Students

Your first year at Carolina is all about discovering what excites you, both inside and outside the classroom. You don’t need to know your career path yet, but now is the perfect time to get curious and begin exploring your interests. Think of this as the start of your career development journey. The UNC Career Center is here to help you build a strong foundation by exploring your interests, finding meaningful work opportunities, and building your professional confidence.

Our team has curated tools to help you reflect on what matters most to you, apply to your first work-study or part-time job, and start attending career exploration events that support your development.

From figuring out how to build a college level resume to navigating the job boards on Handshake, our resources are here to support you every step of the way.

Get started:

• Complete your Handshake profile! Handshake is your go-to platform for searching campus jobs, registering for workshops, and learning about employer events. Completing your profile will show you opportunities tailored to your interests.
• Take the Focus2 Self-Assessment. This interactive tool that helps you explore how your interests, values, and skills align with potential majors and career directions.
• Attend career exploration events, like Resume Basics or Finding a Campus Job, to build our confidence and learn the fundamentals.
• Explore student organizations on Heel Life. UNC’s student involvement hub lets your browse hundreds of student organizations, meet new people, gain experience, and grow transferable skills.
• Use the UNC Career Center events calendar to stay informed about workshops, career fairs, and employer visits (for PT and FT jobs and internships).
• Enroll in EDUC 111: Career Exploration for a guided experience exploring the fundamentals of career readiness.

Resources to get your career exploration started:

Sophomore year is a turning point. You’ve settled into life at UNC—and now it’s time to start thinking about what comes next. This is the year to clarify what matters to you: what you enjoy, what energizes you, and how your academic and personal interests might shape your future. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but reflecting on your values, skills, and goals can help you make more intentional choices.

As you grow more confident, focus on making connections—between your interests and potential majors, between campus involvement and career skills, and between what you’re learning now and what you might want to pursue after graduation. The more you engage in this phase, the more prepared you’ll be for internships, networking, research, or leadership opportunities that often open up in your junior year and beyond.

Key Actions:

• Take the Focus2 Self-Assessment to identify your interests and strengths and connect them to potential majors and career paths.
• Explore career options with Forage, which has free virtual job simulations in business, tech, law, and more; and with Parker Parker Dewey Micro-Internships, where you can apply for short-term, paid projects with real employers
• Join a student organization through Heel Life to build leadership skills, explore interests, and expand your professional network.
• Attend employer events and workshops to learn about different fields and begin building relationships with professionals
• Browse Handshake and What Can I Do With This Major? to explore jobs, industries, and how different academic paths connect to career outcomes
• Connect with alumni on Heels Engage, a platform built just for UNC where you can ask alumni questions, hear firsthand how others navigated major and career choices, and expand your professional connections

Start with these resources:

Junior year is a high-impact stage of your career journey. Whether you’ve been here since your first year or are new to UNC-Chapel Hill as a transfer student, this is the time to actively pursue opportunities that match your evolving goals. Many students are searching for internships, preparing for graduate school, or applying to research and leadership experiences. This is the year to move from exploration to focused preparation.

Now’s the time to strengthen your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and feel confident articulating your story. You’ll also want to explore funding resources that can help make professional opportunities more accessible—whether that’s through financial support for unpaid internships, travel to interviews and conferences, or finding affordable professional attire. We’re here to make sure cost isn’t a barrier to your next step.

Key Actions:

• Apply for internships, research roles, or fellowships to gain hands-on experience and build competitive application materials.
• Attend resume, cover letter, and interview prep workshops to develop strong, professional documents and build communication skills.
• Register for a 1-credit career course to gain structured, in-depth guidance on career planning, job search, and grad school preparation.
• Explore career fairs, employer events, and grad school sessions to discover opportunities and begin forming your professional network.
• Apply for funding programs that reduce financial barriers to unpaid internships, professional travel, or purchasing interview attire.
• Schedule a career coaching appointment to get feedback and create a personalized strategy for the year ahead.

