Transfer Career/Internship Timeline

Click here for a printable version of this timeline.

The Transfer Career-Internship Timeline offers some basic actions you can take during your time as a transfer student at UCLA to help build on your professional development and work experience. Use these tips to help you discover and research career options, prioritize, take advantage of the rich opportunities and networking available to you at this university, and set yourself up well for life after UCLA.

There are endless opportunities at UCLA especially when it comes to preparing for life after graduation. One of the best resources at UCLA to help prepare you for your future career is the UCLA Career Center. They offer a wide range of student services, one-on-one appointments, career fairs, and other terrific programming to prepare you for the workforce and life after UCLA. The Alumni Association offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities throughout the year. Additionally, keep your eye out for transfer specific professional development activities with the UCLA Transfer Student Program. 

 


First year as a Transfer: General Tips

Develop relationships with faculty members, staff, teaching assistants, and other students

  • This will be an ongoing goal during your time at UCLA, but it is never too early to begin fostering relationships and creating cohorts.
  • You will also need experience, letters of recommendation, and references to set yourself up well for life after UCLA so it is important to start meeting professors, going to office hours, and interacting with faculty often.

Attend workshops, information sessions, networking events, and other activities.

  • The Career Center, the Transfer Student Program, and many other entities on campus host professional development events. Begin taking advantage of these vital opportunities during your first year.
  • Resume and cover letter workshops may be of particular importance if you are considering applying to jobs/internships for the spring/summer.

Explore leadership opportunities

  • Whether this is an internship, a work-study position, a volunteer opportunity, conducting research, or participating in a student organization any type of leadership opportunity is important. These skills help provide experiences you can put on your resume, offer the hands-on practice you may need outside of the classroom, and allow opportunity to build skill and demonstrate work ethic.
  • If you are a non-traditional student, these opportunities may be important to give you experience you need in a new field or to brush up on skills you will need for the workforce.

1st year: Fall Quarter

Allow yourself to explore, and adjust to the new environment

  • Explore resources and use them.
  • Create cohorts: talk to other students and professors, make friends, find partnerships, and search for groups that you find interesting and connect with. These groups and people will be the best resources a student can have.
  • Get the lay of the land: explore all that UCLA has to offer this quarter. There are a ton of options, activities, and opportunities at UCLA. Rather than get overwhelmed by them all, take time to learn about them, search them out, and prioritize.
    • It is imperative that you allow yourself time to shift and adjust to the speed of the quarter system and your new environment as a transfer. It is important to jump right in and experience all that UCLA has to offer, and it is equally as important to give yourself time to adjust. Be cognizant of the balance.
  • Maintain high academic standards.
    • Reach out and utilize resources to help with the academic transition.

Get acquainted with the Career Center and their resources

  • Visit the Career Center, pick up a Career Center Guide, and browse the website.
  • Set up a BruinView account and make a same day appointment to meet with a counselor at the Career Center. Explore the Career Center Library, internship bar, and other benefits.

1st year: Winter Quarter

Get acquainted with the Career Center and their resources

  • Visit the Career Center, pick up a Career Center Guide, and browse the website.
  • Set up a BruinView account and make a same day appointment to meet with a counselor at the Career Center. Explore the Career Center Library, internship bar, and other benefits.

Begin networking and conducting informational interviews

  • Conduct informational interviews with professionals who work in your career field of interest by networking with alumni and field experts (the Career Center, Transfer Program, and the Alumni Association all host networking event).
  • Shadow a professional at their work place, attend informational sessions, career fairs, and find other ways to get insights into your field of interest.
  • Ask questions, interview your professors, teaching assistants, and other professionals about graduate school and career options.
  • Set up a LinkedIn account and join the Bruin Transfers Group to start networking.

Secure a summer internship

  • Winter quarter is generally the busiest internship-recruiting season (although job searches go continuously so it is a good idea to always keep an eye out for opportunities –for instance accounting and business internships often begin in the fall).
  • Campus internships and summer jobs are also posted during the spring quarter closer to the summer.
  • Attend Career Center’s many recruiting events, career fairs, and check BruinView for internships postings, information sessions, and on-campus recruitment interviews.
  • Various Facebook pages such as UCLA Transfer Students, Career Center, AAP, CCCP, Jobs and Internships, and other existing groups can also be good sources for job announcements.
  • Think beyond UCLA as well. You can apply to summer programs, utilize connections outside of school, and be creative in thinking about opportunity and organizations you would like to work for.

Determine if you need to get an advanced degree

  • Prepare for graduate school if your career choice requires an advanced degree by researching programs, attending graduate school information sessions and fairs, and becoming familiar with admissions requirements and deadlines.
  • Is graduate school something that you want to pursue directly upon receiving your undergraduate degree, or if you will take a year or more off to work, travel, or do research? This is an important question to ask yourself, it will determine how you plan the rest of your time at UCLA.

1st year: Spring Quarter

Begin networking and conducting informational interviews

  • Conduct informational interviews with professionals who work in your career field of interest by networking with alumni and field experts (the Career Center, Transfer Program, and the Alumni Association all host networking event).
  • Shadow a professional at their work place, attend informational sessions, career fairs, and find other ways to get insights into your field of interest.
  • Ask questions, interview your professors, teaching assistants, and other professionals about graduate school and career options.
  • Set up a LinkedIn account and join the Bruin Transfers Group to start networking.

Learn about your field of interest

  • Research companies/organizations and gain experience in your field of interest by applying for jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities. This will help you learn more about your work preferences.

