Internships & Jobs

Whether you choose an internship or a job, having effective search strategies will bring better results.

Search for the Right Opportunities

Recognizing your personal qualities and interests is the first step in discovering a career that is a good fit. Start with self-assessment. Continue by exploring and researching careers and industries that interest you. 

Self Exploration

• Focus 2 – provides valid and reliable assessments including Work Interests-Holland Code, Personality, Values, Skills, Leisure Interests and Career Planning Readiness. Assessment results are matched to supporting majors and career options with over 1000 occupations and up-to-date career information. Register for free using the access code EAGLESLA. Career advisors guide you through the sections of Focus 2 in these instructional videos.
  • Focus 2 Career Planning Foundations (instructional video)
  • Focus 2 Self Assessments (instructional video)
  • Focus 2 Explore the Possibilities (instructional video)
  • Focus 2 Action Plan Portfolio (instructional video)

Career Exploration

• What Can I Do With This Major? – helps you connect general academic majors with careers. You can find an outline of common career areas, typical employers and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities.
• Handshake Career Pathways - helps you to explore career possibilities by industry and lists currently available jobs and internships in those areas. Learn about roles and find ones that are right for you using the guide Explore Career Paths for College Students on Handshake.
• Vault Guides to Jobs - provides numerous employer, career, internship, resume, and interviewing guidebooks. Guides cover industries such as law, consulting, investment banking, accounting, investment management, private equity, hedge funds, Internet and social media, IT and engineering, energy, health care, advertising, and more. The Vault channel provides videos that support the guides.

How to Find Opportunities

Get started by networking and connecting with employers. Don't forget to enhance your resume, cover letter and interview skills for success in the job search.

• Grow Your Network (website)
• Virtual Job and Internship Searching During Social Distancing (presentation) / (Virtual Search Distancing Word version)
• Job Searching While Social Distancing (website)
• Job Search Strategies (handout)
• Employment Alerts to Avoid Scams (handout)
• Employment Guidelines for International Students (website)

Where to Find Opportunities

• Handshake (job board) – A Cal State LA career site where employers recruit college students and recent grads. Use it to search for internships and jobs. Create your free account today. (Returning user access).
• Employers by Major - discover, research, and network with thousands of potential employers in California for 150+ majors.
• Employer Info Sessions - The Career Center regularly hosts employer info sessions. These are great opportunities to hear from employers from a diverse range of industries and get tips on how to apply for their positions. You can find employer events on Handshake.
• Networking Events and Conferences - These are great opportunities to meet employers, build relationships and gather information. You can find networking events on Handshake and professional associations also host conferences for networking.
• Virtual Career Fairs - The Career Center hosts career fairs in the fall and spring where you can meet employers who are hiring. You can find career fairs on Handshake.

About Career Fairs

Virtual Career Fairs (handout)