Students

At CPD, our first priority is your professional development, as we work with employers, recruiters and alumni to bring about exciting career opportunities tailored to your strengths and interests.  It is our firm belief that LMU’s diverse academic community is made up of the leaders, innovators and healers of tomorrow, so our dedicated staff is pleased to assist with your endeavors along the way.

  • As a First-Year student, we recommend visiting Career and Professional Development (CPD) early and often to identify your values, interests, and skills. Below are some ideas for jumpstarting your four-year Career Action Plan. 

    • Visit Virtual Peer Advising to create your college resume and learn about CPD’s resources
    • Utilize V-Mock to receive quick, personalized feedback on your resume
    • Complete your Handshake profile, choose your career interests, and browse events, off-campus jobs and internship opportunities; be sure to make your profile public to employers, adding a photo, your major(s), class year, and GPA
    • In addition to Handshake, research and RSVP for programs to learn, network and connect via LMU's event calendar
    • Follow Career and Professional Development on social media to stay up-to-date on programs, resources, and opportunities
    • Bookmark the Career and Professional Development website to stay updated on events, services, and internship and job opportunities
    • Visit What Can I Do With This Major? and LMU’s Academic Catalog to understand how your choice of major influences your job search
    • Create your LinkedIn profile to add LMU to your Education, your work and leadership experiences, volunteer experiences, and skills; begin researching LMU alumni and eventually reach out to ask for an informational interview 
    • Take courses via LinkedIn Learning to develop or strengthen skills such as conflict resolution, project management, public speaking, and more
    • Build a profile on The Pride, LMU's mentorship platform, to connect with alumni, faculty, staff, and other students 
    • Explore the CPD Resource Library to view past workshops, panels, and presentations on resumes, internship search strategies, networking, LinkedIn, and more
    • Consider participating in Micro-Internships, paid short-term assignments and projects from employers to explore your interests and gain experience

     

  • As a Sophomore, we recommend exploring multiple career paths to gain clarity on your interests and skills and how they relate to professional life. Below are some ideas for progressing along your four-year Career Action Plan.

    • Schedule a virtual appointment with a Career Coach about your career plans and interests 
    • Log-in to Handshake to update your profile, re-select career interest areas, and view upcoming events and internship opportunities
    • Participate in CPD networking events and sophomore-specific programs like VOCARÉ
    • Attend a Virtual Career Fair to explore job and internship opportunities
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments, skills, courses, and campus involvement, follow companies you have an interest in working or interning for, and grow your network by connecting with peers, professors, mentors, and LMU alumni; reach out to request informational interviews
    • Apply for a Sophomore-specific national or international fellowship that provides academic and professional experience related to your career goal
    • Take a class outside of your intended major to further develop your skills and solidify interests
    • Build a profile on The Pride, LMU's mentorship platform, to connect with alumni, faculty, staff, and fellow students
    • Register for courses on LinkedIn Learning to strengthen or hone skills in topics such as conflict resolution or project management 
    • View a list of companies where LMU students have interned and begin networking with fellow students and alumni at organizations of interest
    • Participate in Micro-Internships, paid short-term work projects and assignments, to gain experience and exposure to your fields of interest 
    • Gain knowledge outside your major and develop your business acument through Harvard Business School Online CORe
  • As a Junior, we recommend gaining professional experience that helps you narrow your career goals by focusing on your strengths. Below are some ideas for progressing along your four-year Career Action Plan. 

    • Schedule a Handshake appointment with a Career Coach about your career plans including exploring graduate/professional school options
    • Upload your resume to VMock to receive feedback before applying to internships, jobs, or fellowships
    • View a list of companies where LMU students have interned, and begin networking with fellow students and alumni at organizations of interest
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments and continue researching LMU alumni career paths and companies of interest
    • Request informational interviews from those in your field or industry, including alumni
    • Find a mentor and connect with professionals from the LMU community via The Pride, LMU's mentorship platform 
    • Attend a Virtual Career Fair to explore job and internship opportunities at companies that recruit at LMU
    • Enroll in an internship course to receive academic credit for your experience
    • Attend the Grad+Professional School Fair to receive information about admission requirements, summer programs, and fellowship opportunities
    • Research professional opportunities in your field or industry and set goals for post-graduation
    • Participate in Micro-Internshipspaid short-term work assignments and projects from employers 
    • Consider taking courses to develop or strengthen skills like project management, public speaking or conflict resolution via LinkedIn Learning
    • Gain knowledge outside your major or School/College with programs such as Harvard Business School Online CORe 
  • As a Senior, we recommend developing a nine-month career plan, meeting with CPD frequently to help guide you to your intended post-graduate goal. Below are some ideas for progressing along your four-year Career Action Plan.

