For Students

Career Learning Lab: Empowering Students and Alumni for Success

The Career Learning Lab provides a variety of career development services designed to support students and alumni in their professional growth. Our resources and programs help individuals build essential skills, explore career paths, and connect with employers. Whether you’re seeking career guidance, resume and interview preparation, or networking opportunities, we are here to assist you. See below for more details on our services.

The Career Learning Lab staff provides personalized support to help students and alumni explore career options, develop job or internship search plans, and address career-related concerns. Drop-In sessions timings can be viewed here.

 

 

If networking is the most important tool to a successful job search or career advancement, your resume is your professional calling card.  It is a critical tool to ensuring that your application is pulled to the top of the candidate pool.  We encourage all students to develop a resume as soon as they arrive at John Jay College, and you should always attach a cover letter to that resume.  To that end, our staff is always available through drop-in sessions to review, edit, and suggest revisions to your resume or cover letters. Drop-In sessions timings can be viewed here.

Internships provide valuable work experience, helping you build a strong professional resume and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Managed by the Career Learning Lab, internships allow you to explore career paths, validate your choices, and assess your strengths and weaknesses before graduation. They offer opportunities to gain real-world experience, enhance your marketability, expand your professional network, and potentially secure employment. Internships may be completed for academic credit through John Jay courses, paid opportunities, or as unpaid pre-professional experience. 

  • Learn more about internships available through John Jay by logging in to Handshake or asking your professors.
  • To earn credit for your internship, contact the Career Learning Lab to see if you're eligible. 

The Career Learning Lab offers a regular workshop series on basic career skills to assist students and alumni in finding success.  These workshops cover a range of topics including basic resume and cover-letter writing, interview skills, professional networking, job and internship searching, and dressing for success.  To view our calendar, log on to Handshake where you can view and RSVP for as many workshops as you’d like to attend!

The Career Learning Lab maintains connections with over 4400 employers ranging from federal, state, and local agencies to community-based nonprofits to large, private corporations.  Many times, throughout the semester, these employers will come to campus and speak with groups of students about their organization, the recruitment requirements, and advancement opportunities. These information sessions are a wonderful opportunity for you to find out more about the various employers that regularly hire John Jay graduates!

Throughout the fall and spring academic terms, the Career Learning Lab will hold special events devoted to your career exploration featuring alumni and employers who will speak about the issues, needs, and requirements relevant to their industries.  Whether you are still thinking about what jobs you’re interested in or are certain of your next step, these events will provide the information and opportunity to network that will be critical to your success!  These events are listed on our calendar on Handshake. 

The Career Learning Lab at John Jay College hosts CareerCon twice a year (Fall and Spring Semesters), a three-day event designed to help students identify internships and full-time job opportunities that align with their academic and career goals. Students connect with employers from various sectors (government, non-profit, private) and industries (consulting, education, finance, healthcare, media, tech, etc.). The event features panels, information sessions, tabling, and “speed-dating” style workshops, where students can gain insights on the skills, academic qualifications, and certifications needed to succeed in today’s job market.

Graduate and professional schools often vary in terms of academics, faculty, students, location, costs, and admission processes. Finding the right program is very important. Our staff will help you sort through various information and assist you with each step of the application process, which includes helping you with GRE, GMAT, and MAT preparation. Students interested in law school will be referred to the Pre-Law Institute and students interested in medical school will be referred to the Department of Sciences.

A fellowship is a great way to deepen your understanding of how theory relates to practice while gaining a strong supportive network. They are highly selective specialized programs that support small cohorts of students and introduce them to rigorous academic and practical challenges. A fellowship can be a steppingstone into a career since student fellows are exposed to many networking opportunities and are sought by recruiting employers. These are usually paid opportunities that can range from a one- to three-year commitment. They also often have a course or credit associated with the program.

  • You can also receive notifications and updates of available fellowships by subscribing to the fellowship's lists.

On-campus leadership experiences are a great way to demonstrate to future employers your ability to take on and be trusted with high-level responsibilities. With most roles, you will develop a range of important skills such as time management, public speaking, team management, and event planning. They are great for busy students because of the work schedule flexibility and the networking opportunities that come with working on campus.

Here are a few to get started in your search:

Engaging in advanced research opportunities is an excellent way to distinguish yourself in applications, whether for graduate school or professional careers. Research helps you develop valuable skills like analyzing and applying findings, while also deepening your knowledge in a specific area of interest—providing great material for interviews. Opportunities can be paid or unpaid, potentially for course credit, and vary in time commitment.

To get started:

• Visit the Office of Research and Creativity or explore the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM).

• Speak with professors about your interest in research, as they may be conducting projects and looking for student involvement.

Contact Us

For any questions, please reach out to us. You can contact the Career Learning Lab by emailing careers@jjay.cuny.edu or calling (212) 237-8754. We look forward to working with you!