Strong communication skills help you thrive in every part of your CMU-SV experience. Whether you're presenting your ideas in class, collaborating on a team, or preparing for a job interview, our support is designed to help you grow into a confident, adaptable communicator.
What sets our campus apart is the tailored nature of our services. We begin each semester by meeting with incoming students through group mock interviews. These sessions help us understand your strengths and shape support that’s relevant and responsive. You're not one of thousands here, you're part of a small, focused community, and we design our services accordingly.
Our communication support is designed and led in collaboration with an expert coach who brings years of experience advising engineers, founders, and professionals across Silicon Valley. We focus on helping you build the communication tools that will support your academic growth and give you a competitive edge as you navigate the tech industry.
Our approach to communication growth
Communication support at CMU-SV is delivered through three connected services that build on each other. These offerings evolve each semester based on the needs we see in our student community. Whether you're preparing to lead a team, deliver a technical presentation, or participate more actively in class, these services are designed to meet you where you are, and help you grow from there. Participation begins with group mock interviews, which help us personalize support through targeted workshops and optional one-on-one sessions.
Group mock interviews
Your starting point for personalized communication support
These sessions are open to all incoming students at the start of each semester and serve as the entry point for our communication support. In small groups, you’ll respond to interview-style questions, receive feedback from our professional coach and your peers, and reflect on your strengths and growth areas.
Your participation also helps us shape the workshops offered that semester, based on campus-wide needs we observe. These sessions are valuable for anyone looking to build more comfort in speaking up, whether in a practicum setting, a classroom, or a future workplace.
To sign up, check Handshake before orientation week.
Communication workshops
Skill-building series focused on real-world communication scenarios
After mock interviews wrap up, we offer targeted, research-based workshops to help you deepen your communication skills in the areas that matter most. Topics might include technical presentations, professional conversations, networking strategies, or cross-cultural communication.
Our workshops typically run in short, focused series of 3–4 weeks, and we see noticeable growth in that time. Each one is designed around real-world scenarios.
Past topics have included:
- Navigating difficult interview questions
- Presenting complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders
- Roleplaying networking conversations
- Crafting elevator pitches for career events
Students are invited to sign up after completing a mock interview.
One-on-one consultations
One-on-one coaching for presentations, pronunciation, and more
We also offer limited opportunities for personalized communication coaching. These sessions may be helpful if you have a high-stakes presentation, are preparing for a venture pitch, or want to refine specific communication challenges like pronunciation or storytelling.
One-on-one sessions are available by request and are offered to students who have completed a group mock interview evaluation.
How to participate
- Group mock interviews: Available before orientation each semester. Sign up on Handshake.
Workshops: Registration opens after mock interviews wrap up. Also on Handshake.
One-on-one consultations: By request only and subject to availability. Prior participation in a mock interview is required. - For questions, contact jennifer.wolfeld@sv.cmu.edu.
For Questions, contact student-services@sv.cmu.edu.