Category: career exploration

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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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Student Foreign Policy Symposium & Networking | Thursday, Oct 14

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), recognized from September 15 to October 15, the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) has partnered with the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA) to host the Department’s inaugural HHM Student Foreign Policy Symposium. 

When: Thursday, October 14, 2021, from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM EDT | Zoom

If you are interested in international affairs, foreign policy, or a career as a diplomat this is the symposium for you! After the symposium, there will be an engaging  “After Hours Networking Event” with members of HECFAA, Recruiters, and other Diplomats from the agency from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Learn more and register

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Building Your Career Path

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or thinking about making a move, following a plan will help you move forward and help you get to where you want to be. This article by the Wall Street Journal offers 3 easy steps to help you get started with forging your career path:

    • Engage in self-reflective activities to help identify your core values and strengths – consider what lifestyle is most important to you, what attributes have remained constant, and what expertise you’ve developed over the course of your academic and professional life
    • Seek trusted advice from mentors and professionals in your field to learn from their career paths, discuss your career goals, and/or tap into their professional expertise to learn about the industry
    • Identify and develop the key skills and knowledge most in-demand within the areas you are interested in and be able to articulate how you can contribute to potential employers

Still need advice on how to get started? Schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor or check out the career guides and resources posted in our Document Library within Career Connect.

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Lead with Curiosity When Networking

The idea of networking can be anxiety-provoking for many, no matter what career stage they’re in, leading some to avoid it. Yet, it still remains the number one strategy to land opportunities and an essential component of one’s career development.

Networking is more than talking to strangers; it is a process of building relationships towards a mutual exchange of support, resources, and information. It is also a way of letting others know your skills and passions and getting noticed in the field. (You can’t get noticed if people don’t know you!)

Not sure how to get started? Then lead with your curiosity.

Perhaps you’re wondering what you can do with your degree or concentration or how others with similar backgrounds and experiences landed their roles. Or maybe you’re still exploring and want to know different opportunities you might find meaningful. Find people with direct knowledge of your interest area and start a conversation:

    • Faculty, supervisors and colleagues in field, peers, and alumni currently working in your field of interest
    • Professionals you admire regardless of their background whom you can connect with through industry events, professional associations, or virtual networking communities, such as those on LinkedIn
    • Recruiters, hiring managers, and organizational representatives hosting information sessions and related recruitment and networking activities

Don’t forget that professionals outside your immediate scope of interest can also possess valuable insights, including how to effectively transition from student to professional, advance to leadership positions, or maintain work-life balance and self-care.

Whomever you choose to reach out to, make sure to tailor your conversation to the individual and assess what specifically you hope to learn from them so you can identify your next steps.

If the idea of networking and informational interviewing still feels intimidating, remember that you don’t need to know everything to have a fruitful conversation. Asking questions like “How do I get started?” or “Where do I go from here?” are acceptable conversation starters, particularly with social work educators and alumni. The main goal is to start somewhere!

More on networking for social workers

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Upcoming NYC Government Career Events Hosted by DCAS

New York City Civil Service 101
Friday, March 19, 2021 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm

To register, please visit: http://bit.ly/0319CS101

For more information contact: Shannon Foley [email protected]

CityTalk Panel Discussion: “Women in City Government”
Friday, March 26, 2021 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To register, please visit: http://bit.ly/0326WomenCareers

For more information contact: Raymond Cruze, Citywide Recruitment Specialist [email protected]

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Flash mentoring is back – Sign up to get career advice and support from alumni!

The Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career Services and Leadership Management are pleased to resume our career mentorship program for the spring semester!

The program will run from Monday, February 1 through Friday, May 28. Requests will be accepted until Friday, May 14.

 

Mentoring Program Overview

Through this program, students can request to connect with up to 3 alums per month for 1:1 conversations to:

    • Gain insights and perspectives about a career path, field, organization, or industry;
    • Get advice about career planning, searching and applying for jobs (including resume writing), networking, interviewing, or navigating life after CSSW; OR
    • Seek support in general from someone who’s been in your shoes as a student

Interested?

    1. Fill out this mentoring program interest form. On the form, you will find a link to a directory with a list of more than 300 alumni volunteer mentors who are eager to meet you! Select the one you’re interested in meeting. Note that you will have to complete this form for each request.
    2. After submitting the form, you will receive an email confirmation as well as an introductory email from Jennifer March from Alumni Relations connecting you to the alum of choice within a few business days. If you don’t hear from Jennifer in that time frame, please email her directly at [email protected] to follow up.
    3. Once you receive the email, it will be your responsibility to arrange a meeting directly with the alum using the contact information provided. While Zoom meetings are recommended, you can choose a platform that works best for both you and the alum.

Remember: This is NOT a forum to ask for a job or a recommendation for a job, but rather an opportunity to gather valuable information based on their knowledge and expertise.

After the initial meeting, it will be up to you and the alum to decide whether to continue to stay in touch.

Questions?

For general questions about our alumni mentors, please email Jennifer March at [email protected].

For guidance on how to prepare for a meeting, refer to our Informational Interview Guide. You can also view free, on-demand webinars on informational interviewing (and other career development topics) from LinkedIn Learning, or schedule an appointment with the career team to discuss further.

We hope you take advantage of this special opportunity!

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AGPP Alumni Career Panel | Wednesday, January 27

Want to learn more about potential AGPP career paths after graduation?

Join AGPP Caucus Leaders on January 27 at 12:30pm where they will be speaking to alumni about their career paths post Columbia and how their careers have been impacted by their experiences of being in the AGPP track! See below for details.

If you have any questions for the panelists, please fill out this survey.

Date: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM

Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 958 0656 2839)

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