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Internship & Job Search

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Get an Internship
Connect With Recruiters
Find Opportunities Online
Global Internships
Academic Job Search

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KNOW YOURSELF

  • Explore who you are. Identify your personal interests, skills, values, and what you want out of a career. Check out the Career Decision Making Model for more guidance with this step.
  • Match your skills to needs. Investigate what companies are looking for by reading job descriptions relevant to your field. Establish a list of desirable skills and qualities they want and see if these can be incorporated into your personal brand, resume and cover letter. Check out the Draft a Resume or CV and Build Your Network page for more info.

 

CREATE AN ACTION PLAN

  • Assemble a list of target companies that match your interests, skills and values.
  • Research each organization and the available career opportunities.
  • Set, track and meet short-term goals, urgent deadlines and small milestones. Every minute counts in the job search process!

 

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK

  • Conduct informational interviews with various contacts and companies in order to gain insight into your field’s job search process
  • Join professional associations and alumni clubs, and maintain regular contact with those you meet.
  • Utilize social media to connect with professionals in your area of interest. Read blogs or articles in areas that pertain to your field and contribute to the conversation.
  • Ask your network for leads or advice.
  • Talk to you adviser and professors about possible opportunities.
  • Visit the Center for Career Opportunities in Young Hall, Rm 132 for job search tips during Drop-Ins.

 

Want more advice? View a CareerSpots video.

 

Get an Internship

INTERNSHIPS

Resources to research internship opportunities

Internships may be paid, unpaid or give college credit. Check with your academic advisor about opportunities for internship credit.

  • myCCO: Internship and job board for Purdue students and alumni

 

Co-op Ed/Internships for Credit

 

Purdue - West Lafayette Campus

Internships

Entrepreneurial and Co-ops

Research

 

State of Indiana

 

Political Internships

 

Government Internships

 

Sustainability and Community Service

Connect With Recruiters

CONNECT WITH RECRUITERS @ CAREER FAIRS and INFORMATION SESSIONS

Recruiters visit campus throughout the academic year in order to find students to interview for internships and jobs. The best way to take advantage of these opportunities is to create a myCCO account. Visit the CAREER FAIR SCHEDULE page to explore which career fairs are happening NOW! 

 

HOW TO CONQUER CAREER FAIRS

Attending a career fair allows you to meet with multiple company representatives in one day. Explore the suggestions below to learn how to take advantage of these opportunities.

BEFORE THE FAIR

  • Check out the companies that are attending the career fair, narrow your list down to companies and opportunities that interest you most, and rank them in order of importance.
  • Do your homework. Before you show up, research your target companies so you can talk about something different than everyone else in line. Look at press releases, blogs, the Career Wiki and company social media pages for a few ideas.
  • Dress to impress and make sure you avoid wearing t-shirts, jeans, hats and short skirts.
  • Have a good handshake and practice it before the fair.
  • Prepare more than enough copies of your polished resume. Not only do you want an error-free resume that includes all pertinent information about yourself, you need to have enough.
  • Create and practice a 30 second commercial that includes your name, major, when you’re graduating, what position you’re applying for, and a summary of your relevant skills and experience. Keep it conversational, and try to end with a question to engage the recruiter.

DURING THE FAIR

  • Walk around to become acquainted with the layout of the fair. Check out how long the lines are for certain companies. HINT: Even though a company may be low on your list, consider speaking to their recruiters if the line is shorter. This will also allow you to practice your 30 second commercial and get out some of your nervousness before you approach one of your higher ranked companies.
  • Consider asking the recruiter a question.  Some examples include: Are you familiar with my major? What qualifications are you looking for in a candidate? How can I arrange an interview with your organization? What is your application process? When should I begin applying in relation to my graduation date?
  • Talk to the recruiter and show your personality. Don’t get distracted by the free stuff and giveaways, or look in the sky or ground because you’re nervous. Maintain eye contact and don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm for the company and position. REMEMBER: recruiters are people too and they were once in the same position you are in now!
  • Ask for the recruiter's business card and write notes about your conversation. 

AFTER THE FAIR

  • Follow-up with companies within 24 hours to restate interest. Ask questions about next steps.
  • Consider connecting with them on LinkedIn.

