Career Development Center

Congratulations! Your next step is to report your experience through Cougar Jobline. 

How to Report Your Experience 

1. Log in to Cougar Jobline using your E-ID and password. 
2. Select Internship or Experience from the menu. 
3. Select + New Experience. 
4. Enter the required information. 
5. Select Submit for Approval. 

The Career Development Center will email you with additional instructions regarding required paperwork. 

Important Requirements 

• The experience must be related to your academic major or program. 

• All required forms must be completed each term. 

• You must follow all posted deadlines. 

• Approval and paperwork must be fully processed before transcript recognition is granted. 

• Continue monitoring your SIUE email for instructions, corrections, and requests for additional information. 

For additional details, review the Co-op and Internship Program forms, orientation, deadlines, and participation requirements. 

If you are interested in earning academic credit for your experience, contact your academic department. Not all academic programs offer credit options, and eligibility requirements may vary. 

Students who do not pursue academic credit may use the Career Development Center’s Co-op and Internship Program to document an approved major-related experience without incurring tuition or academic fees.

Make Your Experience High Impact 

The strongest internships and co-ops involve more than completing work assignments. High-impact experiences provide opportunities to apply academic learning, contribute to meaningful work, build professional relationships, receive feedback, and reflect on your development. 

Apply 

• Connect classroom learning to professional work. 

• Use your academic knowledge in real-world situations. 

• Contribute to meaningful projects. 

• Complete work that provides value to the organization. 

Connect 

• Build relationships with supervisors and professionals. 

• Interact with people in your field. 

• Develop your professional network. 

• Experience different perspectives and workplace environments. 

• Learn about workplace expectations and organizational culture. 

Grow 

• Receive guidance and feedback. 

• Practice career readiness competencies. 

• Develop greater professional responsibility. 

• Strengthen your communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professionalism. 

• Identify areas for continued development. 

Reflect 

• Identify what you learned. 

• Recognize how your competencies developed. 

• Connect your experience to your academic and career goals. 

• Evaluate feedback from supervisors. 

• Document your accomplishments. 

• Practice communicating the value of your experience to employers and other audiences. 

Turn Your Experience Into Recognition 

Your professional growth does not have to disappear when the experience ends. 

Use SIUE’s career readiness badges and distinction constellations to document what you learned, demonstrate your development, and tell the story of your experience. 

You are already building career readiness through your experiences. The badges help you document and demonstrate that growth.

SIUE’s career readiness badges and distinction constellations help you document your preparation, experience, reflection, and professional growth. 

Badges recognize important stages of your development. Constellations combine related accomplishments to recognize broader levels of distinction. 

Career Readiness Competencies Badge 

Level: Foundational 

Explore the career readiness competencies employers value, assess your strengths, and develop a plan for continued growth. 

Recommended timing: Early in your college experience. 

Internship Readiness Badge 

Level: Preparation 

Learn what employers expect, strengthen your workplace readiness, and develop the knowledge and confidence needed to pursue an internship, co-op, or other major-related applied learning opportunity. 

Recommended timing: Before seeking or beginning a major-related experience. 

Internship Experience Badge 

Level: Application 

Reflect on your major-related experience, identify the competencies you are developing, and connect your experience to future career goals. 

Recommended timing: While actively participating in the experience. 

Internship Professionalism Distinction Constellation 

Level: Intermediate 

This constellation recognizes internship preparation and professional application through the completion of: 

• Internship Readiness Badge 

• Internship Experience Badge 

Students earning this distinction demonstrate the ability to translate classroom learning into workplace performance, demonstrate professionalism, reflect on feedback, and communicate professional growth. 

Internship Readiness & Professional Experience Distinction Constellation 

Level: Advanced 

This constellation recognizes advanced career readiness through the completion of: 

• Career Readiness Competencies Badge 

• Internship Readiness Badge 

• Internship Experience Badge 

• Internship Professionalism Distinction Constellation 

Students earning this advanced distinction demonstrate sustained growth, significant professional experience, reflection, and the ability to communicate the impact of experiential learning. 

Co-ops, internships, and micro-internships provide different ways to gain major-related experience and explore your field. Consider the compensation, duration, time commitment, and type of work associated with each experience. 

Co-op 

Compensation: Always paid 

Duration: Two or more terms, with at least 60 hours of work completed during each term 

Commitment: Full time or part time 

A co-op generally includes: 

• In-depth projects and opportunities. 

• Ongoing major-related experience. 

• Significant exposure to your field of interest. 

• Professional responsibilities completed across two or more terms. 

• Eligibility for Curricular Practical Training for qualifying international students. 

Internship 

Compensation: Paid or unpaid 

Duration: One or more terms, with a minimum of 60 hours of work completed during each term 

Commitment: Usually part time 

An internship generally includes: 

• Major-related projects and responsibilities. 

• Opportunities to apply academic learning. 

• Exposure to your field of interest. 

• Professional experience completed during one or more academic terms. 

The Career Development Center advocates for paid internships. 

Micro-Internship 

Compensation: Usually paid 

Duration: Approximately two or more weeks 

Commitment: At least 40 total hours 

A micro-internship generally includes: 

• Short-term professional experience. 

• A single project or defined assignment. 

• Major-related work. 

• Exposure to a field, employer, or professional environment. 

Curricular Practical Training, commonly called CPT, is required each term for eligible international students who participate in off-campus, major-related employment or volunteer experiences. 

Submitting experience information through the Career Development Center is one part of the CPT process. Students must also complete applicable requirements through International Student and Scholar Services. 

Before You Begin 

Do not begin working until all required approvals are completed and International Student and Scholar Services has issued your I-20. 

