The Piper Center for Vocation and Career will help your student create a plan that incorporates meaningful opportunities to “learn by doing” into your four years on the Hill. We can help your son or daughter choose experiences that complement his or her academic interests, build skill sets, and assist in vocational exploration.
The following guide will help students explore different ways to make the most of their time at St. Olaf. Although class years are listed, these activities may occur at any point. Ideally, students will start early and connect with multiple opportunities. As they engage in these activities, take time to connect with your son or daughter about what they are learning about themselves and their future plans.
First Years
| Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to get to know yourself | June – August | |
| Complete your profile in Handshake in order to view events and opportunities | September – October | |
| Visit the Piper Center website to stay updated on workshops, fairs, grants, scholarships, internships and other opportunities | September – May | |
| Explore Spotlight on Careers to learn about industries and careers of interest (off-campus login username: spotlightpass; password: liberalarts2017) | September – May | |
| Meet with a Peer Advisor to create your college resume | October – November | |
| Create your LinkedIn profile and join the St. Olaf College Alumni Group to research alumni careers and form mentoring relationships | October – December | |
| Join a student organization, engage in volunteer work, take a work study job, or participate in local internship and civic engagement opportunities in order to build leadership skills and discern your interests | October – May | |
| Explore Majors & Careers resources, and view the Academic Catalog | October – May | |
| Attend the Service Expo to explore service opportunities | November | |
| Consider participating in an international or off-campus program | November – April | |
| Thinking about pre-med? Meet with the appropriate career coach to discern your path toward a career in health or medicine | November– May | |
| Attend Focus on First Years, a program about the college experience, specifically designed for first year students. | January | |
| Attend the Summer Job & Camp Fair to explore summer opportunities | February |
Sophomores
| Meet with a Peer Advisor to update your resume and LinkedIn profile with activities from the summer | September – November | |
| Update your Handshake profile with your most recent major(s) choice and default resume | September – December | |
| Explore Spotlight on Careers to learn about industries and careers of interest (off-campus login username: lacn; password: 2014c@reers) | September – May | |
| Attend Ole Biz or Ole Med to meet alumni working in business or health careers | October – November | |
| Register and attend the fall Quo Vadis Sophomore Retreat | October – November | |
| Explore Majors & Careers resources, and view the Academic Catalog | October – May | |
| Visit What Can I Do With This Major? to explore how your major may be connected to potential career paths | October – May | |
| Meet with a career coach to discuss your career interests and explore experiential learning opportunities | October – May | |
| Attend panels, workshops and employer info sessions related to your career interests | October – May | |
| Consider taking a class outside of your intended major | November | |
| Attend the World Wide Service Fair to explore service opportunities | November | |
| Consider participating in an international or off-campus program | November – April | |
| Identify internship, job shadowing or research opportunities for the summer | November – May | |
| Update your LinkedIn profile and continue building your network | January | |
| Attend the Summer Job & Camp Fair to explore summer opportunities | February | |
| Attend Oles for Public Interest to explore careers and meet alumni in the nonprofit sector | March | |
| Attend Ole Law to meet alumni working in the legal profession | April | |
| Apply for summer internship funding, or other St. Olaf Funded Internships | January – April |
Juniors
| Apply for the Fall Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in cities throughout the U.S. | September | |
| Explore Spotlight on Careers to learn about industries and careers of interest (off-campus login username: lacn; password: 2014c@reers) | September – May | |
| Visit What Can I Do With This Major? to explore how your major may be connected to potential career paths | September – May | |
| Attend an On-Campus Recruiting employer info session and apply to a summer internship | September – November | |
| Meet with a Peer Advisor to update your resume and LinkedIn profile with activities from the summer | September – October | |
| Update your Handshake profile with your declared major(s) and concentration(s) and upload your default resume | September – October | |
| Apply for the Interim Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in cities throughout the U.S. | October | |
| Attend Ole Biz or Ole Med to meet alumni working in business or health careers | October – November | |
| Consider taking a class outside of your intended major | November | |
| Consider pursuing an internship during Interim and apply for funding if your experience is unpaid or underpaid | November | |
| Identify additional education or skills necessary for your field of interest and begin researching graduate schools, post-graduate fellowships, or post-graduate service opportunities |
November | |
| Apply for the Spring Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in cities throughout the U.S. | December | |
| Make the most of your summer by applying for a St. Olaf Funded Internship | January – February | |
| Attend the MN Private Colleges Job & Internship Fair to meet over 100 national employers interested in recruiting students for internships | February | |
| Meet with a career coach to help you further refine your career interests and identify experiential learning opportunities | January – April | |
| Consider applying for a Fulbright | February – May | |
| Attend Oles for Public Interest to explore careers and meet alumni in the nonprofit sector | March | |
| Consider pursuing an internship during the summer and apply for funding if your experience is unpaid or underpaid | April | |
| Attend Ole Law to meet alumni working in the legal profession | April |
Seniors
| Apply for the Fall Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in cities throughout the U.S. | September | |
| Consider applying for a Fulbright | September | |
| Attend an On-Campus Recruiting employer info session and apply to a full-time job | September – November | |
| Meet with a Peer Advisor to update your resume and LinkedIn profile with activities from the summer | September – October | |
| Apply for the Fall Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in cities throughout the U.S. | October | |
| Meet with a career coach to discuss your job search, networking strategy, graduate school applications, and interviewing technique | October – May | |
| Attend Ole Biz or Ole Med to meet alumni working in business or health careers | October – November | |
| Consider pursuing an internship during Interim and apply for funding if your experience is unpaid or underpaid | November | |
| Identify additional education or skills necessary for your field of interest and begin researching graduate schools, post-graduate fellowships, or post-graduate service opportunities |
November – December | |
| Apply for the Spring Break Connections Program to network with Oles and explore careers in Denver | December | |
| Attend the MN Private Colleges Job & Internship Fair to meet over 100 national employers interested in recruiting students for internships | February | |
| Attend Oles for Public Interest to explore careers and meet alumni in the nonprofit sector | March | |
| Attend Grad Fest and fill out the Class of 2014 Survey: Post-Graduation Plans | April | |
| Attend Ole Law to meet alumni working in the legal profession | April |