Identity Resources

Learn about specific resources available, additional identities, and how to evaluate employer commitment/support to hiring students of color. 

• Connect with Alumni of color with whom you identify: 
  • Georgia Tech Alumni Association  
  • Georgia Tech LinkedIn Alumni Page  
  • How to find a mentor and make it work 
• Does the employer value diversity?  
  • Check out Fair360 – it features a national list of the top 50 companies for diversity policies and programs. 
  • Check the employer’s website for their diversity mission or policy. 
  • Does the company have employer have Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or resources to support underrepresented employees? 
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions about diversity during your interview.  
• Be aware of your rights by reading about Employment Discrimination or through this Overview of Workplace Discrimination.  

Additional Identities

Below, please see job search boards, professional associations, blogs, and other resources that might be useful.  

Georgia Southern University, UMBC, and Georgetown University (listed below) all have a great lists of resources for various student identities.

Indigenous/Native American

• Indian Country Today – A magazine that covers topics pertinent to Native Americans. The website includes internships, a scholarship guide, and job search database.
• Native American Professional Organizations – A list of organizations and professional associations serving the Native American community.
• Native American Jobs – A job search database for Native American job seekers which includes Tribal and Non-Tribal companies across the nation.
• Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education – A magazine for Native Americans in higher education which includes a job board.

Additional Resources:

• IMDiversity.com — IMDiversity.com is a career and self-development site devoted to serving the cultural and career-related needs of all minorities.
• INSIGHT Into Diversity — One of the most recognized resources for equal opportunity employers who are seeking to add qualified candidates of color to their workforce. Job postings include positions in academia, business, healthcare, and the government.
• Institute for Broadening Participation — A directory of links to programs designed to increase the presence of historically underrepresented identities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. The programs include internship, job, scholarship and fellowship opportunities. The institute is an independent, open source nonprofit and provides resources to faculty and students by means of an infrastructure unfettered by institutional or disciplinary barriers.
• NACE Diversity & Inclusion Resources — The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) connects university career service professionals to recruiters and employers. It maintains a list of resources accessible to students from historically underrepresented identities.

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations. 

See below for a few resources specific to Asian/Pacific Islander students.

Asian and Pacific Islander American

• National Association of Asian American Professionals – The NAAAP a nonprofit organization that cultivates and empowers Asian and Pacific Islander leaders through professional development, community service, and networking. It offers a variety of professional development programs including a career center and job board.
• National Council of Asian Pacific Americans – A directory of links to Asian Pacific American organizations, many with career sites of their own. The links also include website and contact information for networking and internship and job search purposes.

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

Campus and Local Resources:

• Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization
• 100 Black Men of Atlanta – Career Pipeline Program
• Georgia Tech Center for Engineering Education and Diversity (CEED) – Peer Mentoring Program for Engineering, Computing, and Sciences students
• National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter – The Atlanta chapter of the National Black MBA Association focuses on career development, education, and networking for black professionals and students in the region.
• The Urban League of Greater Atlanta – The Urban League offers a wide range of programs and services aimed at empowering African American communities, including career development and job placement services.

National Organizations, Scholarships, and Additional Resources:

• African American Professional Associations – Compilation of links to the leading African American professional associations, many with career and job sites of their own, collected by Monster.
• Black Career Women’s Network – “national career development organization dedicated to fostering the professional growth and ambitions of Black women in the workplace.”
• The Black Perspective – Career resources website including a Career Gallery list of companies actively seeking African American applicants.
• Diversity Employers – Recruitment job board connecting diverse talent
• National Urban League Job Network – The Urban League Job Network is backed by the National Urban League and is dedicated to helping Black students find employment opportunities.
• Resources for Black Designers and Architects (Architectural Digest) – Networks and organizations focused on supporting Black A&D professionals.
• Resources for Black Students (University of Toronto) – List of resources for Black professionals in Canada.
• SME Education Foundation (Scholarships)
• United Negro College Fund – UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to historically underrepresented groups. It manages various scholarship, fellowship, and internship programs.

Articles:

• 10 Workforce Development Programs Focused on Black Talent
• 28 Great Resources to Share with Black Students Pursuing Careers in Tech

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

• Learn more about Georgia Tech’s First-Generation & Limited Income Student Initiatives.
• If you don’t want to purchase, you can borrow professional business attire through the Career Center’s Campus Closet.

