Uncategorized – Center for Career and Professional Development

K in the Zoo Launches Winter Break Day Pilot

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Rachel Wood

Last week, the Center for Career and Professional Development kicked off a new pilot, K in the Zoo: Winter Break Day. Kalamazoo College students spent a day job shadowing local worksites, marking the expansion of the larger K in the Zoo job shadow initiative, which makes it easier for students to explore different career options through short, local experiences focused on observation and connection. Students spent the day learning directly from professionals about career paths, daily responsibilities, workplace culture, and the decisions that shape early careers.

Each student was matched with a host based on their interests. Because the group was small, hosts could share openly and students had plenty of time to ask questions. Many students said that seeing workplaces up close made career paths feel clearer and next steps less overwhelming. They also learned that careers don’t always follow a straight line, and that skills from a liberal arts education can be useful in any field.

One student reflected: “I gained a deeper appreciation for the company’s positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture, as well as its commitment to community impact and continuous professional development. Seeing how strongly the company’s core values align with my own has made me even more enthusiastic about the possibility of joining in the future.”

Zarifa and Jayden with Ian — Zarifa Ibrahimzada ’26 and Jayden Costa ’29shadowed Ian Geiman ’14 – Senior Lead UX Designer at Re:Build Tekna

JJ with Chad — Zarifa Ibrahimzada ’26 and Jayden Costa ’29shadowed Ian Geiman ’14 – Senior Lead UX Designer at Re:Build Tekna

Building a Local Career Ecosystem

K in the Zoo strengthens connections between Kalamazoo College students and the local professional community. By creating structured, manageable opportunities for engagement, the program supports:

Early career exploration
Alumni and employer partnership
Confidence in professional communication
Increased access to experiential learning

Hosts described the experience as meaningful on their end as well:

Blake MacDonald ’08, Director of Strategic Sales at Stryker, shared: “A K alum helped me land my first job, so this is a small way for me to pay it forward to the next generation of future K grads.”

Meg Brake, Recruiting Manager at Greenleaf Hospitality Group, said: “I loved just seeing the students’ delight as they learn more about other areas of the business. We aren’t just a hotel!”

Devin Norman ’93, Dentist and Owner at Norman Family Dentistry, noted: “It was a lot of fun to recall what it was like to investigate different career opportunities. Students today are definitely more aware and more prepared to act on those opportunities.”

Chad Goodwill ’92 – Vice President, Business Banking at 1st Source Bank, said: ” It was a great day for both of us. I encourage you all to get plugged in to the program. It is a tremendous resource right in our back yard.”

Looking Ahead

K in the Zoo continues over Spring Break with additional host sites and shadowing opportunities. Students interested in participating in the Spring Break cycle may apply through Friday, February 27. Alumni and employer partners interested in hosting students in future cycles are encouraged to contact Rachel Wood at rwood@kzoo.edu.

K in the Zoo Returns for Spring Break

Posted on February 2, 2026February 20, 2026 by Rachel Wood

K in the Zoo is back this Spring Break with another round of short, high-impact job shadow opportunities for Kalamazoo College students.

Spring Break job shadows are meant to be easy. They are a chance to spend a day with a Kalamazoo College alum or local professional, see what their work actually looks like, and ask the kinds of questions you cannot always get answered in a classroom setting. You will mostly be observing, listening, and learning. It is a simple way to get a real feel for a career field without any pressure to already know what you are doing.

The program is open to all K students, and no experience is required. This year’s Spring Break hosts work in a wide range of fields, all right here in the Kalamazoo area. Learn more about the K in the Zoo program and apply now. Applications due Friday, February 27, 2026 (Week 8).

Employer Connection Fair Coming in Week 6

Posted on January 30, 2026February 20, 2026 by Rachel Wood

The Kalamazoo College Employer Connection Fair is coming up in Week 6, and we have some genuinely great employers attending.

This is a chance to explore career paths, ask real questions, and make connections with professionals right here on campus. Whether you already know what field you’re interested in or you’re still figuring it out, the Fair is a low pressure way to learn more about what different industries look like day to day. Students of every major are encouraged to attend.

