Student Information

What is Handshake?

Handshake is the online career management platform for Murray State Career Services. 
In addition to being the place where you can search and apply for internships, Co-op, part-time, and full-time jobs, you can also use Handshake to:

• Upload a resume and complete your online career profile

• Allow your online career profile and resume to be viewable by employers

• Keep track of your appointments with Career Services in one location

• View upcoming local and on-campus career events

• Research contact information for local and national employers

• Search for and apply to open positions

Access Handshake today!

Uploading Your Resume to Handshake

• We HIGHLY recommend getting your resume reviewed by a staff member before it's used in applications. This process may take up to 48 hours.

• Submit your resume to eResume at msu.eresume@murraystate.edu for feedback within 48 business hours

• Drop in during Walk-In Hours (check bottom of page for current walk-in hours)

• Call 270.809.3735 or schedule an appointment online at Handshake.  

• Recommended Handshake Resume Guidelines

Office Appointments

We offer a variety of different appointment options for students, faculty, staff and alumni! You can schedule an appointment with us by going to Handshake, email us at msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu or call our office at 270.809.3735. 

Some of the appointments we offer include:

• Resume and Cover Letter Review - Receive one-on-one help with your resume and cover letter
• Career Counseling - Basic counseling as it relates to career and educational choice
• Major Counseling - Discover what major you should be in or what you can do with your current major
• Internship Counseling - Assistance finding internships and filling out paperwork
• Job Search - Receive help on finding and searching for the right job
• Interview Coaching - Practice your interview skills in a general or customized mock interview
• Professional Headshots - Come get your professional headshot taken for free! 

Featuring various sizes of slightly-used business professional clothing, Racers have the opportunity to come in and 'shop' for suits, shirts, skirts, blouses, shoes and other accessories. Find something you like? You get to keep it - for no charge! One outfit per student per semester, please.

Please make an appointment on Handshake in order to take advantage of the Career Closet.

Career Closet Donation Guidelines

Thinking about donating to the Career Closet? That’s wonderful!

What we take: Suits, dress shirts, slacks, skirts, blouses, belts and dress shoes

What we don’t take: Casual clothing (sneakers, jeans, yoga pants, t-shirts, etc.) OR formal wear (prom dresses, tuxedos, etc.)

In order to best serve our students, we have the following guidelines for donations:

• Clothing should be clean

• Donations should be free from holes/rips/tears

• Clothing shouldn’t have any stains

• Shoes should be able to take a shine

• Given that students will be wearing these clothes to interviews and events, donations should be of recent vintage and appropriate styling

If you have items that align to these standards, contact us at 270.809.3735 or send us an email at msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu for donation details!

Choosing a major and career path is a process, and there are many resources on campus to help you purposefully navigate this process. 

Assessments

• FOCUS 2 (Access Code: racers) This is a self-paced, career and education planning tool that enables you to self-assess your career relevant personal qualities and explore career fields and major areas of study that are most compatible with your assessment results.) 

• My Next Move (Evaluate interests as they relate to career choice)

• 16Personalities (Evaluate strengths and weaknesses, suitable careers, approach to relationships based on personality)

Discover Your Major! 

• Murray State Majors, Minors and Programs

• What Can I Do With This Major?

• O*Net

• Occupational Outlook Handbook

• How to Choose a Major Tip Sheet

• Murray State Academic Advising

• Student Engagement and Success

Gain access to an extensive library of videos covering a broad range of industries and career-related topics with advice from experienced professionals. Learn more about Candid Career+.

Explore careers based on industry, title, or major. Select "Get Hired" for assistance with resume writing, networking, interviewing, and more!

Murray State Career Services is excited to help coach our international undergraduate and graduate students in the career development process that includes developing the following for a successful transition to the world of work in the United States and in their home countries:

• Professional behavior and etiquette

• Resume/curriculum vitae and cover letter development

• Interview skills

• Networking skills

• Major Selection/Career Exploration

Campus Resources

• Murray State Office of International Student and Scholar Services: Contact for help with support services that relate to your status as an international student in the United States

Job Search Assistance

• On-Campus Employment

• Internships

• Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• Handshake

• Career Services Events

General

• Handshake
• Glassdoor (Glassdoor is a free career resource where students have unlimited access to Salaries, Company Reviews and Interview Questions.)
• Indeed

Education (K-12 and Higher Education)

• American Association of Physics Teachers
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• Footprints (ESL jobs)
• Higher Ed Jobs
• KY Dept of Education
• School Spring
• K12JobSpot (teaching positions)
• Top School Jobs
• US Dept of Education

Government

• USA Jobs (federal internships)
• Go Government (federal job application tips)
• Kentucky State Jobs