 

HOW TO CONQUER INFORMATION SESSIONS

Information sessions allow organizations to communicate their brand, mission, and employment opportunities. Attending an information session shows a recruiter you’re interested and gives you the opportunity to learn the basic facts about the company culture and position you’re applying for so you can be better prepared by the time your interview rolls around.

See when companies are coming to campus by logging into myCCO!

Find Opportunities Online

FIND OPPORTUNITIES ONLINE

Explore the tools below to research and identify internships and job opportunities within your field.

  • INDemand Jobs: Find high-demand, high-wage Indiana jobs based on future growth and wages.
  • myCCO: Find internship & full-time opportunities, apply for positions and schedule interviews with companies wanting to hire Boilermakers
  • 21st Century Partners Program: Research over 40 companies who actively recruit Purdue students by partnering with the CCO
  • Career Decision-Making Model: Explore the Gain Relevant Experience page of the CCO website to find internship, research, co-op, study abroad, part-time work, volunteer opportunities, service learning, and study abroad experiences.
  • Resources to research internship opportunities: Find opportunities for community service learning, co-op's and internships, and part time local employment.
  • LinkedIn: Follow company pages, join groups of interest and take advantage of the jobs section. HINT: If you join groups relevant to your field, your network expands greatly and you are able to see the profiles of more professionals. Check out the Build Your Network page for more info on how to network with alumni and professionals who are in careers that interest you!
  • Career Research Portal: Explore the CCO Career Wiki to investigate company profiles, industry analysis and market research reports.
  • Job sites targeted towards your area: Find job search engines and professional associations related to your field. 

 

Check out Ace the Interview for information on how to make the most of your interview process!

Global Internships

Global Internship Opportunity

Offices across Purdue University are committed to provide meaningful internship opportunities for Boilermakers!

 

Purdue myCCO offers a filtering process that will take some time to work through but it’s worth the time investment. Registrants in myCCO invited to consult the “Extended Job Search” tab in left-hand column of your Student Desktop.  

 Purdue Study Abroad Internships offer various internship opportunities through the Study Abroad Program.

Purdue Office of Professional Practice – International Internships  enable students become international leaders.

Purdue CLA Global Internships allow students to live, learn, and work in another culture for a month while earning Purdue credit.  

Purdue Global Engineering Programs offer undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to engage in the research and development of high-impact international development innovations.

Academic Job Search

SUCCEED IN THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH

PREPARE A RESEARCH STATEMENT

A research statement is a clear and concise summary of your research and dissertation with a focus on the future direction of your research. Think about how your research and dissertation will fit into your future experience and institution you are applying to.

  • Include a concise discussion of your dissertation, and relate previous research into future projects or related research programs.
  • Express the relevance of your work to larger intellectual interests.
  • Answer the questions, “Why does knowing about ______ matter?” and “What will that project tell them what they don’t already know?”
  • Mention the future direction of your dissertation research and the important and innovative directions your research may take.

PREPARE A TEACHING STATEMENT

A teaching statement is a personal mission statement for anyone whose assignment is to help others learn.

  • Use any specific instructions in the job posting as a guide.
  • Length: 1-2 pages
  • Use present tense to reflect your experiences and beliefs.
  • Include discipline specific standards when necessary (avoid technical terms).
  • Make your statement unique and set yourself apart from other candidates.
  • Discuss your philosophy of teaching and learning.
  • Describe your approach to teaching.
  • Provide documentation of your effective teaching strategies.
MyCCO Tips
Participation Agreement
Missed Interview Policy
MyCCO Tips
Participation Agreement
Missed Interview Policy

WHAT IS MyCCO?

MyCCO is where Purdue University students and alumni search and apply for internships and full-time positions, schedule interviews, and see what companies are coming to campus for career fairs and information sessions.

HOW DO I ACCESS MY ACCOUNT?

If you are a current student, simply click the Login button to the left and enter your Purdue login and password.

HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY ACCOUNT?

Edit Profile Privacy to be included in Resume Books and receive emails from myCCO.

Resume Books are a feature of myCCO that allow employers to pull resumes from students who meet the criteria of a position they are looking to fill.  When you say Yes to Resume Books in the Privacy section in your Account Settings, you have more opportunities to have your resume seen by employers.

