At UCLA Extension, certificate graduates are offered career resources that can help them find the right job and take the best possible professional step forward.

“It’s our goal to help UCLA Extension graduates land the job that is perfect for them and take advantage of the knowledge they’ve gained here,” said Nisha Chauhan-McGrath, director of UCLA Extension Alumni Relations. “We know graduates worked hard to complete their certificates, and that they are eager to put that into practice and change their lives.”

The UCLA Extension Center for Advising and Student Services (CASS) offers alumni a suite of career development resources that help with: resume building, cover letter guidance, interview preparation, job search strategies, networking, employer engagement and employment opportunities.

“Resumes and cover letters are marketing tools that tell your professional story and help you stand out,” said Laura Daroca, assistant director of career development at UCLA Extension. “For example, one of the biggest challenges we see for career changers is translating past experience into a new industry’s language. Our services help learners identify transferable skills, reframe accomplishments and align their narrative with employer expectations.”

Each quarter, CASS offers interactive webinars where alumni can ask questions, receive detailed assistance and ultimately learn how to become the perfect job candidate. Advisors ensure alumni are prepared for their professional future and able to figure out next steps with confidence.

Besides helping alumni look good on paper through resume and cover letter development, the career services team helps alumni with make-or-break live interactions.

“We offer an interactive virtual webinar on interviewing skills each quarter. And we have online self-service resources on our website.” Daroca said.

Through CASS, UCLA Extension also maintains a robust employment network it can activate for new graduates.

“Employer engagement at UCLA Extension is designed to connect our diverse learner population with companies who are actively hiring or providing professional development opportunities,” Daroca said. “We build and maintain relationships with companies across the Los Angeles region and beyond, helping employers understand the unique strengths of UCLA Extension students.”

UCLA Extension offers employers a range of ways to engage with its community, including posting jobs and internships, hosting employer information sessions and partnering on panel discussions or networking events. These opportunities give alumni access to employers and insights into various topics such as hiring trends, skill expectations and industry pathways.

“UCLA Extension is here to help with the ‘What’s next?’ question that is asked by every graduate,” Chauhan-McGrath said. “And for our new alumni members, we hope to have some great answers for you through our career services.”

For alumni looking for career support, or who want to be engaged as an employer, visit the UCLA Extension Career Services Website, where they can view or post job and internship opportunities, register for webinars and employer events or view development resources.