Carnegie Mellon University

Frequently Asked Questions

We have provided you with answers to frequently asked questions and information about ways in which you may become involved.

The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a centralized career center staffed by a team of 21 seasoned and highly-educated professionals who orchestrate the career exploration, experiential learning, and career networking needs of students and alumni.  CMU's career and professional development model is grounded in discipline-specific career development, experiential learning, and employer relations shaped by strong connections with the university's seven academic colleges. The center's success is founded upon a solid understanding of career and professional development theory, integration of technology, and an unwavering commitment to providing personalized attention towards meeting the unique individual needs of students, alumni, and employers.

It's best if students visit us in their first year so they can make the most of our resources and services, but it is never too late to start!  Students can make an appointment to meet with their career consultant whenever and as often as they would like. Students can login to Handshake to schedule an appointment.

In the CPDC we offer Discipline-Specific Service to students and employers.  Therefore, we have at least one career consultant who works with each CMU college.  By having consultants for each college, we are able to help your student in a specialized, specific way.

Many students enter college without a concrete idea of what subject to major in or what job they want to do. This is a very common experience. Your student can consider his or her interests, skills, and values to determine suitable majors and careers. We have a wealth of information and services to help students with their search, so please suggest that your student stop by the CPDC for assistance or login to Handshake to schedule an appointment with their career consultant.

We encourage students to make career decisions based on their skills, interests, and values, and can discuss with them how these can relate to a career plan.  We also ask students to look at their dreams and goals as part of the process. Please suggest that your student schedule an appointment on Handshake to meet with their career consultant.

An internship is a chance for your student to gain experience in a career field before entering the job market. Internships can confirm a career choice or help a student realize that a particular field isn’t a good fit.  Most internships occur during the summer but can sometimes have a greater duration. The length of an internship is often negotiable.

Companies recruit for interns and full-time positions at different times. For summer internships, most companies start looking in January, but companies with more competitive internships start in the fall semester. This can also vary by industry, field, and major.  We recommend that students make early contact with their employers of choice to find out when intern hiring begins.  Additionally, your student should meet with their career consultant, as they will be aware of the appropriate time tables for different industries.

Students can make an appointment to meet with their consultant who will explain the many resources available. One of job search services we offer is Handshake, where students can browse postings for internships, part-time jobs, and full-time jobs from employers all over the country.  We provide online job listings and other resources where students can access a variety of directories, listings, and organizations.

At Carnegie Mellon, we believe an on-campus or federal community service position is more than just a job; it is an opportunity to develop professionally and personally outside the classroom. We have hundreds of on-campus positions posted through Handshake to which students can apply.  Through these experiences students gain:

  • Additional financial resources to cover personal expenses
  • Exposure to the world of work
  • Enhanced skills in communication, teamwork, time management, decision making, and customer service
  • Exposure to additional resources and programs
  • An opportunity to apply and observe some of the principles and techniques learned in the classroom.

Students considering graduate school can make an informed choice by carefully reading through the graduate school section of our web site. Also, students can make an appointment to talk to their career consultant about graduate school. Your student should develop relationships with faculty in their area of interest, as it is important that your student be able to draw on a professor's knowledge and advice before and throughout their graduate studies.  We've posted a general description of the application process, but individual graduate programs have their own deadlines and requirements.