Services for Students and Alumni

Schedule an Appointment    Phone, email & videoconferencing options are available!
Questions can be emailed to careers@fredonia.edu.

The friendly staff and the programs of the Career Development Office can help you:

• explore options and make career/job choices
• plan strategies to gain experience and skills to become competitive
• identify and apply for internship opportunities
• develop skills to implement a successful job search
• learn how to apply to graduate or professional school
• find information to help you make decisions or implement your plans
• get connected to employers and graduate schools

Individual Counseling

Uncertain about your career plans or your major? Getting started with your job or internship search? A counseling appointment is recommended to explore majors or career options, find internships, review cover letter and resume drafts, identify job search strategies and resources, apply to graduate or professional school, or to prepare for interviews. Make an appointment to talk with one of our professional career counselors at your convenience.

Internships

Counselors can help you identify and find internship opportunities related to your educational or career goals. Assistance is also available in applying for internships, obtaining a Learning Contract required to earn credit, developing resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for interviews.

FREDNetwork

FREDNetwork powered by Handshake is a web-based career service management system that makes it easy for Fredonia students and alumni to connect with employers. If you are looking for professional, internship, student employment, and summer job opportunities (or you have a position to fill), login and start managing your search today. You can also schedule an appointment with a professional career counselor and learn about CDO Spotlights and other events. Remember to complete your profile so that employers can connect with you.

MyPlan

MyPlan is an online program that helps you to identify major and career options related to your personality, what you like to do, what you are good at, and what is important to you. It also includes extensive information to help you research career options. It is most helpful when the results are discussed with a counselor. Check out the Careers and Majors section of CDO Online.

Practice Interviews

A counselor will interview you, and videotape the interview. During the playback of the tape, suggestions for improving your interviewing skills will be discussed. See yourself as the employer sees you. You can also practice your interview skills at home using zoom or other shareable video recording software.

Professional Profile Photo 
Make an appointment with the CDO in FREDNetwork for a 20-minute professional headshot to use our free headshot photo station. It is self-serve but CDO staff are always happy to provide assistance as needed. Come professionally dressed to the CDO, Gregory Hall - 2nd Floor. *Please note the backdrop is teal blue in color. Available to all Fredonia students.

Follow the instructions provided on-site and pose for your headshot.
Take as many photos as you need using the bluetooth remote.
Instantly receive your digital photos.
Upload your photo to your FREDNetwork, LinkedIn, Zoom, email, professional organization profile and more!

Career Guides

A series of handouts is available on each of the following topics:

• career planning (successful career planning, a timetable, information interviewing, information interviewing questions)
• resumes (writing a great resume, pointers, what to include, styles, career objectives, action verbs, a checklist)
• letters (job search letters, pointers, an outline, electronic)
• job search (basics, common mistakes, networking, finding advertised vacancies, using directories, researching an organization, finding jobs online)
• interviewing (preparing for interviews, practicing with zoom or other shareable recording software, interview tips and follow up)

Career Information

Explore careers by viewing over 8,000 online video interviews from professionals in a wide variety of careers and browsing the Careers/Majors section of the CDO website. Books and magazines about careers are organized for easy browsing on shelves in the resource area. They contain information about work tasks, desired academic background, personal qualities and experiences, salary, hiring organizations, and job market. These materials are also available for sign-out.

Job Search Information

Online job search videos, employer directories, resources and links are available in the Looking for a Job section of CDO Online. Books and DVDs about how to look for a job, interviewing, writing cover letters and resumes, as well as sample resumes, are available on the job search information shelves in the resource area.

Graduate School Information

Directories of graduate programs, resources on financial aid and information for the GRE, GMAT and LSAT are available online and in the resource area. Resources and information about how to write an application essay, test preparation software, books and videos are also available.

Credentials File

See Change in CREDENTIALS FILE POLICY - beginning September 2018. As technology has advanced in recent years, many employers have developed online application systems and are requiring applicants submit all materials (resume, cover letter, transcript, and letters of recommendation) electronically. Because it is more practical, time-efficient, and cost effective for candidates to maintain their own job search documents, the CDO will no longer establish new Credential Files for seniors or alumni, nor will we accept new letters written for existing files.

First Destination Graduate Survey

The office conducts an annual follow-up study of the most recent graduating class to determine their employment and/or graduate study status. Career outcomes (first destinations and graduate outcomes) are available on CDO Online.

Workshops and Seminars

The staff is available to make presentations on a variety of career-related topics including career options, internships, summer jobs, resume writing, job searching, interviewing, and applying to graduate or professional school.