Career Connections

If you are wondering which careers might be a good fit, take a look at these self-assessments to help you discover how your own personality, skills, and interests relate to specific career areas.

You might be worried that you need to decide on a specific, life-long career that will relate directly to your major. It is actually common for recent graduates to start with a job title that does not seem directly related to their long-term career goals, but that initial job could provide foundational skills to move into a different position.

In this modern world of many different career options and post-graduate degrees, discovering what you want to do after graduation and acting on your goals is often a meandering, yet rewarding, journey.

Browse through the following career titles and companies to see some of the different experiences of our alumni who graduated within the last 10 years in your major.

Data compiled from the labor market analytics company EMSI, 2018.

Gaining experience outside of the classroom can give you hands-on practice and might also help you stand out from others who may be competing for the same job.  Even if you are updating skills in a current field, adding further experience might help you stand out.  Find out what areas you need more experience in by reviewing the following chart: Career Readiness

If you have a specific job in mind, consider the following types of experience:

Internships

• Create your profile in Handshake by uploading a current résumé and then filter your search by internships:  Handshake
• Check out these tips from the Career Development Center for creating a strong résumé:  Resume and Cover Letters
• Internships can be paid or unpaid and you may be able to receive academic credit toward your degree or major
  • There are many local companies seeking student interns
  • Internships might lead to a full-time job
    • Take a look at the information on the SIAS website regarding how to receive academic credit:  Internships

Research/Independent study

• One way to broaden your hands-on experience is to create your own project or to help a faculty member with their project or research study
• You can receive academic credit and also dive deeper into a specific area of study or career path
• Showcasing your own research allows employers to see your passion and ingenuity
  • Take a look at the information on the SIAS website regarding how to receive academic credit: Independent Study
  • You may also be able to receive additional funding for your project in the form of a Fellowship: Student Fellowships and Awards

Study Abroad

• Studying abroad can immerse you in a different culture while allowing you to continue to hone your skills within your intended career field
• The experience of studying abroad highlights your adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, and communication skills. 
• Traveling to other parts of the world could provide the chance to expand your career network globally
  • Check out the study abroad opportunities available to UW Tacoma students: Study Abroad

Informational Interviews

• This type of interview is intended to help you understand more about a specific job or career field and whether you would like to continue your interest in that area
• Informational interviews are brief and to the point.  They are not meant for you to sell yourself to the employer, but rather to discover more about how to prepare for a job in that field
  • Here are some tips to follow in order to have a successful informational interview: Informational Interviews

Networking

• Talk to alumni and others you already know who work in your field of interest to see how you can get involved
  • Visit the University of Washington Alumni Group on LinkedIn to make connections within the Husky alumni community
• Take a look at our featured alumni interviews to see what kinds of internships and projects former students from your major were involved in while at UW Tacoma
• Talk with seniors who are about to graduate to find out what tips they have for getting more involved in hands-on experiences

Campus clubs and professional organizations

• Joining a campus club related to your major or your desired career may help you get involved with projects or additional networking opportunities
  • View this list of current UW Tacoma student organizations: Student Led Organizations
• Professional organizations often sponsor conferences, workshops, and other events that you can add to your resume.
• Meeting people through the organization also could broaden your network. 
• Be aware that professional organizations have membership fees in order to cover the costs of their events and publications.

Starting a job search can feel intimidating, but UW Tacoma provides a number of tools and resources to help plan out your search strategies.

1. Narrow Your Focus.  Before you start your jobs search, it can be helpful to know what kinds of jobs you are pursuing.  If you don’t have any specific job titles in mind, you may want to take a self-assessment to find out how your skills and interests match certain careers.
2. Update Your Résumé.  Résumés and cover letters are a potential employer’s first impression of you. Before you start to search and apply for positions, make sure your resume is up-to-date.
3. Start Searching.  Handshake is a search tool that can help current and recent graduates from UW Tacoma find jobs and internships. In addition to job searching, you can view announcements for upcoming career-related events on-campus, in the local area, and even online.  Create your profile by logging in, entering your information, and uploading an updated resume.
   • Other job search resources
4. Network.  In additional to job search engines, networking (talking to people who have knowledge about the field you are interested in) can also lead to a job. One great way to network is to connect with alumni who graduated in your major or who are currently in a related position. Another way to get to know people with similar career interests is to join a club or professional organization related to your major.
   • Alumni
   • UW Tacoma Student Organizations
5. Interview.  After you have applied for a few jobs, hopefully you will land some interviews.  Take a look at these resources for preparing for a successful interview.