How PLU helps you prepare for your future career(s)
Do you keep getting the question, “What’s your major going to be in college?” – which is essentially a different version of “What are you going to be when you grow up?” Or maybe it’s this: “What are you going to do with your major?”
Maybe you know what you want to major in, maybe you know or have an idea what job or kind of job you want after college, or maybe you have no idea about anything! Good news is, any of these are completely okay.
That’s because a PLU education – no matter what you end up studying – helps you build the skills needed for your next steps.
Through a liberal arts and sciences education like PLU’s, you’re gaining skills of flexibility, creativity, critical thinking, and strong communication – skills that can be applied across jobs and that are highly valued by employers.
Additionally, PLU offers multiple resources to support you as you explore post-college options and provides plenty of opportunities to get vital hands-on experiences. Here’s how:
CAREER SERVICES
Career Coaches
PLU has a dedicated team of Career Coaches, who provide personalized support to current students (and recent graduates!) at every stage of your career journey. Here’s just some what they offer:
- Resume and cover letter review and feedback
- Job and internship search guidance
- Major and career exploration
- Interview prep and how to negotiate salary
- Graduate school search and application guidance
We’ve also partnered with TimelyCare, a 24/7 virtual service for physical and mental healthcare, who additionally offer success coaching!
Career & Internship Fair
Career Services coordinates our annual Career & Internship Fair, where you can explore options, build your network, practice your professional skills, and meet real employers (from local and national organizations) in-person.
Job Shadow Day
Have you had a chance to do a job shadow before? At PLU, these are days coordinated by Career Services where there are no classes on campus (so you can do the full day). Based on your interests, Career Services carefully pairs you with a PLU alum to join them at their job and get a true feel for what a typical day at work looks like.
Career Development Plans
You don’t have to have everything figured out all at once for your future job(s) – thankfully! But there are concrete steps you can take each year of college to help you prepare, and Career Services has put together these great year-by-year career guides!
Fun Fact: PLU has a ‘Lute Career Closet’, where you can get free professional attire (to keep, or donate back) for your interviews and/or your jobs.
INTERNSHIPS
Internships are an incredible way to get valuable hands-on work experience in the industries you’re interested in or are exploring.
We’ve had students intern at NASA, Washington State Legislature, Bloomberg, Beats by Dre, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), MultiCare, Tacoma Arts Live and so many more.
Internships Basics
- Some PLU majors have internship experience worked into the program, like Education, Social Work, Nursing (in the form of practicals), etc.
- There are also some study abroad programs that automatically have internship experience (like our Oaxaca, Mexico program, where you get international work experience!).
- Internships are typically a semester long during the school year – and summer internships are also popular.
- Fun Fact: Fred Hutch Cancer Center guarantees one paid summer internship to a PLU student!
- Ever heard of a ‘micro-internship’? These are shorter, project-based internships available to PLU students.
- Internships can be paid or unpaid.
- PLU has an Internship Fund for students who need financial support to complete their internship.
- Some internships can count for academic credit (depending on the internship).
How to get an Internship as a PLU student
If you didn’t already guess, our Career Coaches can help you get your internship search going! PLU professors are also a great resource for internship ideas thanks to their expertise and connections – and there are some real advantages to PLU being a smaller university, which means your professors get to know you and are excited to support you and help you find internships that are a great fit.
MENTORSHIPS
The PLU Mentoring Program is modeled after the National Association of College and Employers toolkit around career readiness and serves students in 30+ of our majors!
The program pairs students with dedicated PLU alumni (graduates) who volunteer time, experience, and industry insight to guide students in setting goals, honing skills, and navigating the complexities of the professional world.
College of Natural Sciences Mentoring Program
You can be a part of this program if you’re majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science & Environmental Studies, Engineering Dual Degree, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology.
Department of Kinesiology Mentoring Program
If you’re studying Kinesiology (which includes Pre-Physical Therapy, Exercise Science, Health & Fitness Education/Promotion, and an Exercise and Sport Psychology minor), this program pairs you with mentors in health, fitness, sports science, physical therapy, and wellness industries.
College of Liberal Studies Mentoring Program
For students studying Anthropology (minor), Criminal Justice, Economics, English, French & Francophone Studies, Gender, Sexuality & Race Studies, Global Studies, Hispanic & Latino Studies, History, Holocaust & Genocide Studies (minor), Native American & Indigenous Studies (minor), Philosophy, Political Science, Pre-Law, Publishing & Printing Arts (minor), Religion, or Sociology.
With a mentor’s guidance, you gain stronger confidence, clearer direction, and deeper professional readiness.
RESEARCH
Participating in research as a college student is yet another way to help you prepare for work after you graduate. Through research, not only are you diving deeper into what you’re learning (and contributing to the advancement and new knowledge in your academic area!), you’re gaining hands-on experience and problem-solving skills that employers look for.
PLU has lots of opportunities for students to do research – whether you create your own or work with professors on their research projects!
Participating in research as a college student is yet another way to help you prepare for work after you graduate. Through research, not only are you diving deeper into what you’re learning (and contributing to the advancement and new knowledge in your academic area!), you’re gaining hands-on experience and problem-solving skills that employers look for.
PLU has lots of opportunities for students to do research – whether you create your own or work with professors on their research projects!
Our College of Natural Sciences has a Summer Undergraduate Research Program, where students are paid to do scientific research with professors. The College of Natural Sciences also helps students find off-campus summer research opportunities around the nation.
But research isn’t just in the sciences! We offer research fellowships for students in Anthropology, Economics, History, Holocaust Studies, Innovation Studies, English, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Social Work, Sociology, and more.
Fun Fact: We have an annual showcase and celebration for student research and creative projects. Check out the schedule and students’ presentations from last year here.
LUTELINK
You’ve probably heard that in addition to your skills, experience, and knowledge, having good connections is important in landing a job (that’s why LinkedIn has over a billion members!). LuteLink is kind of like LinkedIn, but only for the PLU community – a great way to build your professional network and connect with alumni who are excited to help you succeed.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Need some stats? You can dig into the research we’ve done on recent graduates to see the paths they take after graduating from PLU, where they work, starting salaries, and where they go to graduate school (for master’s and doctorate programs).
We also post job titles and employers as well as graduate schools and programs of graduates from the last five years for each major on our academic programs webpages!
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