Recruit at UWL
Important: COVID-19 Advising Update
The Academic Advising Center & Career Services Offices strives to best serve all who utilize our services. Due to COVID-19, our office will not be conducting in person appointments anymore as of March 18, 2020. Instead we will be offering virtual appointments via phone call, email, or video chat Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Please note that due to the constantly evolving circumstances, it may take longer than normal to hear back, and we will be updating our website as things progress.
Drop-in Peer Advising
If you have a quick academic or career advising question, our Peer Advisors are available to chat Monday-Thursday from 9am-4:30pm and Friday from 9am-1pm through Microsoft Teams:
- Click https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=peeradvisors@uwlax.edu
- Chat with the Peer Advisors to let them know what kind of help you are looking for
Making Academic Advising Appointments
If you are assigned in our office, you can make your appointment online through Navigate, email your advisor, or email advising@uwlax.edu.
If you are not assigned an Academic Advisor in our office, you can make an appointment by calling us at 608.785.6950.
Making Career Advising Appointments
To make an appointment for career advising, you can do so online through Navigate or by calling us at 608.785.6950.
Last Updated: 9/17/20 2:45 p.m.
Online UWL Career Resources & Tools
These tools are available to you anytime and may be particularly helpful at this moment:
- Remote Career Advising Support - Our team is offering 1:1 appointments (via Teams) to support students and alumni in their career exploration and job/internship search. Schedule appointments on the AACCS website.
- Handshake - Students and alumni can apply to internships & jobs, connect with the Handshake community, and schedule career coaching appointments. Update your profile today!
- Additional Job Search Websites - Collection of tips and suggestions on building a resume
- Micro Internships - interns and recent graduates
- Employers Hiring COVID Updates (hiring, freezes, layoffs)
- Summer & Part-time Job Tips
- FlexJob - some remote positions
- skillscrush blog post - top sites for remote work
- As the job seeker, you should not be paying to access job postings.
- Job Prep Resources- Collection of tactical strategies related to resume, networking & LinkedIn, salaries, job offers, and more
- Interview Stream - Video mock interview platform (embedded in Handshake)
- Exploration Resources - Want to explore your interests and understand the possibilities? Check out these resources.
Connecting with Employers
As best as is possible, UWL’s Academic Advising Center & Career Services is continuing to facilitate meaningful connections to opportunities for La Crosse students. We are actively reaching out to recruiting employers to assess hiring needs & plans and to share virtual and remote services.
Virtual Career Events
The Academic Advising Center & Career Services Office will continue to support your ability to connect with employers.
- Virtual Recruiting Events - Employers are creating new virtual recruiting events daily and may present an opportunity to connect with employers in a new way.
Resume Support Resources
- Resume Resources
- Eagle Advantage Action Verbs - for resumes (and cover letters)
- Virtual Resume (LinkedIn) -Check out UWL's Sara Stryker's LinkedIn profile as an example.
Find a Remote Internship
- Micro Internship - Interns & Recent Graduates - short-term paid professional projects
- Covintern - a site developed by a student at Indiana University to share a crowdsourced list of current remote internship postings.
COVID-19 Search Strategies & Tools
- Graduating in the age of COVID-19 Student Guidebook
- The Muse: (6 Quick Tips) What Does The Coronavirus Mean For Your Job Search?
- Want insider advice? Here are four tips from recruiters on how to find a job online.
- Have an interview that is now virtual? Here are tips for how to make a good impression during a video interview.
- Having to change plans due to the state of the world? Here's advice on how to get an internship on a short timeline.
- Have an internship that is now remote (or always was)? Here are six ways to make the most of it.
- Finally, just curious about where to start? Here is a FAQ on how to get a job on Handshake.
- More articles like these available at Handshake's new "Get Hired Remotely" landing page
If you are looking for a summer or part-time position, we encourage you to review the resources compiled by the UWL Financial Aid Office.

- Community Portal - Seek an intern, volunteer or help on a project or research proposal from a UWL student or faculty member
- Fast Facts about UWL
- Majors and Programs
- Academic Department Chairpersons
- Explore La Crosse - Hotel & Regional Information
- UW-La Crosse Campus Map
- Printable Campus Map
- Student Organizations
- La Crosse Employers Only: The Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council (GLADC)
- Membership is indicated on your employer profile in Handshake. Please contact GLADC for more information.
- Employer Policies & Procedures
Employers – Please contact Rebecca Lee, rlee@uwlax.edu, to have your name added to the invitation list for future career events.
Before you are able to post positions at UWL, you must first create an account on Handshake. Here is a guide for creating an employer account.
