Industry Advising and Career Counseling

Our team of Industry Advisors and Career Counselors are available for appointments via Handshake.

• Our team of Industry Advisors provides industry-specific career support to students and young alumni with focused career goals within a particular company or industry area. They possess knowledge of recruiting practices, trends, hiring timelines, and employer relationships to enhance your job or internship search.
• The counselors on our Career Development team aid in developing application materials (resumes, cover letters, personal statements, LinkedIn profiles), practicing interviewing and networking skills and learning the fundamentals of any successful job or internship search.

Resumes, Cover Letters and More

Resumes, cover letters and other professional correspondence you send during the application process is critical to your job or internship success. It is important that these materials adequately represent who you are as a professional and that you are showcasing your brand as a candidate seeking an opportunity in the public policy and government industry. For information on resumes, cover letters and more, check out these resources here.

Develop Relevant Skills with LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is a leading online education platform featuring thousands of courses taught by industry experts. Courses on the site enable you to explore and develop expertise in a range of subjects to boost your marketability. Villanova offers LinkedIn Learning to all students, as well as alumni who graduated within the past 12 months.

Critical Skills, Tools and Technologies utilized by Professionals in Public policy and government on LinkedIn:

• Program Management
• Analytical Skills
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Policy Analysis
• Human Resources
• Data Analysis
• Law
• Fundraising
• International Relations
• Organizational Development
• Adobe Photoshop

Update Your Career Interests in Handshake

• Click your photo in the upper right-hand corner to open the drop-down, then choose Career Interests
• Which industries interest you?
  • Select all that apply, including “Government, Law, & Politics”
• Which kinds of jobs, or job functions, interest you?
  • Select all that apply, including “Political Organizing/Lobbying”
• Be sure to update all of your Career Interests, including where you’d like to live after graduation, to ensure that you receive the best-targeted information from the Career Center. Remember, you can update your interests at any time!

Additional Resources

usajobs.gov is the Federal Government’s official one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information. There are a ton of resources on their webiste to help you get started, including How to Create a Profile, How to Build a Resume, How to Find a Job, Opportunities for Students and Recent Graduates.

Annual Events to Attend at Villanova University

• Villanova on The Hill Fall Immersion Trip (applications open in the preceding Spring semester)
• BRIDGE Society: Law, Government and Politics Mentoring and Networking Event (Fall)
• Bringing Leaders and Students Together (BLAST) (Spring)
• Public Policy Advisory Board Panel & Coffee Chats (Spring)
• Society Events
• Employer On-Campus and Virtual Recruiting: Info sessions, coffee chats, career fairs, info tables

Villanova Student Societies

Villanova Student Government Association | Matthew J Ryan: Junior Fellows | Villanova University College Republicans | Villanova College Democrats | Nova Nonprofit Network (MPA students only)

Find a Mentor

A mentoring relationship is a learning and development partnership between two people, typically a more experienced person (mentor) and a less experienced person (mentee). The relationship can last days, weeks, semesters or even years depending on the goals and experiences of the people in it. Mentors and mentees discuss topics like personal and professional decisions, explorations of career paths and ways to navigate a career.

• Find a mentor through Formal Mentor Programs at Villanova, Faculty, the Nova Network, LinkedIn, as well as your own personal network.

Informational Interviews

• An informational interview is a conversation where you have the chance to ask someone else questions about their profession, career path, and more. It is common in the working world to conduct informational interviews with individuals who currently have jobs you think may be a fit for you.
• Find professionals to interview using resources like the Nova Network, LinkedIn Alumni Tool, as well as your own personal network.
• Here is a group on Nova Network that can help you get started – Villanova Public Policy Society