Finding a career path requires time and effort. GSAS Compass is here to assist you with that process. Below, find a collection of resources to help you self-assess, research, and explore possible career paths; develop your job search materials; network and connect to the GSAS community, alumni, and potential employers; and gain experience.
Also, see here for resources and tips on searching for a job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Self-reflection is an important part of understanding your skills and strengths. Below find self-assessment tools to identify skills, interests, and values. Review these materials, and make an appointment with a career advisor to help facilitate professional exploration.
- The Explore section of the Center for Career Education’s Design Your Next Steps includes a variety of paper-and-pencil self-assessments to help you think about your skills, interests, background, values, and experience. These tools will help connect your preferences to career options.
- MLA Connected Academics: resources designed for humanities doctoral students, but widely applicable to any humanities or social science student interested in a range of career paths
- One-on-one career counseling: Make an appointment with a career counselor at the Center for Career Education; beginning July 1, GSAS students will meet with GSAS counselors.
- Self-assessment and career exploration resources for PhDs
- ImaginePhD: self-assessment and career planning tool for Humanities and Social Science students
- myIDP: self-assessment and career planning tool for students in the Natural Sciences
- Columbia Individual Development Plan (IDP) Program: Designed for postdocs and doctoral students in any discipline, this program involves creating an individual development plan and attending workshops and industry panels.
- Master’s Career Development Timeline: Get started on career development from the moment you arrive on campus.
- PhD Career Development Timeline: Explore career pathways and plan your next steps throughout your time at Columbia.
Researching and exploring a variety of career paths and industries opens your mind to multiple potential futures, helps you gain the skills and experience necessary to achieve your career goals, and prepares you for your job search. Below are some resources to get you started.
- CCE Industry Guides
- Career Exploration for STEM PhDs
- Career Exploration for Humanities and Social Science PhDs
- Visit the employment and career pages on your professional/scholarly associations’ websites.
Premium Digital Resources
- GoinGlobal: country and US city career guides
- Vault: company-specific information and interview strategies
- UniWorld: employment at multinational companies
- LinkedIn Learning Courses: Access LinkedIn Learning modules to learn how to use specific software, develop your elevator pitch, interview, and develop your personal brand.
Once you have identified several possible career paths to pursue, it is time to update your résumé, curriculum vitae (CV), and professional social media profiles. While you should always tailor your cover letter and other job application materials to each position you apply to, you should also keep an updated résumé and/or CV on file. The following resources will assist you in developing your online presence and job application materials.
Résumé (for industry/private sector and most nonprofit jobs)
- Your Résumé: What to Put In, What to Leave Out
- Résumés with impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points
- Optimizing Your Résumé for an Applicant Tracking System (often used by large corporate companies)
- Converting Your CV to a Résumé
- How to Write a Résumé Profile or Summary (helpful for career changers)
- How to Explain Employment Gaps
Curriculum Vitae (for academic, library, and many government and think tank jobs)
Cover Letter
- How and Why to Write a Great Cover Letter
- 3 Sample Cover Letters That Stand Out
- Academic Cover Letters: The Basics
- Tips on Providing a Quality Writing Sample
Social Media
- LinkedIn Learning Courses: Access LinkedIn Learning modules to learn more about résumés and cover letters
Graduate school is a great time to expand your professional circle. Seek out connections with alumni from Columbia and your undergraduate institution, build relationships with people in organizations and industries that interest you, and remember that the connections you make with your peers are forming the bedrock of your future network and professional community. There are many ways for students to make valuable professional connections with employers, Columbia alumni, and peers:
Online Networking
- Columbia Career Connections LinkedIn group
- Columbia Alumni LinkedIn exploration tool
- Columbia Alumni Community: Students may sign on and search for alumni from their program.
- How To Use Social Media in Your Career
- How To Create Your Online Brand
In-Person Networking and Informational Interviewing (much of this can be done remotely)
- Professional Networking
- Informational interviewing
- How to Create the Perfect Elevator Pitch
- Graduate Student Consulting Club: case interviews
- Join professional associations in your field, and ask for student membership rates.
- Attend and present at conferences, and apply for funding to defray travel expenses.
Throughout graduate school, you should make an effort to gain hands-on experience in fields that interest you. This can include paid internships, part-time work, volunteering, and participating in student groups. Each time you gain a new experience, take time to reflect on the transferrable skills you demonstrated, and add an entry to your résumé or CV. The resources below will help you find opportunities during graduate school or start your search for a full-time job after graduating.
Job Searching Sites
- LionSHARE: job board available only to Columbia students and alumni. See available opportunities and learn about companies hiring from the Columbia community.
- Campus employment
- Science Mag: Search for jobs in the sciences.
- NYAS Science Alliance: GSAS students in the Natural Sciences are eligible to participate in the New York Academy of Science’s Science Alliance program, which offers workshops, courses, and mentorship and networking opportunities for graduate students and postdocs.
- Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC): job board and job search resources for jobs in higher ed—both academic and administrative
- Chronicle Vitae: another great resource for higher education jobs
Interview Resources
- Prepare for the Interview: Sample Questions
- Things to do Before, During, and After Your Interview
- Great Questions to Ask During an Interview
- Big Interview: Practice your interview skills with this online program.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions about Internships
- International Scholars and Students Office (ISSO): Learn about CPT, OPT, and OPT STEM Extension.
- Considerations for Students with Disabilities
Opportunities to Gain Experience on Campus
- The GSAS Teaching Scholars Program affords advanced doctoral students the opportunity to design and teach a course in their area of expertise.
- GSAS Fellowships in Academic Administration allow advanced doctoral students to apprentice each term in Columbia's administrative offices.
- The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition showcases the research of Columbia’s doctoral student community.
- The GSAS Master's SynThesis Competition gives MA students in Arts and Sciences the opportunity to showcase their research and presentation skills in a relaxed and collegial environment.
- Columbia Entrepreneurship supports, invigorates, accelerates, and motivates innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship at Columbia.
- The Columbia Social Entrepreneurship Group pairs teams of students with social enterprise organizations to provide a wide array of enterprise development services.
- Arts and Sciences Graduate Council (ASGC) and ASGC-recognized student groups
Volunteering
- Community Impact: local volunteer opportunities for Columbia students
- New York Cares: citywide organization with hundreds of volunteer opportunities