Launch

• Apply for a job shadowing experience with Scots on the Spot.
• Conduct informational interviews with family, friends, alumni, or other connections to learn about their career paths and what the day-to-day is is like in their profession.
  
  • An informational interview is an informal conversation with someone working in an area of interest to you, whether that refers to a geographic area, career field, etc. Informational interviewing is an effective research tool and is best done after preliminary online research. Remember: this is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings.
  • A great place to start is with your personal network. Reach out to alumni you know, family, family friends, etc. If you need additional support finding a contact in your career field, reach out to the Career and Personal Development Office.
• Join the Alma College Professional Network on LinkedIn, which is an active, dynamic space for Alma College alumni, faculty, staff, and students to network and support career and professional development.

• Searching for Jobs & Internships: Here are a few tips that can help you organize your job or internship search. You’ll want to put a system in place to help keep track of what you’ve done, and which leads you’ve followed. Make a checklist, take notes – treat it like a research project.
  
  • Resume & cover letter resource library
  • Resume building guide 
  • Resume examples by major
    • STEM Resume
    • Business Resume
    • Communication, Marketing and Graphic Design Resume
    • Education Resume
    • Performing Arts Resume
    • Social Sciences Resume
  • Cover letter building guide
  • Interviewing guide
    
  • Job and Internship Search guide

• Micro-internships: A micro-internship is a short term (20-40 hour) professional project, similar to that which could be completed by an intern or entry-level employee, and which can be completed entirely remotely.  Alma College offers two kinds of micro-internships.

• • For micro-internships with local nonprofit organizations and Alma alumni, see the PlaidWorks Micro-internship program. Students who complete these volunteer projects are eligible for a $250 - $500 grant from Alma College.
  • For micro-internships with companies, search and apply through Parker Dewey.

• Academic internship programs: Administered through Off-Campus Study, academic internship programs combine a guaranteed internship placement with coursework for Alma credit. They are a great way to gain experience – living in a new city, working a professional internship, living in an apartment and cooking for yourself – with the support of peers, professors, and professional staff there to help you be successful. Check out our partner programs in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

Thinking of applying to graduate school? It’s best to make a plan and start early. Below are some resources for your search, including a sample schedule, program search spreadsheet template, and links to helpful websites.

• Grad School 101 timeline
• Junior Year timeline
• Senior Year timeline

External Resources:

• Search for a program | www.gradschools.com
• Grad School Guide | www.graduateguide.com
• Grad School Guide Book | www.gograd.org/graduate-school-guide-book
• About the GRE | www.ets.org/gre
• Student Grad PLUS Loan | www.studentaid.gov
• Test Prep Tips | www.mometrix.com/academy/graduate-and-professional-school/

Considering taking a gap year after Alma? Use the resources here to help launch your search and discovery process and make the most out of your time.

• City Year: Founded in 1988, City Year is a national service program to unite young adults from diverse backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service serving in 29 US cities, as well as in South Africa and the UK.
• AmeriCorps NCCC, State & National, and VISTA: AmeriCorps sends people power and funding to communities across the country. For decades and through our nation’s most trying times, AmeriCorps has come together to help those in need.
• Peace Corps: The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation.
• Service Year: Service Year Alliance is a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.