Start with these Resources:

Senior year is about making your next move with confidence. Whether you’re preparing for full-time employment, graduate school, service programs, or still exploring options, this is your year to act. The UNC Career Center is here to help you take the final steps toward your postgrad goals—whatever they may be—and make the transition as smooth and supported as possible.

This year, it’s important to stay focused on key milestones like finalizing your resume, applying to jobs or programs on time, and preparing for interviews or offers. It’s also a time to lead—by owning your story, strengthening your network, and being proactive about the opportunities ahead. We offer targeted events, tools, and guidance to help you build confidence and practice the skills you’ll use in high-stakes moments like interviews, networking, and negotiations.

Key Actions:

• Finalize your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to reflect your most recent experience and accomplishments.
• Engage with 100 Days to Graduation programming for events, reminders, and support tailored to seniors.
• Attend career fairs, graduate school informational events, and employer info sessions to connect with recruiters and discover a wide range of opportunities.
• Practice your interview skills and graduate school prep using Big Interview and live workshops.
• Evaluate job offers or graduate school decisions thoughtfully with support from trusted advisors.
• Follow up with mentors, faculty, or past employers to maintain professional relationships and request references.

Get started with these resources:

So you’re thinking about a Professional or Graduate degree?

Graduate school can be a powerful next step—but it’s not always the right one. Whether you’re considering a Master’s, PhD, JD, or other advanced degree, the UNC Career Center can help you explore your options, clarify your goals, and prepare strategically for the application process when the time is right for you.

As a graduate or professional student, your career goals may be shaped by your academic expertise, previous work experience, and specific industry interests. Whether you’re navigating the academic job market, preparing for a career transition, or pursuing roles in industry, government, or nonprofit settings, the UNC Career Center offers support to help you identify and achieve your next step. From strengthening application materials to preparing for interviews, we’re here to help you communicate your skills with clarity and confidence.

Key Actions:

• Complete or update your Handshake profile! Whether you’re new to Carolina, or have moved from undergrad to graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill, update your Handshake profile to explore job postings, professional events, and employer connections tailored to your interests.
• Attend career fairs, on-campus interviews, and employer info sessions to connect with recruiters.
• Find a School-specific Career Office to connect with field-specific support, advising, and employer connections.
• Schedule a 1:1 career coaching appointment for more advanced career readiness support.

Get Started with these resources:

• ImaginePhD – Explore career paths, assess skills and values, and plan your professional development (ideal for humanities and social sciences PhDs)
• Versatile PhD – Discover career stories, job listings, and forums focused on PhD transitions beyond the academy
• myIDP – Identify career paths, set goals, and build a development plan (best for STEM grad students and postdocs)
• Career Center Events Calendar – Attend career fairs, networking events, and graduate-level workshops across disciplines
• Career Coaching Appointment – Meet with a coach to discuss job search strategy, application materials, or career transitions
• Big Interview – Practice interviewing for academic, industry, or hybrid roles at your own pace

Our goal at the UNC Career Center is to be a resource for your Tar Heel student, from the moment they step foot on campus, to the months after they flip that tassel. As a parent or family member, you can play an important role in encouraging them to come visit us in Hanes Hall throughout their time at Carolina – we are less than 150 steps from the Old Well, so feel free to drop in while you’re touring campus!

What can I do to support my Tar Heel?

• Each semester, we host 100+ career readiness workshops, career fairs, and employer recruiting events. Encourage your Carolina student to explore our events calendar often as events are added almost daily.
• Remind your student to update their Handshake profile. Handshake is where they can search and register for our programs, find special events like alumni mixers, or event an etiquette dinner!
• If your student has just graduated, let them know they can use most UNC Career Center services for up to 6 months, and to sign up for Heels Engage, a UNC-specific professional network.

Wherever your student is in their Carolina journey, we are here to help them find their path.