Career Development

Colgate’s Four-Year Career Development Plan is as distinctive as the University itself.

The plan prepares students for success after graduation by drawing on rigorous academic programs, top-tier resources, and a committed alumni network. As a hub of personalized support, the Career Services office works with you from your first year through graduation, providing guidance and resources at every stage of your career journey.

Individual advising appointment
Students engaged in class

A Plan for You

The Four-Year Career Development Plan is curated to progress with students as they explore and experiment. By design, it will help students reach important milestones.

Career Services is a partner each step of the way. As students clarify their goals, Career Services advisers — dedicated practitioners and industry specialists — guide and support them.

Connect with a career adviser Explore majors and careers

Your Four-Year Journey

The plan centers around seven career development areas.

  • First-years begin by cataloging their strengths, interests, values, and identities with career advisers, and exploring broad career areas through alumni-led panels and informational interviews. Students practice basic career skills, like writing a résumé.
  • Sophomores grow their awareness of industries and roles, working directly with a career adviser and participating in alumni programming, such as Sophomore Connections. Developing networking skills and learning how to apply to internships helps students land a professional experience for the summer.
  • Juniors hone their interests and focus on pursuing research or a summer internship, often supported by alumni. Advisers coach students on strengthening interviewing and networking skills. Students take advantage of opportunities provided through Colgate to build industry-based skills and knowledge.
  • Seniors focus on applying for employment, graduate or professional school, and fellowships. Leveraging the knowledge and skills they built throughout their time at Colgate, they are poised to evaluate offers for a fit with their academic and career interests and personal needs — and ultimately, to launch their postgraduate career with confidence.

Finding a Career Path

97%
Of last year’s class secured jobs, admission to graduate schools, fellowships and scholarships, military or volunteer service within nine months of graduation
Explore career outcomes
Alumni and students networking

Networking

Colgate's passionate alumni network is a significant resource, connecting with students to share career insights and open doors to internships and other opportunities. Career Services helps you build and maintain your professional network while hosting in-person events that connect you with these alumni across industries.

Networking
Two people with lap tops sit in chairs facing each other

Internships & Fellowships

Colgate's career development resources help students secure internships and fellowships that open doors to future opportunities.

Internships and fellowships
Sophie Hart internship photo

Career Development Funding

Colgate’s alumni and parent donors generously fund grants that help offset costs for career development experiences, ranging from underpaid or unpaid internships to microcredential courses and graduate school applications, to name just a few.

Career development funding

With so many routes to explore, it is important to create a plan. That’s what Career Services did and continues to do for me.

Jonathan Eaton ’24
Jonathan Eaton ’24

Career Services in Action

Career Services equips students with the skills and experiences needed to succeed long after graduation.

Anki Suri
"I wanted to learn more about the business side of media. Paired with IMAX EVP Craig Dehmel, I gained insight into the ins and outs of IMAX. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and Craig continues to serve as a mentor." Anki Suri
A student presents his capstone presentation
Students interested in pursuing business learn from expert Tuck faculty over three-weeks and then present a capstone presentation during the Tuck Business Bridge Program.
Alumni speak at a panel
Alumni in the arts share their career insights and advice with students during a panel at Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend.
Ashley Hendrata
"Being invited to attend multiple tech summits changed my life, especially the Walmart and Bloomberg summits. They flew me out to Arkansas and NYC, and the people there opened my eyes. Some of these invitations came with job interviews." Ashley Hendrata
Students talk with an alumna at Sophomore Connections
Each winter, during Sophomore Connections, second-year students attend workshops, panels, and networking events while connect with alumni across a variety of career-fields.
Ean Hill
"Spending the summer in Munich greatly improved my German fluency. Working in an intense legal environment helped me determine my future path towards law school." Ean Hill
Students attend alumni industry panels during SophoMORE Connections
Commencement

This is What Success Looks Like

Career development at Colgate means building relationships, not just a résumé. Students who engage with Career Services are greeted with abundant knowledge and opportunity, with more than 200 formal recruiting partners, including Amazon, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Google, Mass General Hospital, National Geographic, NBCUniversal, and Teach For America.

Your Four-Year Journey

The plan centers around seven career development areas.

First-years begin by cataloging their strengths, interests, values, and identities with career advisers, and exploring broad career areas through alumni-led panels and informational interviews. Students practice basic career skills, like writing a résumé.

Sophomores grow their awareness of industries and roles, working directly with a career adviser and participating in alumni programming, such as Sophomore Connections. Developing networking skills and learning how to apply to internships helps students land a professional experience for the summer.

Juniors hone their interests and focus on pursuing research or a summer internship, often supported by alumni. Advisers coach students on strengthening interviewing and networking skills. Students take advantage of opportunities provided through Colgate to build industry-based skills and knowledge.

Seniors focus on applying for employment, graduate or professional school, and fellowships. Leveraging the knowledge and skills they built throughout their time at Colgate, they are poised to evaluate offers for a fit with their academic and career interests and personal needs — and ultimately, to launch their postgraduate career with confidence.

A student walks across campus