Career centers help you navigate college and beyond
As you prepare to graduate from high school, everyone asks you questions: Are you going to college? Where? What are you going to major in? What do you want to do for a career?
By the time you arrive on campus, you should have answered two of those questions. To prepare for the rest, an entire department on most college campuses is there to help you choose a major and prepare for your next step after college. At UC Davis, this department is called the Internship and Career Center (also known as the ICC). The ICC is a first-class career center, with hundreds of internships opportunities and other services to walk with you toward your next step after college.
Below are the top six reasons to visit the ICC in South Hall:
1. Career centers help you prep for career fairs
The ICC hosts several career fairs each academic year to connect students and employers. Each general fair has 100 to 150 employers with top companies attending, such as Apple, Facebook, Genentech, Intel and many more. The ICC hosts several "Prepare for the Fair" workshops before each fair to help you get ready. The workshop includes information about how to dress, how to introduce yourself to an employer, thank you notes and more. Additionally, we offer two days of Resume Boost before each fair to help you get your resume in tip-top shape.
2. Learn when employers visit campus at your career center
Career centers often host company information sessions or participate in other networking events. Hundreds of companies visit campus each year to attend career fairs, to host company information sessions and to hold on campus interviews. Handshake is the best place to see when and which companies will be visiting campus.
3. Have your resume reviewed by an expert
Writing a resume is hard, and you want it to be a strong marketing piece. Having your documents reviewed is the best way to make sure your materials are ready to go. Meet with an ICC staff member to have your resume, cover letter and other application documents reviewed before submitting.
4. Explore which careers are a good fit
ICC staff are available to help you explore and design a career that will be a good fit for you. In addition, we teach several career-related courses. Talk to your academic advisor to see what might be the best option for you. Also, check out the ICC’s industry pages.
5. Build a mentorship with a career advisor
The ICC has a team of professional and student advisors available to meet with you to talk through your career questions. Appointments to meet with professional advisors can be made through Handshake, and student staff advisors are available on a drop-in basis Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
6. Attend workshops and studios at your career center
At our workshops and studios, topics include “Resume and Interview Basics,” “Cover Letters and Professional Correspondence,” “Hacking the Hidden Job Market,” “Finding a Job or Internship,” “Prepare for the Fair” and a “LinkedIn and Resume and Cover Letter Studio.”
In addition to these services, check out Handshake to find a job or internship. Handshake is where students and employers connect online. Visit us in South Hall if you need help using the platform.
Hope to see you in South Hall soon, and don’t forget to check out the ICC’s website to help plan for your career.
Andrea Hanson is the associate director of the UC Davis Internship and Career Center.