Alumni Resources

Handshake is our online recruiting portal our online recruiting portal. You can use Handshake to apply for full-time and internship opportunities with companies interested in hiring Fitchburg State students.  For help with getting using Handshake after you graduate, refer to this article for instructions. You can also reach out to the Career Services and Advising Center for support.

To assist with your job search, we have created the following resources which are available to all alumni.

• Resumes (PDF)
• Graduate Student Resume Guide (PDF)
• Cover Letters (PDF)
• Internship/Job Search (PDF)
• Interviewing (PDF)
• LinkedIn Resources Flyer (PDF)
• Graduate School Resource Guide (PDF)
• Senior Job Search Resource Guide (PDF)
• Salary Negotiations (PDF)

• North Central MA Chamber of Commerce
• Indeed a large-scale search engine that allows you to see multiple opportunities on one site. Indeed enables you to search for jobs posted on thousands of websites by aggregating them all on one site. Employers post jobs directly on Indeed.
• Idealist lists jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities in the nonprofit sector. Remember there are many opportunities in a variety of areas within the world of nonprofit. While you might be looking for marketing or legal opportunities, for instance, they might be available within nonprofit companies. No matter your major, consider using Idealist to search for opportunities. 
• LinkedIn Jobs leverage the world’s largest professional network to connect with opportunities. Fitchburg State’s LinkedIn Alumni Group is a great way to network with other alumni and hear about job opportunities through the alumni network.
• ZipRecruiter an online employment marketplace that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered smart matching technology to actively connect millions of employers and job seekers. Over 700 employers in the US, Canada and U.K. and Israel. 
• Glassdoor offers millions of the latest job listings, combined with a growing database of company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more.
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.

Steps to make a successful career transition

1. Understand why you want to make a change and what you are looking for out of your career change
2. Research the industry you are hoping to enter
3. Preview jobs and qualifications and identify your job interests
4. Compare your skills and experience to job requirements in the new industry and determine if you are ready to apply
5. Make a plan to build skills and experience to be ready for the transition
6. Build your network and learn from people in the new field
7. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile, focusing on transferable skills

Research resources

• Use tools such as MyNextMove or the Occupational Outlook Handbook to research industries and career paths, as well as to learn about skills and education required for professions
• Utilize LinkedIn to search for Fitchburg State alumni and other professionals in your intended field and view their career paths to identify a good starting place
• Use job listing sites such as LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter to research positions and identify the skills and experience they are asking for
• Use GlassDoor or MyNextMove to research salaries for positions that interest you 

Resume tips

• Identify Your Transferable Skills: Identify skills from previous roles that are valuable in your target industry, for example, communication, problem-solving, project management, data analysis, or budget management.
• Use the Job Description as Your Guide: Carefully read the job descriptions for roles that interest you. Identify the required skills, and then mirror that language in your resume, showcasing how your experience fits their needs.
• Use Numbers and Data: Whenever possible, use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to quantify your accomplishments. 
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of listing skills, provide concrete examples of how you've used them. 
   

If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with current Fitchburg State students on a career panel or in mock or informational interviews, please let us know careercenter@fitchburgstate.edu.

Does your current employer offer internship and job opportunities? Consider connecting our current students to those opportunities by sharing them with us. To share an internship or job opportunities at your company please click on our career platform, Handshake. Reach out to Susan Beddes at sbeddes@fitchburgstate.edu for more information.

Connect with your alma mater and fellow alumni. Find events, request your membership card, update your contact information, make a gift, or get involved.