Handshake

Handshake is Nevada State’s online internship and job board exclusively for students and alumni. Among institutions that utilize Handshake, it is the #1 way that college students find jobs! In addition to being a job/internship board, students and alumni can also find local and national job-related events such as information sessions and hiring fairs and research employers/companies connected to Nevada State through Handshake.

When you are accepted and enroll in classes, your account is automatically created! 

• Returning user? To access go to handshake.nevadastate.edu.
• New user? To login, go to handshake.nevadastate.edu.
  • From there, click NS Login.
  • Enter your NSHE ID# and NS password associated with your student accounts.

Trouble logging in? Please email [email protected].

Internships

Every student should consider completing an internship at least once during their college career. Participating in an internship provides hands-on experience in a field of interest and allows students to apply skills in a professional environment. Internships also help expand a professional network and build a resume. Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), shows that students who participate in at least one internship during college have a higher chance of securing a full-time job after graduation and are significantly more likely to receive multiple full-time job offers (2019).

Nevada State partners with 50+ organizations that offer internships to students. A student may be able to receive credit for their internship experience depending on their program of study and the semester they are pursuing an internship. For more information, please go to our internship page. If you have questions about internships and other hands-on learning opportunities through Career Services, please make an appointment with one of our Career Advisors by going to the 1:1 Career Advising tab.

Currently, the Career Services Center coordinates and supports the following internship programs/initiatives. For more information, please go to our internship page.

• For-Credit Internship Courses in the college of Liberal Arts, Science & Business (LASB)
• Not-for-Credit Internships 
• Micro – Internships through Parker Dewey
• TheDream.US Internship Funding Program

Internship Funding

We understand that sometimes there are barries to participating in internships. To reduce barriers to participation, Nevada State offers various opportunities for students to receive financial support while participating in unpaid internships. To learn more, please go to our Internship Funding page.

Free Professional Headshots

Each semester the Career Services Center coordinates with our campus photographer to offer free headshots. Headshot turn around time is 3-4 weeks on average. Students are encouraged to wear business professional attire for headshots. Career Services can lend blazers and suit jackets for headshots if needed.

All Fall 2024 headshot dates are from 12:00pm – 2:00pm in the RSC Studio (3rd floor). Directional signage will be placed on the 3rd floor of RSC to help you find the room.

• Monday Sept 9
• Thurs Sept 19 
• Tuesday Oct 8
• Thursday Oct 10
• Tuesday Nov 19
• Wednesday Nov 20
• Tuesday December 3

Career Closet – FREE Career Wear

The Career Closet is a new program offered by the Career Services Center. The closet provides FREE career wear to current Nevada State students (the closet is not available to Alumni). All items in the closet are new or gently used.

Due to lack of space, the Career Closet can only be accessed at specified programs/events; students cannot walk in or make an appointment to look through the closet at this time. Each semester, the Career Services Center Pop-Ups feature the Career Closet.

Career Services Center Pop-Ups Fall 2024 Schedule

• Monday Sept 9  – 10:30am – 7:30pm in RSC Ballroom C
• Thursday Sept 19  – 10:30am – 4:00pm in RSC Ballroom C
• Tuesday Oct 8  – 10:30am – 4:00pm in RSC Ballroom C
• Thursday Sept 10  – 10:30am – 4:00pm in RSC Ballroom C
• Tuesday Nov 19  – 10:30am – 4:00pm in RSC Ballroom C
• Wednesday Nov 20  – 10:30am – 4:00pm in RSC Ballroom C

The CSC Pop-Ups provide a one-stop-shop approach for students – we offer drop-in career advising, free headshots, free haircuts and access to the Career Closet (services may differ by date). To view more information about our pop-ups, please visit our events page on Scorpion Central.

Donation Information & Donation FAQs

JCP Suit-Up 30% Off Coupon

Each year the CSC partners with JCPenney to offer coupons to Nevada State students, alumni, faculty and staff that can be used to buy new career appropriate clothing and accessories. This Fall, the JCP Suit Up event will be held IN-PERSON on Saturday October 5th at the JCP in the Galleria Mall in Henderson.

