Resources

Self assessments can help you clarify your personality, interests, values and skills. Internal reflection establishes a starting point for choosing a future major and career pathway.

Start with these brief assessments to begin the process:

• Eureka
  Brief self-assessments on your skills, personality, and values, that will match you to different career fields. Contact a career counselor with your student G number for your CSM access code to access the entire platform for free.
  
  
• 16 Personalities
  Free personality assessment that offers insights into your motivations and behaviors. Understand what drives and worries different personality types to fit the right work environment.
  
  
• Meaningful Work Kit  
  Stanford’s free values and skills assessment helps you understand what makes you thrive professionally, work culture, core values, and enjoyable skills. 

If you are looking for more guidance and comprehensive assessment, consider these formal career assessments. Schedule an appointment with a CSM Career Counselor who can administer and interpret your results in a series of career counseling appointments.

• MBTI Personality Assessment
  Personality assessment comparing your results to occupations that best fit your unique personality, and predicting how likely it is that you’ll be satisfied in those occupations.
  
  
• SII Interest Assessment
  Interest assessment that identifies careers, jobs, and activities that closely align with your interests.

• CSM Degrees and Certificates
  Explore different educational programs at CSM. Review the Career Opportunities listed on the right hand side of each program to better understand future pathways.

• CSM Academic and Career Communities
  Explore different educational and career communities at CSM.

• CCC Find a College
  Find a California community college that offers the major/program of study that is right for you.

• Transfer Major Explorer
  Use this free database to search what majors are available for transfer at California public institutions of higher education.

• What Can I Do With This Major
  Use this free tool (accessible through the Skyline website) to discover potential career pathways and strategies for any academic major.

Gathering information on job titles, salary ranges, job growth, and industry trends is an important step to making data-informed decisions about your future career.

National websites:

• Career Coach
  This platform is provides students with local labor market data, such as real-time wage info, job growth, and, training opportunities. Search the Careers tab to find up-to-date, regional information on, job postings, salaries, and employment trends.

• O*NET Online
  This public-access website accesses the ONET database, the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics' source for detailed occupational information. Use the top right search bar, or search the various categories to read detailed descriptions of occupations.

• The Roadtrip Nation
  Career exploration tools and labor market data to provide insight into real-world careers by showcasing the stories and insights of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Use the top right search bar and type in keywords to find video interviews, bios, careers and majors.

• Healthcare Careers
  Healthcare occupational data and tools gathered from health professionals and healthcare associations

Bay Area websites:

• Gladeo Bay Area
  Career navigation platform that features videos, articles, careers, industries, and professionals in the Bay Area. Use the top right search bar, or browse in the top left navigation. For each occupation, there are job descriptions, salary outlooks, typical roadmap, and advice on how to enter each sector.

• NOVAWorks Industry Trends
  Workforce development agency that provides free employment and training services for San Mateo county residents. Read the various industry trends page to view curated information about viable career pathways in Bay Area in-demand industries.

• COE Priority Jobs in the Bay Area 2025
  The Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research is a leading source of regional workforce information. Find analysis of labor market information and postsecondary education requirements of the top priority jobs and programs in the Bay Area.

Create a free account on any of these popular job search websites to learn about companies that are hiring and necessary qualifications.  

• Handshake
  Most popular job search platform for university and college students. This is the primary platform for employers to directly recruit CSM students for jobs and internships. If you haven't already, follow the instructions on the CSM Handshake website to use single-sign on and access your free account

• LinkedIn
  World’s largest professional networking platform, acting as an online resume, networking hub, and industry news source. Users create profiles showcasing experience, skills, and projects, enabling them to build connections and search for jobs.
  
  
• Indeed
  Global search engine operating, connecting millions of job seekers and employers. It aggregates job listings from thousands of sources, including company career sites and job boards. Key features include resume posting, company reviews, salary research, and direct application tools.
  
  
• ZipRecruiter
  Leading online employment marketplace that uses AI-powered technology to match employers with job seekers. It offers job seekers a streamlined application process. 
  
  
• CalCareers
  Official website for finding and applying to State of California jobs, serving as a centralized, secure portal for job seekers to take civil service exams, build profiles, and submit electronic applications. It streamlines the hiring process across over 150 state departments for thousands of classifications.
  
  
• San Francisco Government Jobs
  Official employment portal for the City and County of San Francisco, designed to connect job seekers with public service opportunities. 
  
  
• CSM Featured Employers List
  Curated list of local employers that have shown interest in recruiting CSM students in the past. We highly encourage CSM students to reach out to these companies to inquire for openings.