Students are responsible for completing all required paperwork and obtaining approval from all required offices before beginning work each term. 

Plan Ahead 

CPT approval requires coordination among the student, International Student and Scholar Services, the Career Development Center, the employer, and, when applicable, the student’s academic department. 

• Report your experience at least three weeks before your intended start date. 

• Allow a minimum of three weeks for processing. 

• Begin early to allow time for corrections or missing information. 

• Monitor your SIUE email for instructions and requests for additional information. 

• Do not begin employment until all required approvals have been completed. 

CPT Students Work With Both Offices 

1. International Student and Scholar Services 

Contact International Student and Scholar Services to: 

• Begin the CPT eligibility process. 

• Discuss immigration-related requirements. 

• Review required CPT documentation. 

• Obtain the required CPT authorization and I-20. 

2. Career Development Center 

Contact the Career Development Center to: 

• Report the major-related experience. 

• Complete Co-op and Internship Program requirements. 

• Complete required forms and assignments. 

• Request approval of the internship, co-op, or CPT-related experience. 

General CPT Process 

• Contact International Student and Scholar Services to discuss CPT eligibility and requirements. 
• Secure an off-campus position related to your academic major or program. 
• Report the experience to the Career Development Center through Cougar Jobline. 
• Complete all required documentation through International Student and Scholar Services. 
• Complete all required Co-op, Internship, and CPT documentation through the Career Development Center. 
• Complete any additional academic department requirements if you will receive academic credit. 
• Allow sufficient time for the required offices to review and process the documentation. 
• Receive all required approvals before beginning employment. 
• Begin the experience only after all approvals have been completed. 
• Complete required competency modules, reports, and evaluations. 

Important CPT Requirements 

• CPT authorization is employer-specific, date-specific, and term-based. 

• You may work only within the approved start and end dates. 

• You may not change the employer after the Career Development Center processes the paperwork. 

• You may not change the start or end dates after the Career Development Center processes the paperwork. 

• All deadlines are firm and must be followed. 

• Students must complete at least 60 hours during the academic term. 

• All required forms, reports, assignments, and evaluations must be completed each term. 

• Documentation must be accurate, complete, and submitted on time. 

• Students must maintain applicable enrollment, academic standing, and immigration requirements. 

• Failure to complete requirements may affect participation in the experience and immigration status. 

Students Receiving Academic Credit 

If you will receive academic credit for the experience, you may have requirements through: 

• International Student and Scholar Services 

• Career Development Center 

• Your academic department 

Complete all applicable requirements before beginning employment.

Student Eligibility and Participation 

Students participating in the Co-op and Internship Program must meet applicable program requirements. 

Requirements may include: 

• Academic eligibility. 

• Enrollment requirements. 

• Good academic standing. 

• A position related to the student’s academic major or program. 

• Completion of required paperwork. 

• Completion of required assignments, reports, and evaluations. 

• Compliance with posted deadlines. 

• Completion of approval requirements before transcript recognition is granted. 

Students are responsible for monitoring their SIUE email and responding to requests for corrections, additional information, or missing documentation. 

Major-Related Experience 

The position must be related to the student’s academic major or program and provide meaningful opportunities for professional learning and development. 

The Career Development Center reviews reported experiences to determine whether each position meets program requirements. 

Required Paperwork 

Students must complete all required forms and documentation each term. 

Requirements may include: 

• Experience information submitted through Cougar Jobline. 

• Student agreements. 

• Employer information. 

• Learning objectives. 

• Competency activities. 

• Student reports. 

• Employer evaluations. 

• Other required program documentation. 

Transcript Recognition 

Transcript recognition is granted only after: 

• The experience has been reported. 

• The experience has been approved. 

• Required paperwork has been processed. 

• Program requirements have been completed. 

• Applicable deadlines have been met. 

Employer and Position Requirements 

Employers and positions must meet applicable Career Development Center requirements. 

Requirements may address: 

• Relationship of the position to the student’s academic program. 

• Employer approval. 

• Nature and duration of the work. 

• Compensation. 

• Supervision. 

• Professional learning opportunities. 

• Required evaluations. 

• Applicable fees. 

• Agreements or documents the employer asks the student to sign. 

Students should carefully review employment agreements, including non-compete or restrictive agreements, before signing. 

Students who have questions about an employer, position, or employment document should contact the Career Development Center before accepting the offer or signing the document. 

Accepting an internship or co-op offer is a professional commitment. 

Before accepting an offer: 

• Review the position responsibilities. 

• Confirm that the experience is related to your academic major or program. 

• Review the work schedule and employment dates. 

• Consider transportation, housing, compensation, and other practical needs. 

• Ask questions about expectations, supervision, and responsibilities. 

• Carefully review documents the employer asks you to sign. 

• Contact the Career Development Center if you need help evaluating the opportunity. 

Communicate Professionally 

Respond to employment offers within the timeframe provided by the employer. If you need additional time, communicate with the employer before the deadline. 

After accepting an offer: 

• Confirm the acceptance in writing. 

• Complete required employer documentation. 

• Report the experience to the Career Development Center. 

• Withdraw from other active searches when appropriate. 

• Notify other employers if you are no longer available for consideration. 

• Prepare to fulfill the professional commitment you accepted. 

Changing Your Decision 

Do not accept an offer with the intention of continuing to search for another opportunity. 

Changing your decision after accepting an offer may negatively affect: 

• Your professional reputation. 

• Your relationship with the employer. 

• Opportunities for other SIUE students. 

• The university’s relationship with the organization. 

Contact the Career Development Center immediately if an unexpected situation may prevent you from fulfilling an accepted offer.