Culinary Connect and How CIA Sets You Up for Career Success

A Student’s Perspective on the Career Support Offered at the World’s Premier Culinary School

Author Sarah Rolph ’22/’26 is a Culinary Science major.

Getting a job after college is a daunting task. When I first started at CIA, I remember building my résumé, going to interviews, researching properties, and finding a place to live seemed overwhelming and slightly impossible. Luckily, there is a whole department dedicated to helping us thrive: the Center for Career and Academic Advising.

When we first get to school, students are matched with an advisor who can be familiar with each student’s unique circumstances and goals. The first resource for job prep is the “Preparing for Externship” course that students take along with their first semester of kitchen classes. This class covers building a résumé, reaching out to potential employers, interviewing, and everything we need to know to have a great externship experience. Don’t worry if you aren’t in the class; throughout the semester there are also workshops specializing in each of these skills, available to all students. This is great if you want to get an early start on the externship search or get some extra practice before graduation.

A CIA student in a suit shaking hands with a chef while attending CIA's Career Fair in Hyde Park, NY campus.

One of the many perks of making the cut at the Culinary Institute of America is access to its vast alumni network. Part of this is access to Culinary Connect, a tool for CIA students and alumni to connect with one another to find externship sites and even full-time jobs after graduation. This is like CIA’s very own LinkedIn platform and has contact information for alumni or hiring managers for each restaurant. Fun fact, I found my externship through this site and could not be more grateful!

These resources helped me get not only my externship, but my job after graduating with my associate degree (not to mention events like the Career Fair). CIA name and reputation paired with the skills and support from the advisors makes this process a lot less daunting and a lot more exciting. So next time you’re worried about getting a start in the industry, just remember CIA has all the tools to get you where you want to go!