Career Course Resources
Online Career Tools
We provide self-guided online software to support students with each step of career planning. Faculty and staff can create a student account to view the tools and choose activities for class or advising activities. Some software allows for a faculty account so you can design assignments. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Self-Assessments
Focus 2 Career is an online, self-guided assessment service that provides valid and reliable assessments including the Holland code (work interest), MBTI types (personality), values and abilities. Each assessment takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Students can combine their assessment results and explore career options and academic majors that align with their qualities. Career options provided are limited to the approximately 867 detailed occupations defined by the Standard Occupational Classification system. For help getting started, watch our instructional videos on How to Use the sections of Focus 2 Career.
Create your free student account using the access code: EAGLESLA
Career Exploration
What Can I Do With This Major? helps students see common career areas they can enter with the major, typical employers that hire in this field and strategies to maximize career opportunities. The majors listed are general academic majors named by CIP code designation.
View: What Can I Do With This Major
Vault Guide to Jobs includes industry guides, ranking guides and guides to key careers and industries.
Employers by Major lists employers in California who have hired grads within the major.
Career Conversations
Candid Career provides video interviews with professionals in their careers. Students can explore career videos by industry, major, career titles and more.
Career Advice Videos
CareerSpots videos provide career advice from industry experts. Channels include career-ready skills, job-search skills and student success stories.
Résumé and Letter Builder
SkillsFirst is an online résumé and letter-building software. It provides résumé templates and samples for various job titles and experience levels. Employment letter samples are also available including early and experienced professional cover letters, interview thank-you letters and reference request letters. Career advice video lessons are also available. For help getting started, watch this video on Getting Started with the SkillsFirst Résumé and Letter Builder.
Job Interview Practice
Big Interview is an online job interview preparation system that allows students to do mock interviews and receive AI-based feedback. Students can practice interviews in their industry/major and for advanced education admissions. Lessons are also provided.
Employment Postings
Cal State LA Handshake is the campus job platform that connects students with student jobs on campus, off-campus part-time jobs, internships and entry-level careers. Employers hiring on Handshake are looking to hire Golden Eagles. In addition to employment, students can register for employer information sessions and career fairs. They can share their career profiles and network with peers and employers. For more about Handshake, watch their Campus to Career video and the How to Search for Jobs on Handshake video.
Create your free student account using your Cal State LA email.
Job Search Tracker
The Career Center provides an online job search tracking software called Huntr. This tool helps students organize their job search by tracking every detail about your job opportunities regardless of where you found them. Track contacts, notes, dates, tasks, documents, job descriptions, salaries, locations, company data and more. Students can add jobs across the internet using the Chrome browser and the Huntr Chrome Extension. For help getting started watch this video on Introducing Huntr Job Search Tracker and review the Huntr Job Seeker Guide.
Course Materials
We provide handouts and rubrics for the content shared in our student career workshops. You are welcome to use these instructional materials in your course. If you have questions, please email [email protected] for support.
Career Competencies & The Future of Work
- What is Career Readiness? (defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers)
- Why Adopting an Agile Learning Mindset is Crucial for Your Career (Forbes Careers Contributor Heather E. McGowan)
- Context About the Future of Work and Learning (Forbes Careers Contributor Heather E. McGowan)
- The Future of Jobs Report - Section 2.2 Forecasts for Labor Market Evolution in 2020-2025 (World Economic Forum)
- Projected Openings in Occupations that Require a College Degree (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sept 2021)
- Education and Training Assignments by Detailed Occupation (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020)
Career Exploration & Planning
For resources to facilitate major/career exploration and presentations that support the planning documents below, please visit our student resources under Explore Career Paths.
Résumé & Cover Letter Writing
- The College Résumé Annotated Sample
- The College Résumé Rubric
- Résumé Samples
- Résumé Brainstorm Template
- Accomplishment Statement Template
- Cover Letter Guide
- Cover Letter Samples
For presentations that support these documents, please visit our student resources under Résumés & Cover Letters.
Interview Practice
- General Interview M.S.R. Response Template
- Situational Interview A.R.C. Response Template
- Behavioral Interview S.T.A.R. Response Template
For presentations that support these documents, please visit our student resources under Interview Skills.
Employment Search
Having effective search strategies will bring better results for students seeking internships, jobs or nontraditional career pathways. The resources below can help students advance their employment search.
- Presentations and Guides: Employment Search (webpage)
- Cal State LA Handshake Career Community (presentation)
- Find Jobs from Employers Seeking Cal State LA students: Handshake (webpage)
- From Campus to Career on Handshake (introductory Handshake video by Handshake)
- How to Search for Jobs Using Handshake (video by Handshake)
- LinkedIn Job Search Checklist (handout by LinkedIn)
- LinkedIn Profile Checklist for College Students (handout by LinkedIn)
- The American Opportunity Index: Corporate Scorecard of Worker Advancement (website)
- Freelancing in America (comprehensive study)
- Seven Fast-Growing Industries for Freelancers (Forbes article)
Internships
An internship is an off-campus activity that provides real-world exposure to professional development in a business, non-profit or government setting. This opportunity allows students to use and refine the skillsets developed in the classroom. Students also engage firsthand with employers eager to contribute to your career development.
- About Internships and Guides: Internships (webpage)
- How Internships Can Launch Your Future Career (presentation)
- Assessing Internships and Fellowships (presentation)
- Find Internships from Employers Seeking Cal State LA students: Handshake (webpage)
- How to Request Academic Credit (road map)
Student Jobs on Campus
On-campus student jobs are a great way to gain skills and experience in a professional setting. No experience is required to apply to many student positions on campus.
- About Student Jobs on Campus: Find a Job on Campus (website)
- Search Student Jobs on Campus: Handshake (webpage)