As part of your job or internship search, you can attend networking events held at Miami University and apply for opportunities through online platforms.
The goal of networking isn’t to immediately get a job. It’s to gain a new professional contact.
Aim to connect, not to impress. Your conversations with professionals should be two sided. This is how you make meaningful connections that could lead to future opportunities. To get started:
Update your Handshake and LinkedIn profiles with a new head shot from our Professional Headshot Booth. This FREE service is quick and easy to use. You’ll even receive your digital photos the same day.
When networking with professionals, it’s critical to make a good first impression. We can help you during your job and internship search in a variety of ways.
An interview is a conversation between an employer and a candidate. Often the final part of the recruitment process, it helps to determine if you’re a fit for a given position based on your skills, experiences, and character traits.
Employers visit Miami to interview students throughout the year, including after select career and internship fairs. On-campus interviews are organized and tracked in Handshake. To participate:
Access thousands of career opportunities posted by vetted organizations through Miami’s job and internship search platform.
Create a profile, make connections, and search for careers on LinkedIn, the leading professional online network.
Expand your network within the Miami community based on your career interests and experiences.
Complete a free, virtual career development program to excel in your job search.
Get your foot in the door by tackling a micro-internship, a short-term, paid professional project.
Explore curated collections of employers that hire Miami students within Handshake.
Accepting (verbally or in writing) an employment offer with an organization and subsequently declining the acceptance for another opportunity is called reneging. Reneging is considered unethical and unprofessional behavior and:
The Career Center does not condone accepting offers as a “backup plan” while you continue to search for something else. Reneging on an offer is counter to the university’s student code of conduct, which states in part, “We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct.”
A student who fails to withdraw from their search and continues to solicit another position, or reneges on a previously accepted position, may have their ability to participate in Career Center activities and services restricted until the issue is resolved. In addition, the student will be referred to their faculty advisor, department chair, and/or dean as appropriate.
Consider asking for an extension on the deadline for accepting the job offer. Career Center staff can help you with crafting the request for more time to consider offers. Employers may not grant the request, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Reneging is potentially more damaging to your professional reputation and may lead to the new offer being rescinded if the second company finds out.
Remember, you don’t need to rush to say yes before you consider an offer fully. If you’re getting deadline pressure from the employer (or elsewhere), meet with Career Center staff to help you examine your options, including an extension, clarification of the role/expectations, salary, etc. Don’t accept an offer in haste without making an informed decision to commit to the employer and the role.
Again, ask for an extension with the first organization with the help of Career Center staff. If the company is unwilling to extend the deadline, or if you haven’t heard back from the other organization by the time the extended deadline is over, you’ll have to decide to accept the offer and end your job search or decline the offer and continue your job search.
Possibly yes. If you have other offers that have better compensation, position duty, or location you could explore negotiating with an employer on one or more of these factors. Bear in mind they may be unwilling or unable to accommodate you. Career Center staff can help you formulate a strategy.
Need financial assistance to pursue an internship or a research experience?
Students on the Oxford campus can apply for funding to help complete an internship, conduct research, or purchase needed professional attire.
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