CUI's spring semester is coming to an end next week; May 6 will be the last day of finals. Many students are looking for jobs or intern opportunities this summer after ending the school year. Other students want to make some extra cash or wish to be productive. 

Mariah Lucas is a 2015 Concordia alum; she got her B.A. in Psychology and participated in the Around-the-World Semester. She has been a Concordia employee since 2018 and oversees the Career Center. Lucas's current role is Director of Career Development and Vocation. She will also be launching the College Corps Fellowship program in the 2022-2023 academic year. 

CUI's Career Center offers services like resume reviews, cover letter reviews, career exploration, major exploration, class presentations, workshops and mock interviews. Lucas said, "These services can help students prepare for a career because it's a practical approach and tangible tool to apply to career preparation directly." The mock interviews also help students with questions future employers might ask.

Lucas said, "There are a limited number of on-campus jobs currently available. If a student is looking for off-campus employment for the summer, there are many opportunities available." She added that if students are interested in seeking a job, they should actively be on Handshake's platform which can be accessed through https://cui.joinhandshake.com. 

Lucas said, "Students are able to view on-campus employment opportunities on the Handshake platform. I encourage students to check Handshake regularly if they are interested in on-campus employment for the summer or for the upcoming academic school year." Students returning in the fall of 2022 should keep posted on employment for the academic year because job applications do not open back up once they are full.

Some advice Lucas wants to give students nervous about having a difficult time getting a job after graduation is not to feel discouraged. Lucas said, "The job market can feel stressful to navigate, even for seasoned professionals. It is okay to feel overwhelmed by the process.” 

She also emphasized that application fatigue is real, saying that when you start to feel application fatigue, it can amplify feelings of frustration. "Utilizing a tool like Handshake gives you exposure to employers looking to hire young professionals who have recently graduated. Start there,” Lucas encouraged, “With Handshake, you can upload your completed resume to your profile; it will pull information from your resume to build your profile." 

Lucas also wants to encourage students to consider their network. She said 70-80% of jobs are found through networking. Lucas said, "Think about the people and connections you have made here at Concordia, connections you have back home or anyone you know who works in the field you hope to enter. If you know somebody, don't email them right away asking for a job. It's better to meet with them one-on-one and learn more about the organization or role.”

Another thing you can do is buy prospective employers or mentors coffee and talk about how they entered the field, what they enjoy about the field and what challenges they experienced. Lucas said, "People value being seen or heard. Investing in building relationships is the most effective way to enter into the workforce." 

Along with considering summer employment, Lucas said, "It's important to start thinking about employment now if you're returning in the fall. On campus, employment goes quickly! There can be limited spots that will go fast in the first two weeks of school." She said students should spend this summer updating their Handshake account and resume. Lucas said, "It can feel chaotic in August adjusting to the new academic year. Finding employment can easily be put on the back burner and be forgotten." 

Lucas also drew attention to Concordia’s participation in the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program. “Starting on Sat. April 30, both returning students and incoming students will have access to the College Corps Fellowship application process. If you are interested in participating in the College Corps Fellowship in exchange for $10,000, visit http://cui.edu/caforall. Space is limited and service sites will fill up quickly! For all questions related to the Career Center or College Corps Fellowship, please email careercenter@cui.edu.”

Tags: Careers and Vocation, Advising, development

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