Parents and Families – Center for Career and Professional Development

Welcome to the K community! At the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), we are excited to support your student’s personal and professional growth throughout their four years at K and beyond. From drop-in hours in the Career Studio to one-on-one career coaching to an extensive network of alumni, the CCPD provides the tools and connections students need to prepare for life after graduation.

We expect students to take ownership of their career exploration and planning. Parents and families play an important role as partners in this process by offering encouragement, listening without judgment, and helping students make the most of their Kalamazoo College experience. You can find links to all tools and resources on our Student Resources page.

How Families Can Support their Student

1. Encourage CCPD visits “early and often.”

Suggest that they stop by the Career Studio or attend a CCPD event, particularly when they express curiosity, excitement, or anxiety about the future. Our highly trained peer career advisors provide a warm welcome, answer questions, and will connect your student with the many tools and resources the CCPD provides. Additionally, students can set up 1:1 career coaching appointments with professional staff members through Handshake.

2. Advise your student to create a resume.

Encourage your student to create a resume so they are ready to apply for campus jobs, internships, and other opportunities. Tell them to start with the CCPD’s page on Resumes. Here they will find a recruiter-approved resume template, and links to the Basic Resume Module in the Career Connection Toolkit.

Review drafts for clarity, then recommend feedback from a peer career advisor in the Career Studio or encourage them to upload their resume to Big Resume for feedback.

3. Promote extracurricular involvement.

Suggest that your student be involved and active outside the classroom. Interpersonal and leadership skills (qualities highly valued by future employers) are often developed in extracurricular activities, and through on-campus employment, service-learning, and study away/abroad experiences.

4. Foster occupational literacy.

Career decisions happen over time, not all at once. Encourage exploration by suggesting your student:

Take assessments and explore careers in PathwayU
Talk with faculty and staff about opportunities on and off campus
Shadow professionals through the K in the Zoo Job Shadow Program
Sign up for KConnect to find alumni and reach out for a career conversation
Gain skills and experience through internships, research or other work-based opportunities
Create a profile in LinkedIn and connect with alumni and other professionals
Take the Design your Path PE/Wellness course
Visit the Explore your Path Beyond K Dashboard to see K grads’ first destinations

5. Emphasize hands-on experience.

In today’s competitive job market, employers look for graduates who can demonstrate both skills and experience. Encourage your student to start with the CCPD’s Guide to Internships and Other Work-Based Learning, and explore opportunities such as internships, research projects, volunteer roles, campus jobs, or part-time work in the Kalamazoo area. Each of these experiences helps students develop transferable skills, test career interests, and stand out to future employers.

6. Encourage networking and building social capital.

Relationships are one of the most powerful resources students can develop during college. Talk with your student about the importance of networking and encourage them to build connections with faculty, alumni, and professionals. You can model this by introducing your student to colleagues or contacts in your own network, inviting them to visit your workplace, or helping them arrange conversations or job shadows. Each of these experiences helps your student practice professional skills, explore career fields, and grow the social capital that will support them long after graduation.

7. Let your student make the call.

Career decisions are most effective when students take the lead. Ask open-ended questions and share your perspective, but let your student make the final decision. Career planning can feel overwhelming, so your patience and encouragement matter. Remind your student that CCPD coaches and Career Advisors are available to help at every stage.

8. Partner with the CCPD.

Families are important allies in preparing students for success after K. You can share job or internship opportunities from your organization, volunteer to host a student through a job shadow or internship program, or advocate for Kalamazoo College students within your networks.