Students sitting with computers at the bell

Career Resources for First-generation Students

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, first-generation college students are students whose parents matriculated, but never graduated with a bachelor’s degree and those students whose parents never continued their education past a high school diploma. Being a first-generation student is a big accomplishment!

At the same time, we realize that there are also unique challenges that come along with being the first person in your family to graduate from college. We want to help provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for reaching your career goals. We hope the resources provided below will give you the information you need to explore career paths that align with your interests, skills, and values. We also invite you to make an appointment with a career coach to discuss your search.

Looking for a Job? Highlight Your Ability, Not Your Experience

This TED talk by Jason Shen, co-founder and CEO of Headlight, discusses how few of us hold jobs that line up directly with our past experiences or what we studied in college. In this quick, insightful talk about human potential, Shen shares some new ideas for how job seekers can make themselves more attractive — and why employers should look for abilities over credentials.

Career Guidance

I have no idea what I want to do. Can you help me?

If you’re unsure of what you want to do for a career, we have a few resources that could help you figure out some exciting possibilities.

Since arriving at Gordon, you’ve probably been asked questions like:

What are you good at?
What do you enjoy?
What needs are there in the world?

Take the time to explore your answers by considering your CliftonStrengths results. Make an appointment to have a conversation about what your results mean.

Also, consider participating in job shadowing or informational interviews, which will help you learn more about different industries and jobs. If you need help finding opportunities or would like to be connected to an alumnus for further mentorship and guidance, book an appointment with CCI.

I know what I want to do, but not how to get there. Where do I start?

If you are ready to start searching for internships and/or jobs, we encourage you to begin by browsing our Career Info by Major pages to find resources related to your area of interest. Make an appointment with a career coach for help with strategizing your career plan.

I need help writing my resume. What should I do?

Everyone needs guidance on resume writing. To get started, you can check out our Resource Hub for instructions and some sample templates.

But do know that your resume is only the start of your career preparation? Before entering the workplace, you will want to learn everything from crafting your resume to “professionalizing” your social media accounts to giving an elevator pitch. We can help you with all of it—the key is to incrementally advance your career, taking small steps that lead to big gains over time. So, book an appointment on Handshake with a career coach.

How do I network as a first-generation student?

You can create your own network at Gordon College. Take advantage of opportunities on campus, such as connecting with Chapel speakers or attending CCI job fairs. CCI can also connect you with alumni or employers from your industry.

To learn how to network authentically (without feeling like it’s transactional), take a look at the networking resources on the Resources webpage.

If interested, please make an appointment with a career coach.

Additional Outside Resources

America Needs You: An organization that fights for the economic mobility of first-generation college students through a fellowship that provides mentorship and career development.
First in the Family: Stories, lessons and best practices created by first-generation college students for other first-generation students.
FirstGen Fellows: Paid summer undergraduate program in D.C. for first-generation students to pursue a career in social justice.
Center for First-Generation Student Success: A hub that helps colleges and universities to help you succeed as a first-gen student through providing highlights of valuable articles, research and stories to learn from for high school and college students, and resources for “first-generation plus” students who also identify in one or more of the other underrepresented groups.
How to College: First-Gen Podcast: A podcast that provides opportunities, resources, and support to navigate the college journey through first-gen narratives highlighting the experiences of current high school and college students, college graduates, and parents.