Alumni

Be sure to explore all the on campus opportunities such as CCE, Handshake, career fairs, and info sessions. It is also helpful to connect to alumni from linkedin if you want to learn more about the culture and project of the company.

Double and triple check your work — trust is hard to regain once you’ve lost it

Developing relationships over time at a few companies you’re fascinated by will serve you far better in the long run than simply throwing your CV into 100 online portals with no human connection. Think critically about where you can see yourself working and then really go for it.

Meet Columbia alumni and talk with them because even if they can’t offer you a job in the field you want they will have great insights or ideas that can help you in your job search process.

Everyone you will meet along the way has something to teach you, but it’s up to you to figure out what it is and apply it to your work.

Don’t burn out by committing yourself to too many activities at once. Devote as much as you can to a select few…

Never underestimate how far people who share your identity will go to help you

Engaging with different clubs on campus and going to recruiting events that are hosted by CCE will give you good insight to different opportunities, which in turn will help you find out what you’re interested in.

When looking for your first internship, job, or career path, do not get too caught up in names and rankings, but focus on finding a firm that fits you and your personality.

Focus more on building long-term relationships, asking for career advice and expanding your professional network can help you a lot in the long run.

Learn the structure of the interviews, and then practice, practice, practice.

Try to learn as much as possible about the different specializations within your area of interest. This will give you a sense of what skills you might need to acquire or improve, and will definitely help you figure out what exactly you might like to do later on.

Start early in speaking to people in the field (LinkedIn is a great source for people who don’t have connections yet); join meetups to learn about interesting developments in the field…If you ever feel lost, book some time with the career counselors at the Center for Career Education at Columbia.

Do research on the program/company you are interviewing for. Know what your favorite films, TV shows, plays, and books are.

Learn as much as you can about the company and the role before going into the interview by reading online and reaching out to other students or alums who have done or are doing the role.

Aim to find a place of work that makes you feel appreciated and your productivity along with your potential in that company will have no limit.

Columbia has great resources for underclassmen to find internships. I had a great experience with CCASSIP (Columbia College Alumni Sponsored Student Internship Program), and know many friends who had similar experiences with CEO (Columbia Experience Overseas).

Creative questions and a super high, positive energy will make you stand out.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but make sure to google them first.

I relied heavily on Handshake [LionSHARE] – don’t disregard the benefit of being part of a school that is a target for the most important firms across all industries.