Explore Opportunities

There are three important steps in your process of exploring opportunities:

 Reading—to identify possibilities

• Visit the Career Library in 103 Barnes Hall, especially the Nonprofit and the Government sections. Also, search the library database from the CCS website using key words to identify nearly 200 library holdings using our database search feature.
• Use the Idealist.org website to view employers, jobs, and internships by area of focus.

Talking—to learn more

• Meet with Bill Alberta, the specialty advisor for careers in nonprofit, government, teaching, and environmental careers.
• Learn how to conduct effective (and fun) information interviews. More information is also available on page 7 of our Career Guide.
• Talk to Cornell alumni about their careers by using Cornell's Alumni Mentor Network.
• Gather information from employers attending the Nonprofit and Government Career Fair.
• Make use of other alumni networks in your college career office.
• Talk to others about their work—professors, previous employers, friends of family; strangers... Be creative.

Doing—to try out a career field

• Volunteer in the Ithaca area. The Cornell Public Service Center, 200 Barnes Hall, offers many options in the Ithaca area and beyond.
• Volunteer anywhere in the USA. Volunteermatch.org enables you to locate opportunities by zip code and career area.
• Complete an externship offered by CCS over winter break (available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors); or if you’re a first-year student, take advantage of the FRESH program over spring break.
• Check into the activities offered by Cornell’s Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy (CRESP).
• Join a student organization that relates to your interest. There are hundreds of registered Student Organizations at Cornell.
• Find part-time work for the academic year or the summer. Check the listings at the Student Employment Office.
• Land a nice internship or summer job that appeals to you.