Parents & Family
April ’25 News
Happy April!
Whether your student is still searching for a summer internship or a full-time role, there are plenty of tools to help them move forward. Handshake currently features over 60,000 opportunities, which can be filtered by job function or location. Encourage them to update their resume, LinkedIn, and Handshake profiles—and try using AI tools. Also, remind your student that searching by skills, not just job titles, can help uncover more opportunities. Applying early makes a big difference because jobs are filled quickly!
College
Is your student on the hunt for an internship or full-time job? One helpful tip is to suggest they search based on their skills—not just the job titles they think they should look for. Focusing on skills helps them find roles where they’re already a strong fit and keeps them from missing out on great opportunities just because the title doesn’t sound familiar. It also boosts their chances of landing a role where they can shine.
School of Business
With summer on the horizon, your student may be thinking about how to gain valuable experience and grow their skills. Here are a few helpful tools and strategies to support them along the way:
- Refine Their Professional Brand—A strong, polished professional brand can make a real difference. Encourage your student to revisit and update the “big three”: their resume, LinkedIn profile, and Handshake profile, making sure each one reflects their current goals and interests.
- Leverage AI for Career Success—AI can be a game-changer in the job search. One great starting point is Get Career Ready Using AI, which offers practical tips for exploring career paths and strengthening applications.
- Strategic Networking – Building relationships is still one of the most powerful ways to uncover opportunities. As your students continue to network, remember that good questions lead to great insights. You might suggest asking:
- How did you find your current role, and what made you say yes?
- What skills are most important for someone in your field?
- Outside of LinkedIn, how do you hear about new opportunities at your organization?
- Are there any experiences you’d recommend for someone looking to break into this industry?
- How did you find your current role, and what made you say yes?
With a refreshed professional brand, some smart use of AI, and thoughtful networking, your student will be in a strong position to make the most of summer.
Job/Internship Search
Still looking for a summer internship or full-time role after graduation? Encourage your student to keep checking Handshake! With more than 60,000 job and internship listings currently available, there’s plenty to explore. They can narrow their search by job function or location to find roles that match their goals. And with today’s competitive market, remind them to apply early if something catches their eye—timing can make all the difference.
Spring Webinars
Families of Graduating Seniors
This parent-focused April 9th webinar, led by Andy Chan and Heidi Robinson, shares insights with parents of graduating seniors on Wake Forest’s career readiness efforts, the job market, and how parents can support their seniors. The video highlights empathy, networking, resilience, and career tools like Handshake and alumni connections—reassuring families that support continues beyond graduation.
Families of First-Years, Sophomores, and Juniors
This April 15th webinar is designed to guide parents in supporting their students’ pursuit of internships and experiential learning opportunities. Wake Forest experts Minta McNally, Andy Chan, and Heidi Robinson share valuable strategies for navigating the job search, utilizing resources like Handshake, and emphasizing the importance of diverse experiences in preparing students for career success.
What can you do as a parent?
Parents play a critical role in their child’s college experience and their decisions for the future. However, the world of work is quite different than 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. In order to give your student sound advice, it is essential for you to understand the environment, resources and opportunities available for your student. You can play an integral role as your student navigates through their time at Wake Forest and makes plans for their future.
How can I guide my student through the college-to-career process?
You know the furniture assembly instructions that are impossible to follow especially when you have missing parts? Our Ready 7 process is not like that! We not only provide 7 achievable steps for students to follow, but also the tools and resources to complete them in order to be fully “career and life ready.” As a supporter of your student, we are providing you with a Ready 7 guide which includes language on how to help your scholar navigate the process.