Career & Experiential Learning

Navigate your passion

The Career & Experiential Learning Team offers resources, events, and programs on-campus and off-campus to further the educational and career goals of students and alumni. Our navigators and staff can assist with:

  • Finding and preparing you for hands-on experiences related to your career path (e.g., employment, internships, volunteer work, etc.)

  • Guided Career Exploration Assessments

  • Developing personal and professional career readiness skills to help you succeed in your career path

Career Readiness and You

Career readiness is a foundation of skills and experiences that can help prepare a college student for success in the workplace post-graduation for lifelong career management.

What are the Types of Career Readiness Skills? According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Communication, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism, Technology, Equity & Inclusion, and Career & Self-Development are eight key competencies that college graduates should have to ensure their successful entrance into the workforce.

Career and Scholarship Office

Rio Grande Building, Suite 112A
Campus Map

Hours of Operation

Mondays: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Walk-in times: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–5 p.m.
No appointments required

Tuesdays – Thursday: 8 a.m.– 6 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Appointment only

Services provided within the Experiential Learning Care Unit
  • Career Exploration & Career Planning
  • Interview Preparation & Mock Interview
  • Job & Internship Search Tools
  • Resume & Cover Letter Review
  • Work-Study Career Development
Meet our Team

Students may schedule with a navigator of their choice by using the Navigate Appointment Scheduler links below.

Photo of Leticia Longoria Fisher
Leticia Longoria Fisher,
Grant Project Director, Project Listo
lfisher28@alamo.edu
210-486-3814

 

 

Photo of LeticiaLeticia De La Rosa
Interim Director of Career Services
lneira@alamo.edu

Kiana PinaKiana Piña
Career Experience Team Lead
kpina18@alamo.edu
210-486-3810

 

 Kiana PinaKarly Haines
Certified Career Experience Navigator
khaines3@alamo.edu
210-486-3811

Navigate Appointment Scheduler

Photo of DanielleDanielle Y. Ramos
Certified Career Experience Navigator
dramos263@alamo.edu
210-486-3812

Navigate Appointment Scheduler

What is experiential learning?

Experiential learning provides a real-world understanding that enhances academic success. It is the process of learning through experience, where students are actively involved in the experience, reflect on the activity, and apply the value of the experience to broader areas of life. Self-reflection empowers students to take charge of their own learning and make connections to launch their career journey.

PAC Student


Four categories of experiential learning

             

"Number

 

Co-Curricular
Activities related to course curriculum
Examples: Classroom-based learning projects, public speakers, panel discussions, research projects, and faculty-led study abroad

 

Number two

 

Extracurricular
Activities that foster student involvement and strengthen the culture of the institution.
Examples: Student clubs and organizations, sports, student leadership, and study abroad

 

Number three

 

Field Experience
Hands-on workplace learning that directly relates to career application
Examples: Apprenticeships, internships, community/private sector work study, clinicals, field observations, and student teaching

 

Number four

Service Learning
Activities that combine learning objectives, teach civic responsibility, and meet the community’s needs
Examples: Volunteering with college advocacy centers, San Antonio Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and other non-profit organizations

 

Why is experiential learning important?

A college degree or certificate often plays an essential role in achieving career goals, but the skills obtained through experiential learning can give students confidence in their career path and make an application stand out to potential employers.

Experiential learning can play a critical role in providing students with hands-on experience and personal reflection. The soft skills gained can also give them the marketable skills they need for employment after graduation.

Explore Opportunities

Through AlamoEXPERIENCE, students participate in experiential learning opportunities to supplement their classroom learning, develop their skills and build connections for their future careers. This portal allows students to capture their work, connect with people within the Alamo Colleges District, and build their resumes with the AlamoEXPERIENCE Transcript.

Log in with your ACES username and password.

Find Experiences

 


 

Students

Academic and Career Exploration Resources

Learning Express - Job & Career Accelerator: Browse career information, find tools to get hired, build a resume, and search for jobs and internships from a national database.

