A summer job or internship position is the perfect way to gain real-world experience. If you are graduating, your first post-graduation job will be the first step in your professional journey. Either way, now is the time to look for those great opportunities when the semester ends.

Standing out in a competitive market takes more than just submitting applications — you need to showcase your skills, stay organized, and be prepared to make a good impression. Luckily, Pitt provides tech tools and resources to help you land that dream position!

Gain Employers’ Desired Skillset

Employers seek candidates with strong technical and soft skills. Many positions also list specific skillsets needed for the role. Just because you don’t have a lot of experience in a particular competency doesn’t mean that the opportunity is out of reach.

Identify the required skills for the positions you’re most interested in, and then access LinkedIn Learning to take courses that build your abilities in those areas. You can add courses to your LinkedIn profile, mention them in a cover letter, or talk about them in an interview. LinkedIn Learning is available for free to boost your résumé, and most courses are under two hours, making it easy to fit into your schedule.

Those interested in a technical career may also want to consider getting Microsoft Certifications. Pitt students can get 50% off Microsoft certifications through Microsoft Learn, proving their expertise in supporting Microsoft tools.

Update Your Resume and Online Presence

Employers are paying attention to candidates’ online presence more than ever. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to research potential job candidates during the hiring process. So make sure yours is up to par.

• Update your LinkedIn profile: Be sure your LinkedIn profile has a professional profile picture, a compelling personal statement, and lists your most recent courses, employment, research, and activities. Be sure to follow any companies you’ll be applying to, as well as prominent individuals in that company.
• Scrub your social media: If an employer looks you up on Instagram, X, or TikTok, make sure they won’t see anything you don’t want them to see! Delete posts with controversial content. Even better, consider making your personal accounts private during a job search, except for LinkedIn.
• Consider an online portfolio: If you have work samples, writing samples, graphics works, etc. that you would want an employer to see, consider creating a professional online portfolio. There are many free apps you can use, including Adobe Express or Canva.

Find Legit Opportunities and Career Resources

Find legitimate job and internship listings that match your career goals. Pitt has several resources to help you find great opportunities.

• Handshake: Pitt's go-to job board for internships, part-time, and full-time positions.
• Pitt Talent Center: The site for staff, faculty, temporary, or student positions at Pitt.
• Career Central: A one-stop hub for career resources, job postings, and networking.
• Pitt Commons: Connect with Pitt alumni and industry professionals for mentorship.

There are many career resources at Career Central that can help you land your dream position, including Big Interview, for practicing your responses to common interview questions with AI-powered feedback, and VMock, an AI-powered tool to provide feedback on the formatting, grammar, and content of your résumé.

Craft the Perfect Email to Employers

First impressions matter, and a little refresher on effective email etiquette never hurts! When reaching out to potential employers, keep your emails professional and concise:

• Use a clear subject line (e.g., "Application for Marketing Internship – [Your Name]").
• Start with a formal greeting (e.g., "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name]").
• Introduce yourself and state your purpose.
• Keep the email brief but informative — explain why you are interested in the job, highlight relevant skills, and attach necessary documents, such as a resume.
• Close with a polite sign-off (e.g., "Best regards, [Your Name]").
• Proofread before hitting Send! Use the Editor tool in Outlook for grammar, spelling, and content suggestions.
• Send a thank you email after an interview to restate your interest.

Stay Organized Throughout the Search

Staying organized during a job or internship search is essential. You’ll want to

• Track applications in Excel: List the companies and positions you applied to, application date, application status, deadlines, and contact names.
• Prepare for interviews in OneNote: Create a OneNote notebook, with a page for each position. Jot down key talking points about the company and the position. Highlight your goals, skills, or experience that you want to highlight during an interview. List a couple question to ask them.
• Set reminders in Outlook: Add interviews to your schedule and set an alert at least 30 minutes beforehand to ensure you’re ready and that all your tech is working, including your internet connection, mic, and camera. (Set the alert for when you need to start getting ready if it’s an in-person interview, to ensure you’re on time.) Also schedule reminders to follow up if you haven’t heard back yet.
• Know where you’re going: Nothing makes a worse first impression than arriving late or rushing in completely frazzled. For in-person interviews that require travel, use the Transit app to plan your Port Authority bus route and schedule. If you’re driving, use an app like Go Mobile PGH to find and pay for parking.

Slay Your Job Search

By leveraging Pitt IT and other University and online resources, you can be proactive and set yourself up for success this summer and beyond. Good luck with your job and internship search, Panthers!

-- By Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger