Welcome New and Prospective Students

No matter where you are in your career journey, we can help.

It is never too early to connect with the Career Center – we are here to serve you from the moment you submit your SIR until well after you graduate. Whether you're a first-year student exploring major and career goals, a transfer student looking for campus jobs and internships, or a graduate student continuing your education, we are a comprehensive resource for UC Davis Aggies.

Students who had at least one part-time job while at UC Davis were 1.5 times more likely to have a career position when they graduated. That's why we recommend connecting with the Career Center early and often. With our support, UC Davis students participate in early career development experiences, connect classroom learning to their career goals, develop a professional network, and build career confidence. Our services include high touch support and one-on-one career coaching, as well as a range of on-demand resources that are available when you are.

From major and career exploration to resume and interview preparation, the Career Center supports UC Davis Aggies every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

  • What services does the Career Center offer for newly admitted students?
  • The Career Center offers career advising drop-ins and appointments, as well as a variety of workshops and events. We also provide digital resources such as Handshake, weekly newsletters, online resume review, and professional headshots. Check our services for more in-depth information.

    The Career Center also hosts career fairs and company information sessions every quarter, featuring hundreds of employers who want to hire UC Davis students! Students and alumni have a chance to network with employers such as BioMarin, Volkswagen, Google, Sutter Health, the Sacramento Kings, and many more companies eager to hire UC Davis Aggies. Learn more about the Career Fairs.
  • What is Handshake?
  • Handshake is an online platform, where UC Davis students and alumni can connect with employers. It features a wide range of internships, career, and student employment opportunities, including UC Davis campus positions. Handshake is also the platform to register for our career workshops, make appointments with our advisors, and register for career fairs. We encourage students to start working on their Handshake profiles as soon as possible and come see us if you have any questions or need help. Learn more about Handshake.
  • When can I access Handshake?
  • Your Handshake account will be created automatically—no need to sign up. Undergraduate students: Accounts are created shortly after you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Graduate students: Accounts are created the first week of June or after enrolling in Fall classes (whichever is later). Please allow up to two weeks after meeting these criteria to receive your automated invite. Do not request an account directly from Handshake, as it will delay the process.
  • How do I make an appointment at the Career Center?
  • To make an appointment with one of our advisors, go to Handshake, navigate to "Career Center," and click "Appointments." You will be prompted to answer a few questions to ensure that you are scheduled with an advisor that best fits your needs. Appointments are offered in-person at South Hall or virtually via Zoom. Learn more about advising appointments.

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Internships

  • What is the purpose of an internship?
  • Internships offer valuable real‑world experience and help you apply what you've learned in the classroom. They're a great way to explore career interests, strengthen your academic success, and prepare for the job market. Although the search process can feel overwhelming, the university provides many resources to support you.

    When looking for internships, be sure to regularly check Handshake, subscribe to your major department's emails and Career Center newsletters, meet with Career Center advisors, and talk with your major advisors and peer advisors. Peer advisors are especially helpful because they often have upper division standing and internship experience they can share. Using all these resources greatly increases your chances of finding and securing opportunities.

    Remember that most internship programs know that applicants have limited experience – internships exist to help you learn and build skills. They primarily look for enthusiasm, interest, and potential. The first step is simply to apply.
  • How do I find an internship or a job?
  • By using Handshake, an online platform where UC Davis students and alumni connect with employers and search and apply for internships and jobs. Over 100 internships and jobs, both on and off campus, are posted every day. Once you have access to Handshake, you can create your profile and begin applying to jobs. For on-campus jobs you can use the filters on Handshake to narrow your search to "on-campus" only. Learn more about Handshake.

    Network! Expand your professional network by utilizing LinkedIn and Handshake to connect with professionals in your field of interest in order to find job and internship opportunities. We're here to help. If you have questions, just ask! Learn more about finding jobs and internships.
  • What types of internships are available to UC Davis students and/or what types of internships are available for students in my major?
  • There are internship opportunities for every major and in almost every profession you can imagine. UC Davis students complete internships locally in Davis and the Sacramento region, throughout the country, and even around the world.

