Overview
Quick Links
Quick Links
Steps to Create a Job Search Check-In Assignment
A. Overview
The Job Search Check-in Assignment helps students maintain accountability and momentum during job search with SMART goals, progress tracking and early alerts for students who are stuck or need support. There are three structured components to the assignments which include:
Baseline: Students will target roles & plan
Check-in(s): Series of check-ins to review and set goals
Final - Helps to confirm and guide next steps
This assignment is best used for:
Large cohorts where manual advising doesn't scale
Internship or placement programs with recurring check-ins
B. Steps to Create a Job Search Check-In Assignment
1. Start from Home
Log into your InStage account.
From the Home page, click Create Assignment.
You can also use the left-hand sidebar to access Create Assignment directly.
On the Create Assignment screen, select Resume Assist to begin setting up your assignment.
Ref Image 1: Home page Overview: Shows the main dashboard with "Create Assignment" as the primary action.
Ref Image 2: Highlights the left-hand menu with quick access to "Create Assignment," "View Assignments," and "Practice Mode".
2. Configure Job Search Check-In Assignment
Once you select Job Search Check-In you’ll see a multi-step setup flow:
Section 1: Create Job Search Assignment
Step 1: Assignment Due Dates
Choose a due date format:
Fixed Due Dates: Set specific availability and due dates
Rolling Due Dates: Dates adjust based on when students are added to the assignment
Step 2: Set the call duration for Baseline & Goal Setting Call
The Baseline & Goal Setting Call allows students to discuss their upcoming experiences and set goals in this initial Voice AI call.
Enter:
Available Date (when students can begin)
Due Date (final submission deadline)
EXAMPLE:
Baseline & Goal Setting Call → Available: Feb 9, Due: Feb 16
Step 3: Set the call duration for Progress Check-in Call(s)
The Progress Check-in call allows students to provide updates and receive guidance during these Voice AI check-in calls.
Enter:
Available Date (when students can begin)
Due Date (final submission deadline)
Important Note: You are able to add additional Progress Calls depending on the total number of check-ins, you would like your student to experience.
EXAMPLE:
Progress Check-In Call(s)→ Available: Feb 16, Due: Feb 23
Step 4: Set the call duration for Wrap-Up Call
The Wrap-Up call allows the students to reflect on their job search journey and receive final guidance.
Enter:
Available Date (when students can begin)
Due Date (final submission deadline)
EXAMPLE:
Wrap-Up call→ Available: Feb 23, Due: Mar 2
Step 5: After completing the Job Search Details Setup, click Next. You’ll then review the Baseline Call, Progress Call and Wrap-Up Call Questions.
Ref Image 3: Highlights the initial setup interface for creating a Job Search Assignment, and the five steps needed to be entered before moving to the next section.
Section 2: Interview Questions
Step 6: Review Baseline Call Questions (Initial Check-In)
The Baseline Call questions should help to establish a starting point, goals and challenges.
Step 7: Review Progress Call Questions (Recurring Check-Ins)
The Progress Call helps track progress, reinforce goals and identify new challenges.
It is recommended to repeat baseline questions for continuity.
Step 8: Review Wrap-Up Call Questions (Final Check-In)
The Wrap-Up Call will reflect on the overall journey, outcomes and lessons learned.
It is recommended to repeat baseline/progress questions for closure.
Ref Image 4: Highlights the Question sets that are used in each of the calls (Baseline, Progress and Wrap-up) as part of the Job Search Assignment.
Considerations:
You may remove irrelevant questions, reorder for clarity, or add new ones as needed.
Repetition is intentional: Always revisit baseline questions in progress and wrap-up calls to track movement.
Encourage reflection: Learners should articulate both quantitative (applications, interviews) and qualitative (confidence, challenges) progress
Step 9: After reviewing the Questions set, click Next. You’ll then configure the Assignment details.
Section 3: Assignment Details
Step 10: Finalize Your Assignment Details
Enter Assignment Name
Enter a clear, descriptive name (e.g., Job Search for Journalism - February 2026).
