From Campus to Career: Your Journey Begins Here!
At UC Merced, we recognize that career success is important to our students. Whether you are joining the UC Merced community as a new or transferring undergraduate or graduate student, you can feel confident that you will be supported from day one as you work toward reaching your career goals. All students have the opportunity to explore career pathways, develop career readiness skills, gain hands-on experience and learn how to articulate these unique abilities in professional contexts.
A Community of Support
Joining UC Merced means you are joining a community of faculty, staff, alumni and employers ready to support you as you connect your academic and co-curricular learning to future career opportunities. Throughout your time at UC Merced, our Student Career Center team leads campus-wide efforts designed to support your career success, provides personalized services and connects you with employers and graduate schools.
Explore Career Pathways for Each Major
Customized UC Merced Career Guides provide insight into possible career paths, industries, and opportunities for gaining experience in the field of your interest.
School of Engineering Major to Career Guides
School Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts Major to Career Guides
School of Natural Sciences Major to Career Guides
Receive Personalized Career Guidance
UC Merced students work 1:1 with their very own Career Specialist on a variety of career topics. Students and Alumni may have general career conversations or receive advice on specific topics including job/internship search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, considering graduate/professional school, practice interviewing, career exploration and self-assessments.
Access Resources That Are Available When You Are
At UC Merced, we get it —your life as a student is busy. That’s why we’ve built on-demand career resources you can tap into whenever it works for you. Whether you’re prepping for an interview at midnight, exploring industries between classes, or searching for an internship, UC Merced makes sure you’re never on your own.
Jump into great on-demand platforms such as Handshake, StandOut practice interviewing, Forage Virtual Experiences, Indeed.com Job Search Academy, Parker Dewey Micro-Internships, and Global Mentorship Initiative.
Make Career Connections That Matter
At UC Merced, career prep is also about the connections you make and the doors that open while you’re here. That’s why we bring employers directly to you through engagement programs and events designed to help you explore industries, make connections, and land your next opportunity.
Employers regularly visit UC Merced to host events, interviews, and classroom presentations. Every event, employer visit, and networking opportunity is designed to be an access point from campus life to your future career. Some of the ways to connect with employers include:
- Career and Internship Fairs Meet recruiters from top companies and organizations, all eager to connect with UC Merced talent.
- Employer Info Sessions – Get the inside scoop on industries, company culture, and career paths straight from professionals.
- Networking Mixers – Build relationships with employers and alumni in a relaxed, student‑friendly setting.
- Workshops & Webinars – Learn practical tips from Career Specialists and Campus Experts.
- CareerTreks – Visit companies, non-profits and government entities to get a first-hand look at how they operate. Meet experienced professionals and hear about their career journeys. Build Connections with employers interested in hiring UC Merced talent.
Alumni and Student Success
Bobcat Alumni and Student Accomplishments
UC Degrees Lead to Jobs, Economic Prosperity
Handshake Career Management System FAQs
What is Handshake?
Handshake is an online platform and career hub where UC Merced students and alumni can find and apply for on and off campus jobs and internships, meet with employers, register to attend career workshops and events and access “How To” Guides designed to help you effectively write your resume, successfully interview, create you LinkedIn Profile and More!
When Can I Access Handshake?
Students who have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and claimed their UC Merced ID will receive an invitation from the Student Career Center to access their Handshake Account. For students starting in the Fall semester, information will be made available approximately 1 week prior to New Student Orientation season. Incoming Spring semester students may expect to receive the Handshake access information starting in mid November. Students do not need to request a Handshake Account.
How Can I Access Handshake?
Navigate to the UC Merced Handshake platform and log in using your UC Merced credentials. The next step is to complete your Handshake profile with as much information as you would like to include. Your account is created using some basic information. You are able to choose whether to include additional information about yourself in your Handshake profile, but we encourage you to include at least one experience, one co-curricular activity or organization and one skill.
Contact The Student Career Center
Visit The Student Career Center
We are located in Kolligian Library Suite 184