    You can explore options and find internships that match your professional interests and goals. One of our most notable programs is Health-Related Experiences (HRE), which provides students interested in health with the unique opportunity to intern at a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, dentist office, and other health-related professions. HRE experiences span many health-related fields including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nutrition, public health, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Learn more about where others have interned or found jobs related to your major.

    Additionally, the University of California offers multi-campus internship opportunities including the UC Washington Program that provides students the chance to study, research, intern, and live in Washington, D.C.

    The best advice we can give you to find an internship related to your field of choice is to meet with an advisor and let them know of your career interests and goals. Your major advisor is another great resource to get information and learn of major-specific opportunities. Learn more about the job and internship search.
  • I'm ready and extremely interested in doing an internship as soon as possible. Who should I talk to and how?
  • Schedule an appointment with a Career Center Career Advisor or come by the Career Center for drop-in peer advising. Our team can help connect you with internship programs and answer your questions about the application process. Our advisors can also help review your resume and cover letter prior to an internship interview. Learn more about how to access one-on-one career advising.

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Timing and Timelines

  • When is the best time to apply for an internship?
  • It can take several months to secure an internship from the time you begin applying. If you come to UC Davis as a first-year student, we encourage you to complete your first internship in your third year, whereas transfers are encouraged to complete their first internship within their first year at UC Davis. Keep in mind that, in many industries, summer internship hiring can take place 9-12 months in advance, so it is important to start your application process early.

    However, all students have different paths, and it's okay if your path doesn't follow these recommendations.
  • Tell me more about what I should do in my first year at UC Davis.
  • While each path is different, typically, a first year freshman spends their time on self-discovery, which means learning about their values, interests, skills and personalities. Then, you can use your second year to learn about the areas you have discovered, and your third year testing out those areas by doing internships, community service, undergraduate research, and service-based learning.

    A new transfer student may want to spend a quarter or so on self-discovery and learning, then do internships in your winter, spring, or summer quarters.

    See our Career Planning Roadmap for recommended activities and resources at each stage of the process.
  • Can I get an internship before I start attending classes at UC Davis?
  • Yes, you are able to complete an internship before you enroll at UC Davis, but keep in mind that you will not be eligible for many internship opportunities posted in Handshake that require you to be enrolled at UC Davis. You may be able to find an internship on your own, and you can access many great resources on the Career Center website to help you prepare, learn to network, and identify opportunities.
  • Do you recommend finding an internship or job right away when transferring? How do you balance out your classes and job/internship?
  • Because transfer students have less time at Davis than freshman, it is important to begin taking action soon after transferring. We recommend meeting with a Career Center advisor to discuss potential opportunities to help you further your career development. The Career Center website also has several recommendations for transfer students.

    Balancing school life with an internship or job can be stressful, so it's important to utilize campus resources to support your journey. The Transfer and Reentry Center focuses on assisting transfer students through their transition, and has staff ready to answer your questions. The Success Coaching and Learning Strategies program has resources to help students improve their skill-building, goal setting, and action-planning abilities. By building these skills, students can more efficiently manage multiple classes alongside job/internship responsibilities.

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Units and Pay for Internships

  • Do you get paid for doing an internship?
  • Some internships and research opportunities offer monetary compensation and others do not. When looking for opportunities on Handshake, you can use the filters to identify paid positions.

    If you are self-developing an internship or asking someone to take you on as an intern, it is unlikely that you will receive pay. However, that opportunity could eventually lead to a paid position.
  • How do I get academic credit for my internship?
  • If you intend to receive academic credit for your internship, you will have to consult your major advisor. To receive units for your internship hours, students must fulfill requirements set by major departments. Learn more about academic credit for internships.

