Any Carleton student is welcome to create a self-designed experience that supports their unique career exploration. Here are a few things to consider:
- Reflect on your interests: consider which industries, job roles, or organization types you would like to explore
- Tap into your network: identify family members, friends, and mentors who might be willing to share their career insights with you. Reaching out to new contacts is also okay, but may take more time and effort.
- Consider what’s feasible: think about how much time you can commit to an exploration experience and what format might be viable. Externships are typically 1-3 weeks and can be remote, hybrid, or in-person.
- Be open to a variety of activities: career exploration can take many forms. Job shadowing, short-term projects, and informational interviews are all viable options. You can mix and match activities to create a custom experience.
- Create a professional outreach message: send potential contacts a concise, polite note explaining why you are reaching out and the experience you would like to arrange. Share what you hope to learn or accomplish in the experience.
- Stay flexible: employers may have limitations on what types of experiences they can support. Be open to modifying your plans.
- Express gratitude: be sure to thank contacts for considering your proposal. Remember every contact has the potential to be a valuable part of your network, even if they aren’t able to host you right now.
Coaches are available to help you think through a self-designed experience, please make an appointment.
Please note, grant funding is not available for self-designed experiences.