With a UCF degree as a line-item on your resume, you’re already well on your way to a phenomenal and fulfilling career. Let the Career and Professional Development Services help you get there!
We’ve assembled a collection of lifelong professional development programming, services, events, and resources to meet the needs of alumni at any stage of career management. Whether you’re a new graduate about to be launched into the workforce or an experienced professional looking for a career transition, we’re here to help.
Leverage the Power of UCF’s Global Network:
UCF Knights Network is our alumni professional networking platform that promotes career and professional development, entrepreneurship, job opportunities and mentorship. Join today to stay connected with Knight Nation!
Join groups to leverage your alumni network, like 2021-2022 New Graduates, UCF Black Alumni Network, UCF Latino/a/x Alumni Network, UCF Alumni Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism and more! After you log in, click on the ‘Groups’ tab on the left-hand panel and view our list of available groups.
Introduce, employ and offer to serve as a mentor to alumni, current seniors and recent grads. On UCF Knights Network, users can join the conversation by connecting with alumni who are willing to share their expertise. Having a mentor can contribute enormously to your success in future professional aspirations. With a mentor, even experienced professionals can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of someone who has withstood the trial and error of their career journey. Users opt in during registration and can search the directory for other users who can mentor them or who they can offer to mentor.
Alumni business owners are welcomed and encouraged to highlight their products and offerings within this exclusive community! UCF Knights Network can really be a game-changer for you and your business. Our platform provides you a space to easily and effectively promote your business/service within a robust directory and offer benefits to others within the network – for FREE!
UCF Knights Network offers alumni the ability to both view and post open job vacancies! Registered users can view available job opportunities listed on the Job Board on the platform.
Yes, and thank you for your interest in recruiting UCF alumni for full-time and part-time professional career opportunities. We are excited to showcase and promote your organization and potential career opportunities. Please contact tiffany.johnson@ucf.edu to get started!
Sign up in less than 2 minutes using your LinkedIn or Facebook!
This is a volunteer opportunity for UCF alumni to provide minimal commitment to helping the platform and network grow. We would like to use your passion and creativity to help make this platform a dynamic community.
Why should you become an Ambassador?
Please contact tiffany.johnson@ucf.edu if interested!
UCF Alumni Professional Engagement provides robust programming and limited 1:1 career services and to extend our reach, we have teamed up with Knights around the nation to assist with their fellow alumni needs. They are ready to assist with individuals who are in need of career, executive, leadership and other coaching that delves more in-depth or focuses on specific areas or industries. Alumni Career Coaches can help discern what career path will lead to success, provide a framework and support for career goals, or assist in honing specific skills.
UCF Alumni has career coaches and counselors who are a part of the UCF Alumni Career Coach Referral Program. They are an essential part of UCF Alumni Professional Engagement, offering special rates and career and professional development services for fellow Knights.
Vetted alumni coaches are listed below. Rates vary and all coaches have agreed to offer a discount to UCF alumni, typically 20% off their regular rates. When you reach out, be sure to tell them you are a UCF Knight!
Symone Deserae Barnes ’13, a native of South Florida currently residing in Orlando, is the Director of Product Support in the Information Technology department of a congressionally funded non-profit. She is also an International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach in training, and proud business owner of SymoneSays Coaching, specializing in executive coaching with an interest in intersectionally diverse professionals who want to bring their whole selves to the forefront of their lives, personally and professionally. SymoneSays Coaching is here to provide a holistic approach that teaches and inspires each and every human being how to access their individuality and utilize these gifts in ways that promote success in their everyday lives, one conversation at a time. Symone graduated from UCF with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, with a certificate in Leadership, in 2013 and is a loud and proud L.E.A.D. Scholar alumna. She later pursued her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a concentration in Project Management from Southern New Hampshire University.
Email: symone@symsays.com
Phone: (561) 574-0935
Website: symsays.com
Rachael Del Pino ’09 is a Career Coach with 20+ years of progressive Talent Acquisition & Recruitment experience in Fortune 100 companies across various industries: Aerospace & Defense, Engineering, Financial Services, Consumer Electronics. Technology and IT. She has a Master’s degree in Management with an HR concentration from UCF. Rachael assists clients with resume writing, career strategy & planning, customized job searches, networking techniques, interview preparation and offer negotiation support. Rachael has an insider’s perspective on what companies are looking for and how to best position yourself and package your qualifications for success in the job market.
Email: accendocareers@gmail.com
Website: accendocareers.com
Courtney Pruitt ’08 of C Pruitt Consulting has over 15 years of professional experience ranging from Talent Acquisition, Sourcing, Training and Development and HR Generalist and Business Partner partnership functions. She achieved a Bachelors of Science in Event Management at University of Central Florida, Rosen College of Hospitality and a Masters in Human Resources & Employment Relations from Penn State University. She has also acquired multiple Human Resources related certificates from SHRM & Michigan State University. She is a devoted and determined consultant who has a talent for supporting career seekers, building their confidence and providing them with resources and strategic tips to take their career goals to the next level.
Courtney enjoys coaching individuals toward achieving success, balance and fulfillment in their careers. Her approach to coaching is to serve as a thought partner to individuals wanting to improve their career path forward. Courtney works together with her clients to create and manage an individualized career plan.
In her free time, she loves juicing with her kids, binge watching shows with her husband and having game & movie night with her family.
Email: info@cpruittconsulting.com
Phone: (703) 462-2441
Website: cpruittconsulting.com
Alaina Rahaim ’16 is an outgoing, empathic Career Coach and National Certified Counselor, with expertise in a variety of career planning and professional development topics. In addition to being certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors and The Myers-Briggs Foundation as an MBTI Certified Practitioner, Alaina holds both a Master of Science in Counseling and an Educational Specialist degree from Florida State University. A proud Knight, Alaina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication and Minor in English Literature from the University of Central Florida.
