Tips and Resources
At the Center for Engineering Career Development, we help students design a career vision that is in line with their unique interests, values and strengths. Here are some helpful links and resources. For a complete start to finish guide to career planning, check out the UVA HOOS CAREER GUIDE.
Through the UVA Library you have free access to LINKEDIN LEARNING COURSES, which features educational video courses where you can learn software, technology, business, and creative skills.
You also have free access to these subscription services through the Resources section of HANDSHAKE (Career Center menu > Resources):
CareerShift
– Access jobs and internships nationwide.
– Use the Search feature under Companies to identify organizations that do the type of work you're interested in within a specific geographic location.
– Find contacts within organziations you are interested in.
GoinGlobal
– Find country-specific career advice and employment opportunities.
– The H1B section lists American employers who may be seeking international talent in the U.S.
In addition, access career resources related to ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, and BUSINESS through the Resources section of Handshake.
Not finding the types of internships or jobs through Handshake and on-grounds recruiting that truely match your interests? While we encourage students to start their search with Handshake, it is just one tool in the job search toolbox. Pursuing an off-grounds search will open up numerous opportunities that you won't find in Handshake. It takes a little more effort on your part, but we're here to help!
During your time at UVA and beyond, we encourage you to develop a personal advisory board, a small group of trusted friends and mentors who offers balanced advice, professional insights, and decision-making guidance.
Members of your personal advisory board might be:
- Advisors from high school and UVA
- Teachers and professors
- Peers
- Extended family
- Upperclassman from your major or student organizations who are now working
- People you’ve previously met through internships, part-time jobs, research, conferences, volunteering, etc.
We encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with your chosen advisors and mentors often.
Learn More About Networking Tips and Strategies, Including Outreach to Alumni.
Many students use LinkedIn to share their skills and experiences with recruiters, network with alumni, and apply for entry-level jobs.
3 key elements to your profile
- A profile photo, ideally in color and from the chest or shoulders and up. Use a neutral or simple background and smile as it feels comfortable for you. LinkedIn profiles with photos are more likely to be visited than those without one.
- Update the “Headline”, the short line of text accompanying your name and photo. The Headline defaults to the most recent position you listed on your profile, such as “Student at UVA” or “Research Assistant in the XYZ Lab”. We recommend TAILORING THE HEADLINE to your interests and skills, for example “Chemical Engineer interested in Materials Science, Textiles & Sustainability”.
- Add the experiences from your resume, along with those you may not have had room for. In addition to the broad “Experience” section, LinkedIn gives you the option to add sections for Projects, Volunteer Experiences, Coursework, and more.
- VMock Aspire is an online tool that will evaluate your LinkedIn profile and make suggestions for improvement. Check it out HERE.
I have a profile…now what?
- Use the ALUMNI TOOL to learn the diverse academic and career paths of UVA Engineers. Filter by major as a student, current geographic location, employers (past and present), and industry. Browse profiles to gather ideas and consider reaching out to someone you'd like to learn from.
- Join groups like UVA ENGINEERING ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS, or those relevant to your field of study or industry of interest. TIP: You can message anyone in one of your groups for free!
- SEARCH FOR INTERNSHIPS OR JOBS across the country in your field of interest.
More tips on maximizing your LinkedIn account
31 PROFILE TIPS FOR JOB SEEKERS
Our team is committed to supporting students from all backgrounds.
We have also put together a RESOURCE with job boards, summer internship programs, conferences and other diversity and inclusion resources that are specifically relevant to engineering and computer science students.
International Student Resources
Videos on the job search process for international students HERE and HERE.
WEBINAR on International Students and Employment Options
There are numerous factors to consider when evaluating and comparing job offers, including:
- The duties and responsiblities of the job itself.
- Salary and opportunities for bonuses or raises.
- Geographic location and the lifestyle it offers.
- Benefits such as insurance, paid vacation and sick days, retirement, and professional development.
- Culture of the organization and the team or department you'd be working most closely with.
Consider each of these factors when evaluating an offer and determine how important each one is in relation to the others. You may be willing to take a slightly lower salary to live in your dream location, for example.
Some students have found it helpful to take the free LIFE VALUES INVENTORY when evaluating an offer to see how it aligns with their current values and priorities. You can also meet with a career advisor to further discuss values and your decision-making process.
Considering negotiating an element of your offer letter?
15 QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT PERKS AND BENEFITS
FIND UVA ENGINEERING SALARY AVERAGES AND MEDIANS BY MAJOR
SHOULD I NEGOTIATION? AND HOW TO NEGOTIATE
Don't negotiate over email. Use this PHONE CALL TEMPLATE instead!
Need to ask for more time to make a decision?
ASKING FOR MORE TIME, whether or not you have another offer in hand
3 QUESTIONS TO ASK with a job offer deadline approaching
GUIDE TO JUGGLING MULTIPLE JOB OFFERS
Ready to accept or decline an offer?
HOW TO GRACEFULLY TURN DOWN A JOB OFFER
3 KEYS TO TURNING DOWN A JOB OFFER WITHOUT BURNING BRIDGES
After you've accepted an offer, please share your summer plans or first destination after UVA with the survey's we'll share via email and Handshake!
If you'd like to speak with a career advisor about your unique situation, visit Handshake to schedule an appointment.
The career counselors have helped me to discover and take advantage of so many of the resources UVA has to offer. They've given me great advice on everything from networking with alumni, preparing for career fairs, practicing for interviews, and applying to jobs. Through their guidance my job application materials and soft skills necessary for a professional career have improved drastically.
Senthil Kannan
BS Mechanical Engineering, 2017