Updates from the Career Center of Excellence
August 2026
The Big Picture
New beginnings, shared purpose
As we welcome a new academic year, many of us are balancing the excitement of new beginnings with the realities of full calendars and competing priorities. While this season can stretch our time and capacity, it also offers a valuable opportunity to start fresh, explore new ideas, and embrace the possibilities that come with a new year.
At the CCOE, much of our focus this year will be on supporting Ohio State's response to HB96 and the expansion of work-based learning opportunities for students. As we navigate these new requirements, we are committed to balancing compliance with what is practical, sustainable, and in the best interests of our students, our campus partners, and the systems already doing important work across the university. We will continue to approach this effort with a collaborative mindset and thoughtful consideration of capacity across our decentralized career ecosystem. For those interested in learning more, ODHE's HB96 guidance can be found here.
Thank you for all you do to support students as they explore, prepare for, and pursue meaningful career opportunities. Your dedication strengthens not only individual student outcomes, but also the collective impact of Ohio State's career ecosystem. I look forward to partnering with you throughout the year ahead.
—
Tricia Zelaya-Leon
Senior Director, Career Center of Excellence
⚠️ Urgent update
The Office of International Affairs recently received updated guidance from the Department of Homeland Security regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Based on this guidance, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause the processing of CPT applications. At this time, we will only approve CPT for students whose academic program requires an internship as a mandatory component for graduation. Our current CPT application is being revised and our website has been updated.
We understand that this information may be unexpected and upsetting for students, and we recognize the impact this may have on their academic and professional plans. As we receive additional guidance or updates, we will continue to keep you informed, but do not hesitate to contact ISS if you or your students have additional questions.
Tech talk and tools
Online tools for student success
There is a robust digital ecosystem to support our students' professional journeys. Please keep these core platforms in mind to direct students to the right resource when career questions arise.
Handshake
Handshake is Ohio State's primary career services platform, connecting students directly with career services staff and employers. It facilitates continuous professional development throughout a student's entire time at OSU and as they transition to the workforce. All currently enrolled students and alumni can log in using their standard university email and password at handshake.osu.edu.
- Key Student Features:
- Algorithmic Recommendations: A personalized feed based on a student's completed profile, skills, interests, academic achievements and career goals.
- Vetted Job Board: Contains local, national, and global listings for every stage of the student lifecycle—from their first on-campus job to internships, co-ops, and full-time career roles.
- Events & Workshops: Centralizes university and employer career events, including skill-building workshops hosted by career services and sessions run by top employers.
- Appointment Scheduling: Serves as the portal to book coaching sessions with college career advisors and Buckeye Commons advisors to discuss career goals, resumes, and post-graduation plans.
- Resources: Houses specialized career resource libraries, tools, and links curated specifically by the university and your college's career center to support resume writing, interview preparation, and specialized industry research.
- Why Recommend Handshake?
- It Grows with the Student: Students can find career opportunities for every step of their college experience—from their very first on-campus job to summer internships and their final career placement.
- Smart Algorithm: The more they fill out their profile and career interests, the more Handshake populates their feed with the opportunities they are looking for.
- Global Reach & Centralized Hub: It allows Buckeyes to explore job opportunities across the nation and the world while centralizing career services events happening across Ohio State in one location.
More Online Career Tools
- FOCUS 2 Career (Self-Assessment): Offers five self-paced assessments analyzing a student’s skills, interests, and values to map out compatible OSU majors and careers.
- What Can I Do With This Major? (Academic Mapping): Outlines typical industries, employers, and actionable strategy checklists (like targeted minors or student orgs) for hundreds of disciplines.
- Parker Dewey (Micro-Internships): Connects students with short-term, paid, remote professional projects (10 to 40 hours total) for flexible resume-building.
- GoinGlobal (Global Mobility): Located under Handshake's "Resources" tab, this features an H1B visa search engine for international students and location-specific career guides for domestic and international moves.
- Alumni Fire (Mentorship): Connects current students with Ohio State alumni for flash mentorship, networking, and industry advice.
How Faculty & Staff Can Take Action
- Bookmark the links to keep these tools handy for advising appointments and student office hours.
