Whether you are new to the world of work or have years of experience behind you, determining your next career move can be a challenging process. Check out our tips for taking the next step in your career, from developing your professional brand or getting a promotion to re-entering the workforce or transitioning into a new industry.

You can also find resources designed to help you network and research in your area of interest, identify and reflect on your experiences, and create a strategic plan of action to advance your career!

Programs

CCE Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP)

Summer

The CCE Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP) provides a unique opportunity to develop key professional and practical skills while also participating in an internship, fellowship, research and/or volunteer opportunity in any field. If you have secured a professional summer opportunity, you can apply to CAMP.

Career AdvancementCareer ExplorationCCE ProgramsInternshipsNetworking

Resources

Four Steps to Make a Career Change

As a career changer there are many important factors you may consider. Here are some resources and tips to help navigate your transition. Career Assessments

AlumniCareer AdvancementCareer Exploration
Alumni recruiter speaking to students at startup career fair

Tools for Building Alumni Connections

Learn the best way to connect and build relationships with Columbia alumni.

Career AdvancementCareer ExplorationNetworking
Woman offering training at the computer

Building Your Skills Outside of the Classroom

The skills you develop as you pursue your degree at Columbia will help you prepare for the work world. But for many, building industry-specific skills — like Excel, advanced accounting, or video editing — might not happen within an academic setting. These resources can help you build these skills.

AlumniCareer Advancement

Evaluating Offers

Congratulations on having received a Full Time job offer! If you’re wondering if your offer is as good as it sounds, keep reading.

WomenCareer AdvancementNegotiating and Evaluating Offers
Woman writing on a form

How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

If you are in the process of changing careers, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and relevant skills. Show an employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job!

Career AdvancementResumes & CVs

How to Explain Employment Gaps

Learn tips to address employment gaps on your application materials and in interviews.

AlumniCareer AdvancementResumes & CVs

In the Know

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Asking for a Friend: How should I talk about my summer experience to future employers?

Dear CCE, Q: I’m about to finish my summer internship and I’m having a hard time figuring out what new skills I’ve gained or what I’ve learned this summer. How can I...Read more
Career AdvancementInterviewsNetworking
Female recruiter shakes the hand of a Columbia female student at a career fair.
Thursday, June 15, 2023

Multi-Industry Recruiting Timelines (Summer 2024)

Whether you’re looking for an internship for Summer 2024 or planning ahead, it is important to be aware of what recruiting timelines look like across industries. Explore the drop-downs by industry...Read more
Career AdvancementInternshipsInterviewsJobsEngineering & TechnologyFinancial Services
Friday, April 28, 2023

"See Yourself At ___" A Recap of the 2023 Spring Break Site Visit Program

The CCE Spring Break Site Visit Program has returned! Last held in 2019, this program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to tour employer offices and gain insider knowledge about an...Read more
Career AdvancementCareer ExplorationWorkplace
Five women and one man sit on a panel in front of a packed audience of students at the 2023 Diversity Recruiting Showcase on January 31, 2023
Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Key Takeaways from the 2023 Diversity Recruiting Showcase

On January 31, 2023, the Center for Career Education (CCE) welcomed 15 employers from a range of industries to speak to more than 106 Columbia undergraduate students about how their organizations are...Read more
Career AdvancementNetworkingStudents with DisabilitiesLGBTQ+ StudentsStudents of Color
Friday, November 5, 2021

Dispatch from the MLA: Applying Humanities Mindsets to Your Career Development

How to Apply Humanities Mindsets to Your Career Development By Sarah Goldberg, Undergraduate Career Development We’ve talked in previous posts about how to leverage humanities skills like close...Read more
Career AdvancementCareer Exploration
Thursday, October 29, 2020

Highlights From The Networking From Home: LGBTQ+ Panel Event

On October 29th, students and alumni gathered virtually for the Center for Career Education’s annual LGBTQ Alumni Panel and Networking Event, this year titled Networking From Home: LGBTQ+. The theme of the discussion was navigating the job search as an LGBTQ+ person.Read more
Career AdvancementNetworkingWorkplaceCommunications & MediaNon-Profits & Social JusticeLGBTQ+ Students
Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Resources for Launching Your Job Search After Graduation

CCE Has An Arsenal of Tools to Support Your Career Success Whether you’re initiating, continuing, or pivoting your job search after graduation, remember to loop us in as you move ahead! We offer...Read more
Remote WorkCareer AdvancementJobsAlumni
Monday, April 13, 2020

Why It's Important to Understand, Develop, and Foster Your Professional Relationships

Relationships are essential, both in and out of work. Now more than ever the world is feeling the need for and the power of relationships. Understanding the relationships in your world of work is an...Read more
Career AdvancementCareer ExplorationJobsNetworkingWorkplaceBusinessConsulting
Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Alumni and students talk about Inclusion at the Being Out in the Workplace alumni panel and networking event

On October 29 th , students and alumni gathered at the Center for Career Education for the annual Being Out in the Workplace Alumni Panel and Networking Event. The theme of the discussion this year was inclusion , and our panelists shared their journey and the impact being out in the workplace has had for themselves and others.Read more
Career AdvancementWorkplaceLGBTQ+ Students
Friday, December 7, 2018

How to Become a Permanent Resident of Canada in 6 Months or Less

Canada is seeking to bring in 1 million immigrants by 2020! So this fall the Consulate General of Canada in New York came to our campus to speak to our undergraduate and graduate students as well as...Read more
Career AdvancementCareer Exploration
Friday, November 30, 2018

Being Out in the Workplace: Where to Go, What to Say, and How to Build

On October 17th, we hosted an amazing panel of five alumni who shared their experiences being out in the workplace. Sitara Herur, a GS student and leader within the LGBTQ student community at...Read more
Career AdvancementCareer ExplorationWorkplaceLGBTQ+ Students
Monday, November 26, 2018

Your Persuasion-Ready Pitch: Applying Your Understanding of the Employer in Applications, Networking, and Interviews

Our top five tips for crafting your persuasion-ready pitch will help you apply your understanding of persuasion to applications, networking pitches, and interviews.Read more
Career AdvancementCover LettersInterviewsNetworkingResumes & CVs
Thursday, November 15, 2018

Your Persuasion-Ready Pitch: How Rhetoric Can Help You Craft Your Appeal to Employers

Writing or speaking to your audience is the key to crafting persuasive application materials and sharing your story effectively in interviews and networking interactions. In this second installment of Humanities Skills for the Job Search, we’re talking about how to use your understanding of audience to begin crafting a persuasive pitch.Read more
Career AdvancementInterviewsNetworkingResumes & CVs
Student Standing on a deck looking into distance with notepad
Monday, June 4, 2018

The Internship Halfway Point: How to Stay Motivated and Finish Strong

Now you’re in the swing of things. Keep the momentum going! You may have finally figured out how to navigate the commute and the names of your coworkers, but there’s more to learn to become a fully-...Read more
Career AdvancementInternshipsWorkplace