The purpose and mission of Career Services is to assist undergraduate Columbia College students with the career development process, including self-assessment, career exploration and preparation, and decision-making. Columbia College Career Services is committed to empowering students to proactively identify, plan and implement successful lifelong career strategies.

We advocate a circular four-year approach to career planning, beginning with discovering values, skills and interests and exploring different career options. Career Services does this by providing networking opportunities, internships, job shadowing, workshops, career publications, mock interviews, information to select a major, special events, graduate school information, assistance for those students seeking a post-graduation job and much more. Students can also utilize self-assessment tools that will help them identify their talents and interests in order to pursue career opportunities. Our counselors help guide students toward career goals and encourage them to begin the process early.

Recent alumnae, Evening College and graduate students are also welcome to use our job postings and job search resources located in the Career Resource Library, as well as our resume critique service. When you drop off a resume, please include a note with information about jobs and the places you are applying. There is a one-week turnaround for resume critiques.

No appointment is needed to use the self-help Career Library which is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Due to extensive use of these career resource books, there is no check-out service. The director is available by appointment to provide individual assistance with career, major, and/or graduate school questions or concerns. Students are invited to visit Career Services, which is located in the Center for Engaged Learning.

Available Career Services
Located in the Career Services Resource Library is:

• Part-time job information & Full-time job information
• Internship Listings
• Sample Resumes and Cover Letters
• Job and Graduate School Search Tips
• FREE Job Choices magazines & FREE Graduate School guides
• Graduate School Testing Information

Career Resource Library The Career Resource Library includes up-to-date career books, resources, informational notebooks (“What to do with a Major in…”), current job and internship postings, video-tapes, and handouts.

Self-Assessment The Bridges self-assessment will help clarify your interests and skills, explore careers, and assist with decision making.

Workshops Each year Career Services offers a wide variety of workshops on various topics including Resumes & Cover  Letters, Savvy Interviewing Skills, Graduate School Week, Office Etiquette, and much more.

Career Fairs The Office of Career Services offers several career fairs to assist students' networking events, including Senior Interview Day and
Education Recruitment Day.

Connect with alumnae & local contacts This network enables students
 to get in contact with alumnae throughout the United States to gain
information about career fields and positions.

Internships  Postings and information are located in the Office of Career Services.

Individual Career Sessions (with Director, Graduate Assistant, and/or Career Peers by appointment). Services include resume and cover letter critique (drop off and scheduled appointments), and mock interviews.

OptimalResume™  The Office of Career Services offers OptimalResume, an online system that allows you to create and receive feedback on resumes, cover letters, and personal portfolios that you design to contain your best work. You can then publish all of your documents to a secure website so that you may showcase them to potential employers and/or graduate school programs.