\n \u201cSuccess is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.\u201d \u2013 Robert Collier<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n

Your guide to landing a summer internship Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n
New year, new opportunities — and yes, summer internships recruit early. January is one of the best times to jump ahead of the crowd. If you’re hoping to land a meaningful summer experience, here’s your quick-start guide to getting prepared, staying organized, and applying with confidence.<\/p>\n
🚀 Start with the basics: Update your materials<\/h5>\n
Before you begin applying, make sure your application materials are ready to go.<\/p>\n
Refresh your résumé<\/strong><\/p>\n
Add any fall classes, projects, part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer experiences you completed. Even small updates show growth and help employers understand your recent work.<\/p>\n
Polish your Handshake profile<\/strong><\/p>\n
NAU employers actively search for students on Handshake. A complete, updated profile increases your chances of being found—and contacted—by recruiters.<\/p>\n
Clean up LinkedIn<\/strong><\/p>\n
Your LinkedIn doesn’t need to be perfect. Aim for professional, current, and active. Updating your headline, skills, and recent coursework goes a long way.<\/p>\n
Need support? Use our résumé drop box for an asynchronous review, or book a 1:1 résumé or LinkedIn appointment with Career Development. We’re here to help your materials shine.<\/p>\n
🔍 Use Handshake like a pro<\/h5>\n
Handshake is one of the most effective tools for finding internships that match your goals.<\/p>\n
Try these strategies:<\/p>\n
\n
Filter<\/strong> by location, industry, and internship type.<\/li>\n
Set job alerts<\/strong> so new opportunities land directly in your inbox.<\/li>\n
Browse career fairs and employer events<\/strong>—many companies recruit NAU students every spring.<\/li>\n
Favorite listings<\/strong> to track deadlines, compare roles, and follow up easily.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Using Handshake intentionally saves time and helps you stay organized throughout your search.<\/p>\n
🗓️ Meet with a career professional<\/h5>\n
Sometimes you need more than a search engine—you need guidance from a real human.<\/p>\n
During a 1:1 appointment, a career advisor can help you:<\/p>\n
\n
Identify internships that fit your major or long-term goals<\/li>\n
Tailor your résumé and cover letter<\/li>\n
Practice common interview questions<\/li>\n
Build a personalized search strategy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meeting with a career professional early can help you navigate the process with less stress and more clarity.<\/p>\n
👥 Try an informational interview<\/h5>\n
An informational interview is a low-pressure conversation with someone working in a job or industry you want to learn more about. Think of it as career reconnaissance—research that actually talks back.<\/p>\n
Why informational interviews matter:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
They give you industry insight you can’t get from a job posting.<\/li>\n
They help you build professional connections.<\/li>\n
They reveal what employers are looking for in applicants.<\/li>\n
They may lead to opportunities like job shadowing, micro-internships, or early referrals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to find people<\/strong><\/p>\n
Search LinkedIn, NAU alumni groups, Handshake employer pages, or start with professors, family, and friends. Reach out with a short, professional email introducing yourself and asking to meet briefly to learn more about their career path. (If you want help writing that email, we’ve got you!)<\/p>\n
📅 Apply early, apply smart<\/h5>\n
Most summer internship deadlines happen between January and March. To stay on track, set a weekly goal: apply to three to five internships you’re truly interested in. Quality matters more than quantity.<\/p>\n
Early applications also tend to be reviewed sooner, which boosts your chances of hearing back and securing interviews.<\/p>\n
If you want help finding internships, preparing materials, or building your search plan, Career Development is here for you. Book an appointment anytime—and let’s make your summer count.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
Why critical thinking matters more than you think Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n
Critical thinking isn’t just about analyzing essays or debating ideas in class — it’s about solving problems, making informed decisions and thinking on your feet. Employers consistently rank it as one of the top skills they seek in new hires, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Whether you’re working at a front desk, assisting in a lab or managing social media for your department, every experience gives you a chance to strengthen it.<\/p>\n
In the classroom: Learning to question and analyze<\/h5>\n
Every time you interpret data, compare theories or challenge assumptions in class discussions, you’re building your critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n
\n
You learn how to break down complex problems<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
You practice evaluating evidence<\/strong> and forming your own conclusions.<\/li>\n
You get more comfortable with ambiguity<\/strong> — because not every question has one right answer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Professors design assignments and discussions to help you think beyond the textbook, mirroring the kind of analysis you’ll use in real-world jobs.<\/p>\n
On the job: Applying what you know<\/h5>\n
Student employment allows you to put classroom skills into action. Think about how often you are asked to:<\/p>\n
\n
Troubleshoot<\/strong> when something doesn’t go as planned.<\/li>\n
Make quick decisions<\/strong> while balancing customer service and efficiency.<\/li>\n
Adapt<\/strong> to new procedures or unexpected challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Each of these moments is a real-world test of your ability to think critically — just like professionals do in the workplace.<\/p>\n
Bridging the two worlds<\/h5>\n
