Parents and families of students are a vital part of the Columbia community. Your support is integral to your student’s success, and we appreciate everything you invest in it.

The Career Center offers extensive career support for students and alumni. We invite families to explore this page and our website to learn about and better understand the comprehensive resources available to students and alumni as they grow professionally. Visit the Students tab in the left-hand menu for more information on our services.

Want to help your student take advantage of our one-on-one advising? We appreciate families making the connection to the Career Center if their student is in need of support. However, career advising sessions are for the student and advisor only. If a parent wishes to learn more about how we will support their student, we are happy to share more information.

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to learn about our events, programs, and student success stories! 

  • Career Advising 

    Our team of experienced Career Advisors are available to meet in person or virtually to assist students and recent grads with a range of career topics:

    •  Career exploration, planning, and goal-setting
    • Resume and cover letter writing
    • Job and internship search
    • Interview preparation
    • Portfolio development
    • Internship for Credit Program
    • Networking
    • Evaluating job offers
    • Salary negotiation
    • On-campus student employment
    • Using Handshake online career platform
    • Networking tips
    • Preparing for career fairs or other on-campus recruiting
    • Applying to grants, residencies, exhibitions or other art opportunities
    • Graduate school search and application
    • Freelancing and starting a business
    • any other career or professional related questions
  • Workshops and Events 

    The Career Center hosts a wide range of career events throughout the year that are intended to provide students with important networking and recruitment opportunities, cutting-edge career education, and unique learning and community-building experiences. These include career fairs, workshops, alumni and industry panels, networking events and mixers, company presentations, portfolio reviews, and on-campus interviewing. All events are free and open to all students. Alumni are welcome at all events unless otherwise specified.

    Follow us on Instagram @columcareer to see some of our recent and upcoming events.

    Some past events include:

    Workshops on:  

    • On-Campus Job Search
    • Finding an Internship
    • LinkedIn for Job Search Success
    • Portfolio Preparation: Getting Started
    • Using AI in your Job Search
    • Creating Your Portfolio: Interactive Workshop for Visual Artists
    • How to Get on Set
    • International Student Internship Info Session
    • Applying to Grants, Fellowships & Residencies
    • Building Your Website and Online Portfolio
    • Career Fair Preparation 

    Panels, Career Fairs, & Special Events: 

    • Audio and Music Career Fair
    • Photography Portfolio Review
    • Don’t Worry, I Was in Your Shoes:Recent Graduate Career Panel
    • Chicago Works: Commercial Production Connections
    • Careers in the Arts Panel Discussion
    • Communication, Design, & Business/Entrepreneurship Career Fair
    • How to Collaborate: Conversations and Connections in Fashion and Photography
    • Publishing Career Panel Discussion
    • Cultural Opportunities & Diversity Expo
    • Fashion Career Fair
    • Breaking Into Film Panel Discussion
    • Creating Comics with Nathan Fox, co-creator of Haunt and The Weatherman
    • Women in Entrepreneurship panel presented with Student Diversity and Inclusion

    Industry Presentations and Recruiting: 

    • Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Latino
    • Ox-Bow School of Art & Artist's Residency
    • Kohl’s
    • Nickelodeon Animation
    • NETworks Broadway Touring Production
    • Stewart Talent Agency
    • CyberConnect2, Makers of Dragon Ball Z: Recruiter's Presentation
    • Live Nation
    • Harper's Magazine: An Art Director's Tips for Illustrators, Artists, & Photographers
    • NETworks Broadway Touring Presentations Recruiter's Presentation
  • Resources 

    Career Center staff have compiled extensive resources for students and alumni on a range of career topics and industries. From resources for jobseekers of different identities and needs, to comprehensive industry resources for all Columbia areas of study, they are updated regularly and availble online 24/7 for students and alumni around the world.

    Visit our Resources section. 

  • Internships 

    At Columbia, we are focused on preparing students for the world of work, and internships are an important part of that preparation. An internship is an educational, experiential opportunity that provides hands-on training and industry experience. It integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Most industries expect candidates for entry-level jobs to have had one or more internships during or directly following college. It is a vital experience that helps students prepare to be competitive jobseekers upon graduation.

    Studies show that students who do an internship during college have greater ease in obtaining and job and earn higher salaries after graduation. We are committed to ensuring all our students have access to these important opportunities. Students can obtain academic credit for their internship, and we offer a range of credit hours to meet students’ varying curricular needs.

    We also offer scholarship awards for select students who have an unpaid internship for credit. Application is required and awardees are selected based on the quality of their application.

    Why is an internship important?

    • Can lead to better job outcomes post-graduation
    • Builds up their resume
    • Offers the chance to learn directly from professionals in their creative industry
    • Helps students make valuable connections and build their network
    • Exposes students to new fields and job markets
    • Makes them competitive applicants—most employers expect 1-3 internships in school
    • Allows students the chance to test their interests and find out what they like (and don’t like!)

    Learn more in our Internships section.

  • On-Campus Student Employment 

    Columbia connects students to meaningful opportunities to develop and enhance professional and academic goals through a wide range of on-campus jobs, on-campus internships, and graduate student positions. Federal Work Study (FWS) and non-Federal Work Study positions are available.

    While working on campus, students earn an income, which can help defray their educational costs and build knowledge and skill sets. On-campus employment also offers opportunities to build stronger connections with the Columbia community, which can help increase retention. All on-campus student positions are posted on our job board, Handshake.

    Learn more at our On-Campus Student Employment page.