Healthcare

• Explore Health Careers
• National Institutes of Health
• Travel Nursing

Nonprofit

• Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Idealist

Business

• AICPA (Accounting)
• Institute of Management Accountants

• Choosing a Major
• Four Year Career Plan
• Interviewing 
• Networking & Informational Interviewing
• Student Leadership Interviewing
• Brag Pack (assess transferable skills, work values & personal qualities)
• Federal Job Search
• How to Work a Career Fair
• LGBTQIA+ Job Search Tips
• Marketing Education Abroad Experience
• Part-time Job Search Tips
• Salary Negotiation
• Veterans Job Search Tips
• Build Your LinkedIn Profile
• Build Your Online Brand 
• Cover Letter Writing
• Curriculum Vita (CV) Writing
• Resume Writing
• Business Protocol & Etiquette 
• Dress for Success
• Graduate School Application Process & Guidance
• Personal Statement Writing

• Murray State University Graduate Programs
• Grad Schools
• Graduate Guide
• GRE
• Noodle Graduate School Search
• Peterson's
• Princeton Review
• Top Nursing

Students with Disabilities 

• What Can You Do Campaign
• abilityJOBS
• Gettinghired

International Students

• Cultural Vistas (International Students)
• Diversity Employers
• Equal Opportunity Publications

LGBT Students

• Human Rights Campaign (LGBT civil rights organization)
• Out for Work (LGBT Career Resource)
• Transgender Law Center (LGBT civil rights organization)

Veteran Students

• Veteran's Guide to Getting a Job
• G.I.Jobs
• Military (Job Search & Skills Translator)
• Feds Hire Vets (USAJobs.gov resource)
• Hire Veterans
• U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment & Training Service
• Veterans Enterprise
• Veterans Recruiting

Other Resources

• Women for Hire

Career Services tries to screen employers and the positions posted to our website, but it is imperative that you, as a job seeker, exercise common sense and caution. Read position descriptions carefully!

If a position or job offer seems too good to be true, if you feel uncomfortable with some of the information requested, or if something just doesn't seem right – proceed with extreme caution. Even if the original position description seems valid, if you receive follow-up e-mails, phone calls or job offers that make you feel uncomfortable, proceed cautiously.

WARNING SIGNS OF FRAUDULENT POSTINGS

• You are asked to give credit card, bank account or PayPal account numbers
• You are asked to send a payment by wire service or courier
• You are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account—often for depositing checks or transferring money
• You receive an unexpectedly large check
• You are asked to transfer money, including via e-Bay, PayPal or Western Union
• You are asked for personal information, such as your Social Security Number
• You are requested to send a photocopy of your ID, i.e., driver's license to "verify identity"
• You are asked to complete a background check before you can be considered for a position
• The posting appears to come from a legitimate company or organization, but the contact's e-mail address doesn't match the company's website domain (i.e., jdoe@gmail.com rather than jdoe@companyname.com) or the company’s website domain is misspelled (e.g. jdoe@microsft.com)
• The job posting doesn't mention the responsibilities of the job; rather, it focuses on the amount of money you will make

Additionally, you may receive a job offer in response to your application to a legitimate-appearing position description that is actually a marketing e-mail to sell you job search "help." Some other tips:

• Be wary of postings for Mystery Shoppers, work at home, or virtual Administrative Assistants or Bookkeepers. Some opportunities are legitimate; many others are not.
• Gather as much information as possible about positions for independent contractors or franchise opportunities, especially those that are not explicitly advertised as such. Some opportunities are legitimate business opportunities, but opportunities in which some people who don't succeed lose money. Others are scams.
• Beware of positions that require a financial investment or upfront fees.
• If you are an entry-level candidate with little experience, be wary of an offer with a salary that is way out of range.
• Multiple misspellings in a job notice are often a sign of trouble.
• If the position listing is for an international opportunity, does it include travel expenses? Upfront program fees? Research the organization and compare its program/benefits with other similar opportunities.
• Verify that a URL listed in the ad goes to the internet domain of the company that listed it. If it does not, it could be a scam.
• When using job boards, read their privacy policies carefully. Also, read how easy it is for employers to post jobs by going through the site's employer links.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER SUSPICIOUS POSTINGS via our website or Handshake:

• Report your experience to Career Services at msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu or 270.809.3735. You also can visit The Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Contact the police and report the fraud or scam.
• End all communication with the employer.
• Depending on what personal information was disclosed, monitor or close your accounts. Depending on the situation, you may need to notify the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Transunion.
• If you sent money to a fraud employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close your account and dispute the charges.
• If the incident occurred entirely over the internet, file an incident report with the FCC at 1.877.FTC.HELP (1.877.382.4357); or at Cyber Crime.

MORE RESOURCES FOR SAFE ONLINE JOB SEARCHING

• Job-Hunting/Job Scams from the Federal Trade Commission
• World Privacy Forum: Job Seekers' Guide to Resumes: Twelve Resume Posting Truths
• Consumer Tips: Critical Tips For Job Seekers to Avoid Job Scams
• 5 Safety Tips for Online Job Seekers
• Monster: A Safe Job Search

If you have questions or concerns about job postings, a position for which you’ve applied, a task you’ve been asked to complete as part of the application process or a job offer, please contact Career Services to discuss it.

Adapted from Case Western Reserve University, October 2015