Finding Jobs & Internships

Ready to begin your job or internship search?

We’ve put together some effective strategies to guide your job or internship journey—from the search itself to preparing for your first day. A successful process includes steps like:

You can also connect with a career advisor for a personalized approach to your job or internship search.

Wondering how you can (or should) use AI tools to help with this process? There are lots of things to consider and our Artificial Intelligence Career Toolkit can help.

Step 1:

Determine Your Career Priorities

Making plans for your future can be challenging. Identifying your own priorities for your career can provide you with more exciting options and boost your confidence in your chosen path.

Consider your own values, skills, and interests. Not sure where to start? The Career Exploration Center can help!
Think about your own preferences when it comes to how you want to work. Where do you want to be geographically? Do you want to work remotely, in-office, or some of both? How does your career fit into your overall life goals?
Get informed by exploring career fields, look up entry level positions, average salaries, and employment outlooks. Undergraduate students can check out UW-Madison’s First Destination Survey Dashboard to learn where Badger alumni land after graduation. The O*Net database is also a great resource to get more information!
Identify specific employers and job positions that interest you on Handshake or other job search websites. Set your preferences to receive notifications when similar jobs or internships are posted.

Step 2:

Prepare to Showcase Your Value and Skills to Employers

There are many things that go into applying for a job or internship. Things like resumes and cover letters come to mind immediately, but it’s also important to think about networking, references, and interview practice. Considering and preparing these things in advance will ensure you are ahead of the curve once you start applying!

Draft your application materials. Learn how to write a strong resume and cover letter with the resume course in Big Resume, a free tool available to UW-Madison students. Download a “career services approved” resume template to get started. Once you’ve created your resume, get personalized AI feedback.
Create a LinkedIn account and make sure your profile is up-to-date with your current experiences and skills. Follow companies and organizations of interest. The Alumni Tool within LinkedIn can help you identify UW Alumni working at those organizations or companies of interest and a great starting point to find fellow Badgers to network with.
Network with friends, family members, instructors, alumni, and employers to let them know about your career goals, gain advice, and seek referrals. Not sure how to approach networking? Learn the basics in Big Interview’s Job Search course.
Consider who you might use for professional references. This might be a former supervisor, professor, or colleague. Always be sure to ask in advance if they are able to serve as a strong, positive reference for you.
Prepare for interviews using Big Interview, a free interview training and practice tool for all UW-Madison students, or by completing a mock interview with a career advisor or employer.
Meet with a career advisor who can offer feedback on application materials, share additional resources, get you connected with alumni and employers, and help you develop a job search plan. Find your career office and schedule an appointment via Starfish.

Step 3:

Apply and Continually Manage Your Job or Internship Search

It’s time to start applying! Keep in mind that the job or internship search process can take time, so staying organized, consistent, and taking care of your well-being are key. Throughout the process, it’s important to be open to the unexpected and willing to broaden your search if you aren’t finding the right opportunity for you.

Search and apply for job and internship opportunities on platforms such as Handshake (UW-Madison’s #1 job search website), LinkedIn, and Indeed. As you are searching, beware of fraudulent job postings and scams.
Attend career and internship fairs, employer information sessions, and other on-campus networking events hosted by your career center. Learn about upcoming events on Handshake.
Prioritize a certain amount of time for your search each week. A job or internship search can be time consuming, so dedicating specific time each week will help you stay consistent!
Create a list or spreadsheet to help you keep track of applications, deadlines, tasks, and interview dates.
Broaden the scope of your job search as needed to include alternative plans. Be open to unexpected possibilities and opportunities!
Prioritize your mental health and utilize your network for support (friends, family, instructors, colleagues). University Health Services also has resources to help you prioritize your own wellbeing.
Check in with your career advisor and use career center resources as you continue your search, prepare for interviews, and consider offers.

Step 4:

Gear Up for Your Job or Internship

Congratulations, you accepted the offer, and you’re ready to start your job or internship! Here are some tips to help you feel the most prepared and confident entering your new role.

Learn about your new organization. Review your employer’s website, mission, organizational culture, and recent news. This helps you step into your role informed and engaged from day one.
Review the First 90 Days course on Big Interview and use the goal-setting template to identify what you want to learn or accomplish in your job or internship so you can stay focused and intentional.
Know and understand your rights in the workplace. The Safety & Empowerment for Experiential Learning training was designed for students entering internships and other immersive workplace experiences, but it’s also valuable for anyone starting a job. It provides quick, practical guidance on self-advocacy, workplace expectations, professionalism, and supporting the well-being of yourself and others.
Report your post-graduate job to UW-Madison via the First Destination Survey. Those completing an internship can report via the Workplace Experience Survey. Sharing your experiences helps our university better support students, understand employment trends, and celebrate the great things Badgers are doing across the world!