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Students

Experienced Undergraduate Students

Whether you have ten to fifteen years of work experience or just a few, the Center for Career Education can assist you with creating a plan of action that is targeted to your unique needs and career goals. Many of you may be seeking a career change and are also dealing with the competing demands of school, work and family. The Center will partner with you through every step of your career exploration, providing services and resources to help you make informed decisions every step of the way.

We encourage you to actively participate in our walk-in hours, panels, site visits, workshops and counseling appointments to jumpstart and prioritize your career plan. The Center also facilitates connections between students, alumni and organizations to help you explore and expand your network. Visit us early and often to maximize your opportunity to reenter the workforce or transition with a fresh perspective.

Key Resources

Utilizing Your Past Experiences and Gaining Industry Knowledge

The unique experiences that you bring to Columbia can be a tremendous asset to you with regard to your career path. It is important to consider how best to use these experiences when exploring your career options, marketing yourself to potential employers, and making your next career decision. It is also important to consider challenges you might face as an experienced candidate. CCE encourages you to work with a Career Counselor to explore career options and develop a career plan.

A vital aspect when making your career choice is ensuring that you have as much industry knowledge as possible. Your internship, academic, and extracurricular experiences combined with industry research and networking enable you to make informed decisions. CCE offers many opportunities for students to increase their industry knowledge through industry panels, employer site visits, employer presentations, and career fairs and networking events, and industry research materials in Career Resources.

If your career choice requires further study, speak with a Career Counselor about whether you are interested in pursuing a graduate or professional degree and avail of the resources at Columbia including:

Specific Events and resources for Experienced Students

CCE recognizes the unique needs of experienced students and provides a variety of opportunities for you to determine where you best fit within the career development process. There are several workshops and events each academic year specifically targeting experienced students, including:

Developing a Career Plan

At this point in your time at Columbia you may or may not have developed a career plan for yourself. It is important to reflect on your Columbia experiences and determine short- and long- term career goals. Career Counselors can help you develop a career plan by exploring career choices including industries of interest or whether you want to go to graduate or professional school.

Networking and Connecting with Alumni

When it comes to careers, nothing compares to speaking with people who work in the profession. Networking and informational interviewing enable you to learn more about an industry and build relationships that provide a support system as you investigate and develop a career in that industry. CCE offers multiple networking opportunities and workshops to prepare you for networking. These include:

Finding an Internship

An internship experience can provide you with a unique opportunity to both explore your potential career options, build your transferable skill sets, and build a network in a new field. An internship also can play a key role in finding a full-time position upon graduation. Internship resources include:

 

Finding a Full-Time Job

Finding a job for after graduation does not have to be as difficult as it may sound. You will quickly find that your experiences during your time at Columbia have provided you with the knowledge and transferable skills to succeed in a wide variety of career opportunities. If you are interested in industries that participate in CCE's On-Campus Recruiting Program, be aware that the recruitment process begins during the first semester of your senior year. Job search resources include:

Gaining Industry Knowledge

A vital aspect when making your career choice is ensuring that you have as much industry knowledge as possible. Your internship, academic, and extracurricular experiences combined with industry research and networking enable you to make informed decisions. CCE offers many opportunities for students to increase their industry knowledge through industry panels, employer site visits, employer presentations, and career fairs and networking events, and industry research materials in Career Resources.