    Beyond academic credit, the Career Center offers the ability to note on your transcript that you completed an internship during a given quarter. To receive a transcript notation you must intern at least 40 hours in a given quarter, be supervised and evaluated by a professional, and complete a proposal, final report, and evaluation through Handshake. Learn more about transcript notation.

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Other Types of Experiential Education

  • Can I do an internship abroad?
  • Yes! Internship opportunities abroad are great ways to increase marketability to employers in a growing global economy and gain real-world understanding of diversity and cultural competency. Meet with a Career Center advisor to help guide you through the planning process. Additionally, the Study Abroad Program through the Global Learning Hub offers many exciting Internship Abroad Programs. Learn more about international opportunities.
  • How do I get involved with research?
  • UC Davis offers a variety of undergraduate research opportunities. To find a research opportunity, we recommend that you check out Handshake, visit the Undergraduate Research Center and develop professional relationships with professors/researchers that can offer valuable knowledge, guidance, references and letters of recommendations for your future career positions.

    There are other programs available to students interested in research including Mentorship for Undergraduate Research in Agriculture, Letters and Science (MURALS), McNair Scholars Program, and more. Learn more about undergraduate research opportunities.

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  • What can I do to start developing my career readiness in my first quarter?
  • There are a variety of things you can do to get a jump-start on career readiness.
  • What can I do to make sure that I am marketable when I graduate?
  • Much of what you do during your time at UC Davis helps to build a marketable resume, so being as involved as possible on campus is very useful. The general recommendation is to attend class, join clubs, intern, volunteer, and possibly get a part-time job.

    It is also important that you can explain the relevance of the skills and experience you have. The Career Center can help you communicate your skills where it counts – in your resume/CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and interviews. Learn more about marketing your skills.
  • Will I find a job after I graduate?
  • From Art History to Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis alumni are found in every field. The Career Center offers support, opportunities, and connections to employers to help you launch successfully after graduation. UC Davis graduates who follow the Career Center's recommendations can succeed in today's job market – they graduate with career competencies that help launch them into their chosen fields.
  • Does the Career Center also help with recommendation letters? Who are the best people to ask to write your recommendation letters if you're not close with professors?
  • The Career Center can help you develop your reference lists and consult with you on who to ask for letters of recommendation. The best people to be your references are those who can attest to your work quality and speak highly of your performance. This could include current or former supervisors, faculty mentors, campus staff or advisers, coaches or anyone in a professional position who can speak about your character, skills and work ethic. Learn more about professional references.

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Student Jobs On Campus

  • How do I find an on-campus job?
  • UC Davis students can search for campus jobs through Handshake, an online platform that connects students with both on-campus and off-campus employers. By selecting the On-Campus Jobs collection, students can narrow their search specifically to positions within the university.

    On-campus student jobs are categorized into three classifications:
    STDT 2 – Entry-level roles that require basic, commonly available skills and minimal experience.
    STDT 3 – Positions that require specialized knowledge or the ability to exercise independent judgment in completing tasks.
    STDT 4 – Advanced roles that demand extensive knowledge, training, or technical expertise.

    Students can also look for on-campus jobs through Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD), one of the largest student employers at University of California, Davis. ASUCD employs over 1,000 students in roles with Unitrans, the Coffee House, the California Aggie, and more.

    You can also attend office hours to connect with professors and TAs. Since many are involved in research, building these relationships may lead to lab or research opportunities on campus.
  • When should I look for a job on-campus or in the Davis community?
  • There are almost always jobs available on-campus, and you can begin applying shortly after submitting your SIR. You must be officially enrolled to start working, though some students begin as early as summer; most start in fall quarter or later.

