Frequently Asked Questions - Career Services

Students: Log into MyNMU and click on 'Handshake.' You will have access once you have registered for classes.  When you first activate your account, you will be asked a series of profile questions.

Alumni: Click here to log in and/or to create an account.  After you create an account and want to log in, don't click on the NMU login; instead, click on 'Or log in using your Handshake credentials.'  

When you try and log into your account through Handshake, you can click 'Forgot your Password?' to change your password.

On the left side of the screen after logging into Handshake, click on 'Jobs.' From there you can search and navigate through the helpful tools presented to filter what you are looking for.

You may find all jobs within the U.P. (including on-campus jobs) on our LinkedIn Account. You can also utilize websites such as Indeed, Snagajob, or MichiganWorks! to look for off-campus jobs. Many local businesses will advertise open positions on their Facebook or Twitter pages. 

Click on your initials in the upper right hand corner, and then click 'My documents' on the dropdown menu, and from here you can upload documents from your computer. 

Yes, you can.  Click on the job you would like to save. The option is listed below the estimated pay. To view these jobs, click on 'Saved' on the top of the screen. 

You will find links to job fairs and employers under 'Events' on your Handshake dashboard. You can also check the list on our website: https://nmu.edu/careerservices/events 

Yes, but only if you have allowed employer viewing in your profile settings.  Click on your initials in the upper right hand corner, and then click 'My Profile,' then click on 'Make Profile Public to Employers.'  

Through Handshake, you are able to receive automated emails when a job you are interested in has an upcoming application deadline, reminders on your saved jobs, and even when you start to apply for a job, and don't complete it yet. Click on your initials in the top right hand corner of Handshake. Then click on 'Notification Preferences.' Follow the instructions and click on the areas where you wish to receive emails. 

Yes. Click on 'Jobs' on the left menu and choose your search criteria. (If you are looking specifically for Federal Work-Study positions, click on 'All filters' on the top, then choose 'Work Study'). If you would like to save your job search and get notified of new jobs that fit your criteria, click 'Notify me about new jobs like this.' 

Handshake allows you to easily search through jobs, 24/7. To log in and get started, log in to you MyNMU account and click on the Handshake link under the Student Resources tab.

For the convenience of NMU students searching for employment on-campus, applications are available to download and print.  After finding a job that you are interested in via Handshake, you can find the appropriate application here. These applications are also available in the Handshake Resource Library (Career Center > Resources).

You may find job postings for Dining Services, the Educational Access Network, and the HelpDesk at https://notebook.nmu.edu/seams/apply.

Note: Do not return completed applications to the Career Services Office, unless specifically requested to do so.  Turn applications in directly to the office or department that is hiring. If you are not sure which form to use, consult the specific job posting or contact the department that posted the job in which you are interested. If you would like to work in a specific department but do not see a job posted, contact the department to inquire if they are hiring. 

Some applications are available in two formats: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Rich Text.  You must fill out a separate application form for each position for which you are applying. 

Note: Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits undergraduate/4 credits graduate) to be a student employee.

A list of individuals who hire students for each department, is found at NMU Departmental Contacts. For each department, the contact name, address, phone number and e-mail address are listed.

Per NMU policy, you can work up to 24 hours per week on campus during the regular academic year (this includes University breaks - Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and exam week). In the summer, student employees will be restricted to 24 hours of work per week while they are enrolled in classes at least half-time (6 credits undergraduate; 4 credits graduate). Students who are not enrolled for summer classes (or are below half-time), but are pre-registered for the following fall semester may work up to 40 hours per week. You should consider the amount of your Federal Work-Study award (if you have one) when determining your weekly work schedule if you want to spread your award out over the entire academic year. 

Wages differ with each position. The minimum student wage is currently $10.33 (as of January 1, 2024). 

Your supervisor will inform you of your next steps. Once you have been hired, there is important post-hiring paperwork that must be completed with your employer within three days of hire. Necessary documents can be viewed here. If you are planning on having your checks deposited directly into your bank account, come prepared with your bank routing number and your account number. 

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a type of financial aid where students work as student employees in order to receive money.  You are paid for the number of hours you work.  FWS is federally-funded, subsidizing a portion of the student's wages.  In order to qualify for FWS, you must complete and submit the appropriate financial aid forms, which are available in the Financial Aid Office, 2107 C.B. Hedgcock. Students are considered for FWS based on financial need only. Questions regarding financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 227-2327.