Northwestern University provides this great overview of First Gen/Limited-Income guidance:

You’re First!

Being a first-generation college student means you are the first in your immediate family to graduate from a four-year institution. Some first-gen students also come from a lower-income background where their parents’ income levels are strenuous on their families and therefore have a higher financial need during their time. Students with these backgrounds are often referred to as FGLI students (first-generation and/or limited-income students).

Discussing your FGLI Identity with Potential Employers

Whether you are attending a company information session or meeting someone at a networking event, your FGLI identity may come up in conversation. Being a FGLI student IS relevant and it IS a part of your story. You have overcome many hurdles before and during your time in college and that is noteworthy. Mentioning parts of your background during a conversation like your hometown or part-time work experience shows employers that you are hard-working and determined. People remember details about others and chances are that an employer may also able to relate to your story and experience.

Grit and Transferrable Skills

• Employers want to hire candidates that are reliable and responsible. You have already proven what you can do. It’s time to show it.
• Between managing your course load, part-time job(s), family check-ins, extra-curricular activities, friends and more, you may find yourself feeling stretched thin. There is true fatigue in getting it all done, but here is where you start to put yourself first. Read more about how to capitalize on your transferrable skills. 

Resilience and Self-Promotion

It’s strange talking about yourself, let alone trying to say how great you are. Chances are you are uncomfortable with self-promotion and really can’t think of the last time you probably had to say nice things about yourself. That’s okay! We are here to tell how you can do it humbly and still promote the wonderful future employee that you can be.

• Add transferrable skills to your resume: Include those past retail, babysitting, or high school activities. When first building up your resume you’ll need to think about your previous work experiences as these were all learning moments for you and that is exactly what employers want to see. If you’re working during classes, quantify how many hours in your resume, especially if 10+/week. Make a career advising appointment to get feedback.
• Don’t shy away from including your scholarships or grants: These programs are wonderful achievements and show employers that you are a determined and committed student. You are already a success story and this could very well be a talking or connection point with someone who is reviewing your resume.

What to Know about your Career Options

There are a vast amount of career options that many students have not heard about and taking some time to explore your options can help you discover new opportunities you may have never known about before. You certainly should not discount anything as a potential option until you have explored it.

These great resources were gathered through the University of Michigan.

• Michelle Obama’s Video for First-Gen students: Former First Lady Michelle Obama, a first-generation college graduate, message to First-Gen college students across the country. 
• First-Generation Students Unite: An article that shares the stories of First-Gen college students across the country. It encourages First-Gen students to embrace being First-Gent as a unique part of their identity.
• I am First: Hear testimonials from first-gen students and graduates from across the country.
• Career Advice for First-Generation Grad Students: This article offers six key pieces of advice from a First-Generation graduate student on transitioning from academe to the world of work.
• Fact sheet on first-gen students: This fact sheet offers information about First-Gen students from their pre-college years through their academic experiences. 
• Scholarships for First-Gen: This is resource provides college funding options and/or additional scholarship resources. 

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

See below for a few resources for Hispanic and Latinx students:

• The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute – Learn more about a congressional internship program in DC.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities – A compilation of internship and job boards sponsored by the association, which represents more than 400 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, and Spain.
• Hispanic and Latino Professional Associations – Compilation of links to the leading Hispanic and Latino professional associations, many with career and job sites of their own, collected by Monster.
• iHispano – a leading career and recruiting site for Hispanic and bilingual professionals and job seekers.
• Latino Careers – Job board sponsored by LATCareers.com.

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

Finding a job as an international student can feel like a daunting process. While it is true that there are some hurdles to overcome, it is absolutely possible to land a fulfilling internship/co-op or full-time job in the U.S. as an international student. Here are some tips and resources to help you as you navigate your career search.  

