Celebrating Success and Preparing for What’s Next: Career Tips for May Grads and Summer Planning

Is your student graduating in May? If so, we want to help them celebrate! 

Career Services expects that all May 2025 graduates complete the First Destination Survey via Handshake, Drake's career management system, to share their post-commencement plans with us, so we can help them celebrate!! This survey helps us to collect information about students' employment plans, continuing education pursuits, military service, and volunteerism.   

If your student is still looking for that next step, they should still complete the survey to share information about their goals, so we can pass along additional opportunities and offer support.  

Please help to ensure your graduating student has completed this important survey.  

To see where the Class of 2024 found success, check out the Career Accomplishment Infographic 2025! 

Reflect on True Blue Skills this Summer! 

We know that many students are taking classes, working (part-time or full-time), completing internships, and traveling over the summer. Summer often provides the time and opportunity  reflect on the skills and expertise they are gaining through these summer and previous experiences by completing the True Blue Skills Rubric.  

True Blue Skills align with the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) most desired employability skills for all career areas. The rubric guides students through reflection about when, where, and how they are practicing and developing these essential skills. Encourage your student to complete the rubric and discuss it with advisors, mentors, work/internship supervisors, parents, and professionals.  

If students are looking for other summer opportunities, LOOK HERE!! 

• Job shadowing is a great way to explore and/or affirm interest in a particular occupation. Shadows are valuable whether they are a full day or just part of a day; they provide students insight on a typical day in the life of that professional. Job shadows also help students to build their network!
• Informational interviewing is a wonderful learning opportunity when a half day or full day experience may not be possible. Interviews can be facilitated in-person (if available); via phone or email; or online through Zoom or another similar platform. Phone and online interview options also limit barriers based on geographic location – you can interview a professional working anywhere!
• Internships are still available for many organizations. Handshake, Drake's on campus job board, provides the most comprehensive list of internships available to Drake students. There are local, national, on-site, remote, and hybrid opportunities for part-time work and internship experiences. All Drake students have a Handshake account and can sign in using their Drake email and password.
• Updating your professional "documents" (e.g., resume, CV, LinkedIn profile, Handshake profile, etc.) is a great summer tasks as it can be challenging to find time during the busy academic year to reflect on and update all necessary professional materials. Students can continue to schedule appointments via their Starfish Success Network with Career Services staff throughout the summer. 
• Practice interview skills, using Drake's Big Interview platform! Big Interview is an online system that combines training and practice to help improve interview techniques and build confidence. Instructions for signing into Big Interview are available to students on our Career Services Interviewing webpage. 

We wish our students, parents, and supporters a wonderful summer!