Author: tu2149

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Flash mentoring is back – Sign up to get career insights from alumni!

The Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career and Leadership Management are pleased to resume our Alumni-Student Career Mentorship Program for the spring semester!

Whether you’re looking to gain insights about a specific path, field, or industry, or advice on navigating and managing your developing career, this is a great opportunity to connect with those who have been in your shoes as a student and are now leading a wide array of social work careers.

Through this program, you can request to meet up to 3 alumni per month from a pool of more than 450 for 1:1 flash mentorship conversations. These conversations are one-time, virtual meetings of up to an hour long, in which you can ask about the mentor’s experiences and perspectives in relation to your career goals.

▶️ Learn more and sign up here.

📌 Requests will be accepted until Friday, May 8 at 5:00 PM ET.

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Get a 30-minute resume review from a CSSW alum!


We know the spring semester can be a busy time, especially with preparing resumes for practicum placements, summer internships, and post-grad jobs. (If you haven’t already, check out the career resources that are readily available here.)

To extend the support provided by our office, we’re excited to once again offer our Alumni Resume Review Program in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations.

📌 Program Overview

Through this program, you can schedule one (1) 30-minute resume review with a CSSW alum. This is a great opportunity to receive informal feedback and perspective on how to think about your experiences and present them in ways that reflect what is valued in the field.

📋 Details

    • Sessions will be offered during lunch hours and early evenings (Eastern Time) between Thursday, January 15, and Friday, February 6. Additional flexible time options are also available.
    • Requests must be submitted at least three (3) business days in advance of the session date. For example, to schedule a review session on January 15, your request must be submitted by January 12.
    • Before scheduling, please ensure you are available at the selected time and do not have conflicting commitments, such as classes, advising meetings, or practicum‑related activities. Please note that we cannot guarantee that missed or late‑arriving sessions can be rescheduled.

NOTE: If you already have a resume review scheduled with our career center during this period (January 15 – February 6), we ask that you hold off on requesting an alumni resume review so that others may access support (i.e., please choose either a career center resume review or an alumni resume review, but not both).

We appreciate your understanding as we strive to support all students seeking guidance during this peak period.

Opportunities to connect with alumni will continue to be available when our Career Mentorship Program resumes in early February—details coming soon!

📝 How to Sign Up

Complete the Resume Review Request Form. Once your request is approved, the Office of Alumni Relations will connect you with your resume reviewer via email. Please respond promptly to the introduction, set up the Zoom meeting, and share your finalized resume draft in advance.

We hope you’ll take advantage of this special opportunity! Feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions.

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From Interaction to Impact

Did you recently connect with an alum mentor, attend an employer information session, or participate in another professional event? Whether you’re engaging one-on-one, in a group, in person, or online, what you do after the experience can shape your professional growth and career trajectory.

Consider these three simple ways to make the most of every professional interaction:

    • Pause to reflect: Spend a few minutes noting key takeaways. Did the conversation or event help you clarify your interests or direction? Introduce new ideas about your future path? Help you see your strengths in a new light? Creating space to make meaning of each experience can turn it into a valuable learning opportunity.

    • Follow up thoughtfully: If someone took the time to share their knowledge or advice, send a thank-you note. Mention something specific you learned or gained to highlight their impact. A thoughtful message shows respect and appreciation and demonstrates qualities that will make you memorable, such as initiative, humility, and a growth mindset.

    • Pay it forward: Share the insights you gained with classmates and peers, and encourage others exploring similar paths. Professional generosity not only builds trust and community but also helps you stand out as someone who is knowledgeable, resourceful, and supportive—key traits that mentors, employers, and future colleagues value.

Intentional engagement through these small actions can transform every interaction into an opportunity to strengthen your visibility, connections, and reputation, which can in turn open new doors for your future.

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Finding Your Path

Wondering what the social work job market looks like, or what paths to consider?

Whether you’re actively job seeking or preparing for your future search, you can learn about your prospects in several ways:

    • CSSW Resources: For insight on jobs that CSSW graduates have pursued immediately after graduation, review our 2024 graduate outcomes report (additional reports can be found in Career Connect). You can also explore alumni career trajectories on CSSW’s LinkedIn Alumni page and in the CSSW LinkedIn Group. If you’re not sure where to start, use the list of 80+ job search sites in Career Connect or request a career chat with an alum through our Career Mentorship Program to gain firsthand insights from professionals in the field.

By combining career and market research with conversations with social workers in your areas of interest, you’ll be better prepared to identify opportunities that fit your skills and aspirations. We’re also here to help, wherever you are in your journey.

