Career Advising and Alumni Network

In addition to using the career services listed on this page, we encourage you to participate in our Alumni Support Program for current students. As part of OwlNet, our online community for GS alumni, former GS students have made themselves available to network with students and assist you in your post-graduation development. Visit the OwlNet site for GS students to sign up to be mentored by alumni, browse job announcements posted by GS alumni, or post your resume for GS alumni to view.

CENTER FOR CAREER EDUCATION

The Center for Career Education helps students and alumni develop the key competencies necessary to make informed decisions and take the necessary steps to achieve their career goals. The Center establishes connections and facilitates interaction among undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, employers, and organizations to generate opportunities that help students pursue their personal and professional objectives.

The Center for Career Education provides career development opportunities for students beginning with the first year at Columbia and involving a series of coordinated programs, a sequence of workshops and seminars, and individual one-to-one counseling. Career development is a lifelong process that includes self-assessment, curricular exploration through choice of major, competency development, networking, informational interviewing, internships, summer work experience, study abroad, preparation for the job search and for the graduate/professional school application process, and planning for productive careers. Above all else, it is a generative process, which provides a foundation for achieving goals throughout life.

The Center maintains a website that contains information on career search strategies and tools, upcoming events, career fairs, full and part-time job listings, and internships. The Center encourages both students and alumni to visit the Center and register to use Columbia’s job database early in order to maximize the level of resources and assistance they can receive.

Individual career counseling is available to assist all students and alumni the Center serves with a variety of interests, including self-assessment, career exploration, and career search tools and strategies. Through the Career Resource Center, students are able to research employers, graduate schools, opportunities abroad, and more.

DOSSIER SERVICE
The Center maintains a Dossier Service, managed by Interfolio, for graduate students and alumni who hold graduate degrees and undergraduate students and alumni of the School of General Studies. A dossier consists of letters of reference and other credentials that speak to a candidate’s scholarship, research interests and teaching experience. A dossier is specifically used in applying for teaching positions at either the secondary level or college level and for graduate/professional school and fellowship applications. Students can register online for the service at www.interfolio.com. It is recommended that candidates for teaching positions open a credentials file in the late summer or early autumn of the year preceding their availability for employment.

INTERNSHIPS
The Center manages full-time, part-time and internship opportunities for students throughout the year in two capacities. On-campus recruiting is conducted throughout the academic year and allows students to submit their resumes and cover letters online to any of the opportunities from employers who have chosen to recruit on campus.  These opportunities are listed in the on-line recruiting database and are easily searchable. There are also full-time, part-time and temporary on and off campus employment opportunities advertised year-round through a general job posting database.  While at Columbia, students are encouraged to take advantage of internships that offer opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge of a career field.

The Center offers international internship opportunities through two programs, Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO) and Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE).

• The CEO program offers Columbia students high quality internship experiences in a diverse array of industries in London and Hong Kong through alumni and employer partnerships.


• EDGE Scotland is a summer program in entrepreneurship and enterprise leadership offered in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and the University of Glasgow, with support from the European Union, the Scottish Executive, and others. It takes place in Dunbartonshire, an economically underdeveloped area of Scotland. Student consulting teams are challenged to solve real-world business problems by analyzing business climate, identifying opportunities for innovation, and proposing solutions and initiatives to create a more entrepreneurial and economically vibrant culture.


• The EDGE Guatemala program, run in partnership with New Development Solutions, focuses on social entrepreneurship. Students design smart, scaleable and highly integrated business models for their constituents in rural communities.


• The Center also offers an arts internship program called Columbia Arts Experience. Selected students participate in a New York-based internship in the arts at organizations such as the Sundance Channel, Lincoln Center Film, Alliance for the Arts and others.

ENTREPENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Center for Career Education also fosters entrepreneurship through Columbia Student Enterprises (CSE). The Columbia Student Enterprises program is a unique opportunity to learn about and develop valuable entrepreneurship and enterprise leadership skills through managing and working for student-run enterprises. The program consists of student-managed businesses such as the Columbia Bartending Agency and School of Mixology, Inside NY, CU Snacks, and the Columbia University Tutoring and Translation Agency. The participants of the program receive training and develop transferable business skills applicable to all industries. The program also promotes student initiatives in business and increases services on campus, enhancing the quality of student life and creating job opportunities for Columbia University students.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Center for Career Education
Columbia University
East Campus, Lower Level
Mail Code 5727
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Phone: 212-854-5609
Fax: 212-854-5640
Email: careereducation@columbia.edu
www.careereducation.columbia.edu