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Students

Senior Year

Senior year is a time to evaluate career options and examine how your learning and experiences at Columbia enhance your career goals. Whether you are clear about what you would like to do or just getting started, career counselors are available to work with you individually. Visit the Center for Career Education to learn as much as possible about job search support, services and opportunities available to you. Once you have narrowed your search and gathered as much information as you can, you can begin applying to positions through LionSHARE, the career fairs and networking events, and through other industry specific resources that you may discover with the help of a career counselor.

Survey of Graduating Students 2008
Columbia Arts Alumni League Gift and Commencement Carnival

 

Key Resources

Below are key resources that will help you to identify and reach your career goals:

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 careers. If you are interested in industries that participate in on-campus recruiting, be aware that the recruitment process begins during the first semester of your senior year. Job search resources include:

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:

Developing a Career Plan

At this point in your time at Columbia you may or may not have developed a career plan. It is important to reflect on your Columbia experiences and determine short- and long- term career goals. Career counselors can help you develop a plan by exploring your interests, values and skills and career choices, including industries of interest. 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 take advantage of the resources available at Columbia including:

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.

Events for Seniors

The focus of your Senior year is often what you will do after graduation. For most Seniors this involves finding a job or attending graduate school. CCE works with Seniors throughout your career planning, whether you have been planning for your full-time job search throughout your time at Columbia or you are just beginning the process. There are several workshops and events each academic year specifically targeting Seniors, including:

  • Super Saturday- an event targeted towards students interested in careers in finance and consulting which provides students with the preparation skills and alumni networking opportunities to maximize their success in the Campus Recruiting Program.
  • Job Search for Seniors: Tools and Techniques to Secure your First Job workshop.
  • Getting the Corner Office: How to Make the Most of Your Internship or Full-time Job workshop.
  • Accepting and Declining Offers workshop.

The calendar of events provides more information about all events specifically targeting seniors.