Once your account is created, you can begin to connect with universities and post positions. To learn more about posting positions, click here.
- UWL Campus Employers: PLEASE follow the format “UW-La Crosse “Office Name” when creating an account.
What is Handshake?
Handshake is an online career management system that allows employers to connect with hundreds of other campuses around the country in addition to UW-La Crosse.
Benefits of Using Handshake
- Free for employers
- All UWL students have access
- Allows them to search for part-time, internship, and full-time positions
- Nearly 75% of career services offices across the country use Handshake
- Ability to post one job to multiple campuses in one system with one login and password
UW-La Crosse hosts an all-majors fair each semester for employers to recruit interns and permanent employees. There are also part-time job fairs each semester and other major-specific career events.
2020-21 Academic Year Events - all events and "on-campus interviews" will be virtual.
All events are free for students.
Virtual Spring Career & Internship Fair
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Virtual Summer & Part-Time Job Fair
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
How to participate: Employer registration for all of our fairs is done through Handshake. Click on the appropriate fair through the buttons under “Upcoming Career Fairs.” After you have completed the form, it will be reviewed by an administrator. You should receive a confirmation within 1-2 days. Please contact Rebecca Lee, rlee@uwlax.edu, for registration assistance or to have your name added to the invitation list for future career events. PLEASE NOTE: You will receive a confirmation email from Handshake. A reminder is also sent 1 week prior to the event.
Please note: All 2020-21 academic year "on-campus interviews" will be virtual, as we are unable to provide interviewing space.
Employers may request an on-campus interview schedule through Handshake. Click on the “Request an Interview” button from the home page. You will be asked a number of questions to help us fulfill your request. After you have completed the form, it will be reviewed by an administrator.
Interviews can be requested for weekdays throughout the academic year; however, we recommend avoiding days leading up to major holidays, during midterms or finals, and during spring break. You can find a list of those dates through the Academic Calendar.
UWL Internship Program Overview for Employers
The UW-La Crosse Internship Program is one of the largest programs in the UW-System and features regional and national opportunities. All internships (and jobs) are posted through Handshake and available to ALL UWL students. FREE for all employers!
The popularity of the program is due to the flexibility for employers as well as students. Although some internships follow the timeline for academic semesters (fall, spring and summer), others are part-time, year round or for a specified time frame to complete a special project. Employers may request the timeline that best suits their needs and may specify their preference for certain majors. Employers who wish to discuss an idea for an internship may contact one of our Career Services staff members.
Employer Benefits
- Identify potential new employees
- Meet short term and special project needs
- Support the university community and increase your company's visibility on campus
- Reduce your recruitment and training costs through potential retention of interns
Steps for Establishing an Internship and Hiring an Intern
In order for an internship to be advertised to students, employers are required to post in Handshake. When posting internships in Handshake, they can select one of three ways to receive applications:
- Students can submit their resume through Handshake. This method gives employers the ability to view applicant resumes online or to receive the resumes of all applicants as a bundle that is emailed out following the expiration (deadline) date for the position. Employers can then review applicants and contact them directly to schedule interviews.
- Students can apply directly to the employer via the employer's own website, email, mail, or other method specified by the employer. Employers can then contact applicants directly to schedule interviews.
- Employers can schedule on-campus interviews and have students apply and schedule interviews through Handshake. Employers interested in on-campus interviews should contact Rebecca Lee in Career Services at 608.785.8362 for additional information.
Students who accept an internship may have the option to receive academic credit for the experience. If a student chooses to receive credit for an internship. the employer will be required to complete an employer evaluation at the mid-term and at the end of the semester.
Recruiting Timeline
Internships can be posted at any time throughout the year. However, the largest pool of candidates will be available prior to the start of each academic term (preferable 1 semester prior to start date). We encourage you to post your internship as early as possible.
Intern Compensation
The UWL Internship Program works with employers who offer both paid and unpaid internships. However, in some high demand fields, employers will find it necessary to offer paid positions in order to attract candidates. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division has re-examined the criteria for unpaid internships. Employers should consider the following criteria when considering unpaid internships.
Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Criteria for an Unpaid Internship*.
*The National Association of Colleges and Employers recommends the following standard definition of "internship":
An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.
Talent Generator in Wisconsin: Tap Into the Higher Education Pipeline. Here’s Everything You Need to Know to Establish a Successful Internship Program
Talent Attraction Toolkit: La Crosse Chamber of Commerce
Student Employer Connection Guide - Greater Dubuque Development Corp & Dubuque Works