    • Meet regularly with CPD Career Coaches to develop your networking strategy and discuss next steps after graduation
    • Log-in to Big Interview to practice interviewing and receive instant feedback
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments and continue researching LMU alumni and companies of interest; reach out to alumni for informational interviews
    • Log-in to Handshake to set up a job search agent to track opportunities of interest, and monitor on-campus recruiting activities and programs
    • Attend a Virtual Career Fair to explore job and internship opportunities at companies that recruit at LMU
    • Join the LinkedIn LMU Official Alumni Association group to connect with thousands of Lions 
    • Connect often with LMU faculty, staff, students, and alumni on The Pride for mentoring, networking, and community-building
    • Attend on and off-campus networking events through Handshake and LMU's event calendar
    • Identify possible membership organizations, guilds, and online communities to ease transition into post-graduation; check out some organizatons at the bottom of What Can I Do With This Major?
    • Participate in internships during your fall and spring semesters; enroll in an internship course to receive academic credit for your experience
    • Participate in Micro-Internshipspaid short-term work assignments and projects from employers
    • Consider taking courses to develop or strengthen skills like project management, public speaking or conflict resolution via LinkedIn Learning
    • Gain knowledge outside your major or School/College with programs such as Harvard Business School Online CORe 
  • As a Graduate Student, we recommend getting started early by working with CPD to identify your career goals and develop a strategy for achieving them. Below are some ideas for making the most of your time at LMU.

    • Meet regularly with CPD Career Coaches to conduct mock-interviews and develop your networking strategy, seeking feedback on your communication with alumni, industry professionals, and recruiters
    • Utilize V-Mock to receive quick, personalized feedback on your resume
    • Log-in to Handshake to set up a job search agent to track opportunities of interest, and monitor on-campus recruiting activities, such as brand awareness sessions, companies conducting interviews on campus, and employer-led workshops
    • In addition to Handshake, research and RSVP for programs to learn, network, and connect via LMU's event calendar
    • Consider participating in Micro-Internships, paid short-term assignments and projects from employers
    • Bookmark the Career and Professional Development website to stay updated on workshops, internships and job opportunities
    • Follow Career and Professional Development on social media to stay up-to-date on all programs, resources, and opportunities
    • Attend a Virtual Career Fair to explore job and internship opportunities at companies that recruit at LMU
    • Apply for a Graduate-specific national or international fellowship that provides academic and professional experience related to your career goals
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments and continue researching LMU alumni career paths and companies of interest; reach out to request an informational interview
    • Create a profile on The Pride, LMU's mentorship platform, to connect with alumni, faculty, staff, and other students 
    • Join the LinkedIn LMU Official Alumni Association group to connect with thousands of Lions working at companies and organizations of interest
    • Take courses via LinkedIn Learning to develop or strengthen skills such as conflict management, public speaking, and more
  • As a Transfer Student, we recommend getting started early by working with CPD to identify your career goals and develop a strategy for achieving them. Below are some ideas for making the most of your time at LMU.

