Explore through Experience
Career Tracks
This innovative program gives students a valuable, insider perspective on what it’s like to work in a particular industry and city. Students are given the opportunity to explore an urban environment and learn about the industries and career paths available there over a three-to-four day period in January. Learn more here.
Externships
Over the January break, sophomores, juniors, and seniors have an opportunity to shadow a professional in the field. During a two-to-five day period, you’ll become immersed in your host’s daily activities to gain a better understanding of their work, their career path, and their industry as a whole. Hosts include alumni, parents, and friends of Lafayette in diverse career areas, geographic locations, as well as in graduate and professional school. Learn more here.
Informational Interviewing
Utilize GatewayLink to set up one-on-one conversations with Lafayette alumni and parents who are willing to share their story, professional expertise, and career advice with you. YOU will serve as the interviewer, asking questions you select in order to help uncover professional interests, rule out pathways, and identify opportunities for deeper exploration. Review professional etiquette guidelines with your Gateway Counselor. Access GatewayLink here.
Internships
Internships are an important part of the career-exploration and development process. They enable you to learn more about a field of interest, gain skills and experience to enhance your resume, and build a network of professional contacts. Many organizations and companies are looking for bright, motivated talent, and we are eager to help you find those opportunities. Learn more here.
Networking
Connect with members of the Lafayette community (and beyond) to explore your interests. Attend networking programs on-campus or off, through Lafayette and beyond, to connect with professionals in a variety of fields. Work with your Gateway Counselor on strategies for effective outreach, connection, and follow-up. Utilize the Career Center calendar to identify upcoming networking opportunities of interest to you as well as the GatewayLink online networking system to connect with alumni year-round.
Campus Involvement
Your Gateway Counselor will help you reflect on the campus experiences you’re engaging in (or hope to) to identify areas of interest, mismatch, transferrable skills, abilities, and areas of knowledge, and more. Each of the following will provide you with meaningful opportunities to assess your interests, aspects of your role that you’d like to continue utilizing in the future, and more:
On/Off Campus Jobs (Access Work Study information here.)
Campus Leadership Roles
Club/Organization Membership
Service Learning/Community Engagement (Landis Center for Community Engagement)
Career Center Library
Stop by 201 Hogg Hall (Monday-Friday, 9a-5p) to review our collection of print resources. Titles span careers connected to majors, pathways aligned to personality, tips and strategies for pursuing different fields and industries, and much more. Books may be borrowed during the academic semester.