Category: career tips

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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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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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Peer Support Program for Recent Grads

Did you graduate in 2016 or later? If so, you have the opportunity to participate in a peer support group for CSSW alumni. Spearheaded by Alyssa Zakarian ’21, Syma Sambar ’21, and Ashley Leeds ’20, the group meets every second Sunday at 2:30 PM ET and every third Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET via Zoom.

Drop in to talk about social work, get advice on how to handle tricky situations in the workplace, or listen to the experiences of your CSSW colleagues. Guest speakers will be announced as well. To join in, register here. By doing so, you will also be subscribed to the CSSW Peer Sup listserv where you will receive information on group discussions, job opportunities, and latest trends.

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Optimizing Your Online Presence for Your Career

Whether you’re just starting out, seeking a new opportunity, or looking to advance in your career, managing your online presence is essential. A strong presence can enhance your reputation, visibility, and consideration for prospective opportunities; the alternative can hurt your employability and career altogether without your even knowing!

You don’t have to be an expert to ensure that the image you’re projecting is in line with how you want others to see you. Check out some of these tips from Idealist on managing your online presence. You can also review LinkedIn’s overview on building an effective profile, networking via the platform, and much much more.

Did you know CSSW has a LinkedIn group for students and alumni? Join today to connect with your peers, learn about opportunities, and expand your network!

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Network! Network! Network! …But How?

Everyone talks about how important it is to build your professional network to advance in your career, but getting started can feel awkward or intimidating.

If that feeling is holding you back, remember that networking is just another form of relationship building–a process rooted in genuine curiosity and a desire to get to know the other person well. To begin:

    • Think about what you’re interested in talking about or who you might want to learn from or share your aspirations with. You can start the conversation with those you know, such as your peers, professors, mentors, current and past co-workers, and field supervisors. They may even recommend others to reach out to.
    • At the same time, don’t be afraid to cold contact those you don’t yet know. Online networking platforms liked LinkedIn make it easier to connect with others, particularly those within your school network, such as CSSW’s LinkedIn Group, and other interest-based communities.
    • Don’t limit yourself to “networking” platforms and events either. Any opportunity where you can engage with others with shared interests and goals, including social and community events, volunteer activities, and online forums, is a prime way to bridge a new connection.

Whomever you choose to connect with, make sure that the engagement isn’t one-sided or transactional. Just like in any meaningful relationship, even if you’re the one asking for insights and advice, you can demonstrate your respect and appreciation by letting them know how their support impacted you or sharing information and resources that may be of benefit to them.

For additional tips on cultivating a strong network, review this article. You can also find additional tools for networking in this virtual networking guide.

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Tips for First-Generation Job Seekers

In honor of First-Generation College Student Day celebrated yesterday, we would like to a give special shout-out to our first-generation students and alumni who are continuing to blaze a trail for themselves, their families, and communities and making their mark in the field of social work!

If you are currently pursuing opportunities as early career professionals or seeking to advance to leadership roles, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

    • Know that you have a lot to offer. Start by embracing the knowledge and strengths you’ve built. Your resourcefulness, determination to succeed, and ability to both navigate uncertainty and complex systems and adapt to changing needs are all qualities that employers highly value. Keep a record of your unique skills and accomplishments and practice sharing them with others so you can feel confident conveying them to prospective employers.
    • Build a support system. A healthy support system can offer validation and a safe space to bounce off ideas and concerns. Continue investing time in developing your trusted community of mentors, professionals, former supervisors, peers, faculty, and college administrators who can share resources, information, and potential access to opportunities. To find community on campus, check out the events hosted by the Graduate Initiative through University Life and reach out to the student leaders of the CSSW’s First Generation Lower SES Caucus.
    • Be proactive in seeking resources. Continue to use resources inside and outside of Columbia to increase your knowledge around job searching, networking, negotiating salary, and advancing in the workforce. For instance, you can learn about the unspoken rules of the workplace and how to get ahead in your career from this HBR IdeaCast episode, Career Rules You Didn’t Learn in School, take a self-paced salary negotiation program with AAUW online, or attend the National Urban League’s professional development webinars. You can also participate in networking and leadership development activities through professional organizations such as the Network for Social Work Management. Links to similar resources are also readily featured in our enews, blog, and Career Connect resource library.

Students and alums are always welcome to meet with us for individual career consultations. Learn more about what’s available to you here.

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Networking with Professors

As highlighted in an article by Live Career, “learning how to connect with your peers, professors, and community is crucial for both personal and professional development”.

Professors, in particular, are invaluable resources from whom you can learn more about different areas of interest and opportunities within the field.

Wondering how to best connect with them beyond the classroom? Here are a few tips to keep in mind, whether you’re just starting the program or continuing:

    • Research your professors to get a better sense of their background, interests, and achievements
    • When reaching out to schedule a meeting, provide a very brief overview of your goals and interests and why you want to meet (e.g. what you hope to learn)
    • Make the most of the time you have with them by coming prepared with targeted questions
    • In all your interactions, whether virtual or in-person, be open, sincere, and mindful of how you communicate
    • Ask for feedback and keep them updated on any developments, especially if you’ve followed through on any advice they gave you

Professors will likely be more receptive to your outreach while you’re a student, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity before you graduate. This also applies to building relationships with peers, supervisors, and administrators. Investing in this effort will not only help you stand out and stay memorable, but it can also potentially open doors for years to come!

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