FAQs

School and grades are important for sure. But so is figuring out what you want to do after the four years fly by. Even as a freshman, you should be exploring opportunities. Many companies hire students for internships as sophomores (and then rehire them as juniors and then offer full-time jobs as seniors).

Students are encouraged to meet with the Baylor University Career Center during their freshman year. A dedicated Career Success Professional (CSP) will introduce career discovery and the resume template that has led so many of our students to career success. Students should meet with their CSP at least once a year until graduation. CSPs will cover the career success steps needed each year to help you achieve your career goals.

Handshake is the Career Center’s all-in-one platform, available to all Baylor University students for communication, resources, events, and jobs and internships. (Baylor.JoinHandshake.com) It’s the #1 place for Baylor students to apply for jobs, internships, and other employment opportunities. But, it’s much more than just a job board. Here are some key things to know:

Handshake is only for college students.

• It’s also college specific - meaning, at Baylor, everything in Handshake is specifically for Baylor students.

Handshake is a one-stop shop for all Baylor career events.

• Students can find details and register for company information sessions, networking events, workshops, and career fairs.

Handshake provides students with access to premium career resources.

• Students have access to résumé tools, interviewing tips, best practice guides, and much more. They can also book appointments with a Career Success Professional that specializes in their major and area of interest. To make an appointment, first log in to Handshake. Then, click on the Career Center tab on the left-hand side of the screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab, choose Schedule A New Appointment, then select your area of study to schedule an appointment with a Career Center CSP.

Handshake is our all-in-one platform for communication, resources, events, and jobs and internships. In Handshake, students can find details about information sessions hosted by companies, on-campus hiring events (career fairs and interviews), virtual career events, available internships and full-time jobs. It also includes tools to help students create strong resumes, perform confidently in interviews, and research company information and cost of living. Students can also schedule one-on-one appointments with career coaches who can help and encourage them with each step of their career search.

The Career Center provides a variety of services and resources to all Baylor University students. Our Career Success Professionals (CSPs) coach students in career discovery and exploration, resume and cover letter review, career fair preparation, personal branding, graduate school planning, job or internship search best practices, mock interviews, and job offer negotiation. Students can make appointments for all of these services in Handshake. To make an appointment, first log in to Handshake. Then, click on the Career Center tab on the left-hand side of the screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab, choose Schedule A New Appointment, then select your area of study to schedule an appointment with a Career Center CSP.

The Baylor University Career Center can be described as an empowerment model. Your dedicated Career Success Professional (CSP) will teach you a variety of career and job search skills that you will use for a lifetime. These skills range from building and tailoring an impactful resume, best practices for applying to jobs and internships, job offer negotiation tactics, and much more. Additionally, the Career Center will provide you resources, tools, and access to premium job search engines. The Career Center is your advocate and will help and support you in every way possible as you work to realize your career dreams.

If you are a freshman or do not have much work experience, listing experiences from high school is acceptable. As you progress through your college career and gain employment and leadership opportunities, you should eliminate most high school accomplishments and experiences. If you have any questions about what is acceptable on your resume, schedule an appointment with your Career Success Professional (CSP). To make an appointment, first log in to Handshake. Then, click on the Career Center tab on the left-hand side of the screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab, choose Schedule A New Appointment, then select your area of study to schedule an appointment with your CSP.

Absolutely! Almost all student organizations provide an opportunity to gain leadership experience and acquire skills that employers seek in new hires.

The Career Center has a dedicated team of professionals for each major and those who are undecided. We help students narrow down, explore, or expand their career interests and determine which majors best fit their goals. Additionally, we utilize career assessments, tools, resources, and connections that allow you to explore the various industries and interest areas within a given field. The Career Center can also help you look at data (places of employment, salaries, work environments, opportunities for advancement) to help you make the best decision for your career path.

You are not alone! Many students change their major while in college. Sometimes you discover that you don't enjoy something, and other times you fall in love with a topic you had not considered previously. Either way, we can help you find career opportunities aligning with your new major. We encourage you to check with your academic advisor to see if changing your major will change your graduation date.

The career fair is an event typically attended by upperclassmen that are seeking an internship or full-time opportunity. However, freshmen are always encouraged to attend the career fair to better understand the event by observing the interaction between employers and candidates. Often, this can be a learning experience for freshmen, empowering them with confidence when attending the event in later semesters.

