Career Resources for Rady Undergraduates

Make the most of your college years and develop your career potential by utilizing the many resources that UC San Diego offers.

Enhance Your Education

Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior

Getting good grades and learning as much as you can in your classes is important for all students, but it is not the only key to launching a great career. Employers don’t only hire students with a high GPA – they look for well-rounded individuals with practical experiences and skills that will translate to the workplace. Make the most of your college years and develop your career potential by utilizing the many resources that UC San Diego has to offer.

Keep up to date on upcoming events and opportunities by following the Rady School of Management Undergraduates Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Freshman Year

Join a Student Organization

Gain leadership experience, participate in networking events and learn from professional guest speakers. Make the most of every group you join. Jump at opportunities that lead to more responsibility and leadership roles. Not only will you make social connections, but you will gain more experience and build your resume. Find organizations to connect with on Rady’s Student Organizations Page.

Explore Learning Opportunities

Explore new interests and take a class outside of your comfort zone by enrolling in a 1-unit Freshman Seminar. The workload is light and topics range from “How to Take Risks” to “Cult Films of the 1950s-2000s.”

Get a Summer Job

Make the most of your summers by working during the summer. Office work experience is great and many employers value the customer service, multi-tasking, and teamwork skills that students learn in retail jobs, as well.

Connect with your Professors

Attend office hours and get to know your professors better. Meeting with professors offers valuable insights into the professional and academic world. It is also a good, no-risk way to practice your professionalism and networking skills.

Sophomore Year

Visit the UC San Diego Career Services Center

The Career Services Center offers undergraduates access to internships, diverse and rewarding careers, connections, and support to effectively apply for jobs and graduate school. Use their handy Tools for Career Success Guide to get started writing your resume and a sample cover letter. Then, visit their Career Assessment Page to explore online tools for career exploration. 

Career Services Center Resources for Undergraduates


Explore Careers

Start imagining post-graduation life. Explore Common Careers by Major. Does the career you seek require internship experience? More education? Are you considering graduate school? Maybe you want to take a few years off to gain work experience before going back to school. There are many options to start considering. Make sure you have a “plan A” and “plan B” in mind.

Apply for an Internship

In 2011, 48% percent of UC San Diego Seniors graduating with job offers converted an internship or previous job experience into a permanent career position. Further, there is no better way to decide what career you want to pursue than by testing it out. An internship will add experience to your resume and could potentially lead to a great career.

Plan to Study Abroad

Gain a global perspective and connect with students and employers in other parts of the world. Find more information on Rady’s Study Abroad information Page. Start planning now to study abroad in your Junior or Senior year. Study abroad classes can be applied toward the business minor for credit.

Junior Year

Declare Your Minor

Declare your minor as a Junior to start receiving updates about important upcoming business and accounting related events. Declare on Tritonlink using the Major/Minor Tool. Visit Rady’s Undergraduate Advisor during walk-in advising hours to map out an academic plan to complete your minor.

Connect with your Professors and Teaching Assistants

Rady instructors and TAs are professionals and researchers who can give insight into a variety of career fields. You may want to ask them for a letter of recommendation someday, so practice your professionalism and introduce yourself during office hours.

Attend Career Events and Fairs

The Career Services Center, Rady, and many student organizations host many networking and career development events throughout the year. The main networking events for accounting and business students are Meet the Accounting Firms and Industry Networking Night.

For Accounting students - Attend 'Meet the Firms'

Generally held in late September or early October, this is the biggest and most important networking event of the year for accounting students. Recruiters will be seeking Juniors for internships for the following summer, and Seniors for full-time positions for after graduation. 

Industry Networking Night

Generally held mid-November, this is the biggest networking event of the year for business students (some accounting firms usually also attend). Not all attending employers will be currently recruiting, however this is your chance to meet with company representatives to learn more about the company and future employment opportunities. If recruiting, they will be seeking Juniors for internships and Seniors for full-time positions for after graduation.

Apply for an Internship

If you held an internship as a Sophomore, consider exploring another career field or company with a different internship as a Junior. In 2011, 48% percent of UC San Diego Seniors graduating with job offers converted an internship or previous job experience into a permanent career position.

Senior Year

Attend Career Events and Fairs Again

Attend Meet the Accounting Firms and Industry Networking night and other events again, this time seeking full-time employment opportunities for post-graduation.

Look for Jobs

Check UCSD Handshake, job search engines like Indeed.com, and company websites regularly for job and internship opportunities. Attend another Express 15 advising session to make sure your resume is polished and up to date. Consult the Tools for Career Success Guide for guides and templates for industry-specific resumes and cover letters, interview and networking tips, and more. 

Additional Resources: Morgan Stanley'sⒸ Starting your First Job Guide

Connect with Your Professors

Attend office hours and get to know your professors better. Meeting with professors offers a chance for you to practice your professionalism and networking skills, and professors can also offer valuable insights into the professional and academic world. Developing meaningful relationships with your instructors could even help you secure a leter of recommendation in the future. You should only ask professors for a letter or recommendation if they truly know you well and are able to recommend you based on your academic merits.  It is difficult or impossible for them to write a letter of recommendation if they have never met you. Please also be courteous and respectful of their time when considering how many letters you are asking them to write.  For more read our letter of recommendation tip sheet here. 

Learn a Language

Looking for classes to fill up your senior year? Take advantage of a lighter load your final year and take some introductory language classes, especially if you want to work in an international environment.