- Add a "Career Resources" blurb to your course syllabi or Carmen Canvas pages linking directly to Handshake or any other relevant career resources.
Thank you for your continued partnership in championing student success across Ohio State!
Bright spots across campus
Career Studios — fostering career goals & connection
The start of a new academic year leads to exciting opportunities and possibilities for students.
Career Studios, supported by Buckeye Commons, are open and will operate at three locations this fall semester. Providing quick and informed guidance on all things career, students can drop-in to meet with a peer career coach or professional staff member at the following locations across campus during the week - no appointment needed!
Ohio Union – Keith B. Key Center
Monday-Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Busch House Residence Hall – North Campus
Monday-Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thompson Library – Room 122A
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 12 to 5 p.m.
Visit their website to learn more and encourage students to visit for additional support and guidance.
Industry in focus
JPMorganChase hiring insights — what Career Services needs to know
JPMorganChase shared several key trends that can help career services professionals better prepare students for today's recruiting landscape. Recruiting is becoming more strategic and long-term focused, with employers identifying future talent needs earlier and encouraging students to begin career exploration well before applications open. Notably, approximately 40% of applicants apply within the first two weeks of a posting.
Technology and AI are also reshaping entry-level hiring. While technical skills remain important, employers are increasingly seeking candidates who demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to leverage AI responsibly while maintaining strong communication and independent judgment.
JPMorganChase offers programs for students at every stage, including Freshman Focus, sophomore fellowship opportunities, and 9- to 10-week Summer Analyst internships for juniors. The firm encourages students to explore broadly across its lines of business, including Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Banking, Asset & Wealth Management, Corporate Functions, and Technology, Data & Product.
Recruiters emphasized that successful candidates stand out through preparation, intentional networking, professional communication, and the ability to clearly connect their experiences and skills to the role. Transferable skills, behavioral interview performance, and evidence of impact are often just as important as academic credentials.
Finally, JPMorganChase highlighted the importance of strong employer-university partnerships. Career coaches play a critical role in helping students understand recruiting timelines, develop career readiness skills, connect with alumni and employers, and navigate an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing workforce. Expanding access to opportunities and helping students build confidence early remain key priorities for both employers and higher education partners.
By the numbers
Connecting students to opportunity through career fairs
Ohio State hosts over 40 career fairs each year across its campuses, connecting students directly with over 2,300 registered employers. These events span massive university-wide hiring expos and targeted, discipline-specific fairs managed by individual colleges.
Where to Find the Full List
On the Web: Staff and faculty can direct students to the central Ohio State Career Fairs Calendar, which aggregates all university-wide and college-hosted career fairs for the entire academic year.
In Handshake: Students can log in to handshake.osu.edu using their OSU credentials, select the Events tab on the main navigation bar, and filter by Career fair. This allows them to register in advance and research attending organizations and open positions ahead of time.
Why Recommend Career Fairs to Students?
Direct Pipeline for Internships & Full-Time Jobs: With thousands of employers actively recruiting on campus, fairs serve as a primary launchpad for securing internships, co-ops, and post-graduation roles.
Elevated Graduate Outcomes: Early exposure to recruiters and early internship placement translates into stronger post-graduation employment rates and improved retention metrics.
Curriculum-to-Career Bridge: Fairs give students concrete examples of how their academic coursework and classroom projects apply directly to real-world industry needs.
Career Readiness & Skill Building: Attending fairs helps students develop foundational professional habits—such as crafting an elevator pitch, articulating transferable skills, and networking with confidence.
Industry Insights for Faculty: Hearing student feedback from interactions with over 2,300 registered employers offers valuable insight into emerging hiring trends, required skill sets, and industry demands.
How to get involved
Strengthening our career ecosystem
In case you missed the Career Leadership Collective’s member-exclusive webinar, “Why Are Campuses Moving Toward a Career Ecosystem Model?”, the recording is now available for viewing. Ohio State’s institutional subscription gives faculty and staff full access to Collective member resources, events, and content using their OSU email address.
To stay up to date on all career-related information and to connect with colleagues, join us at the first University Career Services Committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 9 a.m., on Zoom.