Career Center staff have compiled extensive resources for students and alumni on a range of career topics and industries. These are meant to be research tools and are not necessarily endorsements of any organizations, websites, or individuals.
- RESUME & COVER LETTER
A professional, updated resume and cover letter are essential to any job search, whether it be a part-time or on-campus job, internship, freelance, or full-time opportunity. Your resume and cover letter are intended to help you land an interview – it’s a crucial first impression.
There are standards and best practices the Career Center teaches students to ensure they stand out as excellent candidates in any search. It’s never too early to meet with us for a resume review. Start early and you’ll be prepared for opportunities whenever they arise.
GETTING STARTED
1. Review our Resume & Cover Letter Resources (must be logged into Handshake to view) for detailed instructions, advice, and examples for writing your resume and cover letter.
2. Meet with a Peer Coach to create your first draft.
3. Make an appointment with a Career Advisor to fine-tune or tailor your resume for your internship or job search.
TOP TIPS
- Always send a tailored cover letter, even if the job posting does not ask for it. This is a critical opportunity for you to tell your story.
- Never use a resume template! They are difficult to update, may lead to your resume looking identical to another candidate, and often suggest bad advice, such as including your photo.
- Create your resume in a word processing program only (Google Doc, MS Word, etc), and then save it as a PDF before submitting.
- Graphics software like Adobe or Canva, even when saved as a PDF, are difficult for resume-scanning software to scan for keywords – something hiring managers use frequently, plus they are difficult to update frequently.
- No photos, headshots, or other images on your resume.
- Exception: graphic designers should include a professional logo they’ve created for themselves.
- Black text only – no colors. These can be difficult to read on screen or in print or can look unprofessional.
- One page—until you have been in the workforce for a several years after graduation, you should keep your resume to one page. (Work with a Career Advisor if you’re having trouble making it fit!)
- Always tailor your resume for each role you’re applying for—reorganize information, add or remove details based on relevance, and use keywords from the job description
- INTERNSHIP SEARCH
Internships may range from entry-level to more skilled, in-depth experiences. The success of your search depends on timing, strategy, and preparation. We recommend you begin searching for an internship a semester or two before plan to intern. Students often need to apply to several opportunities before they secure one.
TOP TIPS:
Get Started Early
- Start working with the Career Center your first semester at Columbia.
- Gain experience to put on your resume by participating in student organizations, volunteering on student projects or at non-profits, and working part-time on campus or off campus
Prepare Materials:
- Start working on your resume and cover letter well in advance—have them reviewed by a Peer Coach
- Develop your work and create a portfolio if necessary (not all internships require a portfolio).
Search Strategies:
- Work with your Career Advisor to think about what you want to learn and where you want to work, developing a strategy for your search.
- Keep a list of organizations that interest you as your own internship opportunity list; add names and contact information for these if you can find it.
Start Networking:
- Talk with faculty, friends, and family about your internship interests so they can share any leads.
- Create a LinkedIn profile that is geared towards the type of work you want to – work with the Career Center to get help on your profile!
- Attend Career Center industry events – fairs, panels, portfolio reviews and more!
Landing the Internship:
- Always send a cover letter when you apply, even if it is not requested.
- Practice interviewing with your Career Advisor.
- Always send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview.
- Follow up via email with the interviewer about a week or two later, unless you've been told otherwise. Consult your Career Advisor for specific advice.
Remember to register your internship with Columbia College and get credit!
WHERE TO SEARCH
- Handshake is one place to search for a range of internships, but it should not be the only place you look
- A few sites to find internships:
- RESOURCES BY MAJOR
- Log into Handshake to see Industry-Specific Resources for each major. *You must be logged into Handshake to access the links below.
- Animation, Illustration, CGI and VFX
- Audio & Acoustics
- Business & Entrepreneurship Management
- Communications & Journalism
- Dance
- Fashion
- Film & Television
- Fine Art
- Game Art & Design
- Graphic Design, Interaction Design, UX/UI
- Interior Architecture
- Music Business & Management
- Music Performance & DJing
- Photography
- Radio
- Theater & Voiceover
- Writing & Publishing
- Log into Handshake to see Industry-Specific Resources for each major. *You must be logged into Handshake to access the links below.
- INTERVIEWING
Congratulations! Your resume landed you the interview--your challenge now is to tell your story in an engaging and professional manner, showing your interviewer that you are right for the job. Remember, the interview process starts long before you walk in the door. Think of interviewing as a three step process:
1. Prepare: Do your homework--research the company and know yourself well. Be able to articulate your strengths, interests, your short- and long-term goals. Practice as much as possible before the interview and have insightful questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. Schedule a mock interview with a Career Advisor!
2. Interview: This is your opportunity to show that you not only have the qualifications to do the job, but that you are enthusiastic and stand out from other candidates. A good interview is less of an interrogation and more of a conversation. Be ready to communicate a strong message about your skills and work style, citing examples from past experiences.
3. Follow-up: Make notes after your conversation, and always send a professional thank-you note to everyone you met with that day. Emails are fine, but a hand-written note truly stands out. Keep it brief, but be sure to include a mention of something you discussed to show you are tailoring this note for them. *DON'T send your thank-you note from the elevator as you're leaving the interview -- this shows you had something generic already prepared!
The Interview
Do…
Create connections between your past experience and the position you are applying to. How have they prepared you for this job?
Take a moment to consider what the interviewer is asking, and to ask for clarification if needed.
Prove it- Always give a concrete example of what you’re talking about. Anyone can say they are hard-working, or work well under pressure.
Stay focused. Tie everything in to the job, and try to keep your answers clear and structured.
Maintain eye contact and watch your body language.
Dress professionally- for most Columbia students a suit would not be expected (and may look out of place), but you should still look polished and professional. See the links below for a helpful guide to creative interview attire.
Ask about the timeline for making a decision. Then you know at what point you should follow up.
Don’t…
Give one word answers or say “I don’t know.” DO take a moment if you feel stumped, but always give a response.
Speak badly of a former supervisor, coworker, or job. They may wonder if personality conflicts will be an issue in the future.
Give clichéd answers. Don’t say that your biggest weakness is that you care too much, or work too hard. This will be transparent. Responses should be you, but polished.
Ask about salary. This is seen as presumptuous and should wait until you have an offer.
Talk excessively! You should be doing most of the talking, but avoid taking over the interview--demonstrate your listening and conversational skills.
Behavioral Interviewing
Behavioral Interviewing is a common approach that invites applicants to tell the story of their past successes to demonstrate potential future success. These questions will be phrased in the form of “tell me about a time,” or “describe a situation…” You will need to give strong, concrete examples, and be sure that your responses are structured in a strong manner.
Talking About Your Work
If you are in a visual arts field (photography, graphic design, etc), your portfolio presentation IS your interview. Be prepared to discuss your work – what you’re proud of, what inspires you, how you approached certain pieces, and where you want to take your work next. Consider scheduling with a Career Center staff member to get experience talking about your work.
Even if a portfolio is not required for your industry, it can be helpful to bring samples of your work with you to the interview. Introduce them at a natural point in the conversation or offer to leave them behind- either way, only bring your best work along. It can be icing on the cake if it’s good, but be sure everything is polished and brief.