Professional Development & Networking
As a professional graduate program, we focus on helping our students achieve their career goals. This includes advising on strategic career choices and professional growth, and building connections with alumni, faculty, and partner organizations through events, online groups and applied learning.
Applied Learning
Our classes offer students opportunities to work with real clients to gain practical experience.
Our Consulting program pairs students with startups, small businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations to do hands-on communications consulting.
See our job board for paid and volunteer opportunities available to our students.
Career Coaching for Current Students
Our students can attend workshops, small group coaching sessions, and individual consultations hosted by our job search strategists, Lynn Juve, founder of Bespoke Professional and Samantha Cook, founder of Inside the Cubicle.
Lynn Juve’s Workshops include:
- How to Leverage Your Network: Identify helpful contacts, grow your network, and boost your chances of getting an effective referral.
- How to Determine Your Ideal Roles: Narrow down your direction in a way that increases your chances of finding a role
- How to Prepare for a Career Fair: Manage meetings with potential employers
- Salary Negotiation: Learn strategies to handle the question “What are your salary expectations?”
Samantha Cook’s workshops include:
- LinkedIn + Job Search Strategy Workshop: Optimize LinkedIn, connect with recruiters, and showcase professional value.
- LinkedIn + Resume Profiles: Align resume + LinkedIn into a cohesive professional brand.
- Mock Interview Prep Workshop: Practice real interview scenarios in a supportive environment.
Alumni Fellows & Mentorship
Alumni Fellows are former Comm Lead students who offer support and mentorship to current students. A mentorship program starting each November pairs current students with volunteers from our 1200-strong alumni community for advising on the particular field they’re looking to enter.
Current Fellows
Networking Events
In person and virtual events throughout the year connect current students with alumni, fellow students and industry leaders looking to hire graduates.
First Fridays
First Friday is a monthly event, typically hosted by a local company or organization held online and in person to stay connected with the greater community of alumni and industry leaders. With various themes, you can get job search, career development and industry tips from experts.
Happy Hours
Hosted at the beginning of each quarter, Comm Lead Happy Hours are a great way to reconnect with peers, alumni, faculty and members from incoming cohorts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5eN93ovQuE
Career Fair
We host an annual virtual career fair in early February each year on the Handshake platform. It will give you the opportunity to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers, and Comm Lead alumni from local and national organizations.
University of Washington
Department of Communication