    When you apply depends on your needs. If you need a source of income right away, start early. Otherwise, the Career Center can support you whenever you're ready to begin your job search.
  • What's the advantage to working on campus?
  • Students who hold on-campus jobs have higher academic success rates, deeper connections to the campus community, higher persistence rates and less student debt. A student job also provides the opportunity to develop essential career readiness competencies such as communication, critical thinking, leadership and more. UC Davis understands that student employees are students first, and that your work schedules should be flexible around classes and exams.
  • I have work-study. What is it, and how does it benefit me?
  • Work-Study is a financial aid award offered by the federal government and/or the state of California. To see if you have this award, review your personalized financial aid notice at MyAwards. At UC Davis, work-study pays 75% of your wages until the amount is extinguished. That means any department that hires you will accrue 75% savings on your work while you still receive your entire paycheck. It significantly increases the probability of you being hired in an on-campus job, and all on-campus jobs are work-study eligible.

    Work-study eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply to on-campus jobs early in the year. The campus has a finite amount of work-study funding available each year, and it often runs out by the end of fall quarter. Learn more about work-study.
  • I want to apply for a work-study job on-campus, but Handshake says I am not eligible even though I am. Can I still apply?
  • To see if you have this award, review your personalized financial aid notice at MyAwards, then print out your certificate. It's good for 30 days. Work-study eligibility is not automatically imported into Handshake for UC Davis students, so checking MyAwards is crucial. It may appear that you do not qualify for certain on-campus student employment opportunities, but you CAN still apply for these positions. When you apply, submit your Work-Study Eligibility Certificate along with your other application materials.

    Eligible students can obtain a Work-Study Eligibility Certificate with a 30-day expiration through MyAwards. Work-Study Eligibility Certificates will become available in mid-June. Learn more about work-study.
  • If I decide not to get a job during my first quarter, will there still be a lot of on-campus jobs available during the winter quarter?
  • Yes. While more positions open during fall and spring quarters, on-campus jobs at UC Davis are available year-round. Check Handshake regularly when you're ready to apply.

    However, work-study eligible students may want to prioritize applying earlier in the year. The campus has a finite amount of work-study funding available each year, and it often runs out by the end of fall quarter.

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International Students

  • I am an international student, what advice do you have for me pertaining to my career development?
  • For international students seeking part-time jobs on campus, internships or volunteer opportunities off-campus, or a full-time job after graduation, it is essential that you fully understand your eligibility to work in the U.S. Go to the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) office and make sure you clearly understand the employment restrictions and requirements based on your special visa status, including requirements for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training). Learn more about career support for international students.
  • Can I do internships?
  • Yes! Start with Services for International Students and Scholars, and they'll help you get set up for your experiences both on- and off-campus.
  • Can I work on campus?
  • As a student in F-1 or J-1 status, you may work on-campus. Some graduate students may be authorized to work at off-campus locations that are educationally affiliated with the school. Please consult with your SISS International Student Advisor to confirm eligibility. All J-1 employment must be authorized.

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First-Generation Students

  • I am a first-generation college student, what advice do you have for me pertaining to my career development?
  • Come see us and let us be your guides and mentors. Nobody does anything alone, and our advisors have years of experience that you can learn from and build upon.

    As a first generation college student you've already learned to navigate complex systems, processes, and educational institutions. These experiences have likely taught you valuable employable skills including being resourceful, resilient, and solving problems. As you approach your job search and career development, consider how to most effectively incorporate these skills and experiences into your application materials and interviews. Ask us for advice on any topic. We know employers, and we know what they seek. We also know students and what they have to offer, so, utilize us as resources. Also consider reaching out to other staff, faculty, alumni, and prospective employers who identify as first generation college graduates. They'll often impart their words of wisdom and offer support.

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What to do when I don't know what to do...

  • What can I do with my major?
  • The possibilities are practically endless. It is a common misconception that you must go into the field of your major. However, if you are looking for ideas that are related to your major, the Career Center recommends visiting "What Can I Do with My Major or Degree."

    Then, make an appointment through Handshake to speak one-on-one with an experienced career advisor that specializes in your career field.
  • What if I don't know which major to choose yet?
  • There are excellent assessments that can point you in the right direction, and you can access them once you have enrolled. Come talk to us and we'll help you figure out which ones are best for you. Some assessments help you figure out majors, some help you figure out jobs, and some even help you figure out yourself.

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