As you’re searching for jobs, it’s important to find a position that will allow you to use and expand skills that are applicable to your future career. Once you've identified what skills you need, search for opportunities that will allow you to develop or apply them. Opportunities like part-time jobs or internships are a great way to practice your skills in a real-world scenario. If you aren't sure what skills you need, look below to find more resources.
Expand skills for your future
Explore your major
We're here to assist you as you search for jobs. That includes providing resources for discovering what skills you need for a successful future in your field. Follow the links below to explore your major and dream career. If you need help reflecting on your skills, check NACE's skills inventory.
Let the search begin
Below you'll find resources about discovering jobs on- and off-campus. Learn more about where to search, how to track your applications, navigate a job fair, and how to follow up with an employer. Be sure to check out our Prepare to Search page for information about documents you'll need as you apply.
Search our job board
If you are looking for part-time work while taking classes at IU Indianapolis, access our job board below. On our job search platform, you can find many different jobs for Jags, including on- and off-campus jobs, internships, and work-study positions.
Job fairs
Job fairs serve multiple purposes: to help find a part-time job, network with employers in your field, or to explore options for your future career. Whatever your intentions are, follow our tips below to present your best self while at a job fair.
Prepare a resume
For most job fairs, you'll need to bring copies of your resume with you. If you don't have one, our office is available to help you create one. If you do have one, stop-by our office to get it reviewed or submit it electronically. View our services.
Practice how you'll introduce yourself
This is the time to create an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a short introduction of yourself that tells the employer who you are, what you're studying, and what opportunities you're looking for. The pitch should be no more than 15-30 seconds long. Here's an example:
"My name is [insert name] and I'm studying [insert major] at IU Indianapolis. I'm looking for opportunities in [area of interest]. I'm here to explore part-time jobs and internships."
Research participating employers
Researching the employers you want to meet can give you some talking points during the fair. Some job fairs have an app you can download before the event with information about the employers. Another benefit of using the app is determining what tables you absolutely want to visit. This might help you estimate how many resumes you need to print.
What to wear
At IU Indianapolis' Fall Part-Time Job Fair, you can wear casual clothing. If you are attending a full-time job or internship fair, you should wear business casual or business professional clothing.
What to bring
You can bring a portfolio folder that has a writing utensil and pad of paper inside. Be sure to bring copies of your resume as well. If you don't have a portfolio, bring a folder and a notepad to take notes with. Either option will help store business cards if you collect any.
- Go to an employer you have interest in. If there are others in front of you, wait your turn. Do not interrupt their conversation. (If the employer is busy, this gives you time to mentally practice what you are going to say.)
- Once the employer is available, give them a firm handshake. Then, introduce yourself by using your elevator pitch. From there, it's all about selling yourself and showing interest in the company. If you did your research, you can use the talking points discussed earlier.
- The most important tip is to be friendly and courteous. Make sure you show them proper eye contact and body language. Conclude the conversation by asking how you can follow up with them.
- Don't interrupt those who came to the table before you. Be patient and courteous. Interrupting can make a bad first impression.
- Don't stop by tables purely for the freebies. Taking some at the end of a conversation is appropriate, but only stopping by for freebies is a display of unprofessional behavior.
- Don't bring your backpack. You should only bring a folder to store your resumes, business cards, and other pertinent information.
- Don't pass out your resume without an introduction. Take the time to introduce yourself, learn about the employer and their company, and express your interests.
After the fair, follow up by sending a thank you email. Quickly reintroduce who you are and then thank them for their time. If you are sending multiple emails, try to keep them personal. Employers can typically tell if it's a cookie-cutter email.
If you have an electronic portfolio like LinkedIn, try searching for them and sending a message this way.
Tracking
As you start applying for jobs, it’s important to track where you’ve applied. We recommend keeping a record of when you submitted your application and the corresponding submission deadline. This will be useful if you are applying to multiple jobs. It can be difficult to follow up with hiring managers if you aren’t sure when you applied.
Follow-up tips
After you’ve submitted your application, we recommend waiting 2-5 days before following up about your application. "Following up" means contacting the hiring manager to see if they are considering you for an interview. There are three ways you can do this:
Send a professional email detailing when you submitted your application and your interest in scheduling an interview. This guide walks you through how to format a follow-up email and what you need to include.
Call the place of employment and inquire about when you’ll hear back about an interview. Be sure to introduce yourself and state why you're calling. Look at the example below to see how you can do this:
"Hello, my name is [insert name]. I submitted an application for the [insert position title]. I was curious about the status of my application."
Stop by where you applied and ask to speak to the hiring manager about the status of your application. This is an easy way to get a straight-forward answer about where your application stands.
Networking
Don’t be afraid to utilize your network as you're searching for jobs. It’s okay to approach your professor after class or during their office hours and ask about available positions within the academic department. Your professor might even have openings within their office. This applies to past employers and co-workers too. Reach out to your contacts and see what's out there!