Find a Job
Launch your career with Handshake.
Ready to apply for an internship, full-time, or part-time position? Visit the Jobs tab in Handshake to identify opportunities. Handshake is free to students and alumni–current students have accounts automatically created for them and can log in using their myLSU credentials.
Browse Open Positions on Handshake
Conquer the Job Search
The job search isn't a one-size-fits-all process. It involves time, energy, research, and communication. Stand out among other applicants by developing a strong strategy for the search process.
Craft Your Personal Brand
Your personal brand is how you present yourself to the world. Think through your values and strengths to develop a well-defined and consistent look, message, and presence. It should be uniform across all platforms; social media and in-person interactions, as well as your application materials like resume and cover letter.
Tips for Personal Branding
- Employers will be looking at your personal profiles. Add information you want them to know, and remove anything you don't want them to see. Make your profile private if you don’t want it to be seen.
- In your application materials, your resume should look polished and professional. Remain consistent and easy to follow with organized sections. How you communicate your skills and experience will help tell a better story to employers. Visit our Resume page for more help on crafting the perfect resume.
- In your LinkedIn profile, use the "About" section to tell your story. Use this space to showcase your accomplishments in 1-2 paragraphs.
Free Headshots at the Career Center
Put Your Best Face Forward
A great headshot ensures you're making the best impression possible. Get free, professional headshots at the LSU Olinde Career Center. Schedule your appointment on Handshake.
Engage With Your Community
Who is in your career community?
As a student, you're making connections every day. In the classroom, you're building relationships with faculty, staff, and peers. Outside of academic settings, you're networking when you go to social gatherings, when you join student organizations, and when you connect with professionals in your field.
Think about your network as always growing. Connections you are making today could impact your career decisions tomorrow. Always be on the lookout for potential members of your career community!
Strengthen your LSU community.
- LSU Alumni on LinkedIn – Connect with LSU alumni who do the work that you’re interested in and set up informational interviews to learn more.
- Local LSU Alumni Chapters – Get involved with alumni in your area. This is a great way to build connections and learn more about your city.
- LSU Tiger Nation Community – LSUTigerNation.com is a platform for LSU students, alumni, and friends to connect, grow, and thrive. Use this platform to find fellow Tigers across the globe, locate Alumni chapters in your new city, reach out to mentors to leverage your professional network, and stay connected to all things LSU!
How do I engage my community?
- Tell your connections and mentors that you are looking for opportunities. Don’t assume they know – put it on their radar.
- Use the industry experts to your advantage! Ask for guidance on resumes and interviewing.
- Show your resume to contacts in your field to gain their input on how you display your experiences. They could know certain keywords or buzzwords that would look desirable to the reader.
- Ask for common types of interview questions in your field and practice your responses with them.
- Ask for references! You should have 3-4 professional references (supervisors, faculty
members, etc.) that can talk about you in a professional setting. If there are certain
skills or highlights that you want your references to share, then let them know. Your
references should share different aspects of your strengths and how those showed up
while working with them.
Connect With Companies
When you exchange a resume or business card with recruiters, you are actively building a network and making career connections. Consider these strategies to boost interactions with potential employers.
Participate in Company Info Sessions
Employers share information on upcoming opportunities, workplace culture, and the types of students they hire. Use this time to inquire about job openings and the hiring process.
Company information sessions are available in-person and virtually, so you can connect with employers nationwide.
Attend LSU Recruiting Events
Events like the Career Expo invite companies across the country to network with all LSU students and alumni.
Students can build their career network, look for full-time or internship opportunities, and gain valuable information from employers.
Connect
Virtually
A company's online presence allows you to connect with its values, mission statement, and potential alumni. Look at company websites, social media accounts, Handshake, and LinkedIn pages. These all indicate what is important to a company and give insight into what working for them could look like.
Disclosing a Disability
Choosing when and how to disclose a disability is an important and personal decision. Since every person's situation is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all answer; you ultimately get to decide whether or not to share your status. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy has many resources including Youth, Disclosure, and the Workplace, Why, When, What, and How.
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Apply for Jobs
Know what you're searching for.
Browsing can become discouraging and overwhelming. Create a list of values to identify what you are looking for in a company. Some can include:
- Job type
- Position Title
- In-person work or remote options
- Geographic preference
- Training provided
- Entry-level or Internships
O*Net can provide specific job titles or keywords to use in your search. Search a company's website or LinkedIn to view what titles they give their employees. Having a good idea of what you are looking for will make the process less overwhelming.
Use job boards.
- Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, and Google are great places to find open positions both locally and globally.
- Be on the lookout for job-specific boards from connections you've made in the field and through professional associations.
- You can find industry-specific professional associations by googling "Professional Associations in XYZ field" to find suitable organizations. Check for student discounts or student membership options for professional associations if there is a cost for joining.
- Company-specific pages: Some companies are large enough to have their own job board. If you are passionate about who you want to work for, use this source to find open positions.
Negotiate Your Salary
Your job search doesn't end after an offer is on the table. Negotiating your salary is an important conversation that you want to be equipped for.
Consider the following when creating your personal budget:
- What is your needed income to maintain a satisfactory living style?
- Prioritize needs before wants
- Have a definitive number that is non-negotiable to keep you living comfortably
- Utilize resources from the Student Financial Management Center
To provide frames of reference, use websites like:
Use these tips to help guide the salary negotiation conversation:
- Look through your application and interview materials to remind yourself of what you bring to the table.
- It is okay to ask if the number presented is negotiable
- If salary options are less than you desire, pause before turning them down.
- Ask questions about other opportunities that may contribute to an acceptable offer.
- Retirement options, benefit plans, remote work, vacation, and professional development can help to sway an offer.
- Identify your level of urgency–do you need immediate income to pay rent or do you have time to continue the process?
- Have an alternative plan in case you decide to decline an offer
Where Grads are Working
EXPLORE DATA ON RECENT GRADS
See where recent grads work, continue education, average salaries, job titles, and more in this interactive dashboard.
Take the next step.