Continuing Success after Elmira

Our commitment to you doesn't stop after you graduate. Our career resources at Elmira prepare our alumni for the future ahead. Whether you need help updating your resume and cover letter, practice interviewing, or help with networking or transitioning from one career to the next, Career Services looks forward to helping you build your confidence to take on your next professional challenge. 

 
“I was able to apply what I was learning to real-world situations. ... Those experiences set me up for success in and out of EC.”
—Emma Clegg ’23
 

Career Services Helps You Find Resume-Worthy Experiences 

For undergrads and graduate students alike, sourcing resume-worthy experiences is essential to reaching your career goals after college. We put you one step ahead by incorporating career preparation in our curriculum through a variety of preprofessional options. Two places you can start building a resume are in community engagement and professional internships.

At the Office of Career Services, we're here to help you find the right experiences that help you with your career goals. Handshake and Elmira College AlumniFire are key tools in navigating the internship and job search process. We’re happy to guide you through it!

Two male students and a female student carry a boat above their heads across Eldridge Park during a community service outing

Community Engagement

Community engagement at Elmira College offers learning opportunities, fosters civic responsibility, involves students at the local level, and bolsters Elmira's community. If you're a full-time student, you must complete 60 hours of community engagement with a nearby nonprofit service organization within a 50-mile radius of campus.

A student lays on top of an orca she worked with as part of an internship

Professional Internship

We prioritize professional preparation. As part of Elmira's general education requirements, you are expected to complete field experience through career-related internships and/or research experiences. You can search for internship opportunities in your department to get started.

 

Preprofessional Campus Clubs

Want to build your career skills and engage with your community? Then consider joining a preprofessional club at Elmira! We help you network and build experiential learning before you graduate. 

Three female nursing students smile while sitting at desks

If you're focused on Education, Nursing, or Communication Science, you're in luck! We have preprofessional groups in these programs that will offer you the chance to have real-world training.

Explore Preprofessional Clubs

 

How to Prepare for an Interview

Preparation is key to having a good interview. Here are some important tips to consider when you're speaking to your future boss:

  • Dress the part: Consider the type of company culture you'll be working for. Dress professionally and use common sense when you're choosing your wardrobe and accessories. You can get some starter clothes from our Career Closet — you can find more information about that below.
  • Do your research: Learn about the company and the position you're applying for.
  • Come prepared to talk ... and listen: Think of pertinent questions about the position, company culture, and expectations, and be sure to engage. Be aware of your body language, show enthusiasm, and remember: Part of communicating is knowing how to be a good listener!
  • Be yourself: Try your best to relax and let your personality shine. Employers want to see your authenticity — not just your skills and talents.
  • Follow up: Send a thank-you email after the interview, letting your potential employer know you're grateful for the opportunity.
 

Grad Application Must-Haves

Here are some of our recommended experiences to list on your resume or graduate applications and demonstrate your skills and goals. Expand these options below to learn more about how you can get a promising start.

Research Project

A research project can bolster a graduate school application by demonstrating your skills and critical-thinking abilities and can give you relevant experience in your area of study. A research project that results in publication can also give more weight to your application since it demonstrates your contribution to the academic community.

Pre-Graduate Internship

Students who plan to obtain an advanced degree and qualify for the high standards of graduate study can pursue a pre-graduate school internship. The pre-graduate school internship fulfills the career-related internship requirement. Projects for the pre-graduate school internship may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Original research in the laboratory sciences
  • Building an art portfolio
  • Statistical hypothesis testing and/or model building
  • Interpretation and analysis of the activities of social agencies or businesses
  • Graduate-level scholarship on a historical, literary, or philosophical subject

These experiences are important because they serve as building blocks toward your bigger career goals, helping you to gain knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Thesis or Portfolio

Students who plan to go on to graduate school, into a research field, or into a creative role may work with a faculty member to write an original thesis or produce an original body of work appropriate for their field of study. This thesis or work should result in a significant and appropriate contribution of new ideas or material to the field.

 
A male student looks through a microscope

Read the Graduate School Guide

Need help finding the best colleges and universities that carry your program of interest? This Graduate Guide offers helpful advice and articles.

Open the Guide

 

Stop by the Career Closet

If you need professional clothing to impress at a job fair, interview, or internship, the Career Closet can help you find the right wardrobe. Let the Office of Career Services help you assemble a complete head-to-toe outfit, all while teaching you how to build an affordable, professional wardrobe. And the clothes are yours to keep.

A career counselor helps a visitor in the Career Closet

The Career Closet welcomes donations of clothing. To donate, email Career Services at eccareers@polyamay.com or call (607) 735-1830. You can also support the Career Closet with a monetary donation by visiting rz0.polyamay.com/give, selecting “Other — See Designation Below,” and specifying “Career Closet.”

 

Contact Career Services

Our Office of Career Services wants to help you take advantage of all of these amazing professional opportunities. Get in touch with us, and let's work together to promote the future you’ve been dreaming of!

Reach Out to Career Services

Share This Page