Over the last several years, the CCPD has built a strong partnership with the men’s football program, thanks in large part to the leadership and support of then Head Football Coach Jamie Zorbo. During that time, we collaborated on a range of workshops, everything from resume writing to job and internship searching, networking, and more. Since Coach Zorbo’s transition into the role of Athletics Director, that partnership has only continued to grow. 

This fall, the CCPD expanded our work with Athletics by launching a new workshop series called “The Athlete Advantage.” These sessions had two simple goals: to help student-athletes see the career value of skills they build every day in their sport (discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership) and teach them how to communicate those strengths clearly on a resume. During the sessions, the athletes viewed a presentation explaining the link between their athletic skills and career readiness skills, then were given the opportunity to apply what they just learned by completing the new Basic Resume Module in our Career Connection Toolkit and practice translating their athletic experience into employer-ready language.  

Athletic skills are career readiness skills 

In 2014, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducted a large national study across industries and employer types to identify the most important career readiness competencies for early-career professionals. The result was a framework of eight competencies: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology. 

These competencies map closely to the skills athletes develop over years of practices, competitions, and team leadership roles. Discipline and resilience align with professionalism. Teamwork and leadership match two of the competencies outright. And qualities like adaptability, time management, and the ability to perform under pressure appear across multiple competency areas. 

Simply put: the skills that make strong athletes are the same skills employers are actively seeking. Our goal is to help students recognize that connection and feel confident about naming and demonstrating those strengths. 

Progress so far and where we’re headed 

This fall, the CCPD led three Athlete Advantage workshops, reaching 234 student-athletes across multiple teams. Our goal is to reach every student-athlete by the end of this academic year. 

Looking ahead, we will continue offering these workshops to incoming first-year athletes and expanding the resources available to teams and coaches. The focus remains the same: helping students understand the real-world value of their athletic experience and teaching them how to showcase those skills effectively on their resumes and in conversations with employers. 

During KConnect Week, more than 100 career conversations unfolded between Kalamazoo College students and alumni. In all, 106 meetings connected 59 students with 38 alumni across the country. For many students, these short, 20 minute Hornet Huddles offered something essential in the career development process: direct, candid access to someone who once sat exactly where they are now. Students described the experience as energizing and humanizing, noting that the conversations felt more like genuine mentorship than formal interviews. What surprised them most was how approachable the alumni were. One student summed it up simply: “Made me realize alumni are not that intimidating to talk to.”

For alumni, the impact went both ways. Many enjoyed hearing what current students are curious about, what challenges they are thinking through, and how their own career paths with all their pivots and surprises could offer reassurance. Several mentioned that the small group format allowed space for real conversation, even within a single 20 minute session. The topics covered a wide landscape: scientific research, law, public policy, marketing, finance, technology, education, communications, nonprofit leadership, and more. Alumni shared insights from government agencies, startup environments, hospitals, laboratories, courtrooms, schools, and global companies. Students used the time to explore majors, test assumptions, and ask practical questions about internships, first roles, identity in the workplace, and how to get started.

Many conversations also sparked a next step, whether that was an invitation to connect again on LinkedIn, an offer to review a resume, or a suggestion to reach out to someone else in the alum’s network. The ripple effects of a single meeting will continue long after KConnect Week. Hornet Huddles continue to show the strength of a career community built on real people and real conversations. Students benefit from seeing firsthand how K alumni build lives and careers after graduation. Alumni benefit from reconnecting with the campus community and supporting emerging professionals in fields they care deeply about.

As KConnect grows, so will the opportunities to make these conversations easy and accessible. The goal remains the same: to help students try things and talk to people, and to ensure that every Hornet has access to the guidance, perspective, and encouragement that comes from another Hornet saying, “I have been there. Let’s talk.”

For students and alumni alike, joining KConnect is an easy way to stay connected to this community year-round. You don’t need to participate in Hornet Huddles to take part. Students can explore alumni profiles and reach out for advice whenever they’re ready, and alumni can make themselves available for future conversations in whatever way fits their schedules. Anyone can get started at kzoo.alumnifire.com.

