Rising Seniors Get a Head Start on Career Planning

That query is included in the annual senior-needs survey from the Office of Career Exploration and Development (CXD). The questionnaire signals the start of what’s coming: a semester filled with advising, job fairs, employer visits, and workshops that will guide them through the transition to post-college life.

“The survey starts to acclimate them to all the help we will send their way,” said Bethany Walsh, CXD director of career advising and education and advisor for technology.

Based on the recent survey results, CXD staff are planning and tweaking their lineup of programs for this fall. They also use the responses to assign each senior a CXD advisor specialized in technology, education, the arts, media, marketing, government, law, education, social impact, science and health care, business, or the environment.

So far, 265 members of the Class of 2026—a little more than half the class—have responded. Historically that number grows to about 85 percent. (Everyone—whether or not they respond—receives an invitation to the office to chat about their interests and aspirations with a career advisor.)

“We get a high response rate. Students view it as a helpful resource,” said Walsh. ‘We hear things like, ‘Thank goodness you’re here to help me!’”

The seniors’ answers reveal what is most on their minds; this year, they are seeking more interview prep, networking practice, and job search strategies, CXD staff say. “Many years the prevalent theme is how to find jobs that would be a good fit for me,” said CXD Executive Director Kristin Brennan. To meet this need, CXD offers a workshop on job search strategies and another to reflect on work that matches one's skills and values.

Right out of the Gate

Programming begins with Senior Week, a series of events scheduled for the first full week of classes. The six workshops address topics like prepping for interviews, finding compatible careers, and running an organized job search. 

One highlight this autumn is the return of a full-scale career fair—the first in several years—set for September 17. Thirty employers will be on campus, all actively hiring for full-time jobs or internships.

“That was a requirement for participation,” said CXD Director of Employer Engagement Dawn Gerding, who coordinated the fair. “We also use it as an opportunity to highlight a lot of jobs that are of the sneaky-good variety—jobs that almost any Bowdoin student would be qualified for.”

The lineup was carefully curated to match student interests. Some employers have also added one-on-one sessions the same week to deepen their connections with Bowdoin students. 

Graduate school advising is also part of the menu of options. On September 29, CXD will host Grad School Night with a mix of university representatives and alumni voices. With law school becoming more competitive, science programs increasingly complex, and graduate funding options in flux, CXD staff say the event will give students a clearer view of what lies ahead.

International opportunities are another area of growing interest. Bowdoin's CXD advisors have been building stronger connections with Bowdoin alumni working abroad, to help students understand hiring practices in foreign countries and to find available opportunities.

“I never realized how vast our alumni network is in other countries,” said Amy Steigbigel, CXD senior associate director and advisor for arts, marcom, media, and HR. “It’s interesting to hear from alumni how they ended up in these places and how they've thrived professionally.”

That global perspective is fueling enthusiasm for fellowships such as Fulbright, Princeton in Asia, Princeton in Africa, and the Peace Corps. These programs offer students a chance to spend a year or two abroad before graduate school or permanent employment.

“The theme this year is options,” Walsh said. “Yes, we’ll go for plan A. But we’ll also help you build plan B, C, and D.”

Behind the scenes, advisors are also reaching out to faculty and alumni, preparing connections before seniors even ask for them. Meanwhile, workshops on résumé writing, interview skills, and those “sneaky good jobs” will continue throughout the year.

For many students, the steady rhythm of outreach and programming—which begins as soon as they return to campus—is a relief. “It’s a lot less overwhelming when you start early,” said Brennan.