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Career Development

Planning for a meaningful career

Students working in Electronics Lab

Have bright aspirations and big dreams?

Our students come into the College of Science with hopes and dreams, leaving as trained science professionals who are effective communicators and collaborators, problem solvers, critical thinkers and innovators.

Our alumni go on to graduate school, medical school, industry and national labs, as well as many unsuspecting careers including winemaking, law and entrepreneurship.

Preparing yourself for a career

Career readiness is demonstrating that you have the key personal and professional competencies that employers demand and that will help you successfully transition into the workplace.

Are you ready?

The career development process is one that happens outside of the classroom and throughout your years at Oregon State. Like all good things, it can take time. Through careful planning and preparation, you can make sound decisions that move you toward your professional and life goals.

Housed in the Science Success Center, Career Development is an essential part of your day-to-day life as a student in the College of Science at Oregon State University. Career Development offers resources, guidance and professional training that will enhance your academic life, help you explore internships in your field of interest and pave the way to a fulfilling career upon graduation. From freshman to senior year, we will help you with career training and the development of other professional skills to help you create a way forward and transition from college to the workplace or to post-graduate and professional degree programs.

Our Career Development programs span your college years and even continue one year beyond your graduation. You can take advantage of all our programs, including professional training bootcamps, networking events with premier industries and research labs and expert coaching on how to present yourself successfully through resumes, written correspondence and in-person interviews.

Our science career advisor specializes in helping science students determine their goals, explore career paths and provides the tools for students to identify their career interests and obtain the skills needed to be successful. Our Career Development team is ready to direct you to resources that help you gain competency in networking, professionalism and leadership skills necessary for success in an increasingly competitive, global workforce.

It's never too early to start thinking about your future.

Through one-on-one appointments, you can learn to:

  • Assess your work value, strengths, interests, skills, and personalities
  • Explore career options and determine a career path best suited for you
  • Connect with professionals in the field that you are interested
  • Develop strategies for your job search
  • Polish your resume, cover letter, interviewing skills and negotiating job offer skills.

These one-on-one discussions will help you start your own journey of taking charge of your career. Make your appointment today via the link below.

Individual and group career development

The College of Science provides career development resources to you in two settings:

  • One-on-one appointments or impromptu walk-in meetings on Thursday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. in Kidder 109. These 15-minute sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Group settings which include workshops and training events.

You can make an individual career planning appointment using Handshake, a modern, mobile-first platform that is networked with hundreds of schools and thousands of employers across the country. By using this platform, you have access to more (and better) opportunities, in a way that is streamlined and easy to use. It's a win-win situation!

You can get help with your resume and cover letter during College of Science Thursday drop-in hours. A career advisor can provide you with helpful career advice and feedback and answer questions about networking and interviewing. It is helpful to bring a hard copy of your resume or cover letter to get them reviewed.

Please note: there are no drop-in appointments during OSU Career Fair Week, dead week and final exam week.

Online self-exploration career tools

Focus2 - Get a free career assessment. Explore careers, job outlook and your working personality.

vmock - Obtain instant and personalized feedback on your résumé or CV.

Handshake - Explore thousands of jobs and employers, career expos, workshops and more.

Standout - Practice interviewing on an interactive video platform.

GoinGlobal - Explore international internships, career opportunities and cultures.


Career Events

Log in to Handshake for our most comprehensive and up-to-date calendar of Career Development Center workshops, employer events job fairs, networking events and programs every term. These events are generally open to all OSU students, postdocs, alumni and staff.