Find a Job

Jobs vs. Internships vs. Careers: What's the Difference?

A job is something you do for money. They can be long-term or short-term, high-paying or low-paying, seasonal or full-time. There is a wide variety of jobs available, and most people will have many across their lifetime. An internship is a type of job that is built to be a learning experience. There is often a set end date, and built in learning and supervision throughout.

A career is the summation of your professional journey, including things like your education, work experience, volunteering, etc. It is a lifelong path, with no real beginning or end.

Searching for a Job

When searching for a job, it’s important to know: Where to Look, When to Look, What to Look For, and How to Look. This page will walk you through each step of that process.

Where to Look

The vast majority of job searches now take place virtually. Our two primary job-search tools are:

Handshake

Handshake is the go-to place for recruiters to find students and other professionals nationwide. Helpful for finding part-time and full-time jobs, on-campus jobs, and internships. All students will automatically have a Handshake account created for you. New students will be able to log into Handshake using St. Kate’s single sign-on once you have started classes.

KatieCareer List of Job Boards

Use this comprehensive resource to find different places to look based on your specific areas of interest, such as: Government, Business, Gaming, Physical Therapy, and more! We recommend using Handshake and 1-2 other job boards during your search. Breadth is useful; yet, make sure to not overwhelm yourself by looking at too many sites.

  • Pay attention to job titles. Keep a running document of the job titles that stand out to you, so you can use those in future searches.
  • Set up accounts and build out profiles. This helps the website to understand more about your qualifications, and it may allow recruiters to more easily find your profile.
  • Upload your resume. Uploading a more general version of your resume can allow recruiters to have a better understanding of your experiences.
  • Set alerts for organizations or searches. Save time searching through lists of jobs by letting the website search for you!
  • Tell the system when you like positions. If the website knows what positions you’re interested in, it can better tailor your results to what you’re looking for.
  • Use your network. Networking is a crucial component of finding open positions, and being hired. See more information on networking here.

Along with professional employers, households may post opportunities on Handshake for nannying, babysitting, Personal Care Assistant, yardwork, and other part-time positions. To search for these, we recommend using the “part-time” filter and keywords of household, family, or the desired position title.

Legal Disclaimer
The Career Development office does not require background checks on employers or families providing these job opportunities. However, employers and students are encouraged to request reference information from each other to establish qualifications, credentials, and overall fit in compliance with applicable laws. The office will not post jobs that discriminate against applicants based on legally protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or gender. The office also reserves the right to decline job postings that do not align with St. Catherine University’s mission or values. It is important to note that the office does not make representations or guarantees about positions posted and is not liable for any aspect of off-campus employment, including but not limited to safety, wages, or working conditions. Students are encouraged to conduct their due diligence when seeking or accepting private, off-campus employment and to take appropriate measures to ensure personal safety in accordance with employment laws.

When to Look: Typical Hiring Timelines

EMPLOYERS HIRE YEAR-ROUND for all types of opportunities, but there are some times of the year that are going to be most popular in some industries for recruiting and hiring. We have provided some industry-specific information, but it’s important to remember:

  1. Job searches should be personal to you. Every person is going to have a different timeline for when they are looking to start positions. If you don’t fit within the timelines provided, that does not mean that you are behind.
  2. It’s helpful to understand the hiring timelines for industries/organizations that interest you. When you are planning for graduation, or a career change, it’s helpful to have an understanding of when applications are being released, what the deadlines are, and the types of positions that are being posted.
  3. You can start early. There is no commitment needed to looking at job boards to get an understanding of the types of positions available. If you see a position you’re interested in, and are not sure what the hiring timeline is, you can always consider reaching out to the prospective employer to get a better sense.
  4. There will be exceptions. All industries and jobs will have some jobs and timelines that fall outside of the norms. So, even if your timeline does not fit within the “norm,” that doesn’t mean you can’t find a job!

What to Look For: Qualifications, Values, & Red Flags

When looking at a job posting, it’s important to understand what type of candidate they are hoping to hire, in order to see if you will be a good fit for the position. On some job postings, they will list their qualifications under different headings: Required, Minimum, or Preferred.

Required Qualifications, or Minimum Qualifications, are the qualities, skills, or experiences that one must have when applying for positions. If you do not have these qualifications, you will more than likely not be considered for the position.

Note: If a minimum requirement is a degree type, and they say “or related field,” there is flexibility in the type of degree you hold–it’s okay to apply if your major is not listed.

Preferred Qualifications are the qualities, skills or experiences that their ideal job candidate would have. These will likely align with the job duties required for the position, or be shaped by the previous employees who have held that position. You do not need to fit all of these qualifications for a position in order to apply. However, when preparing your materials (resume, cover letter, etc.), try to focus on ways that you have experience in that area, or how you have the skills/qualities to learn.

Assessing Company Values

Company values are the actions and behaviors companies encourage that impact the type of work and the environment they foster for their employees. It’s important to have an understanding of a company’s values so that you can determine if the position will be a good fit.

“Pink Flags” for Workplace Safety

When looking for jobs, there are a few things that you should keep an eye out for. These things are not necessarily “red flags,” or things that show an environment is unsafe and may be a deal breaker. However, they may indicate some possible workplace practices that may or may not be comfortable to you. Thus, they are “pink flags,” to just be aware of as you look for positions. It is up to you to determine which are “red” and which are “pink” for yourself.

  • No flexibility built into the job description
  • Employers who don’t have easy access to accommodations in the job application process
  • Toxic positivity or an attitude of “positive vibes only”
  • Clichéd, sometimes ableist requirements such as “thrives in a busy environment” or “goes above and beyond”
  • A lack of diversity in their leadership positions
  • Use of binary-enforcing gendered language
  • Themes of recurring issues in job reviews (e.g. lack of support, rigid environment)

Avoiding Job Scams

Job scams are becoming increasingly common, and increasingly complex. See this article for helpful tips and tricks on how to avoid job scams.

How to Look: Stay Organized!

It’s important to create a plan for finding employment. Without knowing the types of positions or even the kinds of organizations which interest you, looking for a job can be overwhelming and very difficult.

There is no “one size fits all” job search; you need to focus your efforts on the methods that will work for you and your career area. A career counselor can help you to develop a plan and strategies that will work for your situation. Visit Handshake to schedule an appointment.

Job Organization Tool: Huntr

During your job search, it’s important to stay organized. Instead of keeping jobs open as tabs on your computer, you can save them on Huntr: a free job search organization tool.

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Contact & Location

Phone
651-690-8890
Address

CdC | Room 210
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

Career Service Hours

Monday 8:00am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 4:30 pm
Thursday 8:00am - 4:30 pm
Friday 8:00am - 4:30 pm

Appointments may be available from 4:30-6:00 based on staffing capacity.