As a Columbia First-Generation and/or Low Income (FLI) student, you have the type of valuable skills that employers seek in their candidates. These skills, such as strong work ethic, resourcefulness, and adaptability, are in high demand.
Many FLI students share common questions about their unique job and internship search. We will be addressing some of those questions on this page, including:
You can connect with a career counselor who will partner with you through every step of your search. Together you can set goals and build plans to meet those goals. You can have as many one-to-one career counseling appointments as you need. No preparation necessary!
We understand you may have competing priorities that make an in-person visit hard. For your convenience, you can schedule a virtual appointment through LionSHARE. We also offer in-person and virtual Quick Questions as a way to quickly see a career counselor without needing to pre-book.
You can also review an overview of our services in our Design Your Next Steps career planning guide.
There are unique skills and qualities that you have developed by being the first in your family to attend college and/or low income. These may include:
At CCE, we can work with you to reflect on your life and draw out skills and abilities that you have developed over time. We can help you think about how to speak with employers and alumni about these experiences. You have many strengths that have brought you to Columbia and that will develop through your time here. We can help you to build confidence articulating these strengths to others.
Experience isn’t limited to internships at well-known companies. There are many ways to develop skills. These can include working in a lab for class or a part-time job off campus. Other ways to develop your skill set might be hosting a general body meeting for your student club or volunteering at a local community organization.
As you think about translating this experience to a job or internship, you can ask yourself the following:
For a variety of reasons, you may be feeling pressure to pursue a particular career direction. We can help you think about and explore so that you are able to connect your skills and interests with potential paths. The best way to get started is to have a conversation with a career counselor to learn about ways to explore and connections to employers and alumni.
In preparing for interviews with employers, networking conversations, or events, you can use:
Your networking can start by thinking about those you have interacted with at Columbia—other students, advisors, faculty, alumni, etc.— and on your way to Columbia. CCE can help you connect with alumni and other professionals to learn about different fields, meet mentors, and build your network.
Not sure where to start? We have a brief overview video. You can always use a career counseling appointment to create your own networking plan.
There are several factors that go into the decision of whether or not to accept a job or internship, but CCE is prepared to partner with you each step of the way. Additionally, as a FLI student, there may be additional considerations or obligations that we can help you plan for.
Some of the ways CCE can help you during career counseling:
From your room, you can also take a look at our resources on salary negotiation and evaluating offers. These include resources on how to make a budget or find out what a typical salary is for a specific location, field, or position and consideration for aspects of a salary that can, for example, include transitional funding such as support for relocation or perks like a cell phone or a vehicle.
For unpaid and low-paid opportunities in industries like the arts or not-for-profits, Columbia offers a number of funding programs that you can apply for.