Each individual who attends will receive a 30% off coupon for select careerwear, accessories and shoes – NS ID required. This coupon is available for students, alumni, faculty & staff. With additional deals offered day-of, individuals can receive up to 45% off select careerwear, accessories and shoes at the event. 

The first 25 students or alumni who show up will also receive a $15 JCP gift card. No RSVP required. For more information, check out the event details in Scorpion Central.

Career Services’ Outlook Sharepoint (All Resources!)

The Career Services Outlook Sharepoint houses all of our digital resources within Career Services. All of theses resources can be accessed on your own time and downloaded and saved to your own devices! Some of the resources you can find in the sharepoint site include but are not limited to:

• Resume and cover letter templates
• Example student resumes
• Federal resume guide
• Major/career exploration worksheets
• Identity-specific career resources (e.g., undocumented students, first-gen students, and more)
• Job/internship application tracking documents
• Graduate school information
• … and more!

Identity-Based Career Resources

The Career Services Center understands, acknowledges and celebrates that different identities, and the intersections of those identities, will impact the way you navigate your career development journey. We have compiled identity-based resources (housed in our Career Services Outlook Sharepoint) that will help you not only navigate your career journey, but also make informed decisions about life after college. We have resources for: Undocumented Students, Justice – Impacted Students (Students Affected by Criminal Justice System), First – Generation Students, Students with Disabilities, LGBTQIA2+ Students, Black & African American Students, Asian American & Pacific Islander Students, Native & Indigenous Students, and Veteran Students. If you have any questions about these resources, would like to explore these resources further, or have further questions about your career journey, please contact our office or make an appointment. 

Interview Prep & Practice with Big Interview

Big Interview is an online interview preparation system that combines training and mock interview practice to help improve interview skills and build confidence.

• Returning user? Go to biginterview.nevadastate.edu to access.
• New user? If you are a current student and have never used Big Interview and would like to make a free account, please review BIG INTERVIEW How to Create Account.pdf to find the unique Nevada State access code, then go to biginterview.nevadastate.edu to set up your account.

Major & Career Self-Assessments

Focus2 is a free online major/career exploration and planning tool. Students can take self-assessments that match their interests and skills to academic majors or career paths. We highly recommend scheduling a 1:1 career advising appontment with one of our Career Advisors to discuss your results and explore additional majors or career paths.

• Returning user? To access go to focus2.nevadastate.edu.
• New user? If you are a current student and have never used Focus2 and would like to make a free account, please review Focus2 – How To Create Account.docx to find the unique Nevada State access code, then go to focus2.nevadastate.edu to set up your account.

Jobtimize from Vegas PBS offers a free assessment and discover jobs and careers that match your true potential! We highly recommend scheduling a 1:1 career advising appontment with one of our Career Advisors to discuss your results and explore additional career paths. Click here to register for a Jobtimize account today! 

Career Services’ Youtube Channel

Watch pre-recorded workshops, employer talks and more!

Career Services’ Instagram & Facebook

See exciting updates about the department, current featured job/internship openings and more! @nevadastatecareer

Career Services’ LinkedIn

See exciting updates about the department, current featured job/internship openings and more! Nevada State University Career Services Center

Employer Recruiting & Networking

CSC brings employers from various industries to campus connect and hire students for part-time jobs, full-time jobs, and internship positions. Each semester, we host various programs and events that allow students the opportunity to network and learn about their interests and career opportunities. Typical programs/events we host include:

• Career & Internship Expo (Spring only – 2025 date TBD)
• Part-Time Job & Internship Expo (Fall only – Sept 17, 2024)
• Lunch N’ Learn Information Sessions
• Recruitment Tabling in RSC Lobby
• On-Campus Interview Days

To view more details about Career Services’ upcoming employer networking and recruitment events, be sure to go to Scorpion Central (Nevada State’s primary student engagement platform) at ScorpionCentral.nevadastate.edu.