Create a free account on any of these popular internship search websites to learn about organizations that are offering short-term work experiences that help students gain on-the-job training and mentorship.

• Idealist.org
  Online platform that connects people with mission-driven organizations offering nonprofit jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities worldwide.
  
  
• Internships.com
  Centralized online platform that connects students and recent graduates with employers, offering a wide variety of internships and entry-level job opportunities.
  
  
• Parker Dewey Micro-Internships
  Short-term, paid professional projects ranging in working for entrepreneurs to supporting large enterprises.
  
  
• San Mateo County Internships
  San Mateo County offers summer internships as well as year-long opportunities to work in various county departments.
  
  
• SMCCD Global Internships
  San Mateo Community College District arranges for-credit, unpaid internships in a variety of fields, designed to help students gain an immersive international experience in a supervised internship abroad.

STEM Internships (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)

• REU Finder
  Platform helps community college and undergraduate students discover and apply to paid summer research experiences (REU sites) in STEM and social science fields.
  
  
• STEM Internships
  Curated list of opportunities by the College of San Mateo Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program.

Create a free account on any of these popular job volunteer websites to learn about organizations that are seeking volunteers.

• VolunteerMatch.org
  US-based nonprofit organization which provides a a platform to search for non-profit and volunteer opportunities by location and area of interest.
  
  
• City of San Mateo Volunteer Source
  Online platform that connects community members with diverse, local, and impactful volunteer opportunities across various city departments and projects.
  
  
• HandsOn Bay Area
  Non-profit organization that connects individuals with high-quality volunteer projects, partnering with local schools and nonprofits to create impactful community service opportunities across the Bay Area.
  
  
• San Mateo Hospitals -  Hospital volunteer work is ideal exposure and training experience for pre-nursing, allied health, pre-med, biotechnology, and biomedical students.
• Mills-Peninsula Hospital  
• San Mateo Medical Center  
• Kaiser Hospital

Explore these resources to help you prepare for your next job or internship

• Boombox
  Non-profit whose mission is to broaden the career horizons of students by enabling them to meet one-on one with professionals.
  
  
• California Employment Development Department (CA EDD)Statewide career fair and workshop information, labor market information, and more.
  
  
• Indeed.com Career GuideCareer articles, resume and cover letter samples, and interview preparation guides
  
  
• NovaWORKS MyPlan
  Local resources to help with resumes and applications, networking, and interviewing.

A resume is the most common job application document that you prepare when applying for job and internship opportunities. This document usually showcase skills, experience, and value to employers in order to secure interviews and stand out in a competitive job market.

Sample Resume Formats from NovaWorks
There are resume formats provided by our local county workforce development agency. Each format has its own pros and cons depending on your current career goals as well as your past work history.

• Chronological_Format:
  Past work history matches or is related to your current objective, accomplishments are linked with previous employment.
  
  
• Chronological:
  This version highlights key qualifications that are relevant to the job description, using the summary at the top of the resume.
  
  
• Functional:
  Career change or returning to something you did years ago, accomplishments are linked to specific skill areas.
  
  
• Recent Training / New Graduate:
  This is a template if you have recently completed a training program in a field where you have little or no work experience.

Sample Resumes by Occupation from IndeedCollection of resume examples for a variety of industries and job titles with recommended skills and common certifications. Each sample resume is based on the most contacted Indeed Resumes for that specific job title. Also, skills and certifications for each job title that appeared most often on resumes uploaded to Indeed. These are the industries that are highlighted:

• Administrative
• Business Operations, HR & Executive
• Construction, Manufacturing & Trades
• Customer Service & Hospitality
• Education
• Finance & Accounting
• Government, Legal & Public Safety
• Healthcare & Personal Care
• Marketing, Media & Design
• Retail, Sales & Real Estate
• Technology & Engineering
• Transportation & Logistics

• Upwardly Global
  Non-profit that supports unemployed and underemployed immigrants/refugees with foreign credentials to restart their US careers. Requirements to access their free career coaching services: US arrival within 10 years, equivalent bachelor’s, strong English, US-based, and work authorized.
  
  
• Higher Education Immigration Portal
  This digital platform integrates data, policies, and best practices to support DACA, undocumented, refugee, and international students in U.S. higher education. The portal serves as an advocacy tool for campus leaders and policymakers to foster inclusive environments.

Job Accommodation Network 

Free, confidential service from the U.S. Department of Labor that provides expert guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. It helps employers and employees navigate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and find practical, tailored solutions to help individuals with disabilities succeed at work.

Employment Resources for Veterans
US Department of Veteran Affairs curated list of employment resources that can help you find a career or get job training as you transition to civilian life.