FAQs
- Who can use Career Development Center services?
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 Center.
- How can the Career Development Center help me choose a major or a career?
Visit us during walk-in hours or make an appointment with a career counselor to learn about all of the center's programs and services. Career counseling, CPSY 224, C-SAW, our online career resources and career library materials are all tools you can use in your discernment process.
- Can the Career Development Center help me find a job on campus?
All part-time, on-campus student employment are managed by the Career Development Center in the eRecruiting system. Many of these positions require that students have Federal Work Study as part of their financial aid package. All off-campus Federal Work Study funded Community Service opportunities are also managed in the eRecruiting system by the Center for Experiential Learning. Full-time positions at Loyola are managed by Human Resources.
- What should I do to find a job or internship?
Visit us during walk-in hours or make an appointment to see a counselor, who can register you in the eRecruiting database and teach you how to use it for job and internship searches. You can also use the center's alumni network, Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK), the career library, and our resources page to target specific occupations/industries.
- What is RamblerLink and how can I use it?
RamblerLink is the Career Development Center's online student registration and job/internship system. You can search for internships or full-time or part-time positions in the local and/or the national database. You can also post your resume, cover letter and other job search documents to the system so that interested employers can view them.
By saving your search criteria, the system can notify you when positions of interest to you have been posted. - Should I make an appointment with a specific career counselor?
While any of our career counselors can assist you with general questions, each counselor serves as a liaison to specific academic disciplines. You may want to make an appointment with the counselor that works most directly with your particular major. See the staff directory for a list of counselor assignments.
- How long is a typical appointment?
Career counseling appointments are generally scheduled for 30 minutes.
- Can I meet with a career counselor more than once?
Yes!
- What should I bring to an appointment with a career counselor?
If you want assistance writing a resume, cover letter, graduate school application or personal statement, bring a draft of the documents to your meeting. Otherwise, come as you are.
- Can you help me write a resume or a cover letter?
Yes. See our Resume Guide and our Correspondence Guide (PDF) for tips on writing job search documents. There are also a number of books in the career library that address this topic and can be used any time the center is open. Career counselors are available during walk-in hours or by appointment to offer critiques of your resume and cover letters.
- Can you help me prepare for an interview?
Yes. Drop in during walk-in hours or make an appointment with a counselor to discuss interview techniques and tips, or to do a mock interview. For more help, see our interviewing guide (PDF).
- How can I take those career tests that I've heard about?
The Career Development Center uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory in conjunction with CPSY 224 (Career and Life Planning Lab). After meeting with a career counselor, students can take these assessment instruments and receive the interpretation in a career self-assessment workshop or in individual counseling sessions.
- I'm thinking about going to graduate school. How can the Career Development Center help?
Check out the graduate school links on our resources page. Information also is available in the career library about the application process to graduate schools and professional programs, and writing personal statements. Finally, career counselors can discuss options, critique personal statements and applications, and assist with the entire decision-making process.
- How do I find out about job fairs?
See Career Events for a list of Loyola-sponsored fairs, as well as the employers who have registered to participate. See Career-Related Events: Chicago & Beyond for Chicago-area fairs.
- How should I prepare for a job fair?
Preparation is the key to successfully working a job fair.
- Look over the list of companies that are attending to find out as much as possible about those in which you have an interest.
- Have a 30-60 second introduction prepared so that you know what to say after you say "hello."
- Bring at least 25 copies of your resume.
- Give yourself enough time to work the room; expect lines at some employer tables.
- Bring a pen and a portfolio to neatly hold the information you will pick up.
- Dress for success—professional attire is expected—and wear polished, comfortable shoes.
- Can the Career Development Center help me get a job or internship outside Chicago?
eRecruiting has a national database of jobs and internships. We can also help you get reciprocal career services at Jesuit universities around the country, as well as connect you to Loyola alumni through the ASK Program.
- How do I search for a job abroad?
See our resources page for a list of international Websites. There are also books in the career library that can assist students in identifying global employment possibilities.
- Where can I find salary information?
See our resources page for salary surveys and statistics. The career library also houses this information.