The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) is here to support you through every step of your career development journey as you pursue your graduate studies at Lehigh University. We seek to empower graduate students to discover how your specialized skill set will translate into career pathways both within and outside academia.

We encourage you to invest in your career and professional development during your time at Lehigh:

  • Be intentional with career planning during your degree program. - Get started with the Lehigh Graduate Career Portfolio, visit go.lehigh.edu/gradcareerportfolio to obtain your own portfolio to help you craft your career path during your graduate studies.  This Lehigh exclusive tool from the Center for Career & Professional Development is specially designed to help you identify career action steps/timelines, connect to resources/support, and track your progress towards your career goals.
  • Leverage career platforms and on-demand resources available to you. - Start with Handshake, our university recruiting platform to connect to employers and opportunities including internships, fellowships, postdocs, part-time and full-time positions from a range of industries.  Use Big Interview to gain AI feedback on your resume and interview responses as well as view learning modules. Utilize Interstride to search for US jobs by sponsorship data, conduct a global job search, and access resources designed for our international and globally-minded students. Try LinkedIn Learning to explore over 12,000 courses and 5,000 video tutorials taught by real-world professionals to build key skills. Access Lehigh’s Career Resource Library to view guides, videos, and tools on career topics; plus, check out the Hire Lehigh Blog, the Hire Lehigh YouTube channel, and the Hire Lehigh Instagram page for additional career-related content. Complete the Career Management Seminar if enrolled by faculty within your graduate program as a course project or department initiative. This online, self-paced program will enhance your career management skills as you advance your career and prepare to conduct an internship or job search.
  • Take advantage of career coaching support throughout your graduate studies. - Schedule coaching appointments via Handshake with in-person and virtual options at varied times to fit your busy schedule. Review and discuss career action steps including exploring your career options, creating your job search materials and strategy, networking, preparing for a conference, interviewing, and evaluating/negotiating a job offer. Visit Career Lab for drop-in support from a member of our career team weekdays 11 am - 4 pm in Maginness Hall, Suite 500 and via Zoom during the summer (find the Zoom link in the events section of Handshake).
  • Seek discipline-specific guidance from faculty and professionals in your field. - Consult with your advisor and department faculty regarding your career path including times within your degree program to pursue experiential learning opportunities such as internships and fellowships. Gain insights from professionals in your chosen field from our vast alumni network as well as relevant professional associations. Our online platform, Lehigh Connects, provides opportunities to gain career insights, support and mentoring from alumni as you navigate your career path.
  • Attend career and employer events to build your skills and connections. - Explore events sponsored by the Career Center listed in the events section of Handshake. Engage in workshops, bootcamps, speaker panels, and department or classroom presentations plus special events such as a monthly graduate student breakfast with CCPD staff and fellow graduate students. Leaders of graduate clubs can contact CCPD about opportunities to partner on career-related events. Take time to connect with our employer partners from a range of industries at our two signature Career Expos plus attend events such as information sessions, panel events, and more to grow your professional network.
  • Tap into extensive opportunities and resources on Lehigh’s campus. - Familiarize yourself with the support offered by campus offices including The Office of Graduate Student Life, The Office of Creative Inquiry, and The Office of International Students and Scholars, and more. Get involved in graduate clubs and organizations on campus to expand your skills and contribute to the campus community.

Graduate students have full access to all services and resources provided by The Center for Career & Professional Development. Please review our web pages to learn more. We encourage you to build your skills as a foundation for life-long career development.