For most college students – and their parents – the goal after graduation is to quickly land a job in your field of study. In addition to choosing an academic major that prepares you for a career in a growing field, you will want a school that makes investments in its career services department.
Career service departments help students prepare for life after graduation. From identifying goals, to resume building, interview preparation, and beyond, Villa Maria’s career services team exists to help you navigate the transition from student to working professional.
Villa Maria recently invested in FirstHand, a career building platform that will connect you with professionals who are currently working in the field you are aspiring to enter.
“FirstHand will help students connect with industry professionals in their field who serve as advisors/mentors within the platform,” said Joseph Milazzo, Villa Maria’s career readiness specialist. “It also allows students to connect with internships and jobs and have access to a full library of materials to help guide them in developing their professional profile. Searching for the right job can feel like a full-time job itself. FirstHand provides a ton of tools that makes the process more straightforward and less overwhelming.”
Some of the key features of FirstHand are:
- Get advice from experienced professionals in your field
- Receive personalized job and internship recommendations
- Search for jobs and internships locally and nationally
- Get resume and cover letter templates
- Read articles that will facilitate your job search
- Learn how to use popular software, like the Adobe Suite, Qualtrics, Zoom, and more
- Take courses to help build career skills, like interview techniques, writing a cover letter, negotiating job offers, and more
There are thousands of additional resources available to you within the platform.
As a student at Villa, you will receive free access to FirstHand and will be able to use it as long you are enrolled in classes. You can access FirstHand through D2L and will have to create a profile before getting started.
If you have questions about getting started with or navigating FirstHand, reach out to Joseph Milazzo, the College’s career readiness specialist, at [email protected].