Secure a summer internship

  • Winter quarter is generally the busiest internship-recruiting season (although job searches go continuously so it is a good idea to always keep an eye out for opportunities –for instance accounting and business internships often begin in the fall).
  • Campus internships and summer jobs are also posted during the spring quarter closer to the summer.
  • Attend Career Center’s many recruiting events, career fairs, and check BruinView for internships postings, information sessions, and on-campus recruitment interviews.
  • Various Facebook pages such as UCLA Transfer Students, Career Center, AAP, CCCP, Jobs and Internships, and other existing groups can also be good sources for job announcements.
  • Think beyond UCLA as well. You can apply to summer programs, utilize connections outside of school, and be creative in thinking about opportunity and organizations you would like to work for.

Determine if you need to get an advanced degree

  • Prepare for graduate school if your career choice requires an advanced degree by researching programs, attending graduate school information sessions and fairs, and becoming familiar with admissions requirements and deadlines.
  • Is graduate school something that you want to pursue directly upon receiving your undergraduate degree, or if you will take a year or more off to work, travel, or do research? This is an important question to ask yourself, it will determine how you plan the rest of your time at UCLA.

Gather letters of recommendation from professors/TAs and supervisors

  • Hopefully, you have been establishing relationships all along and have a few people you can approach for stellar letters of recommendation.
    • If you do not have people you feel comfortable approaching for letters of recommendation, think about who you might ask and start working with them more directly to demonstrate your work ethic, the qualities that you bring to the table, and began fostering stronger relationships in general.
    • Whether it be your professors, TAs (yes, TAs can write letters of recommendation!), or your supervisors at work it is important to create a good support system and have resources and mentors that you can depend on.

Summer (after your first year as a Transfer)

Gather letters of recommendation from professors/TAs and supervisors

  • Hopefully, you have been establishing relationships all along and have a few people you can approach for stellar letters of recommendation.
    • If you do not have people you feel comfortable approaching for letters of recommendation, think about who you might ask and start working with them more directly to demonstrate your work ethic, the qualities that you bring to the table, and began fostering stronger relationships in general.
    • Whether it be your professors, TAs (yes, TAs can write letters of recommendation!), or your supervisors at work it is important to create a good support system and have resources and mentors that you can depend on.

Get experience and/or take your exams

  • Participate in an internship, work, summer courses, service effort, research, and/or involve yourself in other opportunities for professional development and experience.
  • If you are considering graduate school you should plan to take your exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) and work on your personal essay during the summer.

Second year as a Transfer: General Tips

General overview

  • Your second or third year as a transfer (referred to as senior year or fourth/fifth-year transfer) is about making more concrete career decisions.
  • If you are considering a graduate program, graduate and professional school applications, letters of reference, and test scores must be submitted early (application due dates vary, but are generally concentrated in the fall/early winter).

Network and use contacts to identify job opportunities and get referrals

  • As a transfer student with limited time at UCLA, it is important to plan ahead and set reasonable goals for yourself. Soon you will be facing the transition from college to a career position or graduate school. BruinView, career fairs, internships, and interviews will help you identify prospective employers and career positions. Discover the ABC's of a successful job search, resume trends, and interview preparation by continuing to attend a variety of workshops offered through the Career Center, the Alumni Association, the Transfer Program, and other campus partners. 

    Continually update your resume and apply to new job openings

    • Have your resume reviewed by different people, including the Career Center, create different versions of your cover letter for different types of positions, and practice answering sample interview questions.

    2nd year: Fall Quarter

    Put together your graduate school application packet

    • If you are on a graduate school path:
      • Gather letters of recommendation.
      • Work on and finish personal statements for graduate school.
      • Start/finish applying to graduate and professional schools if your career plans require a graduate degree. Most applications for graduate school are due in the fall, winter, or early spring, it is important to stay on top of due dates.

    Consult with a Career Counselor

    • If you have not already, set up a consultation with a Career Counselor to help you form a career timetable and establish goals to be accomplished before graduation.

    Visit your Academic Advisor

    • Visit your academic advisor to confirm your degree requirements for graduation, you want to make sure you are on track and that there are no surprises when it comes time to graduate.

    Prepare your resume, cover letter, and interview skills

    • Have your resume reviewed, take a workshop on cover letter writing, and brush up on interview skills.
      • Include your community college experience, and any work, leadership, internship, and volunteer experience on your resume.
      • Explore all opportunities: continue to attend career fairs and employer presentations. Check BruinView for jobs, internships, and interviews.

    2nd year: Winter Quarter

    Prepare your resume and cover letter and practice your interview skills

    • Have your resume reviewed, take a workshop on cover letter writing, and brush up on interview skills.
      • Include your community college experience, and any work, leadership, internship, and volunteer experience on your resume.
      • Explore all opportunities: continue to attend career fairs and employer presentations. Check BruinView for jobs, internships, and interviews.

    Prepare for commencement

    2nd year: Spring Quarter

    Prepare for commencement

    Network and use contacts to identify job opportunities and get referrals

    • Connect with peers, mentors, faculty members, staff, and community members, to help you identify job opportunities. 
      • Attend alumni networking events, social gatherings, and end-of-year celebrations.
      • Consider creating and updating a LinkedIn profile to help you.
    • Discover the ABC's of a successful job search, resume trends, and interview preparation by continuing to attend a variety of workshops offered through the Career Center, the Alumni Association, the Transfer Program, and other campus partners. 

    Continually update your resume and apply to new job openings

    • Create different versions of your resume for different types of positions. Have your resume reviewed by different people, including the Career Center.
    • Create different versions of your cover letter for different types of positions.
    • Practice your interview skills by answering sample interview questions.

    Bask in the glory of your accomplishments!! You are graduating from UCLA!!!

    • Congratulations! You did it!

    Summer (after your second year as a Transfer)

    Bask in the glory of your accomplishments!! You just graduated from UCLA!!!

    • Congratulations! You did it!

    Continue to utilize the free resources available through the Career Center