Now more than ever internships and experiential learning are vital for our Political Science & Legal Studies students. Here at Suffolk we are committed to helping you find the right path for you career goals! Check out our internship opportunities, resume + interview tips and more!
| Undergraduate Legal Studies Internship Advisor | Graham Kelder | gkelder@suffolk.edu |
| Political Science Internship Advisor | Christina Kulich | ckulichvamvakas@suffolk.edu |
1. Define your field of interest and the skills/ experiences you bring
Explore your field of interest so you know the different job titles you should be searching for: you may want to make a list of relevant job titles or search terms and use that list as a reference throughout your search. Confer with resources such as My Next Move, Career One Stop, and the Suffolk University Career Communities overview of different industry careers.
2. Write a tailored resume and cover letter
Develop two resumes, one targeted to your primary career interest and a more generic version that can serve additional purposes. Remove irrelevant experience from your résumé, and make sure it is easy to read with no typos, well organized, and clearly shows your qualifications. Always include a cover letter (unless told otherwise by the employer) with key words and phrases from the job description or website.
3. Network Utilize Multiple Resources
Ask family, friends, colleagues, faculty, administrators, alumni, affinity groups – for referrals to people in your field. Arrange face-face meetings and leave each one with a referral, a new resource, a job lead, and/or advice. Break out of your comfort zone—meet people, be visible in your field, ask for help and advice, initiate and follow-up. If you feel you need to grow your professional network, check out RAMP or the Job Shadowing Program.
Utilize social media as a job search and networking tool to keep in touch with new contacts, especially LinkedIn. You may also find helpful information or job listings through industry and professional association websites, employment agencies, job search support groups.
4. Attend Job Fairs and Initiate Employer Contacts
Attend the annual Career Center job fair in the spring semester, other Career Events on campus related to your field, and other career fairs in the surrounding area to help you seek out employers. Reach out to the ones most relevant to you and prepare; recognize that employers are pre-screening for candidates whom they may want to interview later. Be sure to follow up.
Target employers you have an interest in and send a cover letter and resume to the hiring manager or a relevant contact. Consider keeping a target list of 20-30 employers that you can reference throughout your search.
5. Consider Short-term Alternatives and Persist
Enhance your skills and build your network through part-time, freelance, or temporary work or through internships in your field. Pursue training opportunities to develop and add skills – LinkedIn Learning is a great place to explore and build skills.
Expect a 3-6 month campaign. Be prepared to speak succinctly and enthusiastically about your chosen career path. Always follow up. Stay focused, determined, and committed.