Find a Job or Internship
Find Opportunities That Move You Forward
A successful search takes more than one strategy. Use these steps to focus your search, find openings, apply thoughtfully, and stay organized.
Get Started
Watch the Job & Internship Search Strategies Webinar for job and internship search tips. Then follow the steps and use the resources below to find opportunities and prepare your applications.
Find a Job or Internship
Decide which roles interest you, such as internships, part-time or full-time positions, or campus jobs. Consider job titles, skills you want to develop, location, schedule, and work preferences. Search by skills and job titles, not only your major.
Guides
Use several approaches: Handshake, LinkedIn, employer career pages, industry job boards, career fairs, and your network. Do not rely on one job board.
Handshake
Explore on-campus jobs and off-campus jobs, internships, campus opportunities, and employer events through SF State's career platform.
Access Handshake: Current Students | Incoming Students | Alumni
Additional Resources and Opportunities
Job Search Websites by Industry
Career Fairs & Employer Events
Academic Internships through ICCE
Exploring Internships?
Internships help you gain hands-on experience, explore career interests, build skills, and make professional connections. Some offer academic credit.
Academic Internships: Interested in earning course credit? Explore academic internships through the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE) and check with your department about requirements and approval.
International students: Review employment eligibility and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) requirements with SF State's Division of International Education before beginning off-campus internship.
Read the job description to understand the responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, and skills to highlight. You do not need to meet every preferred qualification.
Before applying, check the pay, location, schedule, eligibility, deadline, and required materials. Tailor your resume and cover letter, follow the instructions, and proofread before submitting.
Evaluating an internship? Look for meaningful responsibilities, opportunities to develop skills, and guidance from a supervisor.
Resources & Tools
Create a Resume, CV Cover Letter or LinkedIn Profile?
Tailor Your Resume with Hiration: Current Students | Incoming Students | Alumni
Track the positions and organizations you apply to, application dates, deadlines, submitted materials, employer contacts, interviews, and follow-up status. Check your email and voicemail regularly, and continue your search while waiting for responses.
Resources & Tools
Verify opportunities before sharing information or accepting an offer. Be cautious of unsolicited offers without interviews, requests for money or gift cards, checks that require you to return funds, unusually high pay, or pressure to act immediately.
Never send money to an employer. Verify the organization through its official website, and do not share sensitive personal or banking information early in the process.
Internship Safety: Be cautious of internships requiring payment to an employer. For unpaid internships, review the U.S. Department of Labor: Internship Guidance on internships under the Fair Labor Standard Act.
Need Help?
Meet with a CLD Career Counselor for personalized guidance on finding jobs or internships, strengthening your search strategy, or preparing applications.