Internship and Job-Search Information
Career Services is here to help you with developing a job search plan, understanding the interviewing process, employer relations, networking, and more.
Job Search
Saint Louis University Career Services has many resources for you to use during your job search process, both online and in person.
Handshake is your comprehensive resource for all things related to SLU Career Services. Tailored for college students, Handshake provides a variety of tools and a user-friendly online career database. To learn more, visit our Handshake Career Database page, or log in below.
Did you know that only 20% of jobs are ever advertised? The remaining 80% represent the "hidden job market." This is where networking comes in. Usually, companies will look to people within the organization or to individuals who come recommended to them by people within the organization. This type of recruitment is very cost-efficient for companies.
Networking is important for everyone, regardless of occupation or career path, and involves establishing, building, and maintaining professional relationships. To learn more, check out our Networking Guide.
Job Search Academy is a free, virtual career-development program created through our partnership with Indeed to help students and alumni excel in their job searches. It presents all of Indeed's resources and educational programs in one place, helping make the job search more accessible.
Career counselors are available for virtual and in-person appointments covering any career-related topic. This includes mock interviews, resume and cover letter reviews, career counseling, career planning, job or internship searches, and much more.
To learn more, visit our Career Counseling and Exploration page below.
Internship Search
As you explore your various career options, an internship can help you:
- Apply knowledge you've learned in the classroom in a professional setting
- Find out if a career field is right for you (or not)
- Make connections with people doing the kind of work you want to do
- Get real-world experience that will impress employers more than just your major or GPA
Utilize Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, or other job search platforms to search for internship opportunities.
Handshake is your comprehensive resource for all things related to SLU Career Services. Tailored for college students, Handshake provides a variety of tools and a user-friendly online career database. To learn more, visit our Handshake Career Database page, or log in below.
Students who want to earn credit for an internship begin the process by creating an Experiential Learning Report in Handshake.
The Handshake experience request will be routed to your faculty sponsor for review. This ensures that everyone is on the same page for the internship and learning objectives.
Once the faculty sponsor has approved, you will receive a Learning Contract and Liability Waiver via DocuSign.
Scholarly Undergraduate Research Grants and Experiences (SURGE)
This program is meant to provide a path to connect students with faculty who are conducting research, creative endeavors, and other scholarly projects at SLU.
You can apply to opportunities posted in Handshake under the SURGE employer profile (search ‘SLU SURGE’). You must provide a resume and a statement of purpose (cover letter) explaining why you want to be involved with this project.
The applications will go to the faculty member overseeing the project, and they will choose whom they wish to hire.
If you are ready to report an experiential learning opportunity, you can do so on the Handshake platform. Please see the PDF guide to complete this process.
Employer Connections
Employers and other organizations visit campus throughout the academic year. The most common ways employers connect with students on campus are through career fairs and events, on-campus interviewing, and at information tables and sessions. Check Handshake for more information on our career fairs and when employers are on campus.
Organizations representing a diverse range of career opportunities schedule on-campus interviews at SLU. Students will have an opportunity to schedule an on-campus interview for full-time, internship, and summer opportunities. Off-campus interviews for jobs and internships may be scheduled at any time throughout the year.
All on-campus interviews are held at the SLU Career Services office in Griesedieck Hall, Lower Level, Suite 130, unless otherwise noted. You must register in Handshake to take part.
Contact Career Services at 314-977-2828 or career_services@slu.edu if you have any questions.
If a student is unable to attend a scheduled interview or meeting for a virtual fair, they must use Handshake to "cancel meeting," "decline interview," "cancel sign-up," or "withdraw application," or notify Career Services at least 24 hours before the scheduled time as to why they cannot attend. If they do not take these steps, they will be considered a "No Show" and will immediately be suspended from on-campus interviewing and blocked from the Handshake database. The student must write a letter of apology to the company and submit a copy to Career Services. Once confirmation is received that the letter has been sent, the suspension will be lifted and the block removed.
Students who are invited for an interview and do not sign up or elect to decline the interview through Handshake will follow the above protocol.
Should a second offense occur, students must meet with the director of Career Services. Disciplinary action will be discussed at that time.
In an effort for Career Services to maintain good standing with our employers, once a student has accepted an internship or full-time job offer, they may not interview for other positions through Handshake.
A violation of this policy may result in immediate suspension from on-campus interviewing and the use of Handshake.
If informed by an employer that a student has reneged on an accepted offer, the student will immediately be suspended from on-campus interviewing and blocked from the Handshake database. The student must meet with a Career Services staff person to discuss the rationale and consequences of their decision. If deemed necessary, the student must write a letter of apology to the company and submit a copy to Career Services. Once confirmation is received that the letter has been sent, the suspension will be lifted and block removed.
Should a second offense take place, the student will be permanently blocked from participating in on-campus interviewing and permanently blocked from using Handshake.
Internship and Job Search Events
Career Services hosts many events that can help you land a great internship or job. We host various career expo/fairs every semester.
Follow the link below to view upcoming events:
Supporting Candidates with Disabilities
The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP), coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Defense, is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and select private-sector employers with highly motivated college students, graduate students, and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
If you are interested in applying to the program and interviewing with a representative from WRP, please visit WRP.gov to get started. Please use a computer or tablet and not a mobile device.
Eligible students must:
- Have a disability and be eligible under the Schedule A hiring authority
- Be a United States citizen or national
- Be currently enrolled in a degree program on a substantially full-time basis OR have graduated with a degree on or after April 1, 2019
- Send any general questions that you may have to career_services@slu.edu.
For assistance with any documents, please email Marketing Coordinator Noah Jones at noah.jones.1@slu.edu.