Office of Career & Professional Development

As students proceed through their academic journey, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Office of Career and Professional Development offers advising, counseling, programming, and experiential opportunities to help students discover their strengths, explore career paths, and build essential skills needed to succeed in their professional career.

Throughout the career development process, we provide holistic, individual support to all College of Arts and Sciences students by offering one-on-one career counseling appointments. During these sessions, students can work with members of our professional development team to develop career materials (resume, cover letter), explore career options, search for jobs and relevant internships, prepare for interviews, optimize their LinkedIn profile, and more.

The College of Arts and Sciences Office of Career and Professional Development also offers a myriad of career resources, including our Plan Your Path guide. This guide is designed to get students to start thinking about the steps they can take during each of their four years to successfully prepare for life after Fairfield.

To schedule an appointment, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Career and Professional Development at CAScareers@fairfield.edu.

Alumni play an active role in the career development of our current students. If you are a Fairfield alum interested in supporting our students, you can participate in industry nights, conduct informational interviews, or host a Stags in the City company visit.

If you are interested in supporting Fairfield students by participating in any of these activities, please email CAScareers@fairfield.edu.

If you are an alum interested in career counseling, please contact the University Career Center 203-254-4081 or email careers@fairfield.edu.

Within the College of Arts and Sciences, our goal is that our students leave Fairfield not only prepared to excel within the world of work, but equipped with the necessary skills and experience to be the most desirable graduates available. To accomplish this goal, the College focuses on career readiness through the acquisition of eight NACE Career Readiness Competencies. These competencies reflect the very essence of a liberal arts education and the competitive advantage it represents in today’s job market.

Career Readiness Competencies

• Career & 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.
• Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
• Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.
• Equity and Inclusion Competency: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different cultures and backgrounds. Engage in anti-oppressive practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism and inequity.
• Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.
• Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
• Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
• Technology: Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.