Job and Internship Strategies

On and off-campus Job Search Resources

Check out our Career Guide for career exploration strategies, resume and cover letter guidelines, interview preparation advice, and our various resources.  Consider following our 4-year Bridge to your Future plan. Take a moment to look over the key skills that employers look for in hiring, in our Professionalism Manual and Workbook.

In collaboration with the Office of International Education we have developed a comprehensive guide to employment for international students. Please refer to the Employment Information for International Students document. 

On Campus and Work Study Jobs Frequently Asked Questions

What are the student employment eligibility guidelines at FSU?

https://www.framingham.edu/Assets/uploads/about-fsu/human-resources/_documents/student-employment-acknowledgement-form.pdf

What is a Federal work-study? Federal Work-Study is money granted by the federal government through the FSU Financial Aid Department that is included in your financial aid package. You can redeem these funds by part time work at an on-campus job.

Where/How do I find out if I have a work-study or not? Log in to myframingham.com and click accounts. Search for the box titled Financial Aid Information. Click the hyperlink that says Review Account Details of Financial Aid Transactions. Once you are redirected to your financial aid information, click the tab that is labeled Awards. There, you should find a breakdown of all the financial aid granted to you for the school year.

An example would be: Federal Work-Study yes X__ No___ $1800

If you have a Federal Work-study what should you do to find a job?

The best way to look for a work-study job is to create your profile on Handshake (the FSU online job, work study and internship database) and look through the work study postings there. Or, make an appointment with the Career Services Office, 412 McCarthy Center, for help with finding a work study, on-campus job. Call the CSER Office at 508-626-4625, or make an appointment via starfish.framingham.edu. The CSER Office does not “give out” work study jobs. We are a resource to help you find one. Additionally, the CSER team will help you write a resume and cover letter, polish your interview skills, and help you with your internship and career plan.

To create your Handshake Profile, go to:

  • https://framingham.joinhandshake.com/
  • Select “Framingham State University” as your school
  • Enter your Framingham State email address (@student.framingham.edu)
  • If prompted to enter a password, use your FSU password
  • Follow any on screen instructions
  • You may need to verify your email address in your email inbox

Here is a sampling of the on campus departments that hire work study students:

  • Peer Mentor or Office Assistants at CASA
  • Office Assistant at the Registrar’s Office
  • Circulation Desk Assistant at the Whittemore Library
  • Set-up Crew for Campus Events
  • Office Assistants at the CSER Office
  • Grounds crew for Facilities
  • Desk Attendants at the Campus Police
  • Facility Manager at the Athletics Department
  • Lab Assistant in Biology/Chemistry Department
  • Check HANDSHAKE for more openings

What should you do if you feel you should have received work study funding but didn’t? There is an appeal procedure. Visit the Students Services Center, McCarthy Center Room 515 and request an appeal form. Often, your appeal will be successful as some students do not accept their work study which opens up spots for other students.

What should you do if you have not been awarded Federal Work Study funding but still need a job?

Sodexo is the largest non-work study employer on campus, hiring more than 100 students each year. In addition, there are 100’s of local jobs within a 5-mile radius of campus, many are listed on Handshake. You can also look for a non-work-study position on campus through Handshake.

Examples of non-work-study positions are:

  • Front Desk Receptionist in the Admissions Office
  • Cashiers at the Campus Bookstore
  • Set up or Tech Crew for Campus Events
  • Tutors in CASA
  • Student Shuttle Drivers for Facilities
  • Student Support Technician for ITS
  • On-Campus Internships
  • Staff Photographer for the Comm. Department
  • Security Desk Attendant for Residence Life

Resume and Cover Letters

Look at our Career Guide for resume and cover letter examples and how to write them effectively. The sample resumes present suggested formats describing your education, work and volunteer experience and the cover letters examples will emphasize how to stress how your specific skills match the job description. Virtually meet with a Career Counselor to review your resume and/or cover letter. Schedule an appointment through STARFISH or call 508-626-4625. Please refer to the list of helpful resources below!

Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS)

The Hispanic Educational Technology Services https://hets.org/ is the first bilingual consortium dedicated to serving the higher education needs of the fast-growing Hispanic communities. Framingham State University has exclusive access to innumerous services through the HETS Plaza Virtual. One of the most powerful tools among students is at the Student Placita.  The most popular is the Testing and Education Reference Center in which an exclusive account has been created for the use of the community at FSU. The password to access the database is state315 (case sensitive).

The password will provide access to:

  • Online practice tests and access to over 300 admission exams with real time response
  • Free eBooks to prepare them for the online practice tests
  • Scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships ·Internship opportunities and more

Under the Career Transitions section students will find all the necessary help to prepare them for job search.

