Student and Alumni - Benedictine University

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Students and Alumni

Career and Personal Development

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Career and Personal Development
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Student and Alumni

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Career and Personal Development
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Student and Alumni

Career and Personal Development

Career Connect Jump Start Guide

Students Connect Here

Alumni Connect Here

Career Connect

Activate your account and connect with leading employers for internships and jobs! 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:

Undergraduate Student Career Checklist

Explore, Experience, Engage, Emerge

What's your four-year plan?

Freshman Year: EXPLORE

Create your profile on the Career Connect where you will be able to upload a resume and connect with employers for future internships and jobs, and make an appointment with a career advisor to get acquainted with our services and resources. Need help writing or editing a resume? Drop in during walk-in hours for some one-on-one help or schedule an in person or virtual appointment.
Clarify your interests, values, skills and personality as they relate to potential career paths and professional activities. Take a career assessment, such as the PathwayU online assessment.
Research career fields to generate multiple ideas for your career life. Meet with a career adviser if you need help exploring options.
Start or revise your resume to apply for on-campus student employment or a part-time job elsewhere in the community.
Experience a variety of academic courses to help determine your areas of interest. Get to know your professors and take advantage of their office hours!
Get involved on campus with student groups and organizations, sports, or community activities.
Ask your career adviser for connections to professionals to conduct informational interviews and job shadows.
Make the grades and maintain a 3.0 GPA or above. Attend the Study Skills workshops and seek the help of peer tutors if needed from the Academic Support Center (ASC).

Sophomore Year: EXPERIENCE

Check in with your career adviser and revise and update your resume if needed. Continue your career exploration and research. Add to your professional online presence by creating a LinkedIn profile.
Connect with alumni through the BenU Network to complete informational interviews and job shadowing experiences to learn more your projected career path and feel more confident in your decisions.
Pursue leadership roles in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and volunteer efforts.
Seek part-time employment in a professional environment. Look at student employment opportunities on campus or other opportunities off campus through the two virtual career centers. Ask for help in revising your resume.
Declare your major. If you aren't certain about selecting a major, make an appointment to complete a career assessment through our office, and then meet with your academic advisor for helping crafting a class schedule.
Research and start to apply for externships and internships.
Look into additional experiential learning opportunities, such as study abroad.

Junior Year: ENGAGE

Make an appointment with your career advisor. Update your job search documents (resume and cover letter) and LinkedIn page.
Participate in internships and externships in your field.
Attend the BenU and CCCI internship and career fairs.
Research the job market in your areas of interest as well as graduate school. Utilize resources in the Career Resource Library to help in your research. Take practice entrance exams.
Attend workshops on preparing for graduate school, career and internship fairs.
Do your best to continue earning good grades. Remember employers and graduate schools often look for a 3.0 GPA and above.
Build your networking and interviewing skills. Attend networking events hosted by Career and Personal Development and Alumni Relations. Continue to utilize the BenU Network and remember to check in with your professional mentors.
Schedule a practice interview with a career advisor.
Attend a study abroad program, building your intercultural appreciation, language and communication skills, flexibility and adaptability.

Senior Year: EMERGE

Check in with our staff and review your campus-to-career plan. Reflect on all you have accomplished so far and do a skills assessment - what skills have you developed throughout all of your experiences as a college student?
Update your job search documents and LinkedIn profile. Set your job search objectives, create a timeline and keep a log of activities.
Submit your updated job search documents to the Career Connect.
Determine the parameters of your job search: geographic location, size and type of company you wish to work for, field, etc.
Identify target companies and organizations. Talk to your career advisor about how to tailor your cover letters and other documents to your targeted companies.
Continue networking: Attend events on campus and through professional associations of particular interest to you.
Actively seek, apply and interview for entry-level jobs. Participate in on-campus interviews when available; attend CCCI CareerFest; apply to jobs posted online; rely on your developing network for news about potential jobs that would be a good match for you.
Make an appointment to do a practice interview with your career advisor. Research starting salaries in your industry and talk about when and how to negotiate.
Begin building your professional wardrobe. Continue to attend networking events and practice professional communication and etiquette.
Good luck, and keep in touch! Let your career advisor know when you have accepted an internship or full-time position.

Alumni and Adult Student Career Checklist

What's Your Plan?

Explore, Experience, Engage, Emerge

EXPLORE and EXPERIENCE

Create or update your profile on Career Connect where you'll be able to upload a résumé and connect with employers for internships and jobs. Even if you aren’t looking for a new opportunity right now, registering on these sites will give you an understanding about employers who are seeking BenU students and alumni.
Explore career fields to determine what areas would be a great fit for you.
Revise your résumé and cover letter. Are you changing careers? Send an email to [email protected] to schedule an appointment with a career advisor for assistance.
Ask your career advisor for connections to professionals to conduct informational interviews and job shadows to gain specific insight into certain career paths or organizations of interest. To get started with this, be sure to join the BenU Network to connect with fellow alumni.
Check in with your career advisor and revise and update your résumé if needed. Continue your career exploration and research. Add to your professional online presence by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile.
Connect with fellow alumni and other community members to complete informational interviews and job shadowing experiences to learn more about your projected career path and feel confident in your decisions.
Speak with your academic advisor, professors, or former professors and ask for recommendations regarding networking opportunities.
If an internship is required in your degree, determine when you want to complete that experience so you can start a timeline for the application process.
Research and start to apply for internships or jobs.

