Resources Available to Support Your Students
Recruiting & Experiential Learning:
- Full-Time Jobs: Students can search for opportunities via Handshake and other online resources vetted by Gateway Counselors, participate in employer interviews (on-campus and virtually), attend employer information sessions, as well as the annual Fall and Spring Career Fairs.
- Internships & Research: Engaging in at least one internship while at Lafayette is an ideal way for your students to sample a career option, gain valuable experience, develop skills, and establish important networking relationships. In addition, many employers look primarily to their interns when making full-time hiring decisions. Students on the graduate school track are also expected to have engaged in experiential education beyond the classroom. Internship supervisors are excellent sources for letters of recommendation either for employment or graduate school.
- January Externship Program: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are given the opportunity to “shadow” alumni, parents, or employers through a two-to-five day externship. Students become involved with projects, attend meetings, and meet with other members of the organization. Externship opportunities span a wide variety of professional roles, companies, industries, and geographic locations (as well as virtual experiences). Hosts in graduate and professional school are also available. The application for this program opens to students during Fall break and typically closes in late October.
- Career Tracks: These multi-day virtual and in-person experiences provide rich immersions into specific career tracks such as, finance, innovation/technology, media and communications, life sciences, and government, law, and policy. Students are exposed to potential career paths, employers, and professional networking opportunities. They get a taste of career areas they might want to pursue and geographic locations where they might like to live.
Financial Support:
- Career Closet: Does your student need professional attire for a Career Fair, networking event, and/or interviews? We have a closet of professional attire for students who otherwise may not have access to such items. Students may stop by 201 Hogg Hall during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:45a-5p) to access the closet.
- Summer Housing: Students interning in and around the Lehigh Valley may apply to have the Career Center cover the cost of their on-campus housing for the summer. An application is required and the deadline is rolling. {NOTE: Students from the Lehigh Valley or who are conducting on-campus research, are not eligible for Career Center housing.}
- Internship Stipends: Encourage students pursuing unpaid, underpaid, or high cost summer internships to apply. Through the generosity of Lafayette alumni and parents, there are a number of endowed internship stipends in place to support Lafayette students participating in summer opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. An application is required and specific deadlines apply.
Career Counseling Appointments & Drop-In Support:
In addition to 30-minute appointments with their assigned Gateway Career Counselor, students can take advantage of weekly “drop-in” opportunities to have their quick questions answered. Information about appointment scheduling and Gateway & Go drop-in time each semester can be found here.
Did you know that the Career Center provides lifelong career counseling to alumni, at no cost? We know faculty stay connected to alumni, and we look forward to continuing to support ‘Pards long after they’ve left “the Hill.” Alumni can request an appointment using the Career Coaching Request form.