Career Development

Career Development is housed within APU’s Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL), which cultivates academically integrated learning experiences for community impact, professional development, and lifelong learning. 

Career Development services and resources are accessible to students in preparation for the next step in their vocational journey. Through APU’s career platform, Handshake, students and alumni can book appointments to meet with a career consultant in person or virtually; access career and professional resources; and receive customized internship and job notifications from thousands of companies and organizations around the globe. APU’s Career Development programs and resources are designed to assist in specific areas such as résumés, CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn, employer connections, job and internship search, and more. 

Students can also visit the APU Career Development Portal for additional career exploration and development resources and information. 

Career Readiness Competencies

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight career readiness competencies, each of which can be demonstrated in a variety of ways. CCEL uses these competencies to inform programming and services to prepare students for success in workplace and career management:

  1. Career and Self-Development: Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

  2. Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with people inside and outside of an organization.

  3. Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information. 

  4. Equity and Inclusion: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.

  5. Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals. 

  6. Professionalism: Knowing that work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

  7. Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

  8. Technology: Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Connect

Contact career@apu.edu for more information. The Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning is located in Building 22 on East Campus.