FAQs

Incoming Freshmen

1. I'm only a freshman. Shouldn't I be focused only on school and grades?
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).

2. Which year should students start seeing you?
You are encouraged to meet with the Baylor University Career Center during your freshman year of college. A dedicated Career Success Professional will introduce a few career discovery tools and the resume template that has led so many of our students to career success. Additionally, you should meet with your Career Success Professional each year before you graduate. They will cover necessary career success steps needed every year in order to help you achieve your career goals.

3. What is included in Handshake?
Handshake gives details on information sessions hosted by companies, on-campus hiring events (career fairs and interviews), virtual career events, internships and full-time jobs. It also includes tools to help students create strong resumes (VMock and JobScan); perform confidently in interviews (Quinncia); and research companies and cost of living. Students can also set up one-on-one meetings with career coaches who can help and encourage them with each step of their career search.

4. What can the Career Center help me with?
The Career Center provides a variety of services and resources to all Baylor University students. Our Career Success Professionals 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. These appointments are available on Handshake to our students. To make an appointment, simply click on the Career Center tab on the top-right hand side of your screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab to schedule an appointment with a Career Success Professional.

5. Will you find me a job?
The Baylor University Career Center can be described as an empowerment model. Your dedicated Career Success Professional 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 so much more. Additionally, we will provide you resources, tools, and access to great job search engines, which are all free for you to use.

6. Can I list high school experience on my resume?
If you are a Freshman, or do not have much work experience, then listing experiences from high school are acceptable. As you progress through your college career and gain employment and leadership opportunities then you should eliminate most high school accomplishments and experiences. If you have any questions as to what is acceptable on your resume, schedule an appointment with your Career Success Professional. These appointments are available on Handshake to our students. To make an appointment, simply click on the Career Center tab on the top-right hand side of your screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab to schedule an appointment with your Career Success Professional.

7. What is Handshake, and why is it important to me now?
Handshake is a powerful job search engine and career resource available to all Baylor University students. Employers that are specifically seeking Baylor University students will post thousands of job and internship opportunities for students to apply to on Handshake. This job search engine is the best platform for our students and many have had success finding opportunities through it. Employers will also recruit on campus or virtually through an information session. Company Information Sessions are posted often under the Events tab in Handshake. Students are always encouraged to attend information sessions as they will get a better idea of the company, position, and an opportunity to network with current employees.

Additionally, all students can access our career resources, tools, and best practices in Handshake. These guides are provided under the Career Center tab located on the top-right hand side of your screen. From there, simply click on the Resources tab and select your desired college to find tailored resources to your major.

If a student has a question or would like to meet with a Career Success Professional, they are advised to make an appointment in Handshake. Similar to finding our resources, simply click on the Career Center tab on the top-right hand side of your screen. From there, click on the Appointments tab to schedule an appointment with a Career Success Professional.

8. What can the Career Center help me with if I do not know what I want to do/be?
The Career Center has a dedicated team of professionals for each major, as well as those who are undecided. We help students narrow down, explore, or expand their career interests and which majors best fit their goals. Additionally, we utilize career assessments, multiple tools, as well as 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.

9. What happens if I start out as one major and decide later to change my major?
You are not alone! Many students change their major while in college. Sometimes you discover that you really do not enjoy something, other times you fall in love with a topic you had not considered previously, either way, we can help you figure out career opportunities that align with your new major. We encourage you to check with your academic advisor to see if changing your major will change your graduation date.

10. Should I attend the career fair as a freshman, and if so, why?
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 get a better understanding of the event, such as observing networking between the employers and the candidates. Often times, this can be a learning experience for our freshmen and they will be more confident attending the event in later semesters.

11. How do I get leadership experience?
There are many ways to get 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 300 student organizations on campus and each one has events, committees and leadership teams.

12. I do not have a resume. How do I get started writing one?
Upkey is a resume creation tool that will help you develop a strong, competitive resume. The program will walk you through the key components and assist you throughout the constructing process. Upkey will build your resume using the Baylor University Career Center template which has been thoroughly vetted by top employers and has been proven to lead students to success!

