Career Planning Calendar

The Office of Careers and Practice (OCP) maintains this calendar of important milestones in the career development and job search process, which should start early in your academic career.

September Reminders

  • Career Day: RSVP on CareerLink in late September or early October for Career Day, which typically occurs in October. 
  • Career Development Resources: Visit CareerLink and our Courseworks page. You can also visit the Career Services office in ARB to review career education material and to take advantage of our career library of books, as well as a small work space with computers, fax machines, a land line phone, and copiers.
  • Fall Career Education Workshops and On-Campus Events: Sign up for these important events on CareerLink.
  • Look for a Consulting Opportunity or Fellowship: Consider attending a resume/cover letter development workshop as early as possible in the Fall to prepare yourself for Fall Career Day and/or to respond to opportunities with consulting firms or fellowship programs. If you are unable to attend a workshop, download the Career Handbook and Consulting Tips handouts and view workshop videos on our Courseworks page. Consulting firms typically begin the interviewing process for full-time employment in the Fall and for summer internships in January.
  • Annual Columbia University Administrative Fellowship Fair: RSVP on CareerLink for Fellowship Fair for hospital fellowships, primarily for HPM second years and others interested in health administration, which typically occurs in early September.
  • Job Search for October Graduates: Schedule a meeting with a career services advisor to discuss job search strategies and job offers.

October Deadlines

  • HRTP Internships: Applications for Spring internships with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are typically due in mid-to-late October. Find details.
  • Presidential Management Fellowship Program: This is a prestigious fellowship program in the US federal government. Application deadline typically falls in late October. Learn more at the PMF website.
  • Review the Excel list of fellowships, which you can download from our Courseworks site.

October Reminders

  • Fall Career Education Workshops and On-Campus Events: Sign up for these important events on CareerLink.
  • Career Day: RSVP for and attend Career Day.
  • Job Postings: Review job postings for full-time jobs (graduating students) and internships (for continuing students) and conduct general career exploration with career services.
  • Resume: Schedule a resume review appointment with career services and finalize your resume.
  • Networking: Begin contacting friends, faculty members, and others to inform them of your career plans, connect with them on LinkedIn and provide copies of your resume. Join the exclusive Columbia Mailman Connect alumni-student networking group.
  • Graduates Survey: October graduates, please complete the online graduates survey, which provides important information about your job search experiences and employment plans. You will receive the survey link via email.
  • Career Education Workshops and On-Campus Events: Consult the CareerLink events calendar for details on fall employer information sessions.
  • Meet With a Career Services Advisor: Make an appointment to discuss your specific job search/career development issues and how to utilize Columbia Mailman Connect Alumni Network and Columbia Alumni Directory. Utilize the knowledge you have gained from attending resume and cover letter development workshops to develop/refine your basic cover letter and resume. If you did not attend a workshop, the Career Handbook and workshop video are available in our Courseworks page for guidance. Consider using the Office's walk-in hours for a quick critique of your resume and cover letter.

November Deadlines

  • Review the Excel list of internships, which you can download from our Courseworks page.

November Reminders

  • Resume: Finalize your resume.
  • Resume Review: Schedule an appointment with a career advisor to review your resume and cover letter, or stop by during walk-in hours. 

December Deadlines

  • Review the Excel list of fellowships, which you can download from our Courseworks page.

December Reminders

  • Looking Ahead: Research employers for both summer and post-graduation work opportunities. A little work now will pay off later, allowing you to write more convincing cover letters and to interview with greater breadth and depth.
  • Graduates Survey: December/Feb. graduates, please complete the online graduates survey, which provides important information about your job search experiences and employment plans. You will receive the survey link via email.

January Deadlines

  • NYC Department of Health Research Summer Training Program (HRTP): The program typically stops accepting applications on or around February 1. Application materials and more information available from the HRTP website.

January Reminders

  • On-Campus Events and Workshops: Regularly check the CareerLink to identify programs of interest.
  • Alumni Network: Schedule an appointment with a career service advisor to discuss Columbia Mailman Connect and other networking resources.
  • Reciprocity: Ask about reciprocity at other public health schools around the USA if searching outside the metropolitan NYC area. Email us with the subject line Reciprocity. Reciprocity generally allows students to request access to the job board of another participating, accredited public health school for approximately 6 months. Students may request access to up to 2 schools total, and can ask in their final year of school or within 6 months of graduation only.
  • February Graduates: Don't forget to schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss job search strategies and job offers. 
  • Looking Ahead: Keep researching employers for summer or post-graduation work. A little work now will facilitate more proactive outreach and interviewing down the road.
  • Job Postings: Regularly review postings for full-time jobs and internships and for general career exploration

February Reminders

  • RSVP for Career Day: Career Day typically takes place in March or April. RSVP in late February on CareerLink and start preparing for the event.
  • Make Your Best Impression on Career Day: Review our Career Day tips and Career Fair tips in the Career Handbook, which you can download from the CareerLink Resource Library or Courseworks.
  • Research Career Day Employers: Visit employers' websites and review job descriptions in advance (available on CareerLink).

March/April Reminders

  • Career Day Follow Up: Follow up with Career Day employers and other employers of interest. Schedule interviews, follow interviews with thank you letters, and discuss employment options.
  • Reciprocity: Ask about reciprocity with other public health schools if searching outside the metropolitan NYC area (see above for details).
  • Job Postings: Regularly review postings for full-time jobs and internships, and for general career exploration.
  • All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Development Career Fair: This event typically takes place in March on the Morningside Campus. Learn details.
  • Consider participating in Washington DC Career Week, a trip for currently enrolled Mailman School students to explore career opportunities in the area. 

May/June Deadlines​

  • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Health Research Training Program (HRTP): Now is the time to familiarize yourself with this program. Pick up a brochure from OCS and/or visit the program website. Applications are typically due in mid-July.

May/June Reminders

  • Networking: Maintain communication with your network of contacts. If you are job seeking, now is the time to reach out to your contacts to update them that you are now job seeking, if you haven't yet done so. Reach out to career services for best practices and etiquette.
  • Resume and Cover Letter: Revise, if necessary.
  • Interviews: Keep interviewing. Don't forget to follow up with thank you letters. Make an appointment for a practice interview if you have not done so yet. 
  • Relocation: If you are relocating, contact us to find out about reciprocity arrangements with universities throughout the country.
  • Monitoring Job Opportunities: Keep an eye on all available options and consider each carefully. If necessary, ask for additional time to consider offers.
  • The Right Fit: Accept the job offer that provides the best match for your personality, interests, competencies, and short- and long-term career goals. Inform all associated with your search of your acceptance.
  • Graduates Survey: May graduates, please complete the online graduates survey, which provides important information about your job search experiences and employment plans. You will receive the survey link via email.

July Reminders

  • October and February Graduates: It's never too early to develop a wish list of prospective employers. Use the summer to start your research.
  • Newly Admitted and Continuing Students in the NYC Area for the Summer: Consider setting up a meeting with a Career Services advisor to discuss career development strategies for the coming year.