Externships

For Kalamazoo College students exploring various career options, the Discovery Externship Program affords a unique opportunity to learn from alumni professionals. Discovery Externships are unpaid job shadows for first-year and sophomore students to explore a career interest area in a hands-on setting, while building relationships that have the potential to be meaningful and lasting. Externships offer many benefits:

  • Access to professionals in your field of interest
  • First-hand experience in your field of interest
  • Enhancing your professional and personal skills
  • Meeting your individual learning goals
  • Reflecting on outcomes and future options
  • Networking with alumni and their colleagues
  • Mentoring and informal discussion

During an externship, students may have opportunities for observation and access to other professionals in the field (comparative shadow experiences). Because of the shorter time-frame, it is not uncommon for students to fit both an externship and a separate paid job into their summers.

Externship Treks

The Center for Career and Professional Development is piloting Externship Treks in 2024, in which a group of students will complete short job shadows with alumni hosts simultaneously in one city. The CCPD will provide transportation, food, and lodging for student externs. 

A Chicago Externship Trek will be piloted June 12-14, 2024. If you are an alum working in the city of Chicago interested in potentially hosting an extern, please complete this form: Chicago Externship Trek: Alumni Interest Sign Up 

If you have questions before signing up to host an extern, please see the FAQ section at the beginning of the form, and/or please contact Valerie Miller at 269.337.5786 or vmiller@kzoo.edu.