ENGAGE and EMERGE

Make an appointment with a career advisor, and update your résumé, other job search documents and LinkedIn page as needed.
Keep a log of your accomplishments for greater ease in updating your résumé as you progress. Keep track of your networking and application activities as well.
Research the job market in your areas of interest as well as graduate school. Utilize online resources and those in the Career Resource Library in Career Connect.
Attend workshops as needed to strengthen your professional skills and preparedness.
Build your networking and interviewing skills. Attend networking events produced by the Office of Career Development and the Office of Alumni Relations.
Schedule a mock interview with your career advisor.
Set your job search objectives and create a timeline.
Submit your updated job search documents to Career Connect and other online sites you wish to use.
Determine the parameters of your job search: geographic location, size and type of company you wish to work for, field, etc.
Identify targeted companies and organizations. Talk to your career advisor about how to tailor your cover letters and other documents to your targeted companies.
Continue networking: Attend events on campus and through professional associations of particular interest to you. Connect with the Office of Alumni Relations to get connected with fellow Benedictine alumni. Join the BenU Network.
- Join the Benedictine Alumni Group on LinkedIn.
- Check out other networking opportunities.
Actively seek, apply and interview for jobs. Participate in on-campus interviews when available; attend CareerFest through the College Career Consortium of Illinois (CCCI); apply to jobs posted online; rely on your developing network for news about potential jobs that would be a good match for you.
Make an appointment to do a practice interview with your career advisor. Research starting salaries in your industry and talk about when and how to negotiate.
Continue to attend networking events and practice professional communication and etiquette.
Good luck and keep in touch! Let your career advisor know when you have accepted an internship or full-time position.

Graduate Student Career Checklist

What's Your Plan?

Explore, Experience, Engage, Emerge

Stage 1: EXPLORE

Make an appointment by emailing [email protected] to get acquainted with our services and resources. Think about what assistance you need in developing your "campus-to-career" plan.
Create or update your profile on Career Connect where you will be able to upload a résumé and connect with employers for future internships and jobs.
Research career fields and occupations to determine what might be the best fit for you.
Revise your résumé and cover letter.
Determine what activities in addition to your coursework will make you a more competitive applicant as you continue in your graduate degree program and after you graduate (e.g., part-time work, internship, volunteering, etc.).
Ask your career advisor for connections to professionals to conduct informational interviews and job shadowing experiences. Be sure to join the BenU Network!

Stage 2: EXPERIENCE

Check in with your career advisor and revise and update your résumé if needed. Continue your career exploration and research. Add to your professional online presence by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile.
Connect with alumni and other community members to complete informational interviews and job shadowing experiences to learn more about your projected career path and feel more confident in your decisions.
Meet with your academic advisor and ask for recommendations regarding networking opportunities.
If an internship is required in your degree, determine when you want to complete that experience so you can start a timeline for the application process. The following programs may have an internship program:
- M.S. in Dietetic Internship Program
- M.P.H. Internship Program
- M.B.A. Internship Program
- M.S. in Clinical Exercise Physiology

Contact your academic advisor if you have questions about internships for credit.
Research and start to apply for internships.
Look into additional experiential learning opportunities, such as studying or working abroad.

Stage 3: ENGAGE

Make an appointment with your career advisor. Update your job search documents and LinkedIn page.
Attend BenU and CCCI internship and career fairs.
Participate in internships and externships in your field. Keep a log of your accomplishments for greater ease in updating your résumé.
Research the job market in your areas of interest as well as graduate school. Utilize resources in the Career Resource Library in Career Connect to help in your research.
Attend workshops as needed to strengthen your professional skills and preparedness.
Do your best to continue earning good grades and take on leadership roles in your program.
Build your networking and interviewing skills. Attend networking events produced by our office or the Office of Alumni Relations.
Schedule a practice interview with your career advisor.

Stage 4: EMERGE

Check in with your career advisor and review your campus-to-career plan. Update your job search documents and LinkedIn profile. Set your job search objectives and create a timeline and activity log.
Submit your updated job search documents to the virtual career centers.
Determine the parameters of your job search: geographic location, size and type of company you wish to work for, field, etc.
Identify targeted companies and organizations. Talk to your career advisor about how to tailor your cover letters and other documents to your targeted companies.
Continue networking: Attend events on campus and through professional associations of particular interest to you. Join the BenU Network and connect with the Office of Alumni Relations to get connected with fellow Benedictine alumni.
Actively seek, apply and interview for jobs. Participate in on-campus interviews when available; attend CareerFest through the College Career Consortium of Illinois (CCCI); apply to jobs posted online; rely on your developing network for news about potential jobs that would be a good match for you.
Make an appointment to do a practice interview with your career advisor. Research starting salaries in your industry and talk about when and how to negotiate.
Continue to attend networking events and practice professional communication and etiquette.

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 and jobs 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).

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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 or a job. 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.