    • Schedule a virtual appointment with a Career Coach via Handshake to incorporate your previous academic and professional experience into your current resume
    • Attend a Virtual Career Fair to explore job and internship opportunities at companies that recruit at LMU 
    • Participate in CPD networking events and transfer-specific programs like VOCARÉ
    • Apply for a national or international fellowship that provides academic and professional experience related to your career goals
    • Visit What Can I Do With This Major? and LMU’s Academic Catalog to understand how your choice of major influences your job search
    • Log-in to Handshake to set up a job search agent to track opportunities of interest, and monitor on-campus recruiting activities such as brand awareness sessions, companies conducting interviews on campus, and employer-led workshops
    • Log-in to Big Interview to practice interviewing and receive instant feedback
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments, research LMU alumni, and reach out for informational interviews
    • Join the LinkedIn LMU Official Alumni Association group to connect with thousands of Lions working at companies of interest
    • Connect often with LMU faculty, staff, students, and alumni on The Pride for mentoring, networking, and community-building
    • Attend on and off-campus networking events through Handshake and LMU's event calendar
    • Participate in Micro-Internships (paid short-term work assignments and projects from employers)
    • Consider taking courses to develop or strengthen skills like project management, public speaking or conflict resolution via LinkedIn Learning
    • Gain knowledge outside your major or School/College with programs such as Harvard Business School Online CORe  
  • Visit our International Students page for additional resources. Here are some recommendations:

    • Schedule a coaching appointment with a Career Coach via Handshake to discuss your academic and career interests/plans 
    • Visit What Can I Do With This Major? and LMU’s Academic Catalog to understand how your choice of major will affect your job search
    • Log-in to Handshake to set up a job search agent to track opportunities of interest, and monitor on-campus recruiting activities, such brand awareness sessions, companies conducting interviews on campus, and employer-led workshops
    • Log-in to Big Interview to practice interviewing and receive instant feedback
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments, research LMU alumni, and reach out for informational interviews
    • Join the LinkedIn LMU Official Alumni Association group to connect with thousands of Lions working at companies of interest
    • Connect often with LMU faculty, staff, students, and alumni on The Pride for mentoring, networking, and community-building
    • Attend on and off-campus networking events through Handshake and LMU's event calendar
    • Participate in Micro-Internshipspaid short-term work assignments and projects from employers
    • Consider taking courses to develop or strengthen skills like project management, public speaking or conflict resolution via LinkedIn Learning
    • Gain knowledge outside your major or School/College with programs such as Harvard Business School Online CORe 
  • Internships are a critical component of an LMU education. Over two-thirds of students take advantage of internships during their college experience, building desirable skills while connecting classroom learning to real-world situations in the corporate, nonprofit, government, and international sectors.

    Working closely with Career and Professional Development (CPD), students have access to over 1,500 internships annually through Handshake, LMU’s career management portal. As soon as they are first-year students, they begin identifying opportunities, working closely with CPD staff to clarify career goals, discover opportunities, and assemble strong applications. Internships can be completed as nearby as Los Angeles and as far away as any international location of the student’s choosing. Students have the option to register internships for academic credit if desired. Students seeking more paid short-term assignments and projects from employers are encouraged to apply for Micro-Internships.

    All LMU students are encouraged to visit CPD early and often throughout their college career. As CPD staff continuously build and solidify partnerships with companies around the world, students benefit from these partnerships. LMU internship experiences help students clarify their career path, build confidence, and ultimately make meaningful connections that lead to successful outcomes after graduation.

  • As a Master or Doctorate Student, we recommend getting started early by working with CPD to identify your career goals and develop a strategy for achieving them. Below are some ideas for making the most of your time at LMU.

    • Meet regularly with CPD Career Coaches to develop your networking and job search strategy, seeking feedback on your communication with alumni, industry professionals, and recruiters
    • Utilize V-Mock to receive quick, personalized feedback on your resume
    • Log-in to Handshake to set up a job search agent to track opportunities of interest, and monitor on-campus recruiting activities, such as brand awareness sessions, companies conducting interviews on campus, and employer-led workshops
    • In addition to Handshake, research and RSVP for programs to learn, network, and connect via LMU's event calendar
    • Consider participating in Micro-Internships, paid short-term assignments and projects from employers
    • Follow Career and Professional Development on social media to stay up-to-date on programs, resources, and opportunities
    • Update your LinkedIn profile with new accomplishments and continue researching LMU alumni career paths and companies of interest; reach out to ask for an informational interview
    • Create a profile on The Pride, LMU's mentorship platform, to connect with alumni, faculty, staff, and other students 
    • Join the LinkedIn LMU Official Alumni Association group to connect with thousands of Lions working at companies and organizations of interest
    • Take courses via LinkedIn Learning to develop or strengthen skills such as conflict resolution, public speaking, project management, and more