Center for Career Development and Success

professionally dressed women sit at a table

Our Goal

The Center for Career Development and Success connects students enrolled in a degree or credential-earning pathway with:

  • Paid internship experiences that provide real-world skills
  • Professional competency development to build career-ready skills
  • Career readiness support that signals to employers you’re prepared for success

By combining academic achievement with hands-on experience, we ensure students graduate Career Ready and equipped to thrive in the workforce.

 

Requirements

To qualify for paid internship and professional coaching programs, students must meet the following requirements: 

  • Hold a high school diploma or GED certificate
  • Be a current, actively enrolled student at CSM in a degree or workforce credential earning pathway
  • Maintain a 2.0+ GPA

What Will My Employer Require of Me? 

  • Desire to learn
  • Dependability
  • Good judgment and decision-making
  • Attendance and punctuality
  • Positive attitude
  • Quality of work

  

Benefits of Career Development and Success Opportunities

Students gain valuable advantages, including:

  • Earn while you learn – Get paid while exploring career paths. Data shows that students who participate in a paid internship get offered more jobs at higher salaries when entering the workforce.
  • On-the-job training – Develop practical skills in real work environments.
  • Relevant work experience – Build a strong foundation for your future career.
  • Resume enhancement – Graduate with experience that stands out.
  • Professional connections – Network with local Southern Maryland employers.
  • Job references – Secure credible recommendations for future roles.
  • Mentorship and coaching – Access 1:1 professional coaching and mentorship programs.
  • Live learning sessions – Participate in interactive development opportunities.
  • Career resources – Gain tools for professional growth, including resume and interview training.
  • HawkJobs portal access – Manage your profile, track applications, and connect with preferred employers.

Where Do I Start?

  • Complete the online student pre-assessment.
  • After submitting your student pre-assessment, the Career Development and Success Team will follow up within 24-48 hours with a Zoom meeting invitation (check your junk mail if you don't receive your Zoom invite).

We'd love to talk to you about finding an internship. Schedule a meeting today.

Upcoming Events

Hear from Our Students

I enjoyed my work-based learning internship with the Nonprofit Institute! My colleagues were friendly and always willing to help. My work assignments were simple introductions to those found in the workplace, and I could finish them at any time since I worked online. The internship was my first instance of job experience involving communications, which is my chosen career field. It let me acquire related skills such as writing social media posts and editing content. I also learned how to take initiative by asking for details about weekly assignments and finishing them on time. Additionally, I participated in teamwork by attending weekly meetings and assisting my colleagues with their assignments. Overall, I'm really glad that I pursued a work-based internship and recommend other students to take advantage of the opportunity!
Danielle Barber '22
Arts and Sciences and General Studies: Communication
Being able to participate in WBL has been wonderful. I have been able to develop my skills and have my first job as an international student without affecting my studies. My supervisor was always willing to answer my questions and put my school commitments first. It has certainly been a favorable experience.
Thanya Gonzalez
Current Student, Electrical Engineering
My experience at the WBL has helped me so much with learning into the IT field. I have learned what it takes to be an IT support technician, building computers, software, identifying different hardware, customer service. I have also made tons of friends from faculty to students. WBL has helped me improve my resume as putting my foot in the door with getting to know my field as a computer science major. I am hoping to be able to get the position again at WBL in the fall.
Courtney Pelkey
Current Student, Computer Science
I've been working for CSM for about a year, and working here as a student employee has been amazing! I am a pre-professional health major with a nursing concentration and also hold an active CNA and CCMA license. I feel that working for the college, especially in the department I’ve been working with, has helped me develop a good bedside manner and overall helped me build skills working with people. I work in STE (student engagement), so I come into contact with a lot of students, both over the phone and in person, and for a lot of people am the first point of contact. When I started working here, I was pretty introverted, and this experience has definitely helped me come out of my shell a little bit. I feel as if my social skills are better after working for CSM, and that it will be an asset on my resume when looking for jobs in the future. This was my first job, and it’s been a great experience that will be something I remember for the rest of my life.
Breanna Kekesi
Current Student, Pre-Professional Health

Connect with Us

Location

La Plata Campus
Administration (AD) Building
Room 101 ( MAP)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Virtual appointments are available between 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. with 48 hours notice.

Contact Us

301-934-7713
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