At Gettysburg College, we want you to succeed first and foremost as a student, but we also want you to feel prepared for post-grad life. Students enter the world prepared for careers thanks to networking opportunities, professional development resources, and alumni connections.
How do I decide on a career?
Let’s start with the basics.
The first step in preparing for your life after graduating is deciding on your desired career field. Fortunately, the Center for Career Engagement (CCE) has staff trained in all fields that can meet to discuss your interests and identify the best industries or jobs for you. The CCE offers one-on-one appointments or drop-in hours.
There are also a number of opportunities on and off campus through our various programs that allow you to build new skills and gain real-world experience. Through the Garthwait Leadership Center, Sophie Gelling ’21 designed a career immersion trip to Washington, D.C., and organized a forum for students to interact with alumni involved in public service.
“From my first year, I was able to enhance my leadership abilities to make me a more viable job candidate through the Garthwait Leadership Center’s Leadership Certificate program,” Gelling said. “I was paired in the program with Jaime Guilford as my leadership coach, who remained a strong mentor and pseudo-career counselor throughout my four years at Gettysburg College. … These contacts, acquired freshman year, are proving to be very valuable as I enter the post-grad job search now.”
What kind of resources are available?
The Center for Career Engagement isn’t just here to help you choose a career path. They offer a variety of services to help current students and alumni lead great lives and land great jobs. For example, the connectGettysburg platform pairs current students with alumni in their desired career field.
“With a plethora of services, such as resume and cover letter reviewing, interview prep, career fairs, along with pre-law, pre-health, pre-vet advising, and more than 30,000 active and global alumni on our very own connectGettysburg platform, it’s not hard to understand why we’re recognized by the Princeton Review among Colleges that Create Futures,” said Syd Quan ’22, who has taken advantage of the CCE offerings herself as she looks ahead to graduation next year.
“[I gained] valuable insights that I am so thankful for the alumni network,” Quan continued. “Gettysburg is a small school with a very heavy emphasis on community and building connections and lifting each other up. The alumni I've connected with have always taken the time to give back to Gettysburg, where they do what they can to make a difference in another student’s life.”
Are there opportunities for current students to attend networking events?
In a typical school year, Gettysburg offers a variety of opportunities to build your network, both in person and online.
Reflecting on a networking event last spring, Gelling said, “We traveled to Washington, D.C., for an Eisenhower Institute Women in Politics program. There, we spoke to notable people who work in the field. It is incredible to have opportunities like this, regardless of class year or major.”
What is the alumni network like?
Gettysburg College prides itself on a strong network of alumni who desire to help you succeed. Nina Reubenstein ’21 recognizes the support of the alumni network, and their eagerness to help current students.
“The alumni network is extremely supportive,” Reubenstein said. “I would suggest that students talk to professors and connect with Gettysburg alumni on all platforms. People are extremely willing to talk, especially to a fellow Gettysburgian.”
This sense of school spirit reverberates beyond the campus itself and extends far into post-grad life.
Career outcomes that last
A Gettysburg education does more than prepare students to be informed and engaged citizens. We want you to succeed in any career or industry imaginable.
That’s why 98 percent of recent graduates land a job or graduate school position within a year of graduating, and 80 percent of students complete at least one internship throughout their college career.
We help connect you with internship, externship, job shadowing, and immersion trip opportunities that build your resume and prepare you for the professional world.
By Gabi Eglinton ’21
Photos by Miranda Harple and Shawna Sherrell
Posted: 04/20/21