Alaina strives to empower clients by listening and providing detailed resume reviews and cover letter writing tips, interview preparation, and strategies for job searching, including LinkedIn, personal branding, networking, evaluating offers, and phrasing follow-up correspondence.
In her free time, Alaina loves visiting Disney with her partner, acting and volunteering in community theatre, and caring for her pet sugar glider, Flaps.
Email: alaina@askalaina.com
Phone: (561) 236-9558
Website: https://www.askalaina.com/
With almost two decades in HR, the majority of that time as a business owner, Dawn Sipley ’04 has a deep understanding of the challenges in entrepreneurship. A UCF graduate, she’s actively engaged in economic development, job creation and HR processes to streamline the recruitment process. Dawn has skillfully guided hundreds of Central Florida companies through thousands of hiring decisions, expertly negotiating compensation packages exceeding tens of millions of dollars.
Dawn is married to Jason Sipley, her high school prom date and lives in Sanford with their two children, Tawn and Bray. As a family, Team Sipley enjoys the outdoors through paddle boarding, kayaking, camping, fishing, hunting, oystering, scalloping, foraging, and minimalist hiking. Dawn also serves Central Florida through volunteerism with a wide variety of nonprofits, schools, and jails to edify individuals who find themselves in the job market.
Jessica Villegas ’13 is the founder of Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting, an award-winning organization specializing in youth coaching and leadership development. Based in Winter Garden, Florida, Jessica leads a team of 17 specialized coaches dedicated to empowering youth aged 12-35 towards success.
Having overcome tremendous adversity in her own youth, Jessica is deeply committed to helping others navigate their challenges. She is a University of Central Florida graduate and an ICF-certified academic life coach with over two decades of corporate experience. Her extensive background equips her to guide and inspire young people in achieving their full potential.
Beyond her work at Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting, Jessica actively volunteers with local non-profits and youth support groups, extending her impact within the community. She is also a frequent conference speaker on leadership and youth skill-building, sharing effective strategies for supporting and developing young leaders.
Founder, Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting
Winter Garden, Florida
Email: Success@hilitecoaching.com
Phone: 321-236-2053
Website: hilitecoaching.com
Jessica Villegas ’13 is the founder of Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting, an award-winning organization specializing in youth coaching and leadership development. Based in Winter Garden, Florida, Jessica leads a team of 17 specialized coaches dedicated to empowering youth aged 12-35 towards success.
Having overcome tremendous adversity in her own youth, Jessica is deeply committed to helping others navigate their challenges. She is a University of Central Florida graduate and an ICF-certified academic life coach with over two decades of corporate experience. Her extensive background equips her to guide and inspire young people in achieving their full potential.
Beyond her work at Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting, Jessica actively volunteers with local non-profits and youth support groups, extending her impact within the community. She is also a frequent conference speaker on leadership and youth skill-building, sharing effective strategies for supporting and developing young leaders.
Founder, Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting
Winter Garden, Florida
Email: Success@hilitecoaching.com
Phone: 321-236-2053
Website: hilitecoaching.com
If you are a career coach/counselor or if you specialize in career development, UCF Alumni wants to refer your services to Knight Nation!
To learn more about this amazing new opportunity, please complete the information form and we will reach out to you regarding next steps.
*Career coach or counselor must be a UCF graduate.
What can I do with this major?
Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about common career areas, typical employers and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. This resource also includes a list of websites that provide information about majors and careers. LEARN MORE
ONET’s My Next Move
This is a free interest assessment that provides a Holland Type interest assessment and shares career match results bases on those results. The tool doesn’t allow you to save your results, but you can always screenshot them. LEARN MORE
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Find information on the nature of the work, working conditions, the training and education needed earnings and expected job prospects for a wide range of occupations. LEARN MORE
Handshake
Through a free Handshake account, students and alumni can search and apply for part-time and full-time jobs, upload resumes, research employers, RSVP for workshops and learn about other career events.
Industry Specific Job Sites
Some industries use specific job search sites to post positions. This list compiled by Career Services includes sites for Health, Education, Engineering, Computer Science, Hospitality, and more.
CareerShift
UCF Knights Network
Additional Job Boards
6 Tips to Negotiate Your Salary with Confidence
How to Conduct an Informational Interview
Interview Preparation at Big Interview
Use Big Interview to learn and practice your interview skills, whether you’re interviewing for a job or graduate school. Receive real-time MOCK INTERVIEW feedback by using its Artificial Intelligence (AI) feature!
Create an account using the UCF organization code: 1963
Create an account using the UCF organization code: 1963
UCF Alumni provides alumni access and discounts to UCF Continuing Education programs and exam preparation courses. Acquire new skills to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment, enhance your office productivity or gain a competitive advantage with a new certification while saving money through UCF Continuing Education. Are you applying for graduate school? Score higher on your graduate admission exam with UCF Test Prep’s comprehensive review courses.
Take the time to research the universities and programs of your interest. Below are some factors you should consider:
Check out the many resources we have to assist you with your career journey:
Please complete the form below to schedule an appointment.
Alumni can attend major events hosted by UCF Career Services (i.e., Graduate and Professional Schools Fair, Employment Prep Fair, Career Expo, and specialized presentations or panels).
Catch up on the latest UCF Alumni offerings with our library of recorded events and webinars. We’ve compiled a variety of recorded events and webinars in one place for you to enjoy at your convenience.
