University Career Center

Workshops & Events at the University Career Center

 
 
We offer educational workshops and employer-related events to students and alumni as they explore career paths, build professional connections, and identify jobs and internships! Our events are designed to assist you with your career development, whether you're just starting your academic journey or have already graduated. Our employer event roster includes:
 
  • Quarterly Career Weeks in Fall, Winter, and Spring (with our Career Fairs occurring alongside other programming during Career Week)
  • Internship Kickstarts
  • Viking Visits (i.e., industry tours)
  • Employer information sessions
  • Community mixers
  • Alumni panel discussions
  • Résumé reviews with industry recruiters

Advance registration is required for many of our employer events. To register, select an event through the University Career Center's Workshop & Event calendar, open the associated registration link, and select the blue Register button on Handshake.

Employers that would like to engage with PSU students and alumni can visit our Employer Engagement Opportunities page or contact our Employer Relations Manager, Giovanna DiFalco (gdifalco@pdx.edu).

Career Fair Schedule (2025-2026)

Fall Fair: Oct. 27, 2025
Winter Fair: Feb. 9, 2026
Spring Fair: Apr. 23, 2026

Overview of Workshop Offerings & Workshop Descriptions

Our workshops are conducted via Zoom or facilitated in person at the University Career Center (342 Fariborz Maseeh Hall). Advance registration is required for virtual workshops. All registrants are emailed workshop learning materials after events, regardless of their attendance. Many of our workshops are offered multiple times each term, and recordings of past presentations are available through the University Career Center's YouTube channel. Descriptions of our workshop offerings can be found below.

 

Self Knowledge: Understanding Myself & How I Make Decisions 

Career Exploration & Decision Making (1.5 Hour Workshop): Are you exploring career options or getting ready to choose your major? This workshop breaks down the decision-making process into concrete steps, so you have a game plan to get started. We will do an interactive activity to identify some of your interests and discuss ways in which the University Career Center can support you at PSU (and beyond!).

 

Communication Confidence: Networking & Interview Preparation

Creating a LinkedIn Profile (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Get social media savvy at the professional level! In this mini workshop, we’ll talk about how to create or sharpen your LinkedIn profile, so that it's ready for review by recruiters and hiring managers.

Introduction to Interviewing (1.5 Hour Workshop): Prepare for your next interview, and learn how to market your skills to employers. We’ll discuss the basics of interviewing, review employers’ expectations, and clarify how to handle the most common interview questions. 

Interviewing Basics (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Get ready for your next interview! Learn preparation strategies for every phase of the interview process (i.e., before, during, and after the interview). We’ll cover employer expectations, discuss the most common interview questions, and review best practices.

LinkedIn 101 (1.5 Hour Workshop): Tap into your inner researcher and learn about the world's largest professional networking site. We'll explore how you can leverage this platform to connect with professionals and organizations in your field(s) of interest.

LinkedIn for Research & Networking (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Learn how to leverage the world’s largest social media platform for professionals! We'll specifically discuss how to explore organizations, conduct informational interviews, and reach out to recruiters!

Networking for Introverts (1.5 Hour Workshop): Networking isn’t just an extrovert’s game. We’ll explore creative ways to network that honor your interpersonal strengths. Learn how to conduct an informational interview, build connections on LinkedIn, and explore professional groups in your field(s) of interest.

Personal & Professional Branding (1.5 Hour Workshop): Does branding sound icky to you? Learn how to authentically market yourself by identifying what's important to you, following your interests, and finding like-minded people. We'll discuss ways that you can develop and share your brand with others.

Prepare for the Career Fair (1.5 Hour Workshop): Learn effective strategies for interacting with employers, so that you can make a lasting impression at the All Majors Career Fair! 

Preparing Your References (30-Minute Mini Workshop): In this mini workshop, we’ll discuss ways to build relationships and solicit references. We'll think about who can, potentially, provide strong references on your behalf and discuss how to follow up with references during your job search.

Gaining Experience: Applying to Jobs & Internships

Accountability & Time Management in Your Job Search (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Are you having a tough time getting started or maintaining momentum in your job search? If so, you're not alone. Attend this mini workshop for support in chunking your job search into tasks, balancing your commitments, and keeping yourself accountable.

Cover Letter Basics (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Learn about expected formatting and essential elements of American cover letters. Attend this mini workshop as a starting point to building an outline that can be tailored to specific positions throughout your search!

Internship Overview (1.5 Hour Workshop): This discussion-based workshop covers topics such as the benefits of doing an internship, search tips, informational interviewing, networking, and how to create your own internship. Time for Q&A will be available.

Job Search 101 (1.5 Hour Workshop): Job searching can be a big task, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for how to do it. This workshop explores ways to conduct an intentional job search and provides concrete tools and resources to increase your chances of success.

Launching your Job Search (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started! This mini workshop offers tips for developing a job search strategy as you prepare to launch.

Navigating a Job Offer & Beyond (1.5 Hour Workshop): Congratulations! You got a job offer. Now what? This workshop will provide research tips, salary negotiation strategies, and high-impact practices that you can use before and after accepting a job offer. 

On-Campus Job Search (1.5 Hour Workshop): Are you looking for a part-time student job? Learn how to identify and apply to these positions at PSU. You'll come away with a customizable email template for outreach to academic departments and campus services.

Résumé Basics (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Learn about expected formatting and essential elements of American résumés. Attend this mini workshop as a starting point to building a quality résumé that shines through in the application process!

Résumé Tailoring (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Do you have a great master résumé, but need help tailoring it for your applications? Attend this mini workshop for a step-by-step tutorial in how to integrate language from a position description into your résumé, so that you can increase your chances of moving forward in the application process.

Résumés & Cover Letters (1.5 Hour Workshop): Learn how to effectively write résumés and cover letters, whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the job market. We’ll review basic formatting, clarify what kind of information is essential, and discuss how to illustrate “fit” through your application materials. 

Staying Positive in Your Job Search & Celebrating Progress (30-Minute Mini Workshop): As job seekers, taking care of ourselves and celebrating small wins is essential. In this mini workshop, we'll discuss ways to practice self care, find community support, and build resilience amid economic uncertainty.

 

Continuing My Education: Exploring & Applying to Graduate Programs 

Applying to Graduate School (1.5 Hour Workshop): Whether you're just starting to explore options or have a clear direction in mind, this workshop will guide you through essential steps in the process of applying to graduate school. We’ll cover such topics as creating a timeline, requesting letters of recommendation, and staying organized to help you move forward with a strong application.

Applying to Graduate School (30-Minute Mini Workshop): Curious about graduate school? This mini workshop will guide you through essential steps in the process of applying to graduate school. We’ll cover such topics as creating a timeline, requesting letters of recommendation, and staying organized to help you move forward with a strong application.

Exploring Graduate School (1.5 Hour Workshop): Are you considering the next step in your academic journey and thinking about graduate school? This workshop will explore questions that you can ask yourself (and others) to determine whether graduate school is a good option for you.

University Career Center | 342 FMH
1855 SW Broadway | M-F, 9am-5pm
(503) 725-4613 | careers@pdx.edu 

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Workshop & Event Calendar