This is a required field.
2. Enter a Description
Provide a short description that appears in the student’s enrolment email and on their start page.
Example: This job search assignment helps track and support students throughout their job search process. Through regular check-ins, students will discuss their progress, challenges, and next steps. These sessions ensure students stay on track with their goals and get guidance when needed.
This is a required field.
3. Add Groups (Optional)
Add groups to organize students into sections or cohorts.
If you add 2+ groups, students will be prompted to select their group when joining the assignment.
Enter a group name (e.g., Section A, Cohort 1) → click Add Group.
Ref Image 5: Highlights the Assignment Details section to be completed.
4. Select Grading Options
Select how you this assignment to be graded.
No Grading
Pass or Fail (with an option to show or hide the grades to students)
Ref Image 6: Highlights the Student Grading options.
5. Report Content
Choose what information to include in reports:
Include Student Name and Email (important to include for reporting and completion purposes)
Include Transcript
Include Audio
Ref Image 7: Highlights the Report Content options.
6. Student Notifications & Summaries
Choose which automated messages and summaries student receive:
Automatic Notification:
Enrollment notification email (sent by default)
Optional Notifications:
Availability window open notification
24-hour reminder email (This is recommended to be selected)
Due date reminder email
These optional notifications help reduce missed deadlines and keep students informed throughout the assignment window.
Session Summaries: show previous call summaries (This is recommended to be selected to help see previous call information and progression)
Ref Image 8: Highlights Student Notifications and Summaries options.
7. Admin Report Options
Customize how and when you receive aggregated reports:
Report Frequency:
Send a report 24 hours after each due date (This is recommended to be selected)
Send a report only after the final due date
Do not send email reports
Select additional email items, such as:
Link to admin summary
Include a PDF summary in the email
Noteworthy Comments
Email assignment faculty members if a student statement, comment, or question is labelled high priority
Ref Image 8: Highlights the end of the assignment details, with the option to move forward by clicking Next, or Back.
Section 4. Review Details & Deploy Assignment
Step 11: Review
After completing all setup fields, click Next to reach the Review stage. This is your final checkpoint before launching the assignment.
You’ll see a summary of everything entered:
Dates (availability and due dates)
Assignment Details (name, description, groups, grading)
Report Content (student info included in reports)
Student Notifications & Summaries (emails and reminders)
Admin Report Options (frequency and format of reports)
Ref Image 9: Highlights the Review section, before the Assignment is deployed.,
If you need to make changes, click Back to return to the relevant section.
If everything looks correct, click Deploy to launch the assignment.
⚠️ Important: Once you click Deploy, you will not be able to make any further changes to the assignment. Double‑check all details before finalizing.
C. Share Assignment / Add Students
Once the Assignment has been created you have two options to include Students in the assignment.
Option 1: Share a direct link for Students to join the assignment.
Option 2: Add Students
Students will automatically receive notifications based on your chosen settings.
Option 1: Share Assignment Link
Option 2: Add Students
Paste student emails manually
Upload a CSV file
Share a unique enrolment link (also available after the assignment has been deployed)
6. Add Additional Faculty Members
D. Important Note and Notice of Data Collection
InStage is a third-party tool, and to access it for use in this course, you need to create an account on their platform. The institution has reviewed the security, data and privacy policies of the platform and has approved the use of InStage for this course. Please understand that by creating an account with InStage, you are consenting to the platform's use of your personal data and agreeing to their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Please be aware that the AI functionality of the InStage platform utilizes processing by OpenAI's API to generate interview feedback. If you have any concerns, please review OpenAI's Privacy Policy and Security Policies. InStage has made it clear that user data is not used in the training process of their AI tool. Only the pre-trained models provided by OpenAI are used, and no additional user data is incorporated into training. If you disagree with involvement with any of the platforms above, you may choose to decline account creation. In this case, please contact us immediately and inform us of your decision, and we will get back to you with an alternative assignment option.