Upload Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript

Your myCCO account will not be active until you upload a resume

  1. Click on “Resumes ETC” on the left side navigation bar
    2. Select “Add New”
    3. Add a descriptive label to help you remember each document. Employers will not be able to see the label.
    4. Select your document type. Use “Other Documents” for your transcript.

Search and Apply for Jobs & On-Campus Interviews
1. Click on “Jobs” on the left side navigation bar.

  1. Click on “Discover.”
    3. Use the search bar and the “More Filters” search options to find job postings relevant you.
  2. Click the “Apply” button and submit the required documents. If you see you are Not Qualified, it means you do not meet all screening criteria, including major, degree, graduation date, and work authorization.
    Note: Read the job posting carefully as the employer may also refer you to the company website to apply.

Create Job Alert
1. Using the My Filters dropdown, select your criteria and click “Apply.”
2. Click “Create Job Alert”
3. You can then go to the “Job Alerts” located under the Search key to see all of your saved searches and select how often you would like to receive emails with your alerts. You can    also delete job alerts.

 

WHAT ELSE COMES WITH MyCCO ACCOUNT?

From the myCCO Desktop, select the “Resources” tab for access to additional resources that are exclusive to Purdue student:

  1. Career Spots Videos is a virtual library of various careers and expert advice from professionals on how to find a job and internship.
  2. Career Explorer uses U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online to learn more about careers
  3. Career Finder helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.
  4. Diligence Lab helps you know what your online presence says about you to possible future employers.
  5. Mergent Online Database offers a wealth of textual detail on companies
  6. Career Beam is a full service career development portal designed to provide all the resources necessary to guide individuals through the strategic job search process and achieve their career goals.
  7. Big Interview helps you learn and practice your interview skills whether you are interviewing for a job or graduate school.
  8. Versatile PhD is an online resource to help graduate students and PhDs in all fields identify, prepare for, and succeed in non-academic careers.
  9. JobNow provides you with practical tools to help you get a job.
  10. Ascend Indiana is a catalyst across industry sectors to help connect the supply of skilled talent to demand from Indiana employers.
  11. MBA Exchange is a job search tool dedicated to business school students and alumni with global coverage.

Have questions? Please contact the CCO at askcco@purdue.edu.

I agree to:

Accurate Information: Certify my job search documents to be truthful and accurate

Grant Access: Allow CCO to provide my job search documents to prospective employers

Honor Commitments: Keep all appointments that I've scheduled with employers and CCO Staff

Genuine Interest: Sign up for interviews with only employers with whom I'm interested in working

Professional Conduct: Accept an offer of employment in good faith and immediately notify employers of acceptance or non-acceptance of the offer. Withdraw from interviewing process and no longer pursue positions with other employers

Report Suspicious Inqueries: Understand that job seekers can be deceived by organizations posing as legitimate employers. Evidence of this behavior includes requests for personal information (i.e. social security numbers or credit card numbers) and requests for money. If you're suspicious of such an organization, do not respond to them and please share details with us at askcco@purdue.edu

Consequences for Non-Compliance: Accept that failure to adhere to any point in this agreement may result in the removal of my interview privileges in the Center for Career Opportunities

The CCO agrees to:

Provide Services: Assist you with your career decision-making and job search activities

Access of Information: Provide access to a range of career opportunities and types of employers

Non-Discrimination: Provide access and reasonable accommodations to prospective employers without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability

Protect Confidentiality: Exercise sound judgment and fairness in maintaining your confidentiality

Student Advocacy: Respond to employer EEO non-compliance concerns and unethical behavior. Follow-up with those posting suspicious vacancies, when possible, and consult with students and alumni affected by this dubious behavior

On-campus Interviewing: Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy

If you must miss an interview, you are required to cancel it in advance. When you fail to cancel your interviews in a timely fashion or do not appear for your interviews, your actions reflect poorly on you as an individual and on the University as a whole. Not only do you inconvenience the employer, but you may also deprive another student of a valuable interview opportunity. These situations, if unchecked may also have more serious implications on the University's relationships with employers overall.

Therefore, the Center for Career Opportunities treats these incidents very seriously and advises you to take special note of the following Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy.

