FAQs

Tag: FAQs

10 Questions that you might have about the Career Center but are too embarrassed to ask

  1. What is Handshake? Handshake is a platform used by colleges, students, alumni, and employers from around the world to share jobs, internships, and career related events. You can use Handshake to make appointments, explore jobs and internships, and learn about ongoing campus events.
  2. How do I set up my Handshake account? Every students has a Handshake account. You can log in using you Lawrence credentials, the same ones that you use for Moodle, Voyager, VikingConnect, and Givepulse. Once you log into Handshake, you can start personalizing your profile.
  3. If I am a junior or senior and have never been to the Career Center, is it too late? Nope, it is never too late. You can reach out to staff at any point. Even as an alumni!
  4. Do I need to have a resume in order to come in? No, you don’t need to bring a resume unless you want to. If you don’t have one, our staff will be happy to help you make one.
  5. How do I make an appointment? Go to this link and log into Handshake.
  6. Why should I sign up for a Career Community? Because once you do, you will start receiving newsletters twice a month targeted to your specific interests. Each newsletter highlights a handful of jobs and internships relevant to your community. We’ll also feature a resource, some tips, alumni, or an employer to keep you informed about what’s happening in the world of work. And you’ll be the first to know about on-campus events related to your career interests.
  7. How do I sign up for a Career Community? It is super easy. Fill this form.
  8. How are Handshake and LinkedIn different? And do I really need to use both? Yes, they are different. And we recommend that you use both. Handshake and LinkedIn have many different features. Handshake is targeted only for students and employers. LinkedIn is open for everyone, and it is a good way to connect with people on your field.
  9. I just made an appointment, should I be stressed? Nope, you really shouldn’t. And you don’t even need to have a specific question ready for your appointment. Our advisors and Career Peer Educators are here to help you at whatever stage you’re at in your career exploration.
  10. Do I need to dress up for my appointment? No, you don’t have to; you can wear casual clothes for your appointment, (but if you want to dress up, you’re welcome to).

By Barbara Espinosa ’20, I created this article from questions that my friends had about the Career Center.

FAQs about Informational Interviewing

The phrase “informational interviews” might sound intimidating, but really they’re just conversations you arrange with people who work in the field you’re interested in. Informational interviews are a quick and easy way to explore potential career pathways and solicit advice from professionals in the field. In addition, when you set up informational interviews with people in your field of interest, you’re building a network that you can utilize later — for job opportunities, shadowing opportunities when COVID restrictions lessen, and more.

Some FAQs about Informational Interviewing

Q: When should I start conducting informational interviews?
A: It’s never too late or too early to start! You can coordinate informational interviews throughout your college career, and well into your career beyond college! Your questions will likely shift as your personal goals and interests change over time.

Q: How should I prepare for the interview?
A: The primary goal is to come ready to drive the interview with your questions. Make sure you have your questions ready, and try to focus your questions on gathering insights and advice; you don’t want them to feel like you’re expecting a job offer. It’s also helpful to do some internet research on the person you’re interviewing to help guide your question development. Be ready to talk about yourself if asked, too! Business casual is the typical attire for informational interviews.

Q: How and where should I expect the informational interview to happen?A: Over the phone or using video chat is often the easiest, especially during the pandemic. Reach out to your intended interviewee and plan on your conversation going for about 30 minutes. Make sure to be respectful of their time — they’re doing you a favor, so be careful not to go over the allotted time.

Q: Speaking of reaching out: Help! How do I do that?
A: Find the contact information of the person you’re interested in interviewing, and send them an email. In your message, you should introduce yourself and express your interest in their field. If you have a personal or Lawrence-related connection to them, or were recommended to seek them out by a mutual acquaintance, make sure to mention that. Then, indicate that you are reaching out to ask about their availability for a short informational interview to learn more about their professional journey. The Viking Connect website is a great way to find alumni Lawrentians who are eager to connect with current students!

7 questions about the Career Center that you may have but are too embarrassed to ask

What can the Career Center help with?  The Career Center has Career Peer Educators (or CPEs) and Career Advisors willing to help you with resume building, job/internship searches, exploring life after Lawrence, and more. CPEs can help you with general resume, job searching advice, and how to use platforms like Handshake and Viking Connect. Meanwhile, Career Advisors can offer more specific advice about careers and planning for graduate school.

Where do I even begin? If you don’t have a concrete idea on where to start in the career exploration process, the Career Center can help you get started! Just make an appointment and we will walk you through the Career Center resources and help you identify your career exploration goals.

I just made an appointment, how do I prepare?  You don’t need to stress about preparing for your appointment. For resume review appointments, we can help you get started if you’ve never written a cover letter or resume, or you can bring a current draft to review during the appointment. For other appointments, it’s helpful to make a list of your questions so that we can be sure to cover everything within the advising session. We will always meet you where you’re at!

What is Handshake?  Every student has a Handshake account and you can log in using your Lawrence credentials to register for events, search for jobs and internships, and schedule appointments with Career Advisors and CPEs.

What is Viking Connect? Viking Connect is Lawrence’s alumni networking platform. It is a lot like LinkedIn but it only includes Lawrence students and alumni, and the alumni are ready and there to support you! Connecting with alumni is a good way to conduct informational interviews with people in your potential fields of interest. For example, you can ask alumni about a day in the life of a molecular biologist, or ask how a research and development role with a corporation might look different from academic research. There are even templates to help get you started with networking.

Do I need to use a Handshake account *and* a LinkedIn account *and* a Viking Connect account?  Having a Handshake account is essential for receiving updates from the Career Center and because it is how we schedule appointments. LinkedIn and Viking Connect are centered more around networking. It is highly recommended that you have all three so that you don’t miss out on potential opportunities for career exploration.

I am an upperclassman and have never been to the Career Center – is it too late?  It is never too late to schedule an appointment. The Career Center and its resources are open to you while you are on or off campus, and you can even schedule an appointment after you graduate!

Adapted from Barbara Espinosa’s ’20 (CPE) list of questions that her friends had about the Career Center.

Julia Ammons ’22 is a Biology major and Anthropology minor with interests in the natural sciences and museum studies.

Raisa Fatima ’23 is a Physics major with interests in research related to Physics and/or engineering.