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Career Services Frequently Asked Questions



Career Education Frequently Asked Questions

Career Services helps UofM students thrive by assisting them with the professional development they need to successfully transition from college to career.

We assist students with preparing for a job or internship through various appointment types. Career Services assist students with effective job search tips and tools to locate and apply for the best jobs suited to their degree background and personal skill set. Career Specialist make connections and partner with companies to ensure students have opportunities to pursue a career through job fairs and employment search portals. Students are encouraged to use the Handshake platform to search job opportunities, but students are expected to apply independently.

Student appointments are held in-person and virtually. Students can schedule an appointment with their Career Specialist through Tigerlink powered by Handshake. Please contact Career Services at careerservices@memphis.edu for accommodations or if you have any trouble scheduling an appointment.

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The main Career Services office is in Wilder Tower on the 4th floor. However, Career Specialists are located throughout campus in their Talent Community! Talent Community is a collection of majors that a Career Specialist works with. Click the link to see which Talent Community your major is listed in. Contact Career Services at careerservices@memphis.edu or go to the website to find out who your Career Specialist is. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.

Appointments are scheduled through Tigerlink powered by Handshake.

Appointments must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

  • Document Review: A copy of your document (resume, cover letter, personal statement, etc.) uploaded to Handshake.
  • Mock Interview: A copy of the job you are applying for or a similar position. Come professionally dressed to the appointment as if you are going to an actual interview.
  • Career/Major Exploration: The student must complete the Pathway U assessment. You should have considered these questions. What are your interests? What are your top 3 core values? Which skills do you have?
  • Job/Internship: The student must complete the Pathway U assessment.  

Tigerlink powered by Handshake is the internships and jobs database managed by University of Memphis Career Services (only open to UofM students and alumni) to help you more easily connect with employers, jobs, internships, event information, on-campus recruiting opportunities, and knowledge communities. Career Services sends targeted emails through Handshake based on student profiles. Therefore, we highly encourage every student to fill out their profile and update their career preferences in Handshake to the best of their ability to receive emails regarding career opportunities and internships interesting to them.

Go to Career Exploration and scroll down to Useful Resources.

Search events on our online Events calendar. Check Tiger Zone for events. Follow us on Instagram @uofmcareer. Look for emails from your Career Specialist and Handshake.

Alumni can utilize Tigerlink powered by Handshake and schedule appointment with Career Services. We also encourage Alumni to partner with us for professional networking events, and student engagement activities. For more information email careerservices@memphis.edu.

Career Services hosts two All Major Career Fairs per academic year (Fall and Spring). Individual Talent Communities may have various career education workshops and employer events throughout the year.

When you apply for a position, the application process will ask for the requested documents.

Upload the resume document to Tigerlink powered by Handshake. A Career Specialist will make suggested changes to your document that meet industry standards. This service does not guarantee that an employer will contact you or request an interview.

No, we do not match students and employers. Employers post their positions via TigerLink powered by Handshake and set the criteria for their position. Students whose skills align with the criteria can apply. Applying for jobs and interviewing are important steps in the career development of our students. We are here to assist and prepare students as they pursue internship and work experience.

You can search for employment on campus in multiple ways. If you qualify for financial aid and awarded Federal Work-Study, you will be able to apply for on-campus positions. You can also contact the private vendors who run the bookstore and the cafeteria and apply for a part-time job directly. In addition, students may be hired for employment in academic departments, learning centers, and administrative offices, either as tutors or student aides. Each department is in control of their hiring processes.

THE TIME IS NOW TIGERS! You can begin using Career Services beginning your first semester of enrollment. Early engagement allows students to gain a clear understanding of their interests, strengths, and career goals from the outset. Career services can provide assessments, resources, and guidance that help students make informed decisions about their major, extracurricular activities, and internships. This foundation is crucial for aligning their academic experience with their long-term career aspirations.

Career Services resources are available at no cost for all students and alumni.

Contact Employee Outreach Specialist Deja Bolton at careerservices@memphis.edu for assistance.

  • Log into Handshake using you University of Memphis single sign on
  • Go to the top left-hand corner and select jobs
  • Select jobs from the left-hand side and review description and application requirements

To locate the types of careers associated with your major explore What Can I Do With This Major. From there you can find out salary information, and top companies that hire individuals with certain educational backgrounds by using Steppingblocks.  Steppingblocks is our online career exploration platform. Sign in by using your single sign on information to search your major and explore different career pathways.

