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Your choice of major does not lock you into a particular career path, but rather opens up a broad array of careers! Check out the . After you have the basics from the module, our career counselors can help you create an individualized action plan for clarifying interests, skills, and values, then connect those to particular majors or careers. We can also help you set goals for your time at Cornell, show you resources and help you develop a strategy for your job search. .

Meeting new people, getting to know them, and learning from people you already know is part of what you do every day. In the professional world, this is called networking. Networking should be an on-going process that is an effective way to learn about career options and gather advice for achieving your goals. Check out the  to learn the basics, and once you’re ready, explore the networking opportunities listed below.

 for more information about ways to connect with alumni for informational interviews.

Career Conversations

A&S Career Development regularly offers “Career Conversations” for students to interact with alumni in small groups. During these sessions students can learn about career paths directly from Cornell alumni and ask questions.  for “Career Conversation” to find upcoming events.

Office Hours

A&S Career Development hosts a variety of alumni, parents, recruiters, and friends throughout the year for one-on-one Office Hours. These sessions are meant to provide career insight and guidance, including resume and cover letter reviews. The dates and times vary throughout the semester, as do the career fields of interest. Students can register for . Office Hours will be posted as a “Job”—search for “A&S Office Hours” in the  to find upcoming events.

Career Connections Committee Networking Events

During winter and summer breaks, A&S alumni offer events in NYC and DC for A&S students to meet alumni and learn about careers. Winter events are aimed at students who are still exploring options and often consist of panels, information sessions or treks/tours. Summer events are aimed at students with some experience in a particular field and are typically evening networking receptions. Event dates are typically announced in November for Winter and May for Summer events. Students should look for them on Handshake and register there. Learn more about ASCCC winter and summer break events >

These events are sponsored by the Arts & �鶹��Ƶ Career Connections Committee, Arts & �鶹��Ƶ Career Development and Arts & �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Affairs & Development.

**Funding for students to travel to ASCCC events is available for Arts & �鶹��Ƶ students. Applications for funding are due early to mid-December. Awards will be made on a rolling basis.

Munschauer Career Series

The Munschauer Career Series was endowed by the former director of the Cornell University Career Center, John Munschauer, to provide funds for A&S graduates to return to campus to benefit students' career education. This annual program allows students to learn from alumni of note about a specific occupational field, individual career paths, and the choices one makes over the course of a career.

Past Munschauer speakers have included:

• Will Gluck '93, film director
• Jeff Zalaznick, Psychology '05, founder of Major Food Group restaurants
• Natalie Bridgeman Fields, Government '99, Founder and Executive Director of Accountability Counsel
• Jeffrey Gettleman, Philosophy ’94, East Africa bureau chief for The New York Times
• Dan Cohen, Psychology ’05, Executive Producer of Stranger Things and Arrival
• Eliot Kang, Government ’84, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security & Nonproliferation, US Department of State
• Joe Brown, English ‘02, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science magazine.

Other Opportunities to Network with Alumni Include:

• Make a  account
• Apply for the 
• Attend 
• Register for 
• Attend  
• Join the 
• Join  to meet Ivy alumni at events across the country.
• Attend 
• Attend Cornell Department Lectures & Receptions – find events on department websites and the Cornell University Events Calendar

Professional documents include resumes, cover letters, personal statements and other professional correspondence (such as thank you emails and follow up emails). Frequently, these documents offer your first impression to a potential employer. Resumes give recruiters a quick overview of your academic and career background; cover letters can help you secure an interview; and other correspondence (thank you letters, follow up, etc) can open doors to future opportunities. Knowing how to write these important documents will be extremely beneficial throughout your career. Check out the Canvas modules for  (includes cover letters and other correspondence) to get started. Once you have document(s) drafted, we welcome you to schedule an and/or a  

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

Personal statements provide a similar role in the graduate school admissions process that the cover letter does in the job search process. Personal statements are your chance to show your interest in a graduate field and program. It will tell the admissions committee about yourself, your experiences, and how they relate to your chosen career field. In your personal statement, you should talk about your long and short term career goals and how the graduate program will help you accomplish them.

The personal statement and statement of purpose are very similar. Both want you to write about the particular program and why you want to apply there, and why you want to study that field and go to grad school at all. In a statement of purpose, you would talk more about the research you want to do/projects you want to work on, and in a personal statement, it is more about why you want to study that discipline and your motivation for applying to grad school. The important thing is to read the directions each school gives you though, and answer it using their prompts. Research the school and give specifics about what makes that school right for you. They want to know why you are applying to their school, not just this kind of program. For many research-based programs (especially PhD programs), they want you to name the specific professor(s) with which you would like to work.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTS

Along with resumes, cover letters, and notes mentioned above, you may also be asked to provide writing samples, transcripts, faculty recommendations, or a portfolio of your art and design work. You can keep track of these documents through a credential service such as  or by creating a folder on your computer specifically for these documents.

ETIQUETTE & METHODS

These tips are true regardless of the correspondence you are writing:

• Proofread everything, no matter how short.
• Use a professional e-mail address
• Make certain that attachments have a relevant title.
• Be sure to have an appropriate greeting and closing in emails.
• Include a subject line in emails.
• Always follow through on what you said you would do.
• When deciding the best way to contact someone, approach with formality. Email and phone are both good ways to start, but don’t text, instant message, or friend someone you don’t know. Use titles (Mr., Ms., or Dr.) and avoid slang or abbreviations. If you have a mutual connection, ask to be introduced.

The search process includes a number of steps from exploring your exploring your interests and their related fields to identifying specific jobs/internships to apply to. In between the exploration and the application is researching the field and identifying companies of interest. Check out the  for support on how to kick off your search and strategies for success. After you have the basics from the module, our career counselors can help you create an individualized action plan for reaching your goals. .

An interview is your chance to shine and elaborate on the experiences that prepare you for the goal you're seeking. The interviewer will ask about your qualifications in relation to a specific position. There are different types of interviews depending on the industry and stage of the interview process. Check out the  to get a basic overview of what to expect when interviewing for jobs/internships. Once you've got the basics and are ready to get some practice, we welcome you to . We offer practice behavioral and case interviews.

• Case interviews are commonly used for consulting jobs and case questions are sometimes used for interviews in other fields such as marketing. It takes practice to answer these questions well – we’re happy to help you practice. . Here are some case interview preparation resources:

1.  walks you through cases and brain teasers
2. Websites for consulting firms often have prep materials (Ex., , , , , , , and )
5.  - They have a "Free Resources" tab too

• Technical interviews are common for jobs in financial services and in computer science. Students can practice technical skills for CS interviews at sites like , , , or . The College of Engineering Career Services offers technical interviews for students in all colleges. 

Cornell attracts students and scholars from all over the world. As of fall 2019, our student population included 5,560 international students from 117 different countries. International students make up nearly 50% of the graduate student population and almost 24% of the entire student population on campus. Cornell Career Services distributes the  to  help you stay up-to-date with events and job opportunities. Check out the .

Career Fairs are a great way to connect with a variety of employers, learn about available opportunities, and get your resume in the hands of recruiters. At Cornell, there are multiple fairs hosted throughout the year, some general and some industry specific. Be sure to check Handshake for the most up to date information about upcoming fairs and the employers who will be present. 

Preparing to attend a fair is very important! Check out the  for tips and resources on preparing yourself for a successful career fair!