Career preparation is a student process, not a placement guarantee
Arizona State University describes experiential learning, career readiness and employer partnerships as part of the student experience. A university-wide career service can help students plan and search, but employment depends on the student’s skills, programme, location, work authorization and labour market. ASU Career Services offers career exploration, appointment scheduling, employer connections, job and internship search, events and career-material tools through CareerLink. These resources are useful from the first year onward: students can explore career families, build a résumé, practice interviews and learn how to present coursework or projects. Use them alongside department advising; a career advisor may discuss broad pathways while a faculty member can explain licensing, portfolios or graduate-study expectations in a specific field.
Source: Career Services
Find internships and build experience deliberately
ASU’s CareerLink provides a university-wide place to search jobs and internships, register for events, schedule appointments and connect with employers. Career fairs and employer sessions can help students learn about roles and recruiting timelines, but attendance does not guarantee an offer. Start by identifying target roles and the skills they ask for, then map those to classes, projects, research, clubs or part-time work. Many internships require a résumé, evidence of relevant coursework and a clear account of what you contributed. Students should ask whether an internship carries academic credit, is paid, is competitive, or requires a particular course sequence. International students must also check work authorization and immigration rules with the International Students and Scholars Center before accepting off-campus work. An internship search can take multiple recruiting cycles, so plan early.
Source: Career Services
Career support across campuses and programmes
ASU Career Services offers career exploration, job and internship search, events, appointments and employer connections through CareerLink. A programme’s specialized opportunities may also be managed by its academic college. For example, engineering students may have school-specific career resources, while health, design, business or public-service students may rely on different industry networks. Ask the department whether employers recruit for your programme, when internship applications open and whether the school maintains a project, practicum or co-op pathway. Graduate students should ask their degree department whether research or teaching appointments exist for the intended term. Such positions have specific duties and eligibility and should not be treated as a universal fellowship. Confirm compensation, tuition coverage, workload and appointment length before counting the opportunity as financial aid.
Source: Career Services
Roles depend on the degree and skills you develop
ASU offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate options; career pathways therefore vary sharply by degree. A computing graduate may build software, test systems or analyze data; a public-health graduate may work in community programmes, evaluation or health administration; an engineering graduate may design, model or manage technical projects. These are examples of broad occupational areas, not ASU’s guaranteed placements or a promise that a particular degree alone meets licensing rules. Use the programme page to see what skills it teaches, then review job descriptions and professional requirements in the location where you hope to work. Build evidence of ability through projects, internships, research or practical assignments. If a role requires an advanced degree, supervised practice or certification, include that pathway and cost in your plan.
Source: Undergraduate Majors
Use outcome statistics with their cohort definitions
ASU’s Provost Office reports that 87% of new graduates were employed, continuing education, volunteering or serving in the military within six months, based on Career and Professional Development Services data for 2023–24. It also displays median full-time salary figures of USD 63,000 for undergraduates and USD 74,700 for graduate students. The 87% measure combines different outcomes and is not an employment-only rate; the page does not make it a guarantee for every campus, degree or international student. The median salary figures are institutional summaries and not programme-specific starting salaries. When using outcome data to compare degrees, ask for the specific programme cohort, survey response rate, salary distribution and time horizon. Check whether international graduates’ work authorization and job-search periods differ from other students in the comparison.
Source: Graduation and Employment
Create a career plan before your final year
In the first year, explore two or three roles and identify foundational skills. In the second year, use course projects, clubs, volunteering or undergraduate research to develop examples you can discuss with employers. In later years, make a targeted internship search, request résumé feedback and build relationships through events or faculty referrals. Graduate students can align research outputs, teaching and assistantship duties with potential nonacademic or academic roles. Keep a record of projects, tools, results and teamwork responsibilities; specific examples make applications stronger than broad claims about leadership. Career Services can support exploration and materials, but students still need to apply and meet employer selection standards. International students should consult official work authorization guidance before agreeing to a job, internship or assistantship arrangement.
Source: Career Services
International work planning needs its own advice
International students should distinguish career development from legal permission to work. Career Services can help with job exploration, internships and application materials, but employment eligibility is governed by immigration rules and the student’s status. Before accepting an off-campus internship, co-op or paid project, contact ASU’s International Students and Scholars Center and confirm the required authorization and timing. Do not assume that unpaid work, remote work for a U.S. employer or a short placement is exempt. On-campus jobs may have separate hiring and hour rules; positions are competitive and income is not guaranteed. Graduate assistantships are arranged through academic units and may affect tuition and enrollment conditions. Include the relevant office in your planning early, so that a good opportunity does not conflict with your immigration status or course load.
Source: I-20 Process