"I knew that I needed an internship over the summer and I knew that I could use some extra motivation to go out and land an interview. The program also facilitates networking, which is the best way to get your foot in the door with any company."
- Jamie Booker '22
Career Year is a career development program for second-year students with priority for underrepresented minority, first-generation college students, students from one-parent households, or those who attended low-performing high schools. The program provides workshops, small group projects and other exciting activities to get you thinking about and taking action on your career. Through the program, you will connect with employers and alumni to help you secure a 2024 summer internship.
Eligibility
All Case Western Reserve second-year students are invited to apply. Underrepresented minority students, first-generation college students, students from one-parent households, or low-performing high schools are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
Time Commitment
The time commitment is approximately 6-7 hours per month throughout the entire academic year. This includes in-class time and some out-of-class assignments. As a participant, you will be required to attend meetings every other week (1.5 hours each) and participate in other career development events of your choosing. Such events may include career fairs, career workshops, company information sessions, employer site visits and informational interviews. You will write brief reflections on these experiences. In addition, there are small group projects that allow you to build teamwork, organization and time management skills.
Benefits
Are you trying to decide on a major or what you may want to do after you graduate from CWRU? Developing career goals early can help you make relevant choices, including what to study, what experience to gain while in school and which skills you hope to develop for success. In addition to getting an early start on career planning, you will also gain the following benefits:
- Make new friends!
- Build new skills to help you prepare for life after CWRU
- Connect with employers seeking talent
- Find a career mentor
- Land a summer internship
Featured Past Participant
Name: Jamie Booker '22
Major: Computer Science with software engineering concentration
Career goal: I’d like to be an applications developer.
Why did you choose to participate in Career Year?
I knew that I needed an internship over the summer and I knew that I could use some extra motivation to go out and land an interview. The program also facilitates networking, which is the best way to get your foot in the door with any company.
What did you gain from the program?
Aside from helping me land an internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Career Year taught me how to talk to recruiters and what they look for when hiring interns. I was introduced to people from Key Bank, the Fed, Summer on the Cuyahoga, and from a few other places. And, with each introduction, I grew a bit more confident in my ability to talk about my previous work experiences and about the value that I could add to a team. I also learned that the Office of Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education offers mock interviews for students. I had one with Brian Matthews and I don’t think I could emphasize enough how essential that experience was to helping me get my internship offer.
What advice do you have for other students who participate in Career Year?
Please don’t be discouraged by setbacks, keep your head up and keep pushing forward until you reach your goal. I applied to around 15 internships, had two interviews, and got one offer. I’ve found that the best way to land an internship is to either meet a recruiter face to face or to have a phone call with them. It’s nerve-wracking sometimes but just keep in mind that success is a positive feedback loop and, once you land that first great job, many more opportunities will arise.
How to apply
Applications for the 2023-2024 Career Year program are due Friday, August 25th. As a part of the application process, you will need to submit a current copy of your resume and complete the Career Year Application.
If you have any questions about the Career Year program, please contact krittika.grau@case.edu.