Prepare for a Career
Explore Your Career Options
We provide resources and guidance to help students research careers, gain work experience, earn credit for internships, and hone their professional development skills, including resume writing. We also maintain up-to-date online resources, provide individual assistance, facilitate workshops, and host on-campus events.
Research Careers
To get started on researching careers that best fit your interests, skills and/or experience, consider using the following resources and/or reaching out to a counselor who can help you explore your interests and career goals in more depth.
Career Coach
Find regional labor market information. Explore occupations/career options, wages, and employment projections. You can also view related job postings, and find out what programs we offer that relate to your interest area(s). Use our Career Coach Guide and Worksheet.
California Career Zone
Explore, plan, and prepare for a career using the tools and personalized pathway recommendations. This resource is specifically for anyone planning to work in California.
Gainful Employment Data
Browse career information by academic topic to learn about different industries, career options, median salary, and the type of education and skills they recommend.
Roadtrip Nation’s Roadmap
Learn from leaders in a variety of industries. Watch their video interviews as they engage in honest and transparent conversations about their struggles and successes on their career path. Find tips on how to start planning your own career journey.
O*Net Online
Review national labor market information and find a variety of occupations by category, such as bright outlook and green economy sector. Learn about occupations that fit your interests, training, skills and experience.
Explore Careers with Forage
What is Forage?
Forage offers free, online job simulations created by leading employers such as Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, and Accenture. These short, self-paced experiences help students explore careers, gain practical skills, and understand what real work looks like, all in a risk-free, flexible format. Forage helps students bridge the gap between college and career by offering accessible, hands-on experiences that support exploration, confidence, and employability at no cost.
Why Use Forage?
- 100% online, self-paced, and free for Sierra College students.
- Sample real tasks from top companies and discover new career paths.
- Build confidence and job-ready skills while exploring interests.
- Earn recognition of completion to include under Certifications on LinkedIn* or resumes. (*Note: Simulations should not be listed under “Experience” or “Employment History.”)
- Option to share results with recruiters from participating companies within the Forage platform
Start Using Forage
- Visit Forage and create a free account
- Click Sign Up and register with your Sierra College email
- Browse simulations and select “Register now” to begin
- Use the dashboard to find a job simulation
- Complete tasks online at your own pace – most take just a few hours. No previous experience required. View Tips for Success on the Forage Handout.
- Receive recognition of completion to showcase on your resume, LinkedIn or Handshake account.
Top Reasons to Use Forage
Ways Faculty and Staff Can Use Forage
- Integrate Forage into classroom activities
- Connect coursework with real-world applications.
- Use simulations aligned with majors or career pathways.
- Access the Educator Guide for classroom ideas and best practices.
- Try the Career Explorer Simulation, designed specifically for early-stage exploration
Professional Development
Being prepared is the best way to gain confidence in seeking a job and presenting yourself in the most professional manner possible. Consider using the following resources to prepare.
Find contact information for local agencies that provide career and employment services.
Use our guide to find meaningful work, lead a strategic job search, create an unforgettable resume and cover letter, and conduct a memorable interview.
Learn how the AAUW can support your professional development through workshops, conferences, education, advocacy and grants.
Gain Career Experience
If you’re looking to find a job and/or gain work experience in your chosen field, consider using the following resources to help you explore your options.
21st Century Skills
Use the video lesson series to learn and practice 21st Century skills needed for college and career success.
Cal Careers
Interested in a career with the State of California? The State offers a wide variety of careers and jobs, ranging from accounting to zoology.
Career Network Building
Gain strategies for learning more about careers options and how to build relationships with industry professionals through informational interviews and job shadowing.
Handshake
Explore on- and off-campus job opportunities, or find internships and volunteer opportunities using Handshake. Log in to Handshake.
Internship Opportunities
Find full-time, part-time, internships, on-campus and earn college credit through an internship.
Indeed.com
Search millions of jobs online, post your resume, read company reviews, and find job seeker tips and advice.
Placer County Job Resources
Subscribe to receive job leads, learn about job fairs, and connect with hiring managers at Job Connections events in the Placer County area.
Student Employment
Learn more about Work-Study, CalWORKS, and on-campus jobs at Sierra College. All student employment is through the Financial Aid Office.
Get in Touch
Career and Transfer Connections — Rocklin
Building Lt, Room 109