Graduate School Recruiting & Exploration

We understand that pursuing a higher degree beyond a bachelors may be required in order to meet your career goals (e.g., Veterinarian, Lawyer, etc.). That is why CSC not only supports students pursuing graduate-level student through 1:1 career advising (e.g., exploring programs of interest and understanding application requirements), but also by bringing graduate school program representatives to campus to share their programs and help students navigate the graduate school process. 

Each semester, we host various programs and events that allow students the opportunity to network and learn about advanced degree opportunities. Typical programs/events we host include:

• Graduate & Professional School Expo (Fall only – October 22, 2924)
• Grad School 101 Workshop
• Grad School Application Workshop

To view more details about Career Services’ upcoming graduate school events, be sure to go to Scorpion Central (Nevada State’s primary student engagement platform) at ScorpionCentral.nevadastate.edu.

TRiO McNair

If you are interested in Graduate School, we also recommend checking out the Nevada State TRiO McNair program. The McNair program is designed to help students with attainment of graduate degrees and PhD degrees. For more information, you can contact the Nevada State TRiO McNair program at [email protected]. 

Additional Career Resources & Support in Nevada 

The Nevada State Career Services team has put together a list of resources intended to help any resident of Nevada with their career-related needs. You can view and download the list here.

Disclaimer: This list is not comprehensive. NS Career Services makes no guarantees on the quality or accuracy of the resources listed. Inclusion of a resource does not imply Career Services or University endorsement of the particular organization, opportunity, or resource described.  Descriptions of a resource are taken from the external site and the University is not responsible for the content.    

The career advising process is one of collaboration that requires effort and commitment from both the career advisor and the student/alumni.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of Career Advising provided by the Career Services Center, students and alumni can expect to:

• Be able to understand and clarify their career-related values, interests, strengths, and skills.
• Learn about opportunities on-campus (i.e., on-campus jobs, fellowships, etc.) and in the community (i.e., internships, job shadowing, etc.) that allow for career exploration, obtainment of hands-on experience, and skill development.
• Learn to identify and research career fields and related opportunities.
• Learn how to cultivate a professional network and engage in networking activities (i.e., informational interviews, career expos/fairs, etc.).
• Be able to articulate their degree and transferable work-related skills and market themselves effectively to potential employers.
• Develop a career pathway plan to achieve attainable career goals upon graduation.
• Develop habits of mind to successfully navigate the world and the workforce beyond NSU.

Student/Alumni Advisee Responsibilities

• Understand that career advising is reciprocal; you get out what you put in.
• Be open and willing to receive and implement advice and guidance provided by Career Advisors.
• Be flexible; career journeys are often non-linear, and things may not always go exactly to plan. The types of jobs and careers available continue to grow every day, and you may never know what types of opportunities tomorrow may bring.
• Seek career support early and often; the CSC recommends that current students schedule at least 1 career advising appointment per year to discuss your discuss career and educational goals, revise goals (as needed), and ensure progression towards goals are being met. Alumni should schedule on an as-needed basis.
• Understand that Career Advisors cannot make decisions for you and will not “place” you into any job or internship. They can provide guidance, but it is ultimately up to you to make decisions, act and take ownership of your career journey.
• Understand that Career Advisors cannot make any materials for you. They provide instruction and guidance on how to construct resumes, cover letters, reference pages, and more, but you are required to create these documents yourself. Asking a Career Advisor to “write your resume for you” is plagiarism.

Career Advisor/Career Center Staff Responsibilities

• Listen to advisees’ problems and concerns in an environment where mutual respect and trust are ever-present.
• Promote and educate on opportunities for career exploration and gaining hands-on experience.
• Provide information and resources that are legitimate, accurate and well-researched (when necessary).
• Assist in identifying attainable career goals and establishing a career pathway plan to achieve those goals.
• Direct students and alumni to appropriate resources on and off campus as necessary to meet their career needs and goals.