Career Services

Career Services is available to help prospective and current Erie Community College students with all parts of the career and educational planning process. Individual appointments are available. We recommend starting with FOCUS 2 to explore which SUNY Erie programs and related careers are the best fit for you.

Career exploration websites

• FOCUS 2: Career Assessment Tool
  *The access code to use FOCUS 2 is KATS
• My Next Move: What do you want to do for a living?
• O*Net Occupation Search
• Career Zone

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Let us guide you through the job search process of researching companies, networking, writing a cover letter and resume, applying to jobs, and improving your interview skills. Utilize the resources below and contact us for an appointment to discuss your job search. 

Join Handshake, SUNY Erie’s career management platform, to discover new career paths and find amazing jobs and internships. Log in, complete your profile, and start your search! Log in to Handshake now.

Job search websites

• CareerOneStop
• Glassdoor
• NACE Salary Calculator
• NYS Department of Labor: Job Zone

Who’s Hiring?

• Handshake
• Indeed.com
• LinkedIn
• Erie County Civil Service Jobs
• Federal Jobs
• NYS Civil Service Jobs
• New York State Department of Labor: Veterans Resources
• WNY Construction Careers
• WNY Jobs

Demand Occupations

Smart Use of AI for Your Career Journey

AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment and creativity. Here are some quick tips on how to use it wisely to accelerate your career success.

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Five Golden Rules

• Protect your data – never paste Social Security numbers, detailed addresses, or proprietary info into public AI tools.
• Verify everything – AI “hallucinates.” Fact-check dates, names, links, and statistics before you hit send.
• Keep your voice – let AI suggest wording, then rewrite so it still sounds like you. Employers notice copy‑and‑paste text.
• Iterate thoughtfully – better prompts lead to better results. Specify goal, audience, tone, and length; then refine.
• Respect policies & people – follow SUNY Erie’s academic‑integrity rules and any instructions from employers.

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AI “Do’s” (Great Uses)

• Brainstorm keywords & bullet points to strengthen your draft resume or cover letter.
• Create interview practice questions by uploading a job description into the chatbot.
• Map career paths quickly—ask AI to list roles that fit your skills, then verify with Focus 2 and Handshake
• Draft professional emails or LinkedIn summaries, then personalize before sending.
• Translate or reformat text (e.g., turn a paragraph into concise bullet points).

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AI “Don’ts” (Common Traps)

• Don’t submit an AI-written resume, cover letter, or essay without heavy editing—your personal story matters.
• Don’t rely solely on AI job matches; talk to real people and attend events to uncover hidden opportunities.
• Don’t feed confidential data into open tools—data may be public forever.
• Don’t ask AI to decide your career path—balance suggestions with self‑reflection and advising conversations.

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AI + Expert Advice = Success

Click Here to schedule an appointment with Career Services. Appointments can be online, by phone, or in person. We can:

• Review AI-enhanced resumes and cover letters.
• Help you craft stronger prompts.
• Provide interview practice using AI generated questions.

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Applied Learning is an educational experience where students learn by applying knowledge and skills gained from classroom learning to hands-on and/or real-world settings. Applied Learning activities may include internships, volunteer work, service learning, and much more. These activities are a great way to explore different career options and to build experience for your resume. Current students should visit MyECC for more information about Applied Learning opportunities.

SUNY Erie Career Services is available to assist students with preparing for Applied Learning opportunities by assisting with resumes, cover letters, interview skills and professional dress. After you have completed your Applied Learning experience, it is important to communicate your new knowledge, skills, and abilities to prospective employers. The Career Services office will guide you through the process so you are able to present yourself as professionally as possible.

Students interested in completing an internship should visit Handshake or reach out to Nathan Wallace, Director of Career Services wallacen@ecc.edu or 716-851-1986.

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POSTING JOBS and INTERNSHIPS WITH SUNY ERIE

SUNY Erie Career Services now uses Handshake to connect employers to our students and alumni! We encourage you to post your job and internship opportunities with us on Handshake.

Current Handshake users can find us listed as "SUNY Erie Community College." 

If you do not have a Handshake account, please visit Getting Started with Handshake: Employers.

 

ON-CAMPUS AND VIRTUAL RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Please contact our office at 716-851-1683 or careerservices@ecc.edu to schedule on-campus and virtual recruitment opportunities.

INTERNSHIPS 

In addition to posting your internship opportunity on Handshake, you may reach out to Nate Wallace, Director of Applied Learning and Global Engagement to discuss your internship opportunities. Nate can be reached at wallacen@ecc.edu or 716-851-1986.

CAREER FAIR

Career Services hosts an annual Career and Internship Fair in April. Employers who would like to attend the next Career and Internship Fair can email careerservices@ecc.edu to be added to the contact list.

WNYACCC

The Western New York Association of College Career Centers (WNYACCC) is a consortium of college career center professionals whose primary purpose is connecting employers with talented college students across the Western New York region. Connect with WNYACCC to learn more about the WNY Career & Internship Fair, Teacher Recruitment Day, and opportunities to connect to students and alumni.

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