At A Glance: ’68 Center for Career Exploration

Graphic drawing representing various programs offered by the 68 Center for Career Exploration
Illustration: Harry Malt

Career Services at Williams has a new name: The ’68 Center for Career Exploration. The result of a 50th reunion gift from the Class of 1968, the name reflects new programming that engages students early and often.

Design Your Williams introduces first-year students to the center and to the idea that “major rarely equals career,” says Director
Don Kjelleren. More than 80 percent of first-years participate.

Students can also explore their interests via six industry-based “career communities” offering programs such as “Career Treks”—visits to employers, graduate school advisors and others. In addition to hosting recruiters on campus, the center connects students to a wealth of internship and job opportunities via its new Handshake/Employer Relations platform.

Alumni are involved at nearly every step of a student’s journey, hosting Career Treks, providing summer internships around the globe (along with stipends to cover unpaid opportunities) and serving as mentors. To help students and alumni connect, the center launched an online mentoring platform, EphLink, in the fall. (Visit ephlink.williams.edu to register.)

Alumni are also deeply involved in the center’s annual pitch competition, in which student teams vie for $20,000 in seed money and the chance to work with mentors to develop business plans.

Learn about the center at careers.williams.edu.