Students and Alumni
Career and Personal Development
Career Connect
Activate your account and connect with leading employers for potential career opportunities! Post your resume for employers to view, sign up for job alerts and register for career programs and events.
Internship and Job Search: Internships are critical in the minds of employers and graduate schools. Learn the requirements for completing an internship, and resources to find one in your field of study. Also participate in employer recruitment events, 1:1 career coaching with advisors and Career Connect to find out about job and internship leads.
Resume and Cover Letter Writing: Obtain help developing and fine-tuning your resume and cover letter so that you have marketable documents when applying to on-campus jobs, part-time positions, internships, full-time career opportunities and graduate school.
Interviewing Prep: Interviewing takes practice! We assist you in developing effective interviewing skills thorough providing mock interviews and tips so you can secure job offers.
Networking: Growing your network of professional contacts is vital for career success, and should be a life-long process. Access our tools for connecting with alumni in order to form meaningful relationships that could lead to internship and full-time career positions.
Career Exploration: It is common for students to be uncertain about their major and/or career path. Thus, we encourage career exploration and an openness to possibilities. We offer guidance in clarifying career aspirations and making career decisions that align with one’s interests, values, personality, strengths, passion and purpose.
Job Shadowing and Informational Interviewing: Engaging in conversations and observing others in work settings are excellent ways to learn about careers that intrigue you. Utilize our BenU Network to reach out to Benedictine alumni and work with a career adviser to find alumni connections. To prepare for informational interview and/or job shadowing experiences, visit the Document Library in Career Connect for tips and guidelines.
Career Programs and Events: We provide a variety of programs and events throughout the academic year to promote the development of career-building skills and to facilitate connections to employers and alumni. These include career fairs, employer information sessions, networking events, workshops, and panel discussions.
Career Resource Guides: Sign into your Career Connect account to access the document library for guides on how to write a resume, cover letter and CV, interview, search for a job, create a LinkedIn profile, conduct an informational interview, network with employers and more. See examples of resumes, cover letters, interview questions, etc.
Career Plan Checklist: Stay on track with your career development by following our checklists:
Find an Internship or a Job
Thinking about getting an internship? Wondering if it’s a good idea? Consider these facts:
- According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more 50% of hired interns convert to full-time employees.
- Employers begin hiring for internships about seven months before the start date.
- Students who complete internships significantly increase their chances of being hired for full-time employment after graduation, and earn on average 10K more than students who do not complete an internship.
Career and Personal Development receives postings from employers offering internships, jobs, and other career opportunities on a daily basis. All are posted on Career Connect. Complete your registration to search for opportunities.
Once your registration is complete, submit a résumé for review. Our staff also offers assistance with identifying internship sites. (Note: graduate students need to see their graduate program advisor first).
Obtaining Academic Credit
Students may choose to register and receive academic credit for their internship experience. Credit is awarded in the ratio of 1 semester credit hour per every 50 hours worked on site and may range anywhere from 2-6 semester credit hours. The maximum amount of internship credit that may be counted toward graduation requirements is 6 semester credit hours. To obtain academic credit, students are expected to:
- Meet with your academic advisor first to discuss internship options.
- Keep a journal of daily activities including reactions to what is being learned.
- Submit a final research report related to the internship experience.
- Evaluate the internship site, supervisor and experience as a whole.
- Be evaluated by the sponsor and the faculty internship coordinator.
How to Apply for an Internship
Procedures for obtaining an internship:
- Meet with a career advisor to review and edit your résumé and discuss internship opportunities (you can drop in during walk-in hours or call (630) 829-6040 for an appointment).
- Search for internships online after creating an account on Career Connect.
- Obtain the Internship Registration Form from your adviser and turn it into the Office of the Registrar.
- Complete the Student Learning Contract and turn it in to your adviser within the first two weeks of the internship.
Qualifications of Interns
All prospective interns have completed a significant amount of coursework and have the academic foundation needed to make a positive contribution to any company or organization. To qualify for participation in Benedictine’s internship program, a student must:
- Be enrolled with degree-or certificate seeking-status for the duration of the internship program.
- Meet the academic requirements set forth by the sponsoring academic department.
- Have completed 60 academic credit hours.
Know your rights as a student intern. Students should be aware of their rights. Read the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division fact sheet on Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act before applying for or accepting an internship.
Job Fairs & Campus Recruitment Events
Job fairs can be a great way to network with potential employers and make a great first impression that could lead to an interview, an internship, a job, or other career opportunities. Stay tuned for upcoming job and internships fairs on campus and elsewhere. We offer and collaborate on two major career and internship fair offerings:
- Employer Information sessions and networking opportunities.
- Benedictine University’s Fall Internship & Career Fair. Held annually on BenU’s campus in the fall.
- CCCI CareerFest. An annual large-scale career fair produced in collaboration with the College Career Consortium (CCCI) in the spring semester. For more information, see this link.
- Benedictine University’s Job-a-Palooza.
Look for announcements regarding campus interviewing opportunities on campus at BenU and at participating CCCI schools. Campus interviewing can be an efficient and effective way to apply for jobs or internships with partnering employers.
Student On-Campus Employment
Obtaining a part-time, on-campus job at Benedictine University can be a great way to develop professional skills and experience while earning some income. Click here for current openings on campus for undergraduate and graduate students.
You’ll see that the “job status” varies. If you aren’t sure if you have a Federal Work Study award, contact Financial Aid at (630) 829-6100 or visit their office on the 2nd floor of Goodwin Hall.
If you are interested in working for a department or office on campus that is not listed on the current openings page, contact that department and ask if they have available opportunities.
It is always a good idea to have an updated résumé ready to go before you contact a hiring manager. Drop by during our walk-in hours to work with a Career Advisor on revising your résumé. You can reach us at (630) 829-6040.
Exploring Career Options
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Explore Career Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Nationally recognized source
Career Onestop
Resources for careers
IL Dept. of Employment Security
Occupational outlook
Occupational Information
Department of Labor
Live Career
Career and job search information
Matthew Johnson
Director
Krasa Student Center 010
[email protected]
630-829-6037