The real growth happens when you connect what you learn with what you do. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n
\n
“What classroom skills helped me solve that problem at work?”<\/li>\n
“What on-the-job experiences helped me understand my coursework better?”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Reflecting on these connections deepens your learning and prepares you to talk confidently about your critical thinking skills in future interviews.<\/p>\n
Quick tip: Practice reflection<\/h5>\n
Before the end of each week, take two minutes to jot down one challenge you faced and how you solved it. Over time, you’ll create a bank of examples that show your critical thinking in action — perfect for résumés and interviews.<\/p>\n
Final thought<\/h5>\n
Critical thinking is like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. Your classes teach you how to think; your campus job shows you how to apply that thinking. Together, they prepare you for whatever comes next.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
Explore career and graduate pathways at NAU\u2019s fairs Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n
NAU students have multiple opportunities this spring to connect with employers, explore graduate programs, and prepare for life after graduation. From all-majors fairs to industry-specific events, these fairs offer direct access to recruiters and organization representatives.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n Start here: All-majors spring fairs Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
\n \n
\n
\n Get ready before you go Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
\n \n
\n
\n Industry-specific career fairs Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
\n \n
\n
Start here: All-majors spring fairs Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n\n
NAU Career Development typically hosts four all-majors career fairs each year. Don’t miss this spring’s two flagship events:<\/p>\n
\n
NAU Career & Graduate School Fair — Feb. 26, 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU Part-Time Opportunities Fair — April 2, 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These events are open to students from every major and class year.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
Get ready before you go Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n\n
Use these resources to prepare, build confidence, and make a strong impression:<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
NAU Career Fair Agenda (11 × 8.5 in)<\/a> — step-by-step prep guide<\/li>\n
Career Steps<\/a> online learning modules<\/li>\n
Submit <\/a>your resume or cover letter for review<\/li>\n
Appointments with a Career Specialist<\/a><\/li>\n
Career Fair Prep Slide Deck <\/a><\/li>\n
Career Fair Checklist <\/a><\/li>\n
How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”<\/a><\/li>\n
Interview Tips & STAR method<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU Career Fair Recruiter Tracker<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
\n \n
\n
Industry-specific career fairs Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
\n \n\n\n
Students in specialized fields can also connect with employers at targeted recruiting events:<\/p>\n
\n
NAU Engineering & Technology Career Fair – Spring 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU Construction Management Spring Career Fair – 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU-HRM Spring 2026 Hospitality Career Fair & Interviews<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU – The W. A. Franke College of Business Career & Internship Fair – Spring 2026<\/a><\/li>\n
NAU Health Careers Fair-Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC)<\/a><\/li>\n
12th Professional Education Programs Career Fair<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/p>
Additional recruiting opportunities<\/h5>\n
NAU also hosts Career Corner<\/strong><\/a> employer visits on select days<\/a> throughout the semester — a chance to network in a smaller, informal setting inside the University Union.<\/p>\n
Learn more and get support<\/h5>\n
For event dates, details, and registration, visit Career Events<\/strong><\/a>.
\nIf you’d like help preparing, contact NAU Career Development<\/a> or your college’s career office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\ud83d\udca1\u00a0Handshake Tip of the Month: Follow employers you\u2019re interested in<\/strong><\/p>\n
Want to make your internship or job search easier this semester? Start by following employers on Handshake.<\/p>\n
When you follow an employer:<\/h5>\n
\n
You get personalized job recommendations<\/strong> based on your interests.<\/li>\n
You\u2019ll see upcoming events<\/strong>, info sessions, and campus visits.<\/li>\n
You\u2019ll be notified when the employer posts new internships or jobs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
Recruiters can see that you\u2019re interested \u2014 giving you a small but meaningful boost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow to do it:<\/h5>\n
\n
Search for a company you\u2019re curious about.<\/li>\n
Click the Follow button on their profile.<\/li>\n
Repeat for several organizations to build a tailored feed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Following employers helps Handshake work smarter for you, saving time and bringing relevant opportunities straight to you.<\/p>\n
Want more ways to level up your job search? Visit Handshake\u2019s student blog<\/a> anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\n\n
\n
\n
Contact Career Development<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n

Quick tip: Practice reflection<\/h5>\nBefore the end of each week, take two minutes to jot down one challenge you faced and how you solved it. Over time, you’ll create a bank of examples that show your critical thinking in action — perfect for résumés and interviews.<\/p>\n

Quick tip: Practice reflection<\/h5>\n
Before the end of each week, take two minutes to jot down one challenge you faced and how you solved it. Over time, you’ll create a bank of examples that show your critical thinking in action — perfect for résumés and interviews.<\/p>\n