FAQs

1. What is the Gateway Program?
The Gateway Program provides an exploration of potential, goals, and career opportunities. Gateway guides students toward the fields that fit their interests, ambitions, and talents. Students are encouraged to meet individually with their Gateway Counselor, attend workshops and special events, and participate in experiential learning opportunities that will help them in this time of exploration.

2. What are the unique benefits of participating in the Gateway Program?

• A planful, coordinated approach to exploring career options and preparing for life after Lafayette.
• A relationship with a Gateway Counselor that will guide your student every step of the way from choosing a major to exploring their interests and expanding their skills, to finding internships and preparing for the graduate school or job search process.
• The development of a strong network through the Lafayette family that will enhance their career options for years to come.
• Less stress senior year because a thoughtful plan has been developed and modified throughout their time at Lafayette.

3. Why should my student start as a Freshman?
The earlier students begin exploring possibilities and participating in experiential learning opportunities, the more confidence they will have when determining their plans beyond Lafayette. In a time when many employers are seeking candidates with experience and knowledge, the Gateway Program offers students guidance on finding exciting and meaningful experiences.

4. How much time will it take to participate?
There is not a specific amount of time required of students who participate, however the more students take advantage of the various opportunities offered, the more confident and prepared they are for determining their post graduate plans and for making future career decisions. When students sign up for the Gateway Program, they agree to participate in at least two career related activities each semester. These may include individual appointments with their Gateway Counselor, regularly offered workshops by Career Services or special networking events involving alumni or employers.

5. How does the Gateway Program address the individual needs of my student?
The Gateway Program is designed to treat students as individuals with their own ideas and goals. Recognizing that students have very specific needs, one of the key components in the program is that every Gateway student is assigned a counselor to work with for all four years at Lafayette. This allows the counselor to develop a personal relationship with your student that includes an understanding of his or her career goals, interests and skills. Gateway Counselors work closely with students to recommend programs and activities that will support each student's unique career exploration path. The Gateway Program provides both on and off campus programs, job shadowing opportunities, access to internships and jobs, and an extensive career library for students of all majors and a wide variety of career interests.

6. What is the Career Development Process?
Choosing a career direction is a process, not an event. The Gateway Program guides your student through four deliberate steps to explore options, gain experience, and plan for the future. Through Gateway, students will:

DISCOVER - First Year
Attend a first year Gateway student group meeting and begin discussions with their assigned Gateway Counselor.
Evaluate their interests by completing a career assessment, attending programs featuring Lafayette alumni, and engaging in a variety of academic courses, extracurricular activities, and athletics.

EXPLORE - Sophomore Year
Complete their first resume with the assistance of their Gateway Counselor.
Participate in workshops, alumni panels, career fairs, and other programs to build their knowledge and network of contacts.
Gain their first major career experience through an Externship - a two to five day job shadowing opportunity with an alumnus or parent host.

PREPARE - Junior Year
Meet with their Gateway Counselor to refine career and graduate study plans.
Participate in a summer internship, gaining hands-on experience expected by both employers and graduate schools.
Research careers, employers and graduate schools through Career Services' extensive career library.

ACHIEVE - Senior Year
Practice interviewing skills for jobs or graduate school with their Gateway Counselor.
Participate in On Campus Interviewing and Lafayette's annual fall Career Fair.
Finalize a focused resume that showcases their academic and career-related experiences gathered in the prior three steps.
Build on the network of alumni contacts established previously.

7. How can the Gateway Program assist my student in choosing a major?
A Gateway counselor will work with your student to help them identify their interests and skills as they relate to college majors, as well as provide guidance on how majors sometimes connect to careers, but often do not. Our Gateway counselors are all qualified to administer interest inventories that are helpful in identifying potential majors and will assist your student in considering all their options. (One of the benefits of a degree in the liberal arts is the flexibility to pursue a variety of career paths.)

8. Why is it important for my student to do an internship?
Engaging in at least one internship while at Lafayette is an ideal way for your student to sample a career option, gain valuable experience, develop skills, and establish important networking relationships. In addition, many employers look primarily to their interns when making full-time hiring decisions. According to a 2006 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 62.5% of their new college hires came to them with internship experience. Students on the graduate school track are also expected to have engaged in experiential education beyond the classroom. Internship supervisors are excellent sources for letters of recommendation either for employment or graduate school. The Gateway Program provides students with individual counseling on the internship process as well as access to a variety of resources, including internships offered by Lafayette alumni and parents.

A limited number of alumni endowed stipends are available to assist students engaging in summer internships. These vary in monetary amounts and some have restrictions on the career area of the internship. Applications are available in early March. Students should check the Career Services weekly email for further details on application availability.

Career Services supports students interning at local Lehigh Valley employers by providing a limited number of on-campus spots free of charge to students. Contact Rachel Moeller at moellerr@lafayette.edu for more information.

9. What help does the Gateway Program provide if my student wants to go to graduate or professional school?
The Gateway Program provides support for students who already know the graduate programs in which they are interested, as well as those who are curious about what opportunities exist. Individual graduate and professional school counseling as well as workshops and programs about the application process are offered in conjunction with the Dean of the College office. Students have access to Lafayette Alumni for advice on the graduate and professional school process through panels, externships, and the AlumNet database. A collection of graduate school materials is available in the Career Services office and in Skillman Library. Lafayette faculty and the Dean of Studies Office are also valuable sources of information.

10. What is Career Service's role in helping my student find a job after graduation?
We are committed to teaching your student the skills necessary to conduct an effective job search, and we provide guidance each step of the way, even after graduation. Our goal is to have them well prepared for the future career transitions they will likely face. We develop relationships with employers and alumni in order to connect Lafayette students with the best possible opportunities. We sponsor a number of career fairs and networking events, as well as coordinate on-campus interviews in order to facilitate the process.

11. What are employers looking for?
Obviously your student's major and intended career path will have a significant effect on the type of skills and qualities employers are looking for. However, there are a number of "soft skills" that employers consistently cite as highly important in the search for new hires.

Communication skills (verbal and written)
Honesty and integrity
Interpersonal skills
Initiative
Strong work ethic
Teamwork
Analytical skills
Flexibility
Computer skills
Detail-oriented
Leadership
Organization
Self-confidence
Creativity

Lafayette students can develop many of these in a variety of ways, both in and out of the classroom. Encourage your student to get involved in activities, perform community service and engage in internships. Through Gateway, students learn how to articulate these skills to potential employers through both the resume and the in-person interview.

12. What is my role as a parent in my student's career planning process?
The college years are a time of exposure to new ideas and increased knowledge of potential career options. Parents can play an important role in supporting their student through this process. Visit our section called Guide Your Student for tips on how to listen to, encourage, inform and partner with your student.

13. What if my student chooses not to participate?
Programs and services offered by Career Services are open to all students. However, preference is given to Gateway students for programs where space is limited. We cannot guarantee that non-Gateway students will get to meet with the same counselor each time they need assistance.

14. How can I be a resource for Career Services?
Your participation as a parent volunteer significantly impacts the Lafayette Experience and the individual students you work with. Career Services is committed to the continued connection between students and volunteers. Consider hosting an externship, hiring a Lafayette intern or graduating senior, providing an internship or full-time job referral, or registering for the AlumNet database. Please visit our section called Opportunities for Involvement to learn more about these methods of assisting students with career choices.