Whether you are wondering how to get started; seeking advice on resumes; looking for an on-campus part-time job or off-campus internship; you begin to develop your career goals by first gaining an awareness of yourself and what you seek in the professional world. The team at CCE will partner with you through every step of your career exploration, providing services and resources to help you identify interests, values and objectives and develop the skills necessary to make informed decisions in your career goals.

We encourage you to take the initiative 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 opportunities related to your personal and professional objectives. We recommend that you take advantage of the resources available to you at CCE early and often to maximize your chances of identifying and securing opportunities that will enhance your Columbia experience.

Key Resources

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

Career Exploration

A great way to get started is to review past experiences to gain self-awareness in relation to career options. Reflect on your experiences, achievements, and preferences through written exercises on interests, values, skills and career opportunities. Career counselors will help you to connect your answers to steps beyond self-awareness including exploring career choices through networking and applying for internships.

Networking and Informational Interviewing

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:

• Columbia Career Connections
  Columbia’s online career networking community that provides students with opportunities to connect with alumni in a wide variety of professions, industries and locations.
• Networking with Alumni Tipsheet
• Career Fairs
• Employer presentations
• Industry panels
• Networking workshops
• Careers In...series
• Networking Nights
  

Gaining Experience/Internships

Direct experience is one of the best ways to learn about possible careers. First and Second year students gain direct experience through on- and off-campus part-time jobs, internships, community service, and extra-curricular activities. CCE offers a variety of support and resources to help first and second year students identify and secure career experiences. Meet with a counselor to discuss types of experience that would fit with where you are in your studies and with your career goals. Resources include:

• Finding a job on-campus workshops
• CCE Experiential Education Programs
  • Student Enterprises
  • Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE) Scotland and Guatemala
  • Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO)
  • Columbia Arts Experience
• ColumbiaTRAK – Columbia’s online database of internships and job postings
• Internships Section of Career Resources for guidance on how to prepare your resume and cover letter
• Columbia Student Internship Survey
• CCE Funding for Internships
  • Summer Interns Living and Learning Program
  • Columbia College Parent Alumni Internship Fund
• Preprofessional Office – many internships related to healthcare and law are posted through Columbia’s preprofessional office
• Fellowships and Study Abroad Office

First and Second Year specific events

CCE meets with incoming students during summer advising and orientations and welcomes and encourages first and second year students to participate in workshops and events that are open to all students. The Center also hosts a First and Second Year Career Week each semester that focuses on your needs through tailored workshops every day. The week also offers an evening with alumni to discuss how their majors influenced their careers, an employer site visit, and an Internship Bootcamp: Peer to Peer Networking event that brings juniors and seniors to speak with you about their experiences. The calendar of events provides more information about all first and second year events.