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The CPA Program is a student leadership program for sophomore, juniors, and senior students interested in helping underclassmen develop career readiness skills. CPAs receive extensive training from the Career Center staff and use that knowledge to meet with and guide students in the career planning process.

Career Peer Advisors assist students with:

• Resume critiques and writing resumes from scratch
• Cover letter construction and content
• Tips for using LinkedIn
• Navigating Stags4Hire to search for internships and jobs
• Interview preparation

Expectations:

CPAs volunteer 4 – 7 hours per week during the Career Center's drop-in hours and at events and programs on campus. Drop-in hours are from 1 – 4 p.m., Monday – Thursday. CPAs conduct presentations in residence halls and to clubs, assist with career fairs and plan their own events. CPAs also help to promote career events.

CPAs are expected to attend one mandatory training at the beginning of the semester.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
• Demonstrated engagement in personal career development, including but not limited to, experience with individual counseling with Career Center staff, completion of Sophomore Success, and/or attendance at Career Center events and workshops
• Interest in helping fellow students with career-related questions and concerns
• Ability to present in a group setting and collaborate with peers effectively
• Previous internship or work experience
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel preferred) and social media tools

For more information contact the Career Center at careers@fairfield.edu or call 203-254-4081.

• Make an appointment with the Career Counselor for your school to talk about goals, aspirations, and how to best utilize the next four years.
• Start working on a resume. Keep a record of all accomplishments and activities.
• Get involved. Join and participate in clubs, organizations, sports, and/or community service.
• Work towards a great GPA. If you are having issues in a class, your first step should be to talk with your professor and utilize academic resources.
• ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ the Career Center’s and website for events and updates.
• Keep your social media sites professional and set appropriate privacy settings. Employers conduct searches online, so it is important to maintain a professional image.

• Take one or all of the “self-assessment inventories” such as the Myers-Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory, or Strengths. These assessments help to determine what career path to pursue.
• Participate in Sophomore Success, a weekly program where Counselors review career-related topics such as Resumes, LinkedIn, Professionalism, and the Internship/Job search process.
• Work toward a leadership role in a club or organization. Consider a role such as a Resident Assistant, New Student Leader, Career Peer Advisor, or Eucharistic Minister.
• Start planning for internships. Career Counselors can assist with this process as can professors.
• Attend a Stags4Hire workshop. Stags4Hire is the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ University job board where employers who want to hire ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ students post jobs and internships.
• Attend Career Center and school-specific career workshops, employer presentations, and alumni panels to start learning more about potential careers.
• Start networking. Create a LinkedIn profile. Meet with a Career Counselor to receive important networking tips.

• Meet with a Career Counselor to further develop your resume (i.e., add summer work). High school activities should not be included at this point.
• Consider doing an internship for credit during the academic year if it works with your schedule.
• Upload your resume to Stags4Hire for summer internships. Internships are critical to your success and employers look for them when hiring.
• Develop tailored cover letters for each position you apply to. You can obtain the cover letter tips handout on the Career Center’s website or .
• If you are planning to attend graduate/professional school, prepare for entrance tests such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT.
• Practice for upcoming interviews using InterviewStream (fairfield.interviewstream.com).
• Attend workshops sponsored by the Career Center or your school. Students can find a list of all events on and in the Career Center’s weekly Stags4Hire e-mail.
• Attend the fall and spring Career & Internship Fairs or the fall Nursing Fair.
• Apply for the winter break Alumni Job Shadow Program so you can shadow an alumnus/a in a career field you might be interested in pursuing after graduation.
• Update your LinkedIn profile and learn how to use LinkedIn throughout the networking process.
• Maintain a professional presence on social media sites. Employers will look at social media profiles during the hiring process.

• Meet with a Career Counselor to further develop your resume.
• Make an appointment with a Career Counselor in the fall semester and continue to meet with them to discuss and strategize post-graduation plans.
• Be proactive in the job, graduate school, or post-grad service search and be aware of deadlines. Follow up on all applications. Set up a spreadsheet to assist in tracking all activity.
• Attend the fall and spring Career & Internship Fairs or fall Nursing fair.
• Apply for the winter break Alumni Job Shadow Program to shadow an alumnus/a in a career field you might be interested in pursuing after graduation.
• Hone your interviewing skills by scheduling a mock interview with a Counselor and participate in the Career Center’s Mock Interview Day.
• Practice for upcoming interviews using .
• Participate in Senior Launch.
• Continue networking using LinkedIn.
• Identify people who will be your references. Ask them if they would like to serve as a reference and give them a copy of your resume.
• If applying to graduate school, Career Counselors can critique your personal statement essay.
• Maintain a professional presence on social media sites. Employers will look at social media profiles during the hiring process.
• The Career Center is a lifelong resource — we are here to help you beyond graduation!