Career Exploration

Career exploration involves building self-knowledge and learning about career options. We’re here to help you navigate this process.

This page has resources to get you started.

Use the activities in the Explore section in Design Your Next Steps to reflect on your identities, interests, preferences, and strengths as they relate to your career.
Explore the other resources on this page to learn about major-to-career connections, industries, peer experiences, career assessments, and connecting with alumni.

No matter where you are in this process, we’re here to help! Visit us and meet with a career counselor to discuss your learning and next steps.

Majors

Wondering how your choice of major may relate to your future career? There are few straight lines between major and career. Employers consider your experience both inside and beyond the classroom. This page oﬀers tips on exploring majors and answers common questions.

Industries

Whether you are exploring careers or searching for an internship or job in your chosen field, these pages will get you started.

Finding an Undergraduate Research Position

Getting research experience during your time as an undergraduate can aid in your pursuit of graduate school or certain career opportunities. There are many opportunities available to conduct research alongside faculty at Columbia or other universities and research institutes.

Ways to Gain Experience

As you consider your options for gaining real-world experience, we have highlighted various types of opportunities for you to consider. These alternatives can help you to develop skills, build your network, explore careers, and expand your resume. Read on to explore how one or a combination of...

Career Assessments

Whether you have many years of experience or are unsure of your career direction, we can partner with you to develop awareness of your skills, values, interests, and personality traits. Understanding more about each of these areas can help you identify your career interests and next steps.

Connect with Alumni

Columbia University has a vibrant alumni community with interesting, accomplished, and varied careers. Building relationships with alumni is a great way to learn, create a supportive professional community for yourself, and discover hidden opportunities. This page will walk you through some of the ways to connect with alumni.

Student Experiences

Interested in hearing about your peers' experiences in their internships? Want to learn about the successes of your classmates? Student experiences give you a glimpse of opportunities you might want to participate in!