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Career Mentorship Program Now Open: Connect with Alumni for Insights

The Office of Career and Leadership Management and Office of Alumni Relations are pleased to launch our Alumni-Student Career Mentorship Program for the 2025-2026 year!

Whether you’re looking to gain insights about a specific path, field, or industry, or advice on navigating and managing your developing career, this is a great opportunity to connect with those who have been in your shoes as a student and are now leading a wide array of social work careers.

Through this program, you can request to meet up to 3 alumni per month from a pool of more than 450 for 1:1 flash mentorship conversations. These conversations are one-time, virtual meetings of up to an hour long, in which you can ask about the mentor’s experiences and perspectives in relation to your career goals.

▶️ Learn more and sign up here.

Requests will be accepted until Friday, December 12 at 5:00 PM ET for the fall semester.

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Exploring Paths and Opportunities

With so many directions social workers can take, it can feel overwhelming to identify organizations and opportunities you want to pursue.

To navigate this process, it’s crucial to first gain clarity about your motivation, values, and purpose. It’s equally important to research the job market and the organizations leading the work that interests you.

You can do this in several ways, including:

    • Attend employer and fellowship information sessions. These events let you connect directly with organizational representatives, learn about their mission and values, and hear about career or fellowship opportunities. You can learn about upcoming information sessions through our enews, as well as in Career Connect under the Events tab.
    • Review job postings and research organizations. Explore opportunities in Career Connect and through job board links in the Document Library under the Job Search Sites folder. Use these as starting points to delve deeper into roles and organizations that you aspire towards.
    • Speak with professionals and peers. Networking and informational interviewing can expand your knowledge of career paths and settings beyond those you’re already exposed to. Alumni often make excellent first connections for exploration conversations. You can find those who are eager to share their experiences through our career mentorship program—details will be shared tomorrow!

As you gather information, keep track of organizations and roles that best align with your skills and interests. The more you understand how your strengths connect with what organizations need, the clearer you’ll be about your future direction.

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3 Things to Know as You Start the Semester (Career Edition)

Welcome to a new school year! Whether you’ve just joined us or are returning to campus virtually or in person, we’re glad you’re here. 

As you settle into student life, here are 3 things to keep in mind:

    • We’re here for you at every stage of your journey: You don’t have to have it all figured out. From exploring your options to preparing for your future job search, you’re welcome to meet with us wherever you are in the career planning process.
    • We have many resources you can access on your own time: Resume and cover letter guides, job boards, and networking tools—you can easily find them within Career Connect; check them out!
    • Every “small” step is still a step forward: Don’t worry about getting it all done at once. Focus on one goal at a time, whether it’s making a list of jobs you aspire toward, meeting one alum in your target industry, or updating your resume. Then, connect with a career event, resource, or opportunity that supports that goal, and go from there.

If you have quick questions, you can always reach us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see the paths you’ll take this year and look forward to supporting you in your next step!

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3 Simple Ways to Make Future Job Searches Easier

Even if you’re not job searching right now, taking a few small steps today can save you time and stress later. These habits will help you stay organized, capture accomplishments you can showcase in resumes and interviews, and plan strategically for your career growth.

Maintain a master resume and “kudos” file: Keep a single document where you regularly add new experiences, skills, and accomplishments, whether from jobs, practicums, volunteer roles, or student leadership. This will make it much easier to tailor your resume and communicate your impact when applying for specific positions.

Track key contacts: Write down the names and contact information of supervisors and colleagues who can speak to your work. This is useful for future reference checks and job applications.

Save inspiring job descriptions: Create a folder of job postings that interest you and highlight the skills and qualifications they require. This will enable you to:

      • Identify the skills you already have
      • Spot gaps you may need to address through additional training or experience
      • Stay informed about opportunities and trends in the field

Even spending just 15 minutes on this now can give you a head start when opportunities arise. At a minimum, set a reminder to update your master resume once a semester—it’s a simple habit with lasting benefits!

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Webinar Series: Finding a Job in a Health Department in New York or New Jersey | Register by 2/27

Interested in learning about how to find a job in a local or state health department in New York and New Jersey? Sign up for one or more of the following webinars by February 27.

Registration link: https://bit.ly/R2PHTC-Get-Hired-Series-2024

    • February 27, 2024 – New Jersey Local Health Departments
    • March 19, 2024 – New York Local Health Departments
    • April 16, 2024 – New Jersey State Department of Health
    • June 18, 2024 – New York State Department of Health

The series will include moderated panel discussions with health department staff on how to navigate the civil service hiring practices in NY & NJ state and local health departments and offer creative strategies for finding a satisfying and meaningful job in public health.

Open to current students, recent graduates, career changers, and all others who are interested in finding a job at a state or local health department.

Hosted by Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.

For more information, please email [email protected].

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