Contact Us
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Contact:
Fernando, Gihan S
Executive Director
Butler Pavilion, Room 5th Floor on a map
Career Center 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8033-8011 United StatesScam alert
Recently, two scams have been making their way around the AU community, sent from compromised AU email addresses that fraudulently claim to offer an internship opportunity at UNICEF or a part-time job at Samaritan's Purse. See our tips to avoid scams.
Operating Updates
The Career Center is operating remotely until January 30. In-person appointments will resume Monday, January 31.
- Our front desk hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday. Here's how to find us from the quad!
- Appointment availability and responses to emails and calls occur during and outside of these hours.
- Students may select from virtual or in-person career advising appointments and drop-ins. For appointment requests outside the hours available in Handshake, please email careercenter@american.edu or call 202-885-1804.
- Employer recruiting events and career advisor webinars and chats are hosted on virtual platforms. See Upcoming Events below for details.
Visit AU’s COVID-19 Resources page for the latest information. Questions? Contact us at careercenter@american.edu or call 202-885-1804.
Upcoming Events
Career Fairs and Networking Events
All fairs and networking events are virtual. Unless otherwise noted, times are Eastern.
2/14 - 2/18 | Campaigns, Congress & Lobbying Industry Days
2/14 | 7 - 8 p.m. | Campaigns, Congress, & Lobbies (Advocacy) Industry Days - Campaign Panel
2/15 | 7 - 8 p.m. | Campaigns, Congress, & Lobbying (Advocacy) Industry Days - Lobbying (Advocacy) Panel
2/18 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | 2022 Government, Education, & Non-Profit Career Fair
2/23 | 2 - 4 p.m. | Marketing & Communication Career Fair
3/14 - 3/18 | Working for Justice Industry Week
Career Center Webinars & Chats
All times are Eastern.
1/25 | 1 - 2 p.m. | Basic Job Search Skills
1/27 | 3 - 4 p.m. | Resume Basics
2/1 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Preparing for Success in the Future of Work
2/9 | 2 - 4 p.m. | Preparing for Your Interview
2/24 | 12 - 1 p.m. | Creative Resumes
3/1 | 6 - 7 p.m. | Advanced Job Search Strategies
3/17 | 1 - 2 p.m. | Networking: Building Professional Relationships
4/14 | 6 - 7 p.m. | Handling Interviews with AI Systems
Missed a webinar? Watch recordings from our Fall 2021 Job Search Series.
Employer-in-Residence & Alumni-in-Residence/Recruiter Chats
All Employer-in-Residence (EiR)events are virtual. If an EiR is full or if you cannot attend the virtual date, still click 'Apply' in Handshake and a copy of your resume will be sent to the employer.
Please review our program policies & learn how to sign up for these opportunities.
2/22 | Urban Teachers - interview slots open 2/8 at 9 a.m.
Employer Meet-Ups & Webinars
All Employer Meet-Ups are virtual. Visit Handshake>Events for more opportunities to meet with employers.
1/24 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Info Session: Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program
1/25 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Peace Corps: Advancing Health Professionals Coffee Chat
1/25 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Spotlight on Peace Corps Response: Peru
1/25 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Oliver Wyman - Meet EMPOWERED: Employees of Oliver Wyman Enabling Racial and Ethnic Diversity
1/26 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Oliver Wyman - Black Colleague Network Trivia Night + Networking
1/26 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Capital Teaching Residency Webinar
1/27 | 1 - 4 p.m. | Cyber + IT Virtual Career Fair
1/27 | 1 - 2 p.m. | U.S. Secret Service Employer Meet-Up
1/27 | 1 - 2 p.m. | HCL National Career Event- Internship and Full-Time Entry- Level Tech Careers
2/2 | 10 - 11 a.m. | Red Five Security Employer Meet-Up
Previously Recorded
Missed a webinar? Check out our YouTube channel for recordings. Here are some of our featured playlists:
Summer 2021 Job Search Series - includes webinars on resumes, cover letters, federal resumes, and more.
Job Searching in an Economic Downturn Alumni Panels - includes 2020 CAS alumni panels and tips from individual alumni.
Peer Advisors Present - let our 2020 Peer Advisors guide you through Handshake, QuadJobs, and other Career Center resources.
Career Planning during COVID-19
Find resources to help navigate the job and internship search during the ongoing global pandemic.
Career Competencies
Read about the competencies employers value and seek in new hires.
Career Guides by Major
Not sure what your career path might be, or how your major can help you get there? Use our career guides to explore the skills you'll develop through your coursework, how you can apply them in a variety of fields, and where to learn more about industries related to your major.
Connect with AU alumni for help with everything from general career advice to job opportunities. Sign up with your LinkedIn or Facebook account.
Career Exploration and Self-Assessments
Learn four career exploration steps and the self-assessments available to help you find your next steps.
Partner with Us!