Tips: 

• Focus on what is within your control 
  • Mindset 
  • Job Search Materials (Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn Profile) 
  • Networking/Interviewing skills 
  • NACE Competencies (essential skills) 
  • Technical skills 
  • Extra-curricular engagement (student groups, volunteering) 
• Research your industry/sector/the economy  
  • “The Marketplace” 
  • Sectors hiring 
  • Growing industries  
• Use Interstride (coming soon), GoinGlobal, and myvisajobs.com to target your search to employers who offer sponsorships
• Utilize the job search “More Filters” option in CareerBuzz to identify companies that offer sponsorship 
• Consider a graduate program to deepen your knowledge in a particular field

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

On-Campus Resources:

• Georgia Tech LGBTQIA Resource Center
• Georgia Tech Pride Alliance
• Grad Pride

Professional Attire:

• Nonbinary work wear resources

Legal Resources:

• Identification Documents and Transgender People
• Lambda Legal – Know Your Rights

Job Search and Employment Resources:

• 55 LGBTQ+ Job Search & Career Resources (Novoresume.com)
• 44 Resources for LGBTQ+ College Students (purdueglobal.edu)
• Human Rights Campaign – Workplace Site (includes transgender-specific resources)
• National Center for Lesbian Rights (includes legal issues, transgender issues)
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)
• Out and Equal

Additional Resources:

• National Center for Transgender Equality
• GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network)
• Out for Undergrad (Conferences for LGBTQ Students)
• Out Professionals
• Pride at Work
• Coming Out at Work (Human Rights Campaign)
• Coming Out as a Supporter (Human Rights Campaign)
• Columbia University Center for Career Education: LGBTQ Students
• Zippia.com :: How To Be An LGBTQ+ Ally In The Workplace
• Zippia.com :: 30 LGBTQ Scholarships For Higher Education

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

Students with disabilities often express these concerns about the job search: where to find positions that will accommodate their needs, whether or not to disclose their disability, and what employers value their identity. Below are a few resources that may help as you search. 

Campus and Local/National Resources:

• Georgia Tech Office of Disability Services  
• Georgia Tech ABLE Alliance  
• The Georgia Department of Labor  
• A to Z of Disabilities and Accommodations  
• US Department of Labor  

Articles:

• Autism at Work: Overcoming Challenges Students on the Spectrum
• Career Map for Students on the Spectrum 
• Disability Equality Index: Top Employers List 
• Employment With a Disability Resource Guide  
• How Can I Navigate the Workplace with a Disability?
• How I cope with my ‘invisible’ disabilities of anxiety and depression 
• How to Effectively Job Hunt When You Have an Invisible Disability  
• Lime Connect (more details below under “Programs and Associations”) 
• Tips on Disclosure 
• 5 Ways Disability Services and Career Services Can Work Together 

The following list of resources for students with disabilities was compiled by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers): 

Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
AHEAD is the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education. Since 1977, AHEAD has offered a member experience to disability resource professionals, student affairs personnel, ADA coordinators, diversity officers, AT/IT staff, faculty and other instructional personnel, and colleagues who are invested in creating welcoming higher education experiences for disabled individuals. 

Bender Consulting 

Bender Consulting assists job seekers in finding positions in the public and private sector. 

Coalition for Disability Access in Health Services
The Coalition is a collaboration among peer institutions that aims to improve the student experience with disability accommodations in graduate health science and medical education programs. 

Disability:IN
Disability:IN is a nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion. 

Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM)
DREAM is charged with the mission of advancing the interests of students with disabilities, in post-secondary institutions, and their allies across the United States. DREAM advocates for student rights, increased accessibility, social and policy change, and aims to provide support and mentorship to local campus disability groups and individual students. DREAM hopes to empower students with disabilities to work for local and national change, encourage the development of disability culture and peer support, and advance the study of disabilities within academia. In keeping with the larger cross-disabilities movement, DREAM aspires to be as inclusive as possible.

Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities: Provides students with internship and leadership development opportunities.  

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
EARN is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of disability diversity by educating public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures. EARN offers information and resources to empower individuals and organizations to become leaders in the employment and advancement of people with disabilities. 

Hire-Ability
Hire-Ability serves as a bridge between the business community and the mental health system for people who are ready, willing, and able to return to work. 

International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC)
IDMSC promotes, through a system of policy, program and professional certification, the international acceptance, continued development, and broad-based implementation of consensus-based, outcome focused disability management policies, programs, and professional standards. 

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace. 

Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation strives to improve the lives of people with physical and cognitive disabilities caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain and spinal cord injury, and other chronic neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions. 

