You’ve built the skills—now take the next step with confidence.
For Fourth-Year Seniors • Second-Year Transfer • Second-Year Graduate Students
This step prepares you to confidently launch your career or continue your education. From completing your final experiences to securing job or school offers, you’ll wrap up college with momentum—and a plan.
What To Do
Open each item to find links, tools, and support to help you take action.
- Attend events labeled as employer info, hiring, or career fair on the Handshake Events tab to connect with recruiters hiring Cal State LA students.
- Dress professionally to make a strong impression; visit the Career Clothing Closet for support.
- Be ready to professionally introduce yourself; use our
Professional Brand Worksheet & Professional Brand Review Checklist Professional Brand Worksheet & Professional Brand Review Checklist Professional Brand Worksheet & Professional Brand Review Checklist Professional Brand Worksheet & Professional Brand Review Checklist - After attending an event, take the next step—connect with employers on Handshake.
- Go to the Employers tab in Handshake and use the industry filter to search by your interest, such as movies/TV/music/gaming, social assistance, biotech & life sciences, or healthcare.
- Follow employers you are interested in to get updates when they post jobs or career events.
- Add class projects to your résumé, online profiles, and portfolios to show clear evidence of the skills you gained in your studies; see how with our College Résumé Sample.
- Complete certifications for in-demand skills, such as Applying Generative AI as a Business Professional, Learning Excel: Data Analysis, and Project Management Foundations. Sign in with your Cal State LA LinkedIn Learning account. Upon completion, add the certifications to your résumé.
- Do Career Experiences with Forage to build skills through virtual job simulations provided by top companies. Completions can be added to your résumé.
- Review the Credential Value Index to evaluate which credentials, from certifications to bootcamps to professional courses, can move your career forward.
- Apply early — start actively searching 6 months before graduation.
- Use Handshake to find full-time jobs with employers hiring Cal State LA students.
- Don’t count yourself out if you don’t meet 100% of the job qualifications — focus on the job duties. If the role interests you and you have related experience, you may be a great fit.
- If you don't know which jobs interest you, use What Can I Do with This Major, explore Careers in Los Angeles by Industry, try out Career Experiences with Forage, or take our Focus2 Career Assessment to explore your options first.
Start with our Cover Letter Guide and use our samples in our Résumé and Letter Builder. Start with our Cover Letter Guide and use our samples in our Résumé and Letter Builder. Start with our Use our College Résumé Sample in our Résumé & Letter Builder to customize your résumé for each opportunity.Cover Letter Guide - Inside the builder, get feedback using the "AI review" feature or "submit for human review" feature to get feedback from approved Career Center staff.
- For more information about résumé sections and formatting, read our College Résumé Guide.
- Start with our Cover Letter Guide and use our samples in our Résumé & Letter Builder to customize your cover letter for each opportunity.
- Inside the builder, get feedback using the AI cover letter rubric and alignment assessment to make sure your cover letter matches the job, or "submit for human review" feature to get feedback from approved Career Center staff.
- Use our Interview Practice System → choose a mock interview → select a general one and choose an industry or admissions interview to practice.
- Inside the practice system, get feedback using the AI review feature, which provides you with insightful, step-by-step tips on how to improve your interview performance.
- Visit the Career Clothing Closet to dress professionally for your major.
We’re Here to Help
Career Guides
Get Support
Schedule a Career Center appointment through Navigate LA (Student Life & Wellness) for:
- Job/Internship Search
- Résumé & Cover Letter Writing
- Interview Practice
- Career Clothing Closet
Call: 323.343.3237
Email: [email protected]
Visit: Between the Student Health Center and the University Gym
Hours: M-Th, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.