Graduate Student Internships

Our program requires a commitment of 9 months (mid-August through May), for 20 hours per week. Interns are paid $15.30/hour. Some evening workshops/presentations are required, as well as the ability to attend a 40-hour training week in mid-August (first week of intern training).

Mission and goals

• To equip graduate student interns to work with students in exploring their interests, values, strengths and personalities to help them identify meaningful work
• To expose graduate student interns to a variety of populations within higher education
• To assist graduate student interns in being prepared and competitive for a career in career advising, specifically in a university career center

As a graduate student intern, you will assist students with a wide range of career development subjects.

Top three reasons students come into our office

1. Internship/job search strategies
2. Resumes
3. Changing/choosing a career or major

As a Career Counseling Intern, you will have an opportunity to provide career development to individuals and groups. You will support students on issues such as career planning, identity and self-concept, choosing a major, values and motivation, developing confidence and decision making skills, exploring strengths, skills and abilities, designing a job search strategy, researching personal interests and lifestyle choices, and learning how to network, interview, write a resume, and conduct informational interviews.

Graduate Interns work closely with the Embedded Career Team of 10 career professionals and have opportunities to develop innovative programming and co-facilitate workshops that assist students in their career development and job search process. Interns will also interact with the entire Career Services’ staff throughout their experience.

Interns will provide support to a smaller team of career advisors working to develop campus relationships with colleges and schools to increase student awareness and use of CU Career Services.

• College of Arts and Sciences: Opportunity to provide small group and individual career advising and support events for the largest college on campus.
• College of Engineering and Applied Science: Work closely with dedicated students and the ProReady Initiative.
• College of Media, Communication, and Information: Engage with students seeking careers in media, public relations, and more.
• School of Education: Provide career advising and support for student teachers and future leaders.

• Graduate interns receive career advising training and supervision by seasoned professionals.
• You will gain exposure to a variety of students, including international, graduate, undergraduate, first-generation and under-represented students of all majors and disciplines.
• You will have the opportunity to engage with other career professionals from various backgrounds and training.
• You will have the opportunity to work on a specific project involving a particular population/area of need that will give you a broad perspective on working in a university career center.
• We are at the forefront of best practices in the career development field.
• We are leaders in the state, region and nationally in the career field. Many of our staff have served as officers in the Colorado Career Development Association (CCDA), Collegiate Career Services Association of Colorado & Wyoming (CCSA), Mountain Pacific Association of College and Employers (MPACE), and the National Career Development Association (NCDA).

Training and discussion topics

• Narrative development                                                          
• Strengths-based development
• Motivational interviewing
• Brief/solution-focused development
• Appreciative inquiry
• Mind-mapping
• Planned happenstance
• Cognitive information processing
• Stages of change (Prochaska & DiClemente)
• Student development theories and multicultural identity development

Career assessments

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
• CliftonStrengths
• Strong Interest Inventory
• YouScience

We welcome applications from graduate students in counseling, higher education/student affairs and other related programs such as social work, ed psych, etc.

Counseling graduate students must have completed a practicum before beginning the internship.

This program prepares graduate student interns for career advising positions in higher education and other educational settings, therefore we offer both a counseling and student development perspective in our work. 

To apply, please submit

• A cover letter, stating the reasons you are seeking an internship at CU Boulder Career Services
  
  • Please indicate any specific interest in one of the colleges or schools at CU Boulder.
• A current resume
• A letter of recommendation 

Please email your cover letter and resume to Sandra Rosewell.

Most of our graduate student interns find positions in university career centers, such as Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado, University of Denver, Naropa University and other prestigious universities and colleges. We have also hired several former interns.

Some of our graduate interns have sought opportunities in private practice as recruiters in industry, and a few have gone back to school for a PhD.

“The intern experience with Career Services at CU was foundational in my development and growth as a career counselor. My supervisors, as well as the full staff, gave me the supported push that I needed to strengthen my career development skills, utilize the counseling techniques I learned in the classroom, and find my personal approach to working with a wide variety of students and clients. The team also modeled involvement in the career development field and encouraged my pursuit of a leadership role with CCDA. Now in my fifth year as a career counselor at Colorado State University, I continue to draw on my internship experiences and training from CU in my work with students.​”

– Jason Radman
Career Counselor, Career Management Center

“When it comes to doing an internship in career counseling, the Graduate Intern Training Program at CU Boulder is second to none. During my time as a graduate intern, I had extensive training and opportunities for development in all aspects of career development including career exploration using a combination of counseling techniques as well as assessment, resume development, effective utilization of LinkedIn, job search strategies, interview prep and negotiations. I also had several opportunities to work with groups on campus, doing outreach and presenting on various career topics. The support and supervision also helped me grow significantly as a career development professional. Since my time as an intern at the University of Colorado, I have had several opportunities to present at local and national career conferences. I have gone on to an exciting opportunity working for the University of California Irvine teaching lifelong career management strategies to undergraduate business majors.  In addition, I work at Right Management as a career consultant, helping seasoned professionals transition into new careers.​”

– Blair Frasier
Associate Director, UC Irvine, The Paul Merage School of Business

“Eager to be fully immersed in a program where I could connect with students and collaborate with my peers, CU Boulder Career Services seemed like the most meaningful choice. My interest was caught when I learned about the opportunity of counseling students, the direct responsibility to provide guidance and counseling during student sessions, followed by supervision and weekly peer collaboration. I gained knowledge of career counseling techniques, my personal counseling philosophy and strong relationships with the CU Boulder Career Services team. Weekly training sessions allowed me to collaborate, learn from my peers, and build on coursework during graduate school. This is an incredible opportunity to learn and reflect on your counseling that you cannot find anywhere else.​”​

– Meagan Burkholder
Academic Advisor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado