Assisting with the Job & Internship Search

A job or internship search includes writing a resume, cover letters, researching opportunities, interviewing, and negotiating.  As a student in search of employment, it's important that he/she — and no one else — demonstrate the qualities and skills employers are seeking in an ideal candidate. Recruiters want to see evidence of a candidate’s abilities through their resume and cover letter and their ability to effectively communicate that they would be a match for the position and the organization.

It’s great that parents want to help in this process, and it’s likely that your student will seek your advice and assistance.  It’s important to distinguish advising from intervening or doing for. Parents who become too involved in their student’s job search can end up negatively impacting their student’s chances.

How To Be Support Your Student’s Job/Internship Search

• Encourage a visit to the CDC, where resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and overall job and internship search advice is available.
• Introduce your student to potential network contacts that may be able to open doors for them.
• Talk to your student about what to wear on an interview, how to interview, and manners (handshake,  sending thank you notes)
• Persuade your student to stay up-to-date with current events.  Employers will expect students to know what is happening around them.  Buy your student a subscription to the New York Times of the Wall Street Journal.  When they are home on break, discuss major would and business issues with them.  (Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers). 
• Your help should be totally invisible to the employer. Parents are great coaches, advisors, proofreaders, and provide moral support but there is no reason a parent should ever contact an employer directly.

For more information, read How to Get your College Grad Hired.