The University of Connecticut (UConn) is an ideal choice for career-minded international students. Ranked a top 30 public university in the USA (U.S. News & World Report 2024), it’s also home to the award-winning Center for Career Development. Read on to learn more about how you can kick-start your career by studying at UConn.

The Center for Career Development

You can start planning your career from your first day at university with the Center for Career Development (CCD), which has offices on each of UConn’s 5 campuses.

The CCD recently won the 2020–21 Annual Excellence in Career Center Innovation Award from the Career Collective, and is a six-time finalist in the National Association of Colleges and Employers awards. So you can be sure that all of the advice and resources the Center offers is of the highest quality.

Help finding and applying for internships and jobs

The Center for Career Development can help you to explore different careers and find an internship that matches your goals. Once you’re ready to start applying for jobs, you can arrange a one-on-one appointment with a Peer Advisor who will help you create a successful résumé.

You’ll also benefit from an extensive guide to writing cover letters on the Center’s website, and can schedule a practice interview so you’re prepared for the real thing.

Becoming career ready

While studying at UConn, you’ll have access to a range of tools to help you assess your career competencies. Once you’ve determined which areas you’d like to improve on, you’ll find many resources advising you on how to do so.

You can book a one-on-one meeting with one of the Center’s Career Coaches. Appointments are conducted in person, virtually or by phone and cover areas such as:

• Major exploration
• Career exploration
• Interviews
• Internships, co-ops, or full-time jobs
• Graduate school
• LinkedIn

Husky Mentor Network

Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who has completed the journey you’re currently on. Through the Center for Career Development, you’ll have access to the Husky Mentor Network.

Husky Mentors are UConn alumni who are now enjoying successful careers. You can use the Center’s online platform to reach out to Husky Mentors for feedback on your résumé or interview technique, or for advice on how to break into a particular industry.

When searching for a mentor on the platform, you can filter by industry, job title, location and language, so you’ll benefit from truly targeted advice.

Annual career fairs and events

You’ll be able to attend regular career fairs and other events organised by the CCD every year, on campus and online. These events are a brilliant opportunity for international students to engage with UConn alumni and learn about different careers, and to meet employers offering internship and co-op opportunities.

Career on Demand

Students can get career counseling that suits their schedule with Career on Demand. This fantastic online resources gives you unlimited access to informative videos on a range of topics from growing your professional network and searching for jobs, to professional email etiquette and how to build your personal brand.

Targeted advice for international students

The Center for Career Development also has a range of useful resources especially for international students.

Career Communities

UConn’s Career Communities are industry-focused groups that are free for all students to join. They can help students to narrow down their options within a specific career field, such as Arts, Media and Communication, Education and Sports, or Science, Data and Technology.

Career Communities are packed with useful resources for students considering a particular field, such as job insights, alumni success stories and helpful pointers on the best student organizations and professional networks to join. You can interact with faculty, employers and alumni and even get professional advice from a Husky Mentor.

Career Communities are also the best place to find related career events, jobs and internships.

What if I don’t know which career I’d like to pursue?

Don’t worry, UConn has a Career Community just for you! The Let’s Explore community is for students who are open to exploring all career options and can help you find the right path for you through blogs, alumni profiles and insights from across multiple industries. Dedicated Let’s Explore mentors are also happy to help you with more general career advice.

You’ll also have the opportunity to explore different jobs and industries throughout your degree by taking advantage of the large number of internships and work experiences available to UConn students.

Find out more

If you’re ready to start your path to career success with a degree from the University of Connecticut, Kaplan can help you to apply!

Follow the link below to learn more about what you can study at UConn, or contact us if  you have any questions.