FAQ

General

• Where is your office located?
  Our office is located in suite 299 on the second floor of the Mike Ilitch School of Business. The address is 2771 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201.

   

• What are your hours?
  We offer scheduled appointments Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have quick 10- or 15-minute questions, we encourage you to meet with us during walk-in hours on Tuesday in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

   

• How do I make an appointment?
  You can schedule an appointment by logging into Handshake, clicking "Career Center" in the upper right-hand corner and then "Appointments" on the next page.

   

  We have walk-in advising on Tuesdays. No appointment necessary, just drop by when it fits your schedule and we'll see you in turn.

Resumes and cover letters

• I need help with my resume and/or cover letter. Is that something you guys can help with?
  Absolutely. It's always helpful if you bring in a copy of your current document as a starting point. From there, we'll work on getting your resume or cover letter in the best possible form, based on feedback we receive from employers on what they'd like to see.

  Click here for a resume packet (pdf) including examples and writing tips.

  Click here for a cover letter packet (pdf) including examples and writing tips.

• What is Handshake.com?
  We like to think of it as your one stop shop for career needs. Every Mike Ilitch School of Business student already has an account, you just have to activate it. Once there you'll find jobs, internships, the event calendar and other helpful information. It's an exclusive service for business students, so your friends in engineering might be jealous of the opportunities you'll find there.
• I submitted my resume to Handshake but it wasn't approved. Why?
  You may have noticed that when your resume is not approved, we send you an email. Did you read the rest of that email? Any time a document you submit to Handshake isn't approved you'll always get an email that includes suggested edits that, if followed, will get your resume approved upon the next submission. Keep in mind that we find errors on many resumes (spelling, grammar, format, etc.) and often it takes another set of eyes to catch some of those errors. We will continue to provide you feedback on your resume until it gets approved and always give feedback based on direct preferences from our employers. Save yourself some trouble and check out what an ideal resume format looks like in our resume packet (pdf).
• This is the second time I submitted my resume and it wasn't approved. Can't you just approve it so I can apply to this job?
  Unfortunately no. Your resume is a reflection on the entire Mike Ilitch School of Business when an employer reviews it and we want that to be a positive experience. We base our resume reviews on feedback employers have given to us on past resumes. If we keep working together, they'll all be great and more employers will recruit from Wayne State. It's just part of the big picture. We'll keep working with you until your resume is approved. We don't set a limit on the number of times we meet with you to work on these documents.

Jobs & internships

• I have a really important interview coming up. Can I do a mock interview with you?
  Practicing for an interview before the actual interview is a great idea. Set up a mock interview with a career advisor by calling 313-577-4781. We encourage you to set up an appointment as soon as you have your interview scheduled so that we can make sure our advisors have time to meet with you. During the mock interview, we'll ask you some basic questions as well as a few tailored to the job (if you provide us with the job description) and give you feedback and strategies for answering questions when it counts. Also keep an eye out for our monthly Mentor Monday sessions (mock interviews/advice from business school alumni) and employer led Mock Interview Day.
• I heard you have internships and I'd like one.
  You heard right, but we're not hiding them. They're all listed on Handshake. Just log in and search for jobs or internships by your major. If you find it confusing, make an appointment and we're happy to help you navigate the site. We tend to add new positions daily, so while you're on the hunt, log in regularly.
• Will an internship really make a difference? Don't I just need to apply to full-time jobs once I've graduated?
  The value of an internship can't be overstated. More and more companies are hiring from their internship programs. Plus, is there any other way to get real insight into that career or company other than working there? If you're waiting until you've graduated to apply for jobs, you're starting late. Did you know that 60% of employers made full-time job offers to their interns in 2013? Yes, it's that valuable. Special insider tip: Employers often recruit in the first six to eight weeks of fall semester for internships that start during the next summer.

Employer events

• Is it really necessary to go the employer events even if they're not hiring on the spot?
  Employers tell us repeatedly that if the first time they're meeting you is at the Career Fair or even an interview, it's often too late. The best way to make your resume stand out when applying to a job is to build a relationship with the recruiter or someone that works in that company. Once they get to know you, they'll put in a good word. Not only will you learn about these companies, but you'll never have a more convenient networking opportunity so they can start to get to know you.

  CPP Events Calendar

• What do you mean by networking?
  Networking is getting to know recruiters, mentors, employees, staff or anybody else that may be able to help you land that dream job. Employers come to campus multiple times per week during the fall and winter terms with the goal of meeting students to get to know you and what unique skills you'd bring to the table.
• What do you mean by recruiting cycle
  A lot of companies only recruit for internships and full-time jobs in the fall. These jobs and internships usually start the following summer or even the next fall. As an example, a sophomore should be looking at junior level internships, and so on. It's not impossible to get a job off cycle, but you'll make it a lot easier on yourself if you're thinking ahead and ready to apply starting in September.
• I really want to work for [Insert Company] but they don't come to the Career Fair. What can I do?
  We wish every company came to campus, but currently that's just not our reality. If the company you want to work for doesn't recruit here, then you'll need to be proactive and creative with your search. Make an appointment with a Career Advisor by calling 313-577-4781 so we can help you come up with a strategy to best target your efforts with those companies.
• What should I wear?
  For most employer events business casual is fine. Business casual is that happy medium between jeans and a suit. Think dress slacks or a skirt. A button-down shirt/tie or blouse, and dress shoes. You'll want to avoid jeans, leggings, sweats and the like. For big events like the Career Fair and especially interviews, business professional is mandatory. Business professional is a suit, period.
• But I don't have a suit, what should I wear instead?
  We've got you covered with our Dress Closet. Just email bizcloset@wayne.edu. The Professional Dress Closet is a partnership between the CPP Office and Delta Sigma Pi to borrow professional attire to wear to your next interview or event for free (other than a nominal dry cleaning fee). We have a full range of business attire in a variety of styles and sizes. Email bizcloset@wayne.edu year-round to make an appointment or for more details.