Jobs & Internships
Landing your dream internship or first job is no small task but our Career Development Center and the Handshake database make the process a whole lot easier.

DeSales’ Career Development Center offers all kinds of tools and resources to help you secure the perfect externship, earn class credit through an internship, or find your career after graduation. One-on-one coaching, networking events, interview practice and etiquette dinners…if it’s a service that’s helpful to your career development you’ll more than likely find it readily available through the Career Development Center.
In addition, DeSales’ students have lifelong access to Handshake — a searchable database of internship, part-time job, full-time job, work-study and volunteer opportunity announcements that the Career Development Office receives from employers. Handshake also allows employers to find you! Post your resume and connect your Handshake account to your LinkedIn profile to put yourself in front of prospective employers from any number of fields
Experiential Learning
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Externships
Externships are a short-term shadowing experience. Starting your first year, you can explore a career path of interest by spending a day at work with a DSU Alumni. Externships allow you to learn more about a career field or work environment. If you make a good impression, it could open the door to future opportunities (internship, summer job, etc.).
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Field Study
Field study is typically done through your academic department, for academic credit, and is sometimes required for certain majors. Consult your academic department to see if field studies are offered or required.
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Internships
Internships are hands-on experiences which can help you learn more about different careers, build your resume and develop connections. So many DSU students have had successful internships that have led to full-time positions. Whether paid, un-paid, full-time, part-time for credit or not; internships are essential before graduation.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors in good academic standing are eligible to complete an internship for academic credit (this applies to traditional day and ACCESS students). Transfer students may consider opportunities after the successful completion of one semester at DeSales University.
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Leadership & Involvement
Leadership and involvement in student and community organizations is viewed very favorably by employers, and is sometimes considered an essential qualification for certain types of work and career paths. You don't have to be president to be a leader. You could be the volunteer recruiter, the fundraising chair, or an event planner. The important things are what you accomplish and the skills you use and develop.
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Part-Time & Summer Jobs
Part-time and summer jobs can be important ways to get experience; a job does not have to be labeled as an internship to be valuable. What's important are the job's relevance to your career field or industry, the skills you develop, and the level of responsibility you earn.
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Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research is usually a one-on-one arrangement between you and a faculty member and typically is done for academic credit. However, some organizations, such as research centers, also offer these programs, and students apply just as you might apply for an internship. Professors may advertise undergraduate research opportunities, but don't wait for this to happen. If you're interested, approach professors whose research topics interest you. Undergraduate research is strongly recommended for students who are thinking about applying to graduate school.
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Volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to get a foot in the door of an organization or career field. Volunteer work can be something you do as an individual, or something you do as part of a club or organization. You can develop skills and experience for your resume and thus it can be a stepping stone to help you get other kinds of experience.