Interview Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations will NOT be accepted via email or voice mail.
  • Students must appear in person in Young 132 to complete paper work before an interview can be cancelled
  • Students are required to give three business days or 72 hours notice to cancel an interview
  • Always investigate an alternate date with the employer before you cancel an interview
  • It is your responsibility to speak personally with the employer representative and explain why you will not be attending the interview. Be aware, however that the employer may still report you to the CCO
  • If you cancel an appointment directly with an employer, remember to also contact the CCO
  • Regional Campus Students ( Purdue Calumet, IUPUI, Purdue North Central and IUPU Ft Wayne ) are required to work through their Regional Career Services office to cancel interviews. The Regional Campus Liaison will forward the information regarding the cancellation

Sudden Illness or Serious Personal Emergency on Interview Day

  • Students are expected to contact the CCO (765) 494 - 3981 prior to their interview time. Employers check-in between 8 and 8:30 AM and should be notified prior to that time

Employers typically are not in the office on weekends. Monday appointments should be cancelled no later than Friday morning.

If you miss an interview:

  • Your myCCO account will be locked
  • You will receive an e-mail from CCO with instructions to come to Young 132 immediately to resolve this matter
  • You will be required to meet with a walk-in counselor and discuss the reason you missed the business appointment to which you committed
  • The discussion and your reason for missing the interview will determine whether or not your file will be reactivated and if you will have the opportunity to use myCCO in the future.

What is myCCO?

MyCCO is where Purdue University students and alumni search and apply for internships and full-time positions, schedule interviews, and see what companies are coming to campus for career fairs and information sessions.

How can myCCO help me?

Employers posting jobs, internships, and other opportunities on myCCO want YOU. Using the myCCO service allows you to take advantage of Purdue University’s reputation and vast network of industry connections.

How do I get a myCCO account?

  1. As a first time user enter your PUID as both your user name and password.(NOTE: the first 2 digits MUST be a double zero (00) even if they're not included in your current PUID. For example: 0012345678). Your PUID (with the double zero) will always be your username to log in to myCCO. Once you have completed your myCCO profile, the system will send an email with your "NEW" password.
  2. Read the “Participation Agreement” and “Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy” before clicking “I Agree to Terms.”
  3. Complete all required fields when completing your profile.

* If you need to request your PU-ID: Click here to submit the Alumni PU-ID Request form and the CCO will respond to your request within 3-5 business days. 

HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY ACCOUNT?

Edit Profile Privacy to be included in Resume Books and receive emails from myCCO.

Resume Books are a feature of myCCO that allow employers to pull resumes from students who meet the criteria of a position they are looking to fill.  When you say Yes to Resume Books in the Privacy section in your Account Settings, you have more opportunities to have your resume seen by employers.

Upload Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript

Your myCCO account will not be active until you upload a resume

  1. Click on “Resumes ETC” on the left side navigation bar
    2. Select “Add New”
    3. Add a descriptive label to help you remember each document. Employers will not be able to see the label.
    4. Select your document type. Use “Other Documents” for your transcript.

Search and Apply for Jobs & On-Campus Interviews
1. Click on “Jobs” on the left side navigation bar.

  1. Click on “Discover.”
    3. Use the search bar and the “More Filters” search options to find job postings relevant you.
  2. Click the “Apply” button and submit the required documents. If you see you are Not Qualified, it means you do not meet all screening criteria, including major, degree, graduation date, and work authorization.
    Note: Read the job posting carefully as the employer may also refer you to the company website to apply.

Create Job Alert
1. Using the My Filters dropdown, select your criteria and click “Apply.”
2. Click “Create Job Alert”
3. You can then go to the “Job Alerts” located under the Search key to see all of your saved searches and select how often you would like to receive emails with your alerts. You can    also delete job alerts.

 

WHAT ELSE COMES WITH MyCCO ACCOUNT?