Big Future Career Browser: Browse academic and career profiles by categories, keyword, or interest.

Texas H.O.T. Jobs: Search for health-related career info specific to Texas.

Texas Reality Check: Use one of three methods to compare occupations, lifestyles, and salary goals to find recommended careers.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: This guide includes career information for hundreds of occupations!

O-Net Online: This site is the nation's primary source for occupational information. 

LearnHowtoBecome.Org: This site uses expert-driven content to offer a comprehensive guide to begin, further, or change your career path.

Education and Career Planning

Career Coach: Find a career by knowing current local data on wages, employment, job postings, and associated education and training. Also, build a resume with the free resume builder!

 

Jobs and Internships

handshakelogoBLK.png

Palo Alto College has partnered with Handshake, a platform designed to help guide students through their career search journey. Create your profile to find jobs that are right for you, search through job roles based on your interests, and discover new career possibilities.

Students:

Log in to My Handshake Account

New to Handshake? Sign up here!

Employers:

Employer Handshake Login

Click here to register

 


 

Micro-internships

Are you interested in a short-term, paid micro-internship?

The Alamo Colleges District, in partnership with Parker Dewey, is offering short-term, paid, professional assignments.

Explore internships that are available year-round and range from 5 to 40 hours of work over the span of one week to one month.

These projects can launch your career with opportunities to develop new skills, explore career paths, and build career networks toward a full-time role.
Companies range from Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups and go across departments, including sales, marketing, technology, HR, and finance.

Get started

 


 

Before you start your job search, you need to be prepared. Things to do:

  • Create/edit resumes, cover letters, and other documents needed for the application process. 
  • Create a list of three to six references. Don’t forget to ask permission!
  • Make a check list: full-time or part-time? Do you have the skills to work in fast food, retail, manufacturing? Knowing and employer's wants and needs will help you search more efficiently.
  • Schedule a mock interview with your advisor! Practice makes perfect, and a practice interview is one way to help you make a great first impression.

Use these additional websites to widen your job search

  • Glassdoor: Allows you to search for jobs but also provides good information about salaries, interviews, and companies.
  • JobStar Central: Lets you search “all,” “what,” and “where.”
  • Indeed: Use this site to post your resume and search for openings by: company name, keyword/title, location.
  • Snagajob: Provides postings for full-time and part-time hourly jobs. You can search by location, category, industry, position, and even company!
  • Texas Internship Challenge: Provides an opportunity to search for internships by keyword and location across the state. It is a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Create a profile, upload your resume, and start finding your internships today!

Use these websites to find a great internship!

Self-Assessment Tools

Keirsey Temperament Sorter: Take this assessment and find out if your personality is a guardian, idealist, rationalist, or artisan!

Jung Typology Test: This test is based on typological research on personality types. Once complete, you’ll know your four-letter type. Discover careers, find out which famous people share your type, and more!

Work Study

Work Study Programs are a great option for current students! In addition to multiple on-campus opportunities, the Alamo Colleges District offers community-based (off-campus) work-study jobs that allow students to work with employers in the community to gain real world work experience, ideally in your field of study.

Multiple positions are available. Only students who qualify for work study may apply. To check if you qualify, please visit the Financial Aid office in the Rio Grande Building Lobby (107A) or schedule a Work Study Career Development appointment with a Career Navigator using the Navigate Appointment Scheduler link(s) above.

To apply:

  • Visit alamo.edu/jobs
  • Select Work Study.
  • Select the appropriate institution or consider a position located in a community based organization.
  • Read the job description and instructions for applying.
  • For resume assistance, please contact a Certified Career Experience Navigator or visit the Career and Scholarship Suite in Rio Grande Building Suite 112A to schedule an appointment.