We’re excited to welcome a wide range of employers, including:

Corewell Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the state
Eurofins, a global leader in biotech and laboratory research
City Year and Michigan Education Corps, for students interested in education and youth service
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, focused on immigration law and justice work
Mercantile Bank, a Michigan based commercial bank with business and finance opportunities
Fastenal, with early career pathways in operations and leadership
Greenleaf Hospitality Group, a major local employer in hospitality and guest experience
Taplin Group, doing hands on environmental and infrastructure work across the Midwest
Owen Ames Kimball, an employee owned construction management firm

Kalamazoo College Employer Connection Fair
Wednesday, February 11 (Week 6)
3 to 5 p.m.
Dewing Commons

If you want to feel more prepared before the Fair, Resume Week is happening this week in the Career Studio all next week. Stop by during drop in hours in Dewing 102 for personalized feedback on your resume, help preparing questions for employers, and support with anything related to career exploration.

Career Studio Drop In Hours
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Snacks will be available all Week 5.

Beyond the Game: Athletes & Alumni Networking

Posted on January 27, 2026February 24, 2026 by Valerie Miller

Kalamazoo College Athletics, Alumni Engagement, and the Center for Career and Professional Development will host Beyond the Game: Athletes & Alumni Networking on Monday, March 2, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Hornet Suite.

This event brings together current Kalamazoo College junior and senior student-athletes and alumni athletes for an evening of networking and conversation focused on life after college athletics. Participants will connect through informal networking and small-group discussions that highlight alumni career paths, the transition from college sports to professional life, and the ways athletic experiences translate into careers and leadership beyond the game.

Beyond the Game is designed to support student-athletes at all stages of career exploration while strengthening connections between Hornet athletes across generations. Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.

Registration
Please register in advance using the following links:

Alumni Athletes: Register here
Student Athletes: Register here

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Valerie Miller at vmiller@kzoo.edu.

Making Summer Internships Possible: CCPD Summer Internship Stipends

Posted on January 22, 2026January 21, 2026 by Richard Sylvester

Each year, we talk with students who are excited about the idea of a summer internship but are unsure how to make it work financially if they cannot find a paid opportunity or are interested in fields where unpaid internships are common. Unpaid internships can offer meaningful professional experience, but they also require students to balance living expenses, transportation, and other financial responsibilities. For many students, especially first-generation students, those barriers can make internships feel out of reach.

That’s exactly why the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) offers Summer Internship Stipends.

An African American woman sitting in front of a laptop. Image credit goes to WOCinTech @ nappy.co

Reducing Financial Barriers to Internships
Every summer, the CCPD awards a limited number of summer internship stipends, valued at up to $6,000, to support students completing unpaid internships that build career readiness and professional experience. The goal is simple: to ensure that financial constraints don’t prevent students from pursuing opportunities that align with their academic interests and career goals.

Internships continue to be one of the most impactful forms of experiential learning. Employers consistently identify internship experience as a top factor in hiring decisions, and students who complete internships often report greater clarity about their career direction and stronger confidence heading into the job search. Stipends help shift the focus away from “Can I afford to do this?” and toward “What will help me grow?”

What to know before applying
Applications for the 2026 Summer Internship Stipend opened during 2nd week, on January 13. To be eligible, students must have secured an unpaid internship prior to applying, and the internship must last a minimum of 240 hours. Stipend award amounts are determined based on internship location and demonstrated financial need. To learn more about our funding model and to see which tier you fall into, check out the internship stipend webpage. This year, there have been updates to the types of organizations considered for funding, so students are encouraged to review the Internship Stipend Common Questions before applying.

The application deadline is Friday 8th week, February 27. If you have questions about the stipend or need help writing your essay responses, drop by the Career Studio; no appointment required. Hours are Monday – Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 5–7 p.m.

Summer internships shouldn’t be limited to students who can afford them. The CCPD Internship Stipend Program exists to help more students take advantage of these transformative experiences, and if you’re considering an unpaid internship this summer, we encourage you to explore whether a stipend could support you.

To apply for a stipend, click here.

Documenting Change: A Narrative Project in Ethnic Studies

Posted on December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 by Rachel Wood

Supported by a CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, Luis spent the summer interning with Gente Organizada, a community-led social action nonprofit in Pomona, California. Through a self-designed narrative project focused on the implementation of ethnic studies in local high schools, they led interviews, built community connections, and gained a deeper understanding of how grassroots organizing turns community needs into lasting change.

“Over the summer, I interned at a community-led social action non-profit organization based in Pomona, CA called Gente Organizada. I’ve been a part of this organization since I was in middle school and have had the opportunity to intern with them over the past two summers, thanks to the support of the CCPD, which provided me with the funding to prioritize this type of work without worrying about any financial burden. This summer, my internship also doubled as a component of my Senior Individualized Project (SIP), where I took the lead and created a project opportunity in collaboration with Gente Organizada.

