Dear First_Name
 

Greetings from the Career Advancement Center (CAC) at SIPA!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to the SIPA community. CAC is dedicated to your professional success. We offer a wide range of programs and resources to support your career advancement, whether you’re just starting out, mid-career, or returning to work. Our advisers, program managers, and administrators are here to help you reach your career goals.Explore CAC’s resources and programs >>

Below are few things to get you started on your career advancement journey at SIPA:

Professional Development Requirement

Professional Development (PD) is a half-credit requirement for most SIPA students in two-year programs. It includes a mandatory 2-session course, “Building Your Professional Profile” (0.25 point - offered in September and October), and a 1-session elective you may choose from a cluster of five options (0.25 point). These electives cover career advancement topics such as negotiation, public speaking, intercultural dynamics, and professional networking -- see the SIPA Bulletin for full descriptions of all PD classes. You should complete both components of the PD requirement in your first semester. (Waiving the PD requirement is possible in certain cases – see the CAC website for details.)

Resume Review

All incoming SIPA students must submit a professional resume (different from the one you submitted with your application to SIPA) by November 1. You’ll want to tailor it to the industry you’re targeting for your career advancement. Students enrolled in the PD core course “Building Your Professional Profile” will receive guidance on resume development. All students will have exclusive access to VMock, an online platform that provides AI-based feedback to enhance your resume.

To prepare for the recruitment and networking activities coming up in the fall semester, it's a good idea to start working on your professional resume now. We have a variety of resume guides and templates for you to reference here.>>

If you enroll in “Building Your Professional Profile,” you will upload your resume to the VMock platform. If you’re approved for a waiver, submit your resume by November 1 for review by a CAC adviser.

Business Cards

Once you’re on campus, consider ordering student business cards from the Print Services office on the first floor of the Journalism School in Pulitzer Hall. They cost $40 plus tax for 250 cards.

We’re excited to meet you and work closely with you to support your career advancement! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions (sipa_cac@sipa.columbia.edu). See you soon!


Sincerely,

SIPA Career Advancement Center
School of International and Public Affairs
Columbia University