From the myCCO Desktop, select the “Resources” tab for access to additional resources that are exclusive to Purdue student:

  1. Career Spots Videos is a virtual library of various careers and expert advice from professionals on how to find a job and internship.
  2. Career Explorer uses U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online to learn more about careers
  3. Career Finder helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.
  4. Diligence Lab helps you know what your online presence says about you to possible future employers.
  5. Mergent Online Database offers a wealth of textual detail on companies
  6. Career Beam is a full service career development portal designed to provide all the resources necessary to guide individuals through the strategic job search process and achieve their career goals.
  7. Big Interview helps you learn and practice your interview skills whether you are interviewing for a job or graduate school.
  8. Versatile PhD is an online resource to help graduate students and PhDs in all fields identify, prepare for, and succeed in non-academic careers.
  9. JobNow provides you with practical tools to help you get a job.
  10. Ascend Indiana is a catalyst across industry sectors to help connect the supply of skilled talent to demand from Indiana employers.
  11. MBA Exchange is a job search tool dedicated to business school students and alumni with global coverage.

Have questions? Please contact the CCO at askcco@purdue.edu.

 

I agree to:

Accurate Information: Certify my job search documents to be truthful and accurate

Grant Access: Allow CCO to provide my job search documents to prospective employers

Honor Commitments: Keep all appointments that I've scheduled with employers and CCO Staff

Genuine Interest: Sign up for interviews with only employers with whom I'm interested in working

Professional Conduct: Accept an offer of employment in good faith and immediately notify employers of acceptance or non-acceptance of the offer. Withdraw from interviewing process and no longer pursue positions with other employers

Report Suspicious Inqueries: Understand that job seekers can be deceived by organizations posing as legitimate employers. Evidence of this behavior includes requests for personal information (i.e. social security numbers or credit card numbers) and requests for money. If you're suspicious of such an organization, do not respond to them and please share details with us at askcco@purdue.edu

Consequences for Non-Compliance: Accept that failure to adhere to any point in this agreement may result in the removal of my interview privileges in the Center for Career Opportunities

The CCO agrees to:

Provide Services: Assist you with your career decision-making and job search activities

Access of Information: Provide access to a range of career opportunities and types of employers

Non-Discrimination: Provide access and reasonable accommodations to prospective employers without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability

Protect Confidentiality: Exercise sound judgment and fairness in maintaining your confidentiality

Student Advocacy: Respond to employer EEO non-compliance concerns and unethical behavior. Follow-up with those posting suspicious vacancies, when possible, and consult with students and alumni affected by this dubious behavior

On-campus Interviewing: Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy

If you must miss an interview, you are required to cancel it in advance. When you fail to cancel your interviews in a timely fashion or do not appear for your interviews, your actions reflect poorly on you as an individual and on the University as a whole. Not only do you inconvenience the employer, but you may also deprive another student of a valuable interview opportunity. These situations, if unchecked may also have more serious implications on the University's relationships with employers overall.

Therefore, the Center for Career Opportunities treats these incidents very seriously and advises you to take special note of the following Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy.

Interview Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations will NOT be accepted via email or voice mail.
  • Students must appear in person in Young 132 to complete paper work before an interview can be cancelled
  • Students are required to give three business days or 72 hours notice to cancel an interview
  • Always investigate an alternate date with the employer before you cancel an interview
  • It is your responsibility to speak personally with the employer representative and explain why you will not be attending the interview. Be aware, however that the employer may still report you to the CCO
  • If you cancel an appointment directly with an employer, remember to also contact the CCO
  • Regional Campus Students ( Purdue Calumet, IUPUI, Purdue North Central and IUPU Ft Wayne ) are required to work through their Regional Career Services office to cancel interviews. The Regional Campus Liaison will forward the information regarding the cancellation

Sudden Illness or Serious Personal Emergency on Interview Day

  • Students are expected to contact the CCO (765) 494 - 3981 prior to their interview time. Employers check-in between 8 and 8:30 AM and should be notified prior to that time

Employers typically are not in the office on weekends. Monday appointments should be cancelled no later than Friday morning.

If you miss an interview:

  • Your myCCO account will be locked
  • You will receive an e-mail from CCO with instructions to come to Young 132 immediately to resolve this matter
  • You will be required to meet with a walk-in counselor and discuss the reason you missed the business appointment to which you committed
  • The discussion and your reason for missing the interview will determine whether or not your file will be reactivated and if you will have the opportunity to use myCCO in the future.
I do not agree to the terms outlined above.
I agree to the terms outlined above.