My work for the summer consisted of a narrative-based project regarding ethnic studies being implemented in the high schools of my hometown, Pomona, CA. My project aimed to cover three main points: to understand why the community felt the need for the students of Pomona to have an ethnic studies class, to highlight and gain a deeper understanding of how community members’ work contributed to the creation of this course, and to speak on the next steps now that the curriculum is being implemented.

I was the lead on this project, which meant I was responsible for all aspects of the project, including, but not limited to, creating the questionnaire, conducting outreach to potential interviewees, scheduling one-on-one meetings, arranging interview times, setting up equipment, and conducting the interviews. This experience and workload gave me a greater appreciation for the work that organizations such as Gente Organizada conduct, as well as the level of work and care required for different projects or campaigns.

This experience also strengthened my outlook on the future regarding possible careers after college. In my future, I definitely see myself working in a space like Gente Organizada or in a career field with similar goals or qualities. Overall, the work I accomplished over the summer was incredible and has benefited not only me but also served as a foundation for future work in ethnic studies at Pomona, as I left Gente with a record of work but also new connections.” – Luis Castro-Limon ’26

Deepening Legal Skills Through a Judicial Internship

Posted on December 4, 2025February 26, 2026 by Rachel Wood

Through support from a CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, this student spent the summer working in the Family Division of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Kalamazoo County. Drafting legal memoranda, conducting research, and observing complex cases provided a closer look at how judicial decision-making differs from advocacy. The experience strengthened the students’ analytical and writing skills while offering meaningful preparation for law school and future legal work!

“Over this past summer, I served as a judicial intern for the honorable Kenneth N. Barnard at the Family Division of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Kalamazoo County. Through working in this internship, I was privileged to take on some of the county’s more complex cases and diversify my knowledge across practice areas. Additionally, I grew to understand the distinct ways in which courts within the same county operate in comparison to one another in terms of case load and work distribution. Furthermore, my work provided me with an insight into the legal field about the types of thought processes necessary to analyze a case, as well as the differing writing approaches taken from the judicial standpoint in comparison to that of legal counsel.

While serving as a judicial intern, my competence as a pre-law student grew through drafting memorandums of law and conducting legal research pertaining to ongoing cases. Furthermore, I established meaningful and rewarding relationships with those I worked alongside at the Court. I not only gained assurance in my capabilities to succeed in the legal field, but I also gained confidence in relying upon my coworkers when necessary, as well as becoming comfortable with constructive criticism. Most importantly, my experience has prepared me for law school and other potential employment opportunities within the legal field after I finish my degree at Kalamazoo College. I will forever be grateful to Kalamazoo County and the Career Center for Professional Development at Kalamazoo College for providing me with the opportunity to gain significant and influential legal experience as an undergraduate student.” – Ariadne Markou ’25

Finding My Path Through Creativity: My Summer at Bay View Music Festival

Posted on November 27, 2025February 26, 2026 by Rachel Wood

The CCPD Summer Internship Stipend helps make hands-on, career-shaping experiences like this possible. In this post, a student reflects on capturing and producing content that connected audiences to live performances. The experience strengthened the students’ creative and professional skills while offering important clarity about the kind of work environment they hope to pursue after college.

“This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Social Media Ambassador for the Bay View Music Festival in northern Michigan, a unique performing arts community that combines high-level music performance with a tight-knit, supportive culture.

Internship photo - Anastasia Okromchedlishvili

In this role, I was responsible for capturing photo and video content at concerts, masterclasses, and events, then editing and publishing them to our social media platforms. I also created promotional content, developed ideas for TikToks and Instagram Reels, and wrote captions tailored to our audience. Every day brought a new performance, a new challenge, and a chance to grow creatively.

One of the most exciting parts was seeing the impact of my work in real time, watching our engagement grow and knowing that my content helped connect audiences to the festival’s mission. I also learned the less glamorous side of social media work: digging through hours of footage to find the perfect clip, managing time under pressure, and working without a rigid schedule. These experiences helped me realize that while I love creative work, I thrive best with more structure and flexibility, ideally in an office setting.

This internship confirmed my passion for media and content creation and gave me valuable insights into what I want (and need) in a future workplace: a collaborative environment, space for creativity, and clear communication.

I’m grateful to Bay View and Kalamazoo College’s CCPD for making this experience possible, it helped grow my creativity, professionalism and me as a person.” – Anastasia Okromchedlishvili ’28

Growing as Student Advisors: What DSAs Explored in This Year’s Workshop

Posted on November 20, 2025November 17, 2025 by Rachel Wood

In October, Alejandro Alaniz ’18 led a full day workshop for Department Student Advisors and Career Advisors focused on the conversations they have every day with students who are sorting through majors, purpose, and belonging.