There are many ways to gain leadership experience. You can organize an event, join a committee, head up a fundraiser, lead a group project, captain an intramural team, or plan a mission trip. There are over 350 student organizations on campus, each with events, committees, and leadership teams.

The Career Center has Résumé Best Practices Guides and Résumé Templates (available in Handshake) that will help you develop a strong, competitive resume. The best practice guide will walk you through the key components and assist you in the creation process. Thoroughly vetted by top employers, the Baylor University Career Center résumé templates are proven to lead students to success!

Get started today by logging in to Handshake and clicking on Career Center on the left-hand side of the screen. Then, click the Resources tab, select your area of study (resources are tailored for specific majors and areas of study), and find the Résumé Best Practices guide and Résumé Template. Once you have completed your resume, your next step is to schedule an appointment with your Career Success Professional (CSP). Your CSP will review your résumé, help with some final adjustments, and assist you in the next steps. Make sure to upload your new résumé in Handshake and make it public to share it with potential employers.

Networking is the invaluable activity of students connecting with professionals that can provide career advice, industry insights, and/or potential career opportunities. These connections can be incredibly beneficial, not only at the beginning of your career path but also in your mid to late career. Some resources you can use to help build your network are LinkedIn, CareerShift, attendance at career fairs, and even reaching out to friends and family. Connecting with Baylor alumni is highly encouraged since they are more likely to respond to your outreach. In your outreach message, try to make a connection with the professional by mentioning common interests, career fields, or universities attended. Ask the professional if they would be willing to meet with you to discuss any career advice or insights they may have. Remember that it's essential to build a relationship with the professional first. Focus on discussing potential career opportunities later on with the professional.

Faculty and staff at Baylor are here to help you. The more they get to know you, the better they can help. Both professors and Career Success Professionals (CSPs) can guide you and help connect you with great opportunities in your field of interest.

We will help you build a strong résumé and cover letter, and help you refine your interview skills for on-campus or off-campus jobs or internships. The Career Center does not manage on-campus employment. You can browse on-campus jobs by visiting Student Employment.

No. The costs for all of our services and resources are included in your tuition.

To be as accessible as possible to students, the Baylor University Career Center has five locations.

• Sid Richardson Building, West Wing


• Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, Suite 150


• Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Building, Suite 311


• Baylor Science Building, Room E128


• Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Room 130

In Handshake. Handshake (Baylor.JoinHandshake.com) is the Career Center’s all-in-one platform and it’s the #1 place for Baylor students to apply for jobs, internships, and other employment opportunities. There are two tabs at the top-left of your Handshake profile - jobs and events. Click on these to search for available jobs, internships, and upcoming events.

The career fair is a networking and job search opportunity to meet face-to-face with hundreds of employers actively recruiting Baylor students to bring onboard their organizations. Career fair events are the best way to grow your network and make a personal impression on top employers without even leaving campus. To be fully prepared, you should dress professionally, bring 10 to 15 printed résumés to give to employers, a padfolio to take notes with, and most importantly, a smile.

An appointment allows you to begin working directly with a Career Success Professional (CSP) to develop and work toward your career goals. CSPs in the Career Center can help with:

• Resume and cover letter writing
• Interview practice
• Job and internship search
• Career assessment and discovery
• Personal branding
• Networking and professional communication
• Graduate school planning and application
• Anything else related to your career!

Everyone has to start somewhere, but it's important to start gaining experience while in college. Think of creative ways you can gain relevant experiences. Consider summer internships, volunteer work, or student organizations related to your major. Shadowing someone in a profession of interest can also be an excellent way to gain exposure to a new area. Schedule an appointment with a Career Success Professional (CSP) for help coming up with more creative ways to gain relevant experience.

You should list any relevant experiences on your résumé. So, if you have relevant work, volunteer, student activities, or personal hobbies relevant to the job or internship you are applying to, you should absolutely include them.

Your student ALREADY has a Handshake account! Students can go to baylor.joinhandshake.com. Using the baylor.edu email address and password, your student can log in and start working on his/her profile. The more your student puts into his/her profile, the better. Be sure to add a professional picture (no worries if your student does not have one, we will take one for free at the next career fair), experience, extra-curricular activities, and a resume (be sure to make it public). Your student can then set Handshake to alert them when jobs they might be interested in are posted and when on-campus employer events are scheduled that they may want to attend.