First Generation Students

Welcome to the First-Generation Students Community at the University of Florida! The resources and tools provided here have been thoughtfully curated to support you as a first-generation college student.

This community includes information and resources to empower you in building your career and professional development at UF and beyond. Take the time to explore articles, blog posts, and success stories from fellow first-gen students. Discover ways to make the most of your time at UF, like getting involved in student organizations, connecting with first-gen alumni, and utilizing real-time labor market data to guide your career choices.

Attention STEAM Students!

The Spring Career Showcase is just around the cornerā€”are you ready to shine? Prepare for success by participating in career readiness events and receiving personalized guidance from our Career Connection Center experts: STEAM Pathways Career Coach Karissa Singh and STEM …

By Crystal Burton
Crystal Burton
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Career and Community Meet-Up: Your Gateway to Networking Success at UFĀ 

Are you ready to take charge of your career while building meaningful connections? The University of Floridaā€™s Career Connections Center (C3) is hosting the Career and Community Meet-Up (CCMU), an event designed to make networking approachable, purposeful, and beneficial for …

By Jason Tillotson
Jason Tillotson Career Coach for Early Engagement
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7 Tips on Generational Wealth and How to Build It

Establishing generational wealth certainly feels like the ultimate test of financial prowess, and frankly, depending on your lifestyle, learning how to build generational wealth can be pretty vital. Tech evolution, political instability, climate change; thereā€™s a lot going on that …

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Sheā€™s Paving the Way for Women in Cybersecurity: How She Went from First-Generation College Student to IT Leader

When Stephanie Johnson, currently an Information Security Manager at Freddie Mac, was just starting her career as an IT professional, she found herself sitting in her car one night after work asking herself, “Why am I not being heard? Should …

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Resilience and Representation: Breaking Barriers in STEM with Jeyra Arocho

In this Career Spotlight episode, I talk with Jeyra Arocho, an Afro Latina fire protection engineer and trailblazer. Jeyra, who was displaced from her home of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, shares the challenges she has overcome in her career, …

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Featured Classes

Presentations

Improve your ability to communicate big ideas to clients, teams, and execs by honing your presentation skills! Gain access to…

Networking & Outreach

Utilize practical exercises and advice from successful professionals to grow your network, build your professional community, represent your organization, and…

Clarifying Expectations

What questions do you need to ask to get the job done correctly? Improve your ability to communicate with your…

Goal Setting

Setting relevant and precise goals is a recipe for career successā€”but where do you start? Learn how to choose which…

Giving & Receiving Feedback

Feedback is a two-way street — this course helps prepare you to thoughtfully give and receive constructive feedback with team…

LinkedIn Overview

Learn how to harness all of LinkedIn’s features in order to optimize your job search, expand your network, and maximize…

Informational Interviews

Careers aren’t built alone! Informational interviews are a key tool in your professional toolbelt: learn how to leverage the peers…

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Explore the essential roles and functions you’ll be collaborating with at top companies, then dive into best practices for leading…

Requesting Time Off

Nervous about requesting time off from work? Not sure how to ask your manager? Get the essential information and templates…

Career Exploration

Finding your career path doesn’t have to be a headache! Learn the difference between constructive and overwhelming questions to ask…

Cover Letters

When used correctly, a cover letter can be a valuable companion to your resume. This course will provide the samples…

Interviewing

Prepare to ace the interview! Dive into interview fundamentals, secrets to making a great first impression on employers, and how…

Professional Writing & Organization

Take a deep dive into the unspoken dos and don’ts of professional communication with coworkers, customers, managers, and more! Then,…

Presence & Professionalism

Whether you’re in the office, joining a remote meeting, or attending a work event, how you show up matters! Demystify…

Getting to Know Your Manager & Team

Navigating a new workplace is a challenge. Start your new role with confidence by asking the right questions on (and…

Hiring Process & Offer Evaluation

Upgrade your hire-ability by demystifying the hiring process from application to offer.

Resumes

Get seen by employers and put your best foot forward in the application process by unlocking key hacks and tips…

Career Resources

An award winning podcast and the first and #1 show in the world for first-generation scholars and professionals.

Hi, Gators! In this short video I walk you through creating a winning resume from scratch. All you need to …

Featured Mentor Connections

Brian Kwa

Expert-Recommended People
  • Founder and Recruiter MPH Tech Academy
Meet Brian

Arpit Jain

Expert-Recommended People
  • Global President, Marcel Publicis Groupe
Meet Arpit
Meet Irma

Terry Hung

Expert-Recommended People
  • Associate Director, UX Design AKQA
Meet Terry

Steve Walker

Expert-Recommended People
  • Vice President - North America Expeditors International
Meet Steve

Sarah Suttles

Expert-Recommended People
  • Credit Manager Bunker Holding Group
Meet Sarah

Natasha Charles

Expert-Recommended People
  • Founder, CEO, Chief Intuitive Strategist Intuitive Coaching with Natasha Charles
Meet Natasha

Bri Arndt

Expert-Recommended People
  • Recruiting Coordinator Refined Technologies Inc.
Meet Bri

Dean Di Simone

Expert-Recommended People
  • Founding Partner Function
Meet Dean

Deisy Lee

Expert-Recommended People
  • Staff Attorney The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
Meet Deisy
Meet Jacob

Contact & Location

Phone
352-392-1601
Address

J. Wayne Reitz Union
Suite 1300
PO Box 118507
Gainesville, FL 32611-8507

Career Service Hours

Monday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

We are located on Level 1 of the Reitz Union.