Connecting Interests to Learning

“Field of study, not the major, not the average salary, should be the guiding principle…” — Hacking College

The morning began with the idea of hidden intellectualism, based on Gerald Graff’s work about the thinking students already do in their everyday interests. Graff’s claim: “Students are often more intellectual than they realize; the problem is not that they lack intelligence but that they have not found topics that ignite their minds.”

Alejandro shared his own example of travel planning and how it helped him build skills in research, cultural learning, and problem solving long before he realized those skills connected to academic and professional paths. He told the group that the goal was to think about “what it means to connect your own story and curiosity to the way you support other students.” Advisors then spent time reflecting on the interests and experiences that shape how they already learn and make sense of the world.

From Wicked Problems to Field of Study

Next, the group worked with the idea of wicked problems. These are the complex real world issues that cross disciplines and do not have simple solutions. This framing encouraged advisors to move beyond the question of “What should my major be” and toward a broader sense of “What field of study helps me explore the problems I care about.” Advisors looked at how their classes, experiences, and questions form larger themes and how those themes can help students build more connected paths through their time at K.

Investigative Inquiry and Storytelling

After lunch, the workshop shifted to investigative inquiry. Advisors practiced asking questions that help them understand how people think about their work and why they do it. They each drafted one big question tied to their own field of study and talked about when students might use this type of inquiry instead of a traditional career conversation.

Later in the afternoon, the focus moved to storytelling. DSAs shared short, honest accounts of their own paths and named the strengths they heard in each other’s stories. The activity gave advisors a chance to think about how sharing real experiences can help students feel less alone in their uncertainty.

Putting It Into Practice

To bring the ideas together, advisors worked through a few student scenarios. The point was not to find perfect solutions but to practice listening well, asking thoughtful questions, and helping students take a next step that makes sense for them.

At the end of the workshop, Alejandro summed up the day by saying, “I left feeling so proud of these student leaders and their commitment to helping their peers find belonging and purpose here at K.”

It was a good chance for DSAs to step back, reflect, and strengthen the way they show up for their peers. We look forward to continuing this important work with our departmental student advisors!

Making LinkedIn Work for You in 2025

Posted on November 13, 2025October 23, 2025 by Rachel Wood

LinkedIn has changed a lot since 2021 when I first shared these tips. Back then, the focus was mostly on having a polished profile and connecting with alumni. Those things still matter, but now there are more ways than ever to make LinkedIn work for you.

1. Start with the basics, then level up

Photo & headline: A clear, friendly headshot and a headline with 2–3 keywords for your field make it easier for people to find you.
About section: Write in first person, keep it authentic. Share what you’re interested in, not just what you’ve done.
Experience: Focus on results and projects, not just job titles or duties.

2. Post with purpose

You don’t have to make posts on LinkedIn. If you do, you definitely don’t have post all the time. Liking, commenting, or sharing others’ posts is valuable. But posting can be easier than you might think. If you do want to post, share something quick about what you’re learning, working on, or curious about. That could be:

A class project you’re proud of
An internship or campus job update
An article, podcast, class discussion, or event that got you thinking
A question for people in your field of interest
A reflection on a skill you’re building

New in 2025: LinkedIn’s algorithm favors visual content. Aim for most posts to have an image, infographic, or short video. Short, vertical “Reels”-style videos and carousel posts are performing especially well.
Tip: Don’t just post. Stick around to reply to comments and join conversations.

3. Level up your outreach

We talk a lot about reaching out to alumni or other professionals in our field(s) of interest. This outreach works best when it’s short, specific, and personal. Mention something specific you noticed, like a recent post or shared interest. Instead of just “I’m a student and want to talk,” try:

“I saw you got your PMP certification. I’m curious if you’d recommend it for someone starting out?”
“I noticed you did your graduate work at the University of Michigan. What helped you choose it?”

As career coach Madeline Mann says, “If you’re going to ask for 15 minutes of their time, be sure to show that you spent 15 minutes of yours.” Remember to follow up; thank people for their time or advice, and later share how you used what they told you.

4. Stay genuine

LinkedIn’s culture has shifted toward valuing authenticity. It’s okay to show a bit of your personality alongside your professional work. The more your profile reflects your real values and interests, the more likely you are to attract opportunities that fit you.

Bottom line: The basics from 2021 still matter. In 2025, LinkedIn works best when you keep your profile fresh, connect with people genuinely, and take small, consistent actions. You don’t have to do everything, just keep showing up.