Below is a list of some agencies that are eager to hire Alamo Colleges District students:

  • American Indians of Texas Association
  • Any Baby Can
  • Avance
  • Catholic Charities Services]
  • Children's Bereavement Center
  • Chromosome 18 Registry/ Research
  • City of San Antonio Public Library
  • Communities in Schools
  • Daughters Of Charity Services of San Antonio
  • Down Syndrome Association Texas
  • Family Service Association, Inc.
  • Girls Inc.
  • Good Samaritan Community Services
  • Methodist Healthcare Ministries
  • Mexican American Unity Council
  • Playhouse SA
  • San Antonio CAN High School
  • San Antonio Council on Alcoholism/Drug Abuse
  • San Antonio FoodBank
  • San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind
  • SA Works
  • SAMMinistries
  • University Health System
  • YMCA

 

Student Employee Initiative

The Student Employment Initiative uses student employment as a high-impact practice to improve student engagement, learning, acquisition of transferable skills, and academic and career success. For additional resources, visit the Student Employee Initiative via AlamoExperience. 

Employers

Jobs and Internships

handshakelogoBLK.png

Handshake is the premiere job search platform for colleges and universities and the #1 way students get hired. Create your free profile to begin posting job opportunities for full-time, part-time, and internship positions. By connecting with the Alamo Colleges District, your organization and postings will be accessible to our 60,000 students and alumni.

 

Already have an account?

Employer Handshake Login

Click here to register

Partnership Information

Our employer partnerships are a collaborative effort to help our students explore career choices, make informed career decisions and answer the ‘why’ as students learn new skills.

An internship is a field of study-related work experience that allows students to work in a professional environment to gain valuable knowledge, training, and skills.

This experience also allows college students the opportunity to explore and better define their career interests. Alamo Colleges welcomes businesses of all sizes to create internship opportunities for our students to consider.

Alamo Colleges will partner with businesses interested in providing internship opportunities that –

  • Agree to compensate the intern and to abide by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Accommodate the student’s academic calendar
  • Present a learning experience that provides for applying knowledge gained in the classroom
  • Offer an experience that has a defined beginning and end
  • Provide a job description with desired qualifications
  • Arrange for supervision and feedback by a professional with expertise in the student’s field of study
  • Supply the resources, equipment, and facilities that support student learning

Employers offering internships will…

  • Agree and sign Memorandum of Understanding with Alamo Colleges District
  • Agree to provide orientation, company expectations, and a safe work environment
  • Agree to provide the student with a supervised work experience
  • Assist in developing learning objectives related to work experience
  • Participate in site visit between student and college representative
  • Evaluate the students’ work and learning objectives

Employer benefits…

  • Reduced recruitment and training costs
  • Access to diverse student talent
  • Investment and savings related to entry-level wages, fringe benefits
  • Formal partnership between industry and institution

Employer checklist –

  • Fill out and submit the Employer Partnership Form
  • Sign and return ACCD Memorandum of Understanding

Align opportunity with Alamo Institute and/or course

Employer Partnership Opportunities

Faculty and Staff

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning Advisory Group (E.L.A.G.)
Purpose: A working group that brings consensus, share’s awareness, celebrate the work, and brings understanding to EL

  • Utilize ELAG to promote campus wide understanding of EL and to ensure staff/faculty develop and document EL opportunities
  • Commitment: Attend monthly meeting, details sent out from Project Listo representatives
  • Involvement from: Faculty, staff, students
  • Outcomes: to develop and implement the activities identified on logic model in support of EL

Interested in joining? Reach out to Leticia L. Fisher at lfisher28@alamo.edu and pac-jobs@alamo.edu to get started today! Also, check out our ELAG Logic Model Subcommittees for more information.

 

Faculty and Staff resources

AlamoEXPERIENCE Resource Guide
AlamoEXPERIENCE Model Overview

Contact Information

Location:
Career and Scholarship Office
Rio Grande Building, Suite 112A
Campus Map

Email:
pac-jobs@alamo.edu

Office Phone:
210-486-3816