The University of Memphis Career Services diligently supports students and alumni in their career exploration and job search efforts. Employers are vetted to provide a safe and positive job-search experience. However, despite best efforts, advances in technology have made it easier for scammers to impersonate legitimate employers by using company information. While we strive to provide a secure environment, it is crucial for students and alumni to exercise caution and conduct thorough research when applying for positions. Be vigilant for red flags, such as unsolicited job offers, requests for personal or financial information, and offers that seem too good to be true.

To enhance your safety during the job search process, we recommend the following:

  1. Verify the Employer’s Information- Conduct independent research to confirm the legitimacy of the employer. Check for a valid company website and contact information.
  2. Assess Communication Quality- Professional employers will use clear and correct language in their communications. Be wary of messages containing numerous grammatical errors or unprofessional language.
  3. Be Cautious with Personal Information- Avoid jobs that require you to handle money or provide personal information before you are officially hired.

The University of Memphis Career Services does not guarantee or make any promises regarding the safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of employment. If you encounter any suspicious job offers, report them to Career Services and the University of Memphis I.T. Department for further investigation. By combining our efforts with your vigilance, we can work together to create a positive job search experience. For more information, please review Job Scams Targeting Students.

Internships are a great way to develop competencies and professional skills.

Students find that the sophomore and junior years are the optimal times to pursue internships. By this point, students have usually completed some foundational coursework in their major, making them more qualified and confident to apply for internships relevant to their field of study.
Summer between the sophomore and junior years is particularly ideal, as students can commit full-time to an internship without the demands of coursework. Many companies offer structured internship programs during this period, which can lead to valuable experience and potential job offers.
While it's less common, motivated freshmen can also seek out internships, particularly in fields where gaining early exposure is beneficial. These internships might be less specialized, focusing more on gaining general work experience and exploring different career paths.
Skill Development: Early internships can help freshmen build essential skills and networks, making them more competitive for future opportunities.

To best serve you, you will have one Career Specialist based on your Talent Community. A Talent Community is a collection of majors that a Career Specialist works with to provide our services to students. Click the link to see which Talent Community your major is listed in.
-Education & Humanities
-STEM
-Communication & Fine Arts
-Health & Wellness
-Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality
-Social Science
-College of Professional and Liberal Studies & Undecided Major Students
-Business/Fogelman College of Business contact the Professional Development Center at  (901)-678-4740 or professional@memphis.edu

Do your best to schedule an appointment on a day and time you have confirmed availability. We understand that life happens and that conflicts arise. Being on time helps you make the most of your appointments, demonstrates respect, and fosters professional habits that will serve you well in your future careers.

 

Career Services Employer Partnerships FAQs

To become an approved employer on Tigerlink, you must create an account and submit your organization for approval. Once approved, you’ll gain access to post jobs, schedule interviews, and participate in events. Create your Handshake account today.

Sign up here. For additional assistance, please contact Deja Bolton, Employer Outreach Specialist, or Brooke Dowell, Assistant Director of Employer Partnerships.

If you need technical support, Handshake provides employers with assistance through their (Employer Help Center), with FAQ's, tutorials, access to an online chat support bot, and the ability to submit a help ticket. For additional support, employers can email Career Services at tigertalent@memphis.edu.

To post career opportunities, employers must first become an approved employer on Tigerlink, powered by Handshake. Career Services is now on Handshake - a modern platform for college recruiting where you can post opportunities, manage interview schedules, register for events, connect with students and more!  To get started posting jobs today, check out this resource on Posting and Managing Jobs through Handshake!

Career Services serves as the centralized hub for students across various classifications and majors. UofM offers more than 220+ fields of study across 14 colleges and schools that are organized into Tiger Talent Communities. Each talent community is served by a career specialist who competitively prepares students for career and internship opportunities and streamlines employer access to students, faculty and staff.

  • College of Professional and Liberal Studies
  • Communication and Fine Arts
  • Education & Humanities
  • Health & Wellness
  • Kemmons Wilson School (Hospitality, Culinary, Sport & Leisure)
  • Social Sciences
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

* The Business talent community is served by the Avron B. Fogelman Professional Development Center.

In addition to career fairs, you can engage with students through Tigerlink, on-campus interviews, information tables, information sessions, and other networking and professional events. For more information visit, Ways to Recruit Tiger Talent.

Yes, Career Services partners with colleges by providing a Career Specialist designated to their talent community. Our Employer Partnerships Team and Career Education Team can collaboratively curate an opportunity to tailor ways an approved employer can connect with students from a particular major and college/school. To get started on connecting with students, ensure you are an approved employer with the University of Memphis on TigerLink, and contact us to set up a meeting to discuss the next steps.