Students
Career and Personal Development
Benedictine University Student Services
Career Coaching
Guidelines
1:1 Career Coaching is bread-and-butter of Career & Personal Development. Whether you are coming in with a quick five-minute question or need to spend a full 30 minutes, each coaching appointment is catered to fit the unique individual and their needs.
Days & Times
- Tuesday – 1:30PM to 3:30PM
- Thursday – 1:30PM to 3:30PM
- Friday – 1:30PM to 2:30PM
Bookings Link
Book with Matthew Johnson, Director of Alumni & Career Services
Categories
Professional Document
Receive feedback on your resume, cover letter, personal statement, etc. and lock in a “final” draft that you feel confident in and feel can highlight YOU to employers. These documents are your first impression. Make it a good one.
Internship & Job Search Strategies
Learn how to maximize search engines and find helpful resources to better manage the search and optimize your results. Applying for jobs can feel like a full-time job. Let Career & Personal Development help you manage the process.
Interviewing Tips & Tricks
Interviewing is an art that can be perfected through practice. Practice and you will feel confident walking into your next interview in your ability to paint a vivid verbal-image of what an employer will be getting from you as a perspective employee.
Networking Maximization
Networking can be a bit intimidating at times. But it does not have to be. Knowing who to reach out to, when to reach out to them, how to reach out to them, and what to say could lead to your next employment opportunity.
Handshake (Launching Spring 2026)
What is it?
Handshake is a career platform designed to make taking control of your career destination straightforward. The Handshake community consists of over 20 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators all looking to make searching, hiring, and teaching career easier. It is your one-stop shop for anything career.
What you can do with it
- Upload Professional Documents for Review
- Search for Internships & Jobs
- Explore & Research Employers
- Register for Workshops, Webinars, Trainings, and Events
- Schedule 1:1 Career Coaching Appointments
How to maximize it
- Get on it early and often
- Pop in once or twice a week
- Keep up a tab on your computer
- Meet with Career & Personal Development
Getting Set-Up
- Login/Create your Handshake account
- Upload professional documents
- Fill out your profile
- Explore Handshake
- Follow jobs and employers you are interested in
Handshake is Launching Spring 2026
What Can I Do with This Major
What is it?
A website featuring 106 majors and corresponding information around what your career options are with said major. Additionally, the site provides information regarding employers who hire individuals with these majors and how to leverage your degree for top tier opportunities.
How to use it
Coming soon.
Leveraging this Resource
- Search for your major and see if it aligns with your current career path
- Utilize in meetings with your Academic Advisor to select classes more intentionally
- Schedule an appointment with Career & Personal Development to explore options together
Quick Hitters
Resume & Cover Letter Tips
- A blank Word Document is the best template you can use to get started with a resume
- Only you know the experiences you have had – Be sure to document everything
- If you are considering utilizing AI to assist, ALWAYS go back and edit to add your voice
- Your Resume & Cover Letters should be tailored to fit each industry, if not each job
Internship & Job Search Tips
- Utilize filters on job search sites
- Keep your keyword to two MAYBE three
- Switch up your search engines to keep the search fresh
- Leverage friends, family, family friends, faculty, staff – No one is off limits
Interview Skills Tricks & Tips
- Practice makes perfect – Interviewing is an art that can be perfected
- Prepackage some answers to free up brain-space for questions you might not expect
- For virtual interviews – Set up your space for professional comfort
- First impressions matter, so error on the side of overly professional then later ease up
LinkedIn Tricks & Tips
- Keep LinkedIn up as a tab on your computer or download the app for your phone
- Complete your profile to a minimum of 65% completed – Include a professional headshot
- Engage with LinkedIn – Like posts, repost articles, follow companies, and connect
- Follow the “Benedictine University” page
Matthew Johnson, MA
Director, Alumni & Career Services
Goodwin Suite 480 | Room 475
[email protected]
630-829-6037