Lime Connect
Lime Connect is a global not for profit 501(c)(3) organization that’s rebranding disability through achievement. We do that by attracting, preparing, and connecting high potential university students and professionals – including veterans – who happen to have all types of disabilities for scholarships, internships, The Lime Connect Fellowship Program, and full-time careers with our corporate partners – the world’s leading corporations. We are breaking stereotypes and leading companies of every size, industry and location to understand the importance of, and fully value, the talent and strengths that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace. 

Mobility International USA (MIUSA)
MIUSA is a disability-led nonprofit organization advancing disability rights and leadership globally. MIUSA is a cross-disability organization serving people with a broad range of disabilities. 

National Center for College Students With Disabilities (NCCSD)
NCCSD is the only federally funded national center in the United States for college and graduate students with any type of disability, chronic health condition, or mental or emotional illness. NCCSD also has information for parents, faculty, and anyone working with college students. Higher education faculty and staff with disabilities can use the NCCSD, too. For free information and a good “first stop” any time, please go directly to the NCCSD Clearinghouse and search for topics of interest. Learn more about college and disability topics in the NCCSD Training Center. 

National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE)
NCDAE exists to address issues of technology and disability in education policies and practices to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families. NCDAE works on policy, research, training and technical assistance, and dissemination of information. NCDAE accomplishes its purpose through an affiliate network of over 500 national and international partners in education, business and industry, and government. 

National Organization on Disability (NOD)
NOD is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the full participation and contributions of America’s 57 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life. NOD focuses on increasing employment opportunities for the 80 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. NOD offers a disability tracker. 

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
ODEP, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. 

Research on Disability
This highlights several Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers at the Institute on Disability. Particular areas of concentration are employment, statistics and demographics, education, health and program participation. 

RespectAbility
RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that understands we are a stronger community when we live up to our values—when we are welcoming, diverse, moral, and respect one another. We work with entertainment, policy makers, educators, self-advocates, nonprofits, employers, faith-based organizations, philanthropists, journalists, and online media to fight stigmas and advance opportunities for people with disabilities. Led by people with disabilities and those who love them, we know that people with disabilities and their families have the same hopes and dreams as everyone else, even if they face different challenges. 

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP): WRP connects undergraduate, graduate students and recent graduates with disabilities who are interested paid internships and full-time opportunities to private sector employers and federal agencies

Workplace Initiative
The Workplace Initiative is a national network of foundations, companies, nonprofits and government agencies that works to remove barriers to successful careers for people with disabilities. 

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

Immigrants Rising 

Dedicated to empowering undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals through personal, institutional, and policy transformation, Immigrants Rising provides educational resources, funding opportunities, and training. Topics include: Entrepreneurship & Freelancing, Law & Policy and Higher Education 

My Undocumented Life 

Provides up-to-date information & resources for undocumented students. Information is catered to both undergraduate and graduate students. Topics include: First-hand advice from fellow undocumented students, Applying for funding for undergraduate and graduate programs, and support applying for DACA 

TheDream.Us 

Resources for DACA students including legal/employment rights. 

NACE Conference Presentation: Career Pathways for Undocumented Students 

Undocumented Friendly Employers (2021 List) 

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.

Campus Groups and Organizations

Georgia Tech offers many Institute- and student-led opportunities to engage in campus activities. A selection of women’s organizations can be found below, or visit the Student Activities and GT Engage websites to find more.

• Women’s Resource Center
• Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)  
• GT Center for the Study of Women, Science, and Technology (WST) 
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• GT Women in Engineering (WIE)
• Women in Materials Science Engineering (WiMSE)
• Women’s A Capella 
• Women’s Greek organizations, social and philanthropic 
• Women’s Club Sports 
• Women at College of Computing (W@CC)
• Society of Women in Business (SWIB)

If you do not find a club or organization that fits your needs, consider forming one.  

Salary & Negotiation 

Salary negotiation as a woman comes with its own set of challenges. See these resources below for tips for women about negotiating salary. 

NYTimes “A Woman’s Guide to Salary Negotiation” 

LeanIn.org “Negotiation Advice for Women” 

Other Resources

The University of Nebraska has a great list of additional resources for women’s career development.

If you feel any essential resources are missing, please contact us at careereducation@gatech.edu with your recommendations.