Job Search Resources
On behalf of the Framingham State University Career Services and Employer Relations, we are excited to announce the launch of HANDSHAKE, a modern platform for college recruiting. Handshake has replaced RAMTRACK as FSU’s primary job search board. For more information please click here https://www.framingham.edu/the-fsu-difference/career-services/Handshake/index.html.
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.
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. Meet with a Career Counselor to review your resume and/or cover letter. To schedule an appointment, call 508-626-4625 or stop in room 412 in the McCarthy Center. 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
Testing and Education Reference Center
Interviewing
Review our Career Guide for interview preparation strategies. Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor. 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
In addition to meeting with a career counselor in the CSER office, please consider practicing for interviews on these two free practice sites:
Interview4 offers job candidates a FREE online video tool to hone interviewing skills, as well as practice video interviewing and your elevator pitch. As more employers adopt video interviewing, expect to be asked to interview online. You need to use your tablet, phone, or stop by the office (MC 412) to use our web cam.
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 (if possible, avoid altogether).
- 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
The Framingham State University Suitable Solutions fund offers support for students who, because of financial hardships, are not able to purchase professional interview attire. The goal of the Suitable Solutions Program is to enable eligible students an opportunity to receive a “clothing stipend” of $50 in order to acquire professional attire for internship opportunities and job interviews. Please refer to the list of helpful resources below!
Disabilities
There are different possibilities and options and our goal is to help you reach your goal. We strive to always be supportive in helping you navigate your career search. Contact us to meet with a career counselor to discuss your career planning questions.
Get connected and stay connected with the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA)
View additional resources about Massachusetts Agency programs and divisions and Work Without Limits.
LGBT Considerations
When preparing for work or graduate school after Framingham State University, as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) student, you may find yourself faced with career planning challenges related to your sexual orientation. We strive to always be supportive in helping you navigate your career search. Contact us to meet with a career counselor to discuss your career planning questions.
Resources for Veterans
Veterans have the opportunity and the skill sets to enter a variety of industries. You bring experience from both inside and beyond the classroom. Contact us to meet with a career counselor to discuss your career planning questions.
Be sure to connect with the Office of Veterans Services
Resources for International Students
Here is a document with some information about employment for international students. Stop by the Office of International Education for more information.
Director: Jane Decatur
E-mail: jdecatur@framingham.edu
Phone: 1-508-626-4585
Location: Dwight Hall 302.
You can find these resources and more in the Career Services office:
We are excited to share Vault with our students!
Vault.com 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:
- Internship Database – find thousands of ratings and reviews of internship programs, requirements, sample interview questions, how to apply and more.
- Vault 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.
To access Vault please click the link below:
Vault Access
Vault: Internship Rankings & Intern Reviews
We are excited to provide you with CareerSpots videos!
A fun, fast way to get job search advice and information on over six-hundred career and occupational fields from over fifty global professionals in thirty-seconds to three minutes!
Find tips and answers to your toughest questions about landing a job or internship that's right for you.