As your student prepares to begin their college journey, they are likely focused on classes, making friends, and adjusting to campus life. While those are all important milestones, there is another resource we encourage them to take advantage of from day one, Career Services.
Many students believe Career Services is only for seniors preparing to graduate, but the reality is that career development begins the moment they arrive on campus. The earlier students engage with Career Services, the more opportunities they have to explore majors and careers, gain experience, build professional skills, and prepare for internships and future employment.
Handshake: Your Student's Career Management Tool
One of the first resources we encourage every student to explore is Handshake, St. John Fisher University's career management platform. Throughout their time at Fisher, Handshake will be their go-to resource for career development.
Through Handshake, students can:
Search and apply for on-campus student employment, Federal Work-Study positions, internships, and full/part-time job opportunities.
Register for career fairs, employer information sessions, networking events, and workshops.
Schedule appointments with Career Services.
Stay informed about career-related events, deadlines, and opportunities.
We encourage students to activate their Handshake account, complete their profile, and check the platform regularly. Building these habits early helps students stay informed and take advantage of opportunities as they become available. Handshake is accessible for them through their mySJF dashboard.
On-Campus Employment & Federal Work-Study
For students interested in working on campus, most student employment and Federal Work-Study positions will be posted in Handshake beginning August 1. Students should review available positions and submit applications as early as possible, as many departments begin hiring before the semester is fully underway.
Working on campus not only provides financial support but also helps students build transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, time management, and leadership, all qualities employers consistently seek. If your student has questions about finding positions, navigating Handshake, or preparing application materials, our Career Services staff is happy to assist. Students can email careerservices@sjf.edu or schedule a meeting via Handshake > Career Center > Appointments.
Building a Strong College Résumé
Many incoming students arrive with a high school résumé highlighting academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, athletics, and part-time jobs. These experiences provide an excellent foundation, but college is the time to begin shaping a résumé that reflects new skills, leadership experiences, campus involvement, and career goals. In October, Career Services will visit every First-Year Seminar class to help students transition their high school résumé into a polished college résumé. During these interactive sessions, students will learn how to present their experiences professionally while receiving individualized feedback to strengthen one of the most important tools they'll use throughout college. In the meantime, students can check out the Career Services website to access career tools and resources.
Whether your student is exploring majors, searching for an on-campus job, preparing for an internship, considering graduate school, or getting ready for their first professional position, Career Services is here to support them every step of the way. No matter where your students' career journey will take them, we encourage them to visit us early and often.
We look forward to partnering with your student as they discover their interests, build confidence, and prepare for a successful future. Together, we can help them make the most of every opportunity their Fisher experience has to offer.
Career Success Starts Earlier Than You Think2026-07-17T09:12:14-04:00As your student prepares to begin their college journey, they are likely focused on classes, making friends, and adjusting to campus life. While those are all important milestones, there is another resource we encourage them to take advantage of from day one, Career Services.Many students believe Career Services is only for seniors preparing to graduate, but the reality is that career development begins the moment they arrive on campus. The earlier students engage with Career Services, the more opportunities they have to explore majors and careers, gain experience, build professional skills, and prepare for internships and future employment.
Handshake: Your Student's Career Management Tool
One of the first resources we encourage every student to explore is Handshake, St. John Fisher University's career management platform. Throughout their time at Fisher, Handshake will be their go-to resource for career development.
Through Handshake, students can:
Search and apply for on-campus student employment, Federal Work-Study positions, internships, and full/part-time job opportunities.
Register for career fairs, employer information sessions, networking events, and workshops.
Schedule appointments with Career Services.
Stay informed about career-related events, deadlines, and opportunities.
We encourage students to activate their Handshake account, complete their profile, and check the platform regularly. Building these habits early helps students stay informed and take advantage of opportunities as they become available. Handshake is accessible for them through their mySJF dashboard.
On-Campus Employment & Federal Work-Study
For students interested in working on campus, most student employment and Federal Work-Study positions will be posted in Handshake beginning August 1. Students should review available positions and submit applications as early as possible, as many departments begin hiring before the semester is fully underway.
Working on campus not only provides financial support but also helps students build transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, time management, and leadership, all qualities employers consistently seek. If your student has questions about finding positions, navigating Handshake, or preparing application materials, our Career Services staff is happy to assist. Students can email careerservices@sjf.edu or schedule a meeting via Handshake > Career Center > Appointments.
Building a Strong College Résumé
Many incoming students arrive with a high school résumé highlighting academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, athletics, and part-time jobs. These experiences provide an excellent foundation, but college is the time to begin shaping a résumé that reflects new skills, leadership experiences, campus involvement, and career goals. In October, Career Services will visit every First-Year Seminar class to help students transition their high school résumé into a polished college résumé. During these interactive sessions, students will learn how to present their experiences professionally while receiving individualized feedback to strengthen one of the most important tools they'll use throughout college. In the meantime, students can check out the Career Services website to access career tools and resources.
Whether your student is exploring majors, searching for an on-campus job, preparing for an internship, considering graduate school, or getting ready for their first professional position, Career Services is here to support them every step of the way. No matter where your students' career journey will take them, we encourage them to visit us early and often.
We look forward to partnering with your student as they discover their interests, build confidence, and prepare for a successful future. Together, we can help them make the most of every opportunity their Fisher experience has to offer.