Ready for Launch

Jefferson adds new platform to help students set their careers.

Handshake enables students to access their career profile, search for jobs, upload application materials, apply for internships, network with employers and keep up to date with events, such as career fairs.

To best prepare students for their future jobs, the University’s Center City Career Development Center and East Falls Marianne Able Career Services Center rolled out Handshake this fall semester to all Jefferson students.

The new platform, which replaces HireJefferson, enables students to access their career profile, search for jobs, upload application materials, apply for internships, network with employers and keep up to date with events, such as career fairs, on-campus interviews, workshops and employer information sessions. Handshake also allows students to make appointments online with both office locations, in person and virtually.

“With a huge industry following, Handshake gives Jefferson students access to more employers on a national level,” says Tracy DePedro, director of the Marianne Able Career Services Center. “Employers can post current opportunities, and it creates a one-stop-shop for employers to recruit top talent from our University.”

The career centers also provide one-on-one advising on resume/CV writing, search strategies and practice interviews, as well as collaborate with many academic programs and student groups to deliver workshops and learning series on a wide range of career prep topics, says Chris Miciek, director of the Career Development Center.

All these offerings propel students for the next steps in their careers, DePedro says. For example, Jefferson alumni from the undergraduate class of 2018 achieved an impressive employment and graduate school placement success rate of 95 percent.

“Our services are available from the time a student begins classes until they retire,” Miciek stresses. “The earlier they start working with us, the better prepared they will be to make the most of their time at Jefferson and launch their careers.”

Upcoming Jefferson Career Fairs
East Falls Career Fair on Sept. 26 for business, marketing, finance, accounting, textile design, fashion design, fashion merchandising and management, engineering, construction management, sciences and more.

Center City Career Fair on Oct. 21 for health sciences, pre-med, occupational therapy, physician assistant majors and more.