To find out if you have been awarded Federal Work-Study, you can check your award letter on MyNMU or check in with the Financial Aid Office - fao@nmu.edu or (906) 227-2327. 

When you apply for a job, make sure that you indicate on your application form that you qualify for Federal Work-Study (FWS). When an employer enters you onto the computer system to get paid, your FWS award will be applied.

FWS funds are intended to help offset your educational and living expenses, but the money is not credited to your student account. You will receive a paycheck each pay period you work and it's up to you to apply it to your expenses. All paychecks are based on your hourly wage and the number of hours you worked that pay period.

Handshake allows you to easily search through jobs, 24/7. To log in and get started, log in to you MyNMU account and click on the Handshake link under the Student Resources tab.

For the convenience of NMU students searching for employment on-campus, applications are available to download and print.  After finding a job that you are interested in via Handshake, you can find the appropriate application here. These applications are also available in the Handshake Resource Library (Career Center > Resources).

You may find job postings for Dining Services, the Educational Access Network, and the HelpDesk at https://notebook.nmu.edu/seams/apply.

Note: Do not return completed applications to the Career Services Office, unless specifically requested to do so.  Turn applications in directly to the office or department that is hiring. If you are not sure which form to use, consult the specific job posting or contact the department that posted the job in which you are interested. If you would like to work in a specific department but do not see a job posted, contact the department to inquire if they are hiring. 

Some applications are available in two formats: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Rich Text.  You must fill out a separate application form for each position for which you are applying. 

Note: Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits undergraduate/4 credits graduate) to be a student employee.

Per NMU policy, you can work up to 24 hours per week on campus during the regular academic year (this includes University breaks - Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and exam week). In the summer, student employees will be restricted to 24 hours of work per week while they are enrolled in classes at least half-time (6 credits undergraduate; 4 credits graduate). Students who are not enrolled for summer classes (or are below half-time), but are pre-registered for the following fall semester may work up to 40 hours per week. You should consider the amount of your Federal Work-Study award (if you have one) when determining your weekly work schedule if you want to spread your award out over the entire academic year. 

Once you reach your FWS award level, your employer will be responsible for paying 100 percent of your wages after that point. Due to budgetary constraints, some departments can't afford to pay 100 percent of the student's wages and may have to release you from the department. Others may continue to employ you for the remainder of the academic year. If you are concerned about this, you should work with your employer to develop a schedule that allows you to spread your FWS award throughout the entire academic year at the same or reduced number of hours per pay period.

Yes. Remember to inform both supervisors so they can help you monitor how quickly you are using your FWS award. Remember to be careful not to exceed the 24 hours-per-week limit between both jobs.

Because FWS is part of your financial aid package, you will need to submit the necessary financial aid paperwork each year in order to determine your level of financial need. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 906-227-2327 to determine the deadlines for submitting financial aid paperwork. Having a FWS award does not guarantee you a job on-campus.

The Off-campus FWS program at NMU has provided some students the opportunity to apply their FWS awards to off-campus jobs through a limited number of community service organizations. When such jobs are available, they will be posted in Handshake.

Absolutely. While some departments require student applicants to have FWS, many do not. The job listings will indicate whether or not FWS is required, and you can apply for any position that doesn't require FWS.  Check Handshake frequently for newly posted positions.

Full-time positions are posted in Handshake. You can do a search for jobs, look at employer information, see which employers are attending upcoming job fairs, and much more! We also have a list of resources and helpful career websites. 

You can find helpful resume assistance (including templates, worksheets, information on cover letters and references) here.  

Yes!  You may set up an appointment in Handshake (click on 'Career Center,' then 'Appointments.')  You may also call the office at 906-227-2800. You will then be asked to provide your resume 24 hours prior to your appointment (e-mail is fine). This gives them a chance to look over your resume before your arrive. 

Get help from alumni and the NMU community through Wildcats Connect.

This is probably the most often asked question regarding resumes. While a one-page resume is best, two pages are acceptable so long as the information you include relates to your skills and abilities and indicates to the reader that you are qualified for the position for which you have applied. Do your best to keep your resume to one page, but know that two pages are acceptable in most situations.

No. If you have a resume that is more than one page, it's best to print each page separately and then staple the pages together, so they don't get lost on the reader's desk.