Students, if you're interested in co-sponsoring an event with the Career Center or would like to request a workshop for your organization or club, please contact Samantha Mitchell.
Faculty and staff, to learn more about how the Career Center can support or enhance your work in and out of the classroom, please contact Nathan Slusher.
International
American University #1 in Boren Fellows; SIS Recognizes 11 Boren Award Winners
American University is first in the nation for graduate students who received the prestigious Boren Fellowship in 2021.
Achievements
AU Celebrates Fulbright Scholars
The highly competitive Fulbright US Scholars Program honored 11 American University alumni and one PhD student with awards to carry out self-designed research projects or teach English during the 2020–2021 academic year.
Achievements
Diversity in Diplomacy
Highly competitive fellowships honor outstanding young people bound for foreign service careers, reward excellence, and encourage underrepresented groups.
Achievements
Abigail Veitch ’21 Awarded Udall Scholarship
Abigail “Abbie” Veitch (environmental studies and communications ’21) has been awarded a prestigious Udall Scholarship from the Udall Foundation in recognition of her leadership, public service, and commitment to environmental issues.
Alumni
What Students Have to Say: Lawrence Oberemok
Learn how AU alum Lawrence Oberemok (BA '21) landed an Externship with Facebook's State Public Policy team after brushing up his resume, cover letter, and interview skills.
Alumni
Job Searching During COVID-19: Britt Jacovich
Britt Jacovich, 2020 SPA/SOC recent graduate and alumni of the Career Center's Peer Advisor program was hired as a press assistant for Allied Progress in DC, where she'll start after graduation. Britt shares some insight on her job search, how the AU Career Center has helped her along the way, and tips on how to stay proactive in your own hunt to find a job!
Alumni
Ugoeze's Story: World Bank
Learn how SIS alumna Ugoeze Achilike (SIS/BA '17) landed a full-time, paid position at the World Bank Visitor Center after getting her foot in the door as a volunteer.
Alumni
What Students Have to Say: Dira Hanifah
Alum and former international student Dira (CAS/BA '18) talks about meeting with Career Center advisor Marie for mock interviewing, and about recognizing and talking about your skills.
The Plan for Spring 2022 - Career FAQs
- Will I be able to meet with career advisor to learn about my career options?
- Will I be able to find a part-time job on or off-campus?
- What will internships look like – will they be available?
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Has the process for registering an internship credit changed?
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Will merit awards (national scholarships) continue, and can I apply for them?
Will I be able to meet with career advisor to learn about my career options?
Yes, you can! The Career Center transitioned all its services, including career advising appointments, education programs, and recruiting events, to online platforms in March 2020. Check the Operating Updates above for the latest information.
Will I be able to find a part-time job on or off-campus?
There are jobs out there and we are here to help you find and apply to them. Explore AU’s Student Jobs website, paying particular attention to the FAQs to identify which legal documents you will need to present at the time of hire. On-campus positions are posted on the AU Human Resources Student Jobs page. Check this page periodically for new positions.
You can schedule an appointment with a career advisor to craft your application materials. All incoming first-year students will be given access to Handshake, our career management platform, in mid-July. You can use Handshake to schedule career advising appointments and look for off-campus professional opportunities.
What will internships look like – will they be available?
Many employers have shifted internships to an online format or have hybrid models that have remote and in-person capability. Some employers are being creative and are offering different models of experience-building such as micro-internships, short-term experiences that allow you to work on a focused project or one or two. Handshake internship listings are a great place to start your search, and check in with a career advisor if you’d like more guidance.
Has the process for registering an internship credit changed?
The process for receiving approval for internship credit has not changed. A student should contact their academic advisor to learn the specific process for their school. If a student has been offered an internship and would like to receive academic credit they should have their academic advisor review the internship job description to see if credit is an option. Their advisor will work with them on completing the necessary information on the Internship Registration Form.
Will I be able to develop professional contacts?
Employers and alumni are eager to connect with AU students to provide career-related information, advice, and opportunities. From this summer on, you will have multiple opportunities to develop your professional network at AU. Virtual one-on-one consultations, panels, networking events, alumni conversations, and job fairs will provide lots of opportunities to make connections. If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up for Alumnifire, a networking platform that allows AU students and alumni to connect easily. Speak with a career advisor about developing your LinkedIn profile and take advantage of that powerful platform to full effect.
Will merit awards (national scholarships) continue, and can I apply for them?
Yes. Nationally competitive scholarship programs will continue to make awards in the coming academic year. Those that fund study abroad or cohort-based programming may adjust their dates or convert their programming into an online format if the pandemic continues to affect travel. The Office of Merit Awards will continue to raise awareness of scholarship opportunities through information sessions, workshops, and one-on-one advising. Group sessions and individual advising will be offered virtually until we are able to resume in-person services. Most awards require you to be at least a second-year college student at time of application.