  • Prepare for job search; write resumes, cover letters, etc.
  • Prepare for interviews with online simulators

Plaza Virtual

Student Placita

Testing and Education Reference Center

Interviewing

Review our Career Guide for interview preparation strategies. Schedule a virtual appointment with a Career Counselor through STARFISH. Prior to a job interview you can practice answering typical interview questions by scheduling a mock interview with a career counselor. You also will receive advice on how to make a good first impression with employers including guidance on proper interview attire, good body language and how to avoid common interview mistakes. The interview is truly the "make or break" moment. This is your opportunity to stand out from the competition. Interviews allow you to prove how you provide value to the organization plus you learn if the organization is a good fit for you. Please refer to the list of helpful resources below!

Mock Interview Assistance

Consider practicing for interviews virtually with a career counselor. Schedule a mock interview through STARFISH or through My Interview Simulator, this free program is designed to simulate a mock interview. Before you go to an actual job interview, one should practice and rehearse potential questions that can be asked. This will lead to a successful interview.

  • Be Prepared for Phone Interviews. Employers often use the phone interview to save time and quickly screen potential candidates during the first phase of the interviewing process. As a job seeker, you want to be prepared as if it was an in-person interview.
  • Anticipate questions. You can probably anticipate 90% of all questions that will be asked. For starters, tell me about yourself. What do you know about our organization? Why do you want to work for our organization? What interests you about the position? Behavior-based questions are very popular with employers so you want to use the Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR) approach to give very detailed answers stressing your specific skills and past experiences. The career counselors can help you identify your unique abilities to describe during an interview.
  • Dress for the part. You don't have to purchase an expensive suit, but you should have a suit. Wear minimal jewelry and use minimal amounts of perfume/aftershave.
  • Treat everyone you meet with respect. From the moment you get on the property to the moment you are leaving, you are on your interview. You never know if the person you didn't hold the door for at the elevator is the person who will be interviewing you. 
  • Follow-up after the interview. Sending a "thank you" has become a lost art. Whether it's by email, a handwritten note or a typed letter, thank everyone you meet for their time and consideration. Too many people don't send a thank note so you'll be remembered for following up professionally.

Dressing For Your Interview

If your field requires traditional formal work attire, see below for tips to help you select your attire. (Make sure you know your company’s dress culture).

Standard Interview Attire: The Suit

  • Choose a classic, neutral suit in charcoal, black, or navy. Pant or skirt suits are both appropriate. Whichever you select, ensure it fits properly and that it is work-appropriate.
  • Ensure your suit fits properly and you are comfortable in it.
  • The pant leg should touch the front of the shoe and fall just above the heel in the back. Pants can be cuffed or uncuffed.

The Dress Shirt

  • Choose shirts in a pale, subtle color (i.e., blue, white, ecru).
  • Avoid shirts with insignias.
  • Long sleeved, button-up shirts are most appropriate. Your shirt sleeve should extend beyond the suit jacket sleeves by half an inch.
  • Pointed collars give a more professional image than button-down collars, yet both are acceptable.
  • Wearing a crew-neck undershirt or camisole under your dress shirt is advisable.

Shoes/Belt

  • Shoes that match your suit or are slightly darker are the best choice in colors, such as brown, black, tan, or navy. The shoe should have a real sole (no sneakers, sandals, or street shoes) and a closed toe.
  • Avoid platform shoes and heels that are too high that they hamper your ability to walk well.
  • Shoes should be polished and in good condition.
  • Avoid wearing sport socks or ankle socks with dress shoes.
  • Belts should be in good condition and match the color of your shoes.

Find the balance between showing your personality and dressing according to what is appropriate for the job.

The Framingham State University Suitable Solutions fund offers support for students who, because of financial hardships, are not able to purchase professional interview attire. Please contact Career Services for more information.

FIRSTHAND

We are excited to share FIRSTHAND with our students!

  • Internship Database – find thousands of ratings and reviews of internship programs, requirements, sample interview questions, how to apply and more.
  • FIRSTHAND Job Board – search thousands of new jobs and internships posted daily, sign up for alerts based on your criteria, complete a profile and be seen by top employers and recruiters.
  • Company Profiles – rankings and reviews on industry reputation, career advancement, quality of life, salary & benefits, interview process and more.
  • Vault Guides – over 100 titles of award-winning career guides, including interview strategies, job-search tips, and full-length profiles of leading companies.
  • Access to Mentors
framingham.firsthand.co provides in-depth intelligence on what it's really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to land that job. Take advantage of your FREE access.