“The value in these original iterations was not in making something good… but rather in that I took a step away from doing nothing and a step towards doing something.” — Thomas Bentley ’25

Thomas Bentley ’25 did not get his position with the Minnesota Twins by getting it right the first time. Actually, he discusses how a number of his initial baseball analytics projects were cumbersome, inefficient, and downright bad. But they were the building blocks.

In his blog post, The First Step and 3 Bad Ideas, Thomas reflects on the power of acting before you’re ready. If it was a messy spreadsheet, a failed Twitter thread, or a poorly wighted model for pitching, every failure served to instruct him… and move forward.

If you’ve ever delayed starting something because you weren’t “good enough yet,” this is your reminder to try anyway.

Read the full post here.

Last Academic Year at the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) brought significant staff changes, marking both a new beginning and a heartfelt farewell. 

We are excited to announce that Alejandro Alaniz ‘18, hired as Career Coach in Summer 2023, has been promoted to Assistant Director. Alaniz, a native of the Rio Grande Valley, graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2018 with a degree in Spanish and is currently pursuing his MA in Educational Leadership. Since joining the CCPD, Alex has made a profound impact through several key initiatives. He founded the Career Launch Internship Program, spearheaded mock interviews in Spanish in collaboration with the Spanish department, and partnered with campus initiatives to support South Texas students. His creativity and artist’s eye have also enhanced CCPD’s designs and revamped Career Ambassador training. Beyond these accomplishments, Alejandro has been a tireless volunteer, supporting all CCPD events and programs with enthusiasm and dedication. His diverse background in education, from middle school English teaching to high school college prep, complements his role at the CCPD. Outside of work, Alex is an avid reader, MARVEL enthusiast, Disney fan, Netflix binger, and enjoys spending time with his two puppies, Milo and Bella. If you haven’t had the chance yet to meet Alex, visit him in the Career Studio this fall beginning in Week 2! 

As we celebrate Alejandro’s new role, we also bid a fond farewell to Jackie Srodes, who retired after 21+ years of dedicated service to Kalamazoo College. Jackie’s strengths—empathy, development, positivity, futurism, and inclusion—were evident in every interaction with students, alumni, employers, and colleagues. She played a crucial role in career coaching, meeting with 1000+ students and alumni over the years. She helped grow the Career Ambassador program, partnered with faculty and presented in classrooms on topics like professional document creation and interview preparation, and supported numerous other CCPD initiatives and events. Her unwavering commitment and supportive presence will be deeply missed by the entire K community. 

As we move forward, we look forward to the continued growth and success of the CCPD, driven by the legacy of excellence left by Jackie and the fresh energy and innovation brought by Alejandro. The CCPD will not be seeking to fill the current opening this academic year.

This past spring, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), in collaboration with the Psychology Department, offered newly declared psychology majors a unique opportunity to explore their career possibilities through an innovative approach. Typically, Hornet Huddles—career conversations that connect students and alumni in one-on-one or small group settings—take place outside the classroom. However, this collaboration brought Huddles directly into the classroom during class sessions.

Hornet Huddles were integrated into two sections of the Sophomore Research Methods course, providing students with a direct link between their academic learning and real-world applications early in their academic journey. Each session began with alumni introductions, where they outlined their current roles, career trajectories, and how their education at Kalamazoo College influenced their professional paths. Students had the opportunity to meet with nine different alumni from a variety of industries.

Following the introductions, students engaged in virtual small group discussions with alumni who captured their interest. This format encouraged personalized interactions and deeper conversations about specific career paths. During the hour-long sessions, each student had the chance to meet with 2-3 different alumni, allowing them to explore multiple career options.

The small group settings fostered a dynamic environment where students could ask questions, seek advice, and learn directly from the experiences of K alumni. Conversations ranged from practical inquiries about day-to-day responsibilities in psychology-related roles to aspirational discussions on leveraging a psychology degree for long-term career success.

Alumni shared insights into a wide range of careers, including clinical psychology, research, human resources, and more, demonstrating the versatility of a psychology degree. They also offered valuable tips on navigating the job market, pursuing graduate studies, and the importance of networking and continuous learning.

We are grateful for the collaboration between our two departments and for the time and expertise shared by our alumni.

Alumni who are interested in supporting K students’ career development are encouraged to complete the CCPD Alumni Engagement Interest Form.