Get started today by clicking on the Upkey Best Practices, a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the process. 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 resume, help with some final adjustments, and assist you in the next steps. Make sure to upload your new resume in Handshake and make it public in order to share it with potential employers.

13. What is networking?
Networking is an invaluable opportunity where students connect with a professional that can provide career advice, industry insights, and/or may lead to a career opportunity. These connections can be incredibly beneficial not only in the beginning of your career path but in your mid to late career as well. Some of the resources you can use to help build your network are LinkedIn, CareerShift, attending career fairs, and even reaching out to friends and family. It is highly encouraged to connect with Baylor alumni because they are more likely to respond to your outreach message. In your outreach message, try to make a connection with the professional by mentioning common interests, career fields, or universities attended. Make sure to ask the professional if they would be willing to meet with you to discuss any career advice or insights they might have. Remember, it is important to build a relationship with the professional first. Focus on discussing potential career opportunities later on with the professional.

14. Is there a charge for your services?
No, the costs for all of our services and resources are included in your tuition.

15. Where is the Career Center?
We have three locations on campus to be as accessible as possible to students. The Arts and Sciences location is on the first floor of the Sid Richardson building, in the West Wing. The business school has an office in Foster, Suite 150. And the Engineering and Computer Science office is in Rogers, Suite 311.

16. Are Greek or social organizations beneficial to add to my resume?
Absolutely! Almost all student organizations provide an opportunity to gain leadership experiences and acquire skills that employers are looking for in new hires.

17. Do you help find on-campus employment?
We will help you look for jobs anywhere. We will help you build a strong resume, and cover letter, and help you refine your interview skills for your on-campus or off-campus job or internship. BUCC does not directly manage on-campus employment. You can browse on-campus jobs by clicking Student Employment.

18. Why should I build relationships with professors or CSPs?
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 CSPs can guide you and help connect you with great opportunities in your field of interest.

Internships

1. What can I do instead of an internship?
There are many ways to gain skills, insights, connections and experience without an internship. Here are a few ideas to help you decide the best path for your particular career goals: participate in undergraduate research, learn a new skill, volunteer, job shadow, gain a certification, do an externship, join a professional organization, or conduct informational interviews with alumni or friends in your desired career field. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your Career Success Professional to explore additional opportunities.

2. Can I get a job without an internship?
Generally speaking, YES! Many graduates secure excellent jobs without the benefit of an internship. Requirements vary by academic major, industry and company. If you do not have internship experience, we will work with you to highlight the skills and experiences you do have. If at all possible, we do recommend you participate in internships because you can gain valuable transferrable skills and relevant experience while learning about the company and industry and even yourself.

Parents

1. How does my student register for a Handshake account?
Your student ALREADY has a Handshake account! Students should go to baylor.joinhandshake.com. Then, using the baylor.edu email address and password, your student can log in and start working on his or her profile. The more your student puts into his or 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 employer events are scheduled on-campus that they won’t want to miss.

Students

1. Where are these events and jobs posted?
In Handshake. This is the online job portal that connects Baylor students to companies. There are two tabs at the top of your Handshake profile; jobs and events. Click on them to search for applications and upcoming events.

2. What should I bring with me to a career fair?
The career fair is a networking and job search opportunity to meet face-to-face with hundreds of employers actively recruiting professionals to bring onboard their organizations. Career fair events are the best way to grow your network and leave a personal impression with top employers while on-campus. To be fully prepared, you will need to bring 15 to 20 printed resumes to give out to employers, a padfolio to take notes with, several professional business cards, a professional name tag (if you have one), and most importantly, a smile.

3. Why should I make an appointment with the Career Center?
An appointment allows you to begin working directly with a CSP to develop and work toward your career goals. We can help with any of the follow:

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

4. What do I do if none of my work experience applies to my major?
Everyone has to start somewhere, but it is 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 that are related to your major. Shadowing can also be a good way to gain some exposure to a new area.

5. Should I only list work experience on my resume? What if I held an important role in a volunteer organization?
You should list any relevant experiences on your resume. So, if you have relevant work, volunteer, student activities, or personal hobbies that are relevant to the job or internship you are applying to, then include them.