies, or seek advice from career counselors or mentors.
By combining these strategies, you can effectively manage your job or internship search and increase your chances of landing the position you’re aiming for.
No two people are alike. We are each born with a unique set of gifts and abilities. Additionally, our experiences shape who we are. While assessments won’t necessarily tell you any information you didn’t know to be true about yourself, it may provide you with new ways to describe yourself to others and to evaluate what careers and work environments work best with how you are “wired”. Key areas to assess are your:
- Skills
- Interests
- Values
- Personality Style
- Goals
Click on the “Career Assessment” menu item on the left to learn more about the Career Assessment tools available to you as a Fresno State Student.
This step is probably the most important in the process and the most often neglected.
Benjamin Disrali, the Prime Minister of England during Queen Victoria’s reign said,
“As a general rule, the most successful people in life are those with the best information”.
To make an informed career decision, you need to have a truly accurate understanding
of the career you are considering. To gain that understanding you need to read information
about the career, to conduct informational interviews with people working in that
field, and to participate in internships and other professional experiences while
you’re still in college.
Click on the “Career Exploration” menu item on the left to learn more about the resources
available to you as you conduct your career research.
Once you’ve chosen an initial direction, now is the time to put into place strategies
that will allow you to achieve that career. These strategies include continuing to
gain relevant professional experience through internships or part-time employment,
developing your network of contacts from your desired career field and finding a mentor
who can guide you through the realities of entering that field.
The Coordinator of Internships and Professional Experience can work with you to develop
a customized plan to reach your goals. To make an appointment call 559.278.4019.
If you intentionally worked through the three previous steps, your job search should
go much more smoothly for you than for students who did not. Finding job opportunities
is more than simply getting on a job search website and applying for opportunities.
A successful job search strategy involves targeting specific employers and networking
your way to opportunities, including those that never are posted (which make up nearly
40% of the available jobs).
Click on the “Internship & Job Search Strategy” menu item on the left to learn more
about the resources available to you as you conduct your job (or internship) search.