Loyola University Chicago

Career Services

Student & Alumni FAQs

Career Development Center

  • Handshake/Internship and Job Postings 
  • Career Advising, Pre-Health Appointments and Drop-Ins
  • Resume Critiques
  • Career Fairs
  • Career Classes and Workshops
  • Career Self-Assessment
  • Mock Interviews
  • Networking opportunities 

All current students and graduates of Loyola University Chicago*, as well as alumni of other Jesuit schools, are eligible to use the services of the Career Development Office and Business Career Services

*Students and alumni of the School of Law and Stritch School of Medicine use their school’s dedicated career services office.

Handshake (formerly RamblerLink) is Loyola's web-based recruiting system for a part-time on- and off-campus student employment, internships, full-time jobs after graduation, career fairs, employer information sessions/tables and workshops. You can post your resume, cover letter and other application documents and then use them to apply for positions, as well as learn about career-related events.

Career advising, career coaching, classes and workshops, LUConnect mentoring, and our online resources are all tools you can use in your discernment process. Visit us during drop-in hours or make an appointment with a career advisor via Handshake to learn about all of our programs and services.

Yes, see our Job Search Guides for tips on writing resumes, cover letters, etc. Career advisors are available during drop-in hours or by appointment to offer critiques of your resume and cover letters.

Yes, visit us during drop-in hours or make an appointment with an advisor to discuss interview techniques and tips, or to do a mock interview. For additional help, see our Interviewing Guide.

All part-time on/off-campus jobs, full-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities are posted in Handshake. If you are a current student or recent graduate, login to Handshake using your Loyola username and password - the same one you use for LOCUS. If you are an alumni and have not used Handshake in the past, visit luc.edu/handshake to get started. 

Job placement services are not part of our offerings. Today's companies and organizations expect individuals to drive their own career search. However, our office has a number of services to help you connect with employers and to locate job openings. Learn more: Job/Internship Search

To search for a job abroad, go to luc.edu/career and click on the Going Global link. This product offers access to Country Guides with specific information about the job search process in that country. See also our Online Resources Links for a list of international websites. 

See our Online Resources Links for salary surveys and statistics. There are also a number of books in the career library that house this information and can be used any time the center is open.

Career advising appointments are generally scheduled for 45 minutes, while walk-ins are for 15 minutes.

Yes, career advisors are here to meet with you throughout the year as often as their schedules allow and your needs exist. Even after you graduate, you can still see your advisor!

If you want assistance writing a resume, cover letter, graduate school application or personal statement, bring a hard copy draft of the documents to your meeting. Otherwise, come as you are.

To schedule a career advising appointment, you can log-in to your Handshake account or call the Career Development Office at 773.508.7716. Please note that students or alumni who fail to appear for an appointment and do not call ahead of the scheduled meeting, are considered “no shows.” Should an individual “no-show” twice in the same academic year, access to career advising will be limited to drop-ins only for the remainder of that year.

Each of our career advisors specialize in a specific area based on school and concentration. For more information on which advisor you would see, visit the Staff Directory.

Career fairs provide opportunities for you to meet with a variety of employers for several reasons:

  • To gather information about their companies
  • To practice your interview skills: both "selling yourself" and asking questions
  • To find out what jobs are available and what employers are looking for
  • While many employers will be recruiting for openings that currently exist, some employers will attend to share information about their organizations and to collect resumes for possible future openings

See Loyola Career Fairs for a list of Loyola-sponsored fairs, as well as the employers who have registered to participate. Log-in to Handshake for relevant events produced by outside organizations in and around the Chicago area.

  • Have a resume that you're proud of. Some fairs invite you to submit resumes in advance so that attending companies might have a chance to prescreen. This is to your advantage. You'll also want to bring numerous copies with you to distribute at the fair.
  • Obtain a list of employers and identify which companies you would like to meet. This is your opportunity to prescreen. Research the companies and have a list of questions to ask the recruiter.
  • Prepare a 2-minute speech describing who you are, what kind of work you are looking for and your qualifications. Your goal is to spark their interest in you for a more formal interview.
  • Dress for success. It may be a cliche but it's imperative for making a positive first impression. Wear comfortable, professional shoes.
  • Begin with a positive attitude. Expect long lines and hassles. Always be kind and considerate, since anyone you meet might be a recruiter you'll see later that day.
  • Survey the room when you arrive. Make a list of the employers you want to meet. Try to meet with your top choices first because some recruiters leave early.
  • Go to it! If someone is already at the company table when you approach, respect the other candidate's privacy and wait for him/her to finish. If there is a line, try to remain positive about the experience and wait patiently for your turn.
  • Get the recruiter's business card at the close of your meeting. Ask how and when you should follow up.
  • Take a few moments after each interview to jot some notes to yourself about the position, company and recruiter. These notes will be important later when you write your follow-up letters after the career fair.
  • Reflect on how the interview went, what you learned, what you wish you would have said, mentally rehearse it for the next interview and move to the next employer on your list.
  • Collect any literature from companies that interest you, even if you were unable to interview them. The literature will allow you to follow up with them more effectively. If a company is a no-show, contact the fair organizers for the name and address to write to request information or to send your resume.
  • Relax, recover and massage your smile muscles.
  • Organize all the material you received.
  • Write thank-you letters. This is your chance to once again highlight your strengths, but this time you know what they're looking for. Your letter should demonstrate how you would be a "good fit."
  • Make follow-up emails/phone calls. Depending on what the recruiter said regarding how and when to follow-up, email or call the recruiter to ask about the status of the search and if you might schedule an on-site interview.

Career Services sponsors a number of events each year, including career fairs, workshops and information sessions/tables. In addition, we publicize relevant events produced by outside organizations in and around the Chicago area. Check your Handshake account for additional events and registration details.

The Career Development Center uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory in conjunction with our Career Self-Assessment Workshop (C-SAW) and Career and Life Planning Seminar (UNIV 224)class. After meeting with a career advisor, students can take these assessment instruments and receive the interpretation in a career self-assessment workshop or in individual advising sessions.

See the Graduate Education dropdown under Students and Alumni. Information also is available in the career library about the application process to graduate schools and professional programs, and writing personal statements. In addition, career advisors can discuss options, critique personal statements and applications, and assist with the entire decision-making process.

Job/Internship Search

Career Advising

Career Events

Miscellaneous