Remember, it's the quality of the information you include in your resume that will help get you the interview, not the color of paper. Use good quality, heavyweight, white paper. Recruiters are busy people and they are rarely impressed by the color of paper used in the documents they read. If you feel that you absolutely must use colored paper, use the lightest color available. Stop by the Career Services office (3302.3 C.B. Hedgcock) and get your resume printed (up to 10 copies) on resume paper for free! 

Absolutely not! Putting your picture on your resume does little more than allow the reader to make judgments (positive or negative) about you based on physical characteristics. Such judgment by an employer has nothing to do with your ability to do the job for which you've applied and it's illegal.

If you mean characteristics like height, weight, etc., no. This type of information has nothing to do with your qualifications.

If you mean a list of your interests and activities--it depends. If there is room on your resume, it can't hurt to list a few interests so you can tell the recruiter a little about you. Doing so may indicate to the employer that you're a good fit for the company. Don't go overboard--two or three is the maximum.

Generally, three to five references are enough. Each of your references should be thoroughly familiar with your academic preparation and your work history. Give each of your references a copy of your resume. It is polite to notify your references when you have applied for a specific job and you anticipate your references may be called.

It depends on the application instructions. Some companies want letters of reference, others simply want the contact information (name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address) of your references. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you supply the correct information and documents.  Some organizations have policies limiting the content that can be given about a former employee, so you may want to secure a "to whom it may concern" letter of reference before leaving, if possible.

Cover letters change depending on the position for which you're applying. As a general rule, your cover letter should address three areas--why you're writing, why you're qualified for the position and a simple closing statement.  You can find more information on cover letters and resumes here. 

You are not doing anything wrong--unless you are relying on one site in order to find a job. While you may be very well qualified for the jobs in which you're interested, you are probably one of thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of resumes on the job-finding site, and your document may simply blend with all of the others on that site.

To be successful in your search, it's best to use a mix of techniques (resume sites, attending job fairs, making contact with your network and visiting with staff in Career Services). The more techniques you use, the more successful you'll be.

The answer to this question depends on the instructions from the company. If the instructions indicate that they will accept your resume as an attachment, by all means--send it as an attachment. If, however, the instructions indicate a different method applicants should use (mailing the resume, faxing documents, incorporating resumes into the text of an e-mail message, etc.), follow those instructions to the letter.

Remember, under no circumstances should you send your resume as an attachment with no text in the actual e-mail message.  A blank message with a document attached will probably not be opened by the recipient. They may worry that you're sending them an infected file. Always include text in the body of any e-mail message you send.

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is typically used by individuals who are searching for career opportunities in higher education, research, academic studies or a related field. Resumes are typically used by individuals who are searching for employment in other fields. The major difference? A CV highlights experiences such as degrees earned, research completed, articles or books published, classes taught, presentations given, grants applied for and/or obtained and similar categories. Resumes highlight experiences related to more to the various jobs the individual has held. The two documents can be used interchangeably, but it's best to check with Career Services if you have questions.

Research the company and position for which you are applying. Know your resume. If you'd like to do a mock interview, call Career Services at 906-227-2800 to set up an appointment with a staff member.  There are helpful documents in the Resources under Career Center in Handshake (log in through MyNMU) that will help you prepare for an interview also.

Get help from alumni and the NMU community through Wildcats Connect.

It's usually not necessary to bring much to an interview. A few extra copies of your resume, something to write on (pad of paper) and something to write with is usually all you need. When in doubt, ask the person scheduling the interview.

Generally, arriving 10 minutes prior to your interview is appropriate. Doing so will give you time to relax, review your resume one more time and prepare for the interview.

While a formal business suit is not required for all interviews, dressing like a professional (sport coat, tie, slacks, dress shoes if you're male and a blazer, blouse, slacks or knee-length skirt if you're female) is always preferable. Remember, an interview is your chance to present your professional presence. Make the most of that chance.

It depends on how many people will be taking part in the interview. If it's you and two interviewers, shaking hands with both of the interviewers is appropriate. If you're going to interview with a panel of six people, it will most likely be awkward to move down the line of people as you shake each hand.

This is a difficult question to answer. While you may be eager to find out how well you did and if you got the job, patience is required. As a general rule, wait at least five business days after an interview before calling the company.

While using e-mail to communicate with a potential employer is very convenient, electronic communications (including e-mail and instant messages) is still viewed in business as being casual.  For this reason, send a formally typed, one-page thank you letter after your interview. Doing so will reinforce your professional image.  A sample thank you letter is located in Resources under Career Center in Handshake (log in through MyNMU).