Career Development

Purchase College Career Development Center

Peer Career Liaison Internship Program

The Career Development Center offers leadership opportunities for undergraduate students through our Peer Career Liaison Program. Career Liaisons will work closely with the CDC staff to provide friendly peer career intervention and service referral to students, valuable career information, and assist in coordinating exciting programs and events. They will serve as CDC representatives and liaisons or “ambassadors” among the campus community. Career Liaisons will receive the training and mentoring needed to help develop basic listening and counseling skills, leadership, and will also be empowered to create and implement their own ideas for marketing materials, resources, and programs to encourage greater student involvement in services. Career Liaisons may also chose to specialize in a specific area reflective of their individual skills and goals- ie Counseling, Marketing, Student Leadership, Technology, etc.

This is a progressive internship experience. Students are recommended to commit to the internship for a full academic year. Although not required, a year commitment is ideal so that the intern can receive comprehensive training in their first semester and apply what they’ve learned in a more advanced internship in the second semester.

Peer Career Liaison Internship I (Entry-level)

Responsibilities:

Participate in comprehensive, on-going hands on training including learning basic peer counseling techniques, orientation to the services and resources, seminars on career-related topics, resume critiques, and practice through role-playing opportunities etc.
Observe walk-in sessions, workshops, and CDC orientation programs to gain knowledge of individual career counseling and group work techniques
Develop and implement outreach and promotional activities to educate students about career development services (presentations, tabling, leafleting for major events etc.)
Participate in planning, arranging, and hosting special career events (Annual Job & Internship Fair, Career Week Panels etc.)
Create marketing materials to reach students and promote career services, programs, and events.
Work collaboratively with Campus Clubs and organizations to help promote programs and events.
Meet with CDC site supervisor weekly to discuss career issues and individual students career concerns as they arise.
Perform some administrative duties including answering incoming calls, instructing employers on the use of Purchase JobScore, greeting students and visitors, printing handouts and materials, other tasks as assigned by CDC staff.

Peer Career Liaison Internship II (Advanced-level)

Responsibilities:

Assist CDC staff with scheduled walk-in counseling hours by providing brief career guidance sessions on topics such as resume critiques, use of Purchase JobScore and helping students to use other internet-based job sites, and general orientation to services.
Serve as a frontline student/customer greeter, resource and referral person by responding to students questions and concerns with a friendly person-centered, customer service approach.
Learn to identify helpful books and other useful career resources for specific industries for student resource referral.
Co-present career development workshops such as Resume Writing and Job Search, and facilitate orientation sessions with CDC staff.
Further CDC Mission by using campus outreach strategies (developed during the fall internship) to educate students about career services and resources.
Participate in planning, arranging, and hosting special career events (annual Job & Internship Fair, Career Week Panels etc.)
Promote Career Development during Campus Club meetings and engage co-sponsorship of programs and events as appropriate.
Collaborate with clubs and campus organizations to help promote programs and events.
Meet with CDC site supervisor weekly to discuss career issues and individual students career concerns as they arise.
Handle additional office responsibilities as needed.

Internship Eligibility:

Have completed at least 30 units of credit prior to the start of their internship experience (i.e. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors).
Have not already completed 12 credits worth of previous internship credit.
Are able to commit to 8-10 hours per week (some evening hours may be required).
Be in good academic standing.

Qualifications:

Out-going, people-orientated, service-minded individual
Strong leadership potential
Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills
Creativity and marketing abilities
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Comfortable with Internet Search Engines (i.e. Job Search Sites)
Knowledge of various campus clubs and departments
Previous tutoring, mentoring, or customer service experience is helpful, but not required
Psychology, sociology and other social science majors are encouraged to apply.

Join Our Team!

Send your resume and cover letter to
Tara Blackwell Malone
Assistant Director, Internships & Diversity Programs
tara.malone@purchase.edu
914-251-6371 phone
914-251-7802 fax

Meet Our Current Interns

Hillary, Peer Career Liaison
Hillary is a senior Psychology major. She is the CoCOaS representative of the Psychology Club and is currently working on her senior project. She enjoys traveling, cooking, movies, and being with friends. She is also currently studying Italian. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school for Counseling or Social Work.

Crytstal, Peer Career Liaison
Crystal was born and raised in New York City. She is a senior Political Science major. In her free time, Crystal enjoys writing, taking pictures, and hanging out with friends. She also serves as a volunteer for New York Cares. Crystal plans to pursue a Master’s in Social Work after graduation.

Michelle Peer Career Liaison
Michelle is a senior psychology major. In addition to pursuing her Bachelor's Degree, she also works at a comic book store, and spends her spare time taking opera lessons, and performing in musical theatre productions. Michelle is passionate about helping people, and plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Masako, Graduate Assistant
Nationally Certified Counselor
Masako has extensive experience in career consultation. She has worked as recruiter and a hiring manager in corporate settings in the US and Japan. Her experience ranges from work authorization to career development issues within various industries. Masako holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and is currently working towards her NY state licensure in counseling. Her long-term goal is to pursue her PhD in Counselor Supervision.

Ryan, Graduate Assistant
Ryan holds a BA in Psychology and a minor in Business from Dominican College. During his time at Dominican, he was the President of the Psychology Club for two years, taught Psychological Statistics, and participated in an internship at Rockland Psychiatric Center. He currently serves as a judge at the annual Dominican College Psychology Conference. Formerly a pitcher on his high school’s varsity baseball team, in his free time, Ryan continues to enjoy all sports. Ryan will graduate from Iona College in 2012 with a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Updated 2/12