career services: For Students & Alumni
Students and alumni have free access to career consulting, career management seminars and networking opportunities.
WHAT IS CAREER CONSULTING?
The goal of career consulting is to assist people so that they can:
- better identify their skills, interests, and values
- make informed career choices
- be valued, satisfied, and competent in the workplace
Career consultants can meet with you to discuss:
- setting career goals and action plans
- career decision making
- assessment of skills, values, interests, and personality preferences
- resume and cover letter writing
- job interview skills
- job search strategies
- job loss
Career Consultants are results-oriented, working with you in a collaborative and confidential relationship. They can act as a sounding board and will assist you through the career planning and development process or career transitions.
CAREER CONSULTING FORMAT
At the Office of Career Planning, career consulting tends to follow this format:1. Introduction
In your first meeting, your Career Consultant will introduce you to the process, and you give the Career Consultant information about what you hope to achieve from the career planning process. You may be asked to give some background about your work and educational history as well as share your thoughts for the future. You should also feel free to ask any questions you may have about the process.
2. Self-Assessment
This step involves exploring and evaluating your competencies, values, personality preferences, and interests. Self assessment is an invaluable tool for you to discover your preferred working style, your values, how you make decisions, what transferable skills you possess, and careers you might enjoy. You may answer a series of questionnaires to assist in the self-assessment process.
3. Researching and Setting Career Goals
Self-knowledge provides you with the information to begin decision making concerning career choices. This is when you begin analyzing what careers and companies best fit your needs. You can work with the Career Advisor to find resources to begin your research and set specific goals.
4. Action Plan
Once your career goals are established, an action plan lists the steps necessary to fulfill your goals. These steps can take the form of additional coursework, internships, additional responsibilities at work, feedback meetings with your supervisor, or informational interviews. This process allows you to convert your research, self-assessments, and discussions with your Career Consultant into action.
The process requires time and energy, and is a partnership between you and your Career Consultant. The Office of Career Planning can supply you with the tools to manage your career, but its most important role is to facilitate your becoming self-reliant.
Log into GGU Careers to set up an appointment with a Career Consultant.
The Office of Career Planning conducts in-person, interactive seminars throughout the year on a variety of career related topics. Our seminars range from basic to advanced levels, and several are designed especially for international students.
Seminar participants can expect to learn how to:
- write and update resumes and cover letters that are customized to specific jobs and employers
- conduct a strategic job or internship search
- network professionally, both in-person and online
- use effective interview techniques
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
A worksite opportunity and hands-on experience allowing you to apply classroom learning and develop skills/knowledge in a particular field or profession.
An internship should:
- Build your resume
- Help you decide on a job function or career path
- Apply classroom theories to real life situations
The internship must represent a new and expanded learning experience. It should not be work you have already done or are currently doing. It also should be directly related to your major and/or career goal.
An internship is not a job. Internships can be unpaid and they are generally designed to give you experience in a new job function or gain new skills. Pay should not be the primary motivation. Your supervisor is there to train and teach you, and should have significant experience in your field of study.
Internships can be full time or part time and last up to 16 weeks. Internships typically begin the second week of September, January, and May. However, you can begin an internship at any time during the trimester. For more information about Internship program requirements, download the Internship Program Handout.
HOW DO I FIND AN INTERNSHIP?
GGUCareers has many internship opportunities, both for-credit and not-for-credit. You can also create your own internship by networking with employers. Consider attending a Professional Development Seminar for resume, cover letter, interview, and job search tips. Or browse our Step by Step Guide to Getting an Internship You can also make an appointment with a Career Advisor to discuss your internship search by logging into GGU Careers and clicking on the Career Advising Appointments shortcut on the right hand side of the page.
Industry Networking Nights
The Office of Career Planning hosts several industry-specific nights throughout the semester, which includes a panel presentation followed by networking with other students, alumni, employers and faculty. Visit GGU Careers for upcoming events.
GGU'S LINKEDIN GROUPS
Golden Gate University Group
GGU's official "members-only" group on the popular professional networking site, LinkedIn. By joining GGU's LinkedIn group, you can view a list of other group members and access tools that facilitate connecting with former or current GGU colleagues, classmates ans and faculty. Please be sure to note your affiliation with GGU in your profile in order to join the group.
Golden Gate University Employer Connect Group
In addition to the general GGU group, students can connect with employers through the 'members-only' employer connect group. All students and alumni must note their affiliation with GGU in their profile in order to join.
Tips and best practices to get you started with LinkedIn:
ALUMNI CAREER NETWORK
The Office of Career Planning, Law Career Services, and Alumni Services partnered to launch GGU's Alumni Career Network, a networking tool within GGU's online alumni directory, AlumniConnect.
The Alumni Career Network allows students and alumni to:
- Connect with students and other alumni to discuss your profession and share industry knowledge through informational meetings.
- Speak on campus: Alumni interested in coming to speak on campus about their careers and industry trends may log into GGU AlumniConnect and update their profile by checking the box next to 'Alumni Career Network'.
GGU ALUMNI EVENTS
Reach out to your fellow alumni in person. Attend one of the many Alumni events held throughout the Bay Area.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Professional associations are groups of people who are looking to advance their field or industry. Professional associations can provide excellent training and networking opportunities for those who are involved. Many have student memberships available and offer local professional development events to members.
Log Into GGU Careers to Access These Resources
CAREERBEAM
Our virtual career success center provides the best company and industry research databases, career assessments, professional resume and cover letter builders and search strategy resources.
INTERVIEWSTREAM
An online interview practice tool. All you need is your computer, an internet connection, a webcam and a microphone. The software is preloaded with hundreds of the most popular interview questions. You can record your answers and send them to anyone you like for feedback.
VAULT CAREER INSIDER
Insider information on a multitude of industries, employers, and occupations. Download guides that have hundreds of pages of information on topics including Top 50 Accounting Employers, Guide to the Consulting Industry, and Guide to Sales and Trading.
JIBBERJOBBER
Video tutorials on topics including how to effectively use LinkedIn, Informational Interviews, Blogs, Job Boards, and Twitter to get a job.