How you can and should utilize the CAC in your first year at Lake Forest.
My name is Sara Martinez '23. I pursued a double major in business with a concentration in marketing and psychology, and I am also an international student from Costa Rica. The Career Advancement Center (CAC) is definitely one of the best and most used resources at the College, and one that you should take total advantage of throughout your time at Lake Forest College. I put together a few tips on how to get things started and engage with the CAC in your first year at Lake Forest:
- Define your Career Pathway
Sign up for all the career pathways you're interested in, even if your major doesn't fall under that community. The CAC offers five distinct career communities: Business and Finance, Creative Arts and Communication, Law and Public Service, Science and Healthcare, and a Build Your Own community. By signing up for a pathway, you will be notified about any job or internship opportunities, helpful career tips, guest speakers or other exciting events at the College that could enrich your professional development. As a marketing student, I am interested in the digital media and communications, psychology, and business worlds, so I enrolled in three separate career pathways, and I have benefited greatly from all of these communities. - Attend the events
So, you’ve signed up for the email lists. Great! Now it’s time to show up and engage with whatever event is taking place. My favorite events have been the networking ones because I get to meet people who are actually working in the field I want to be in someday. Speed Networking is one of the CAC's biggest events, and it's directed towards upperclassmen, but there are also several networking events available for all students throughout the year. If you think of college as a bridge to the real world, making these connections and exploring different fields is really helpful.
- Stay open to external opportunities
Not only will you be notified about internal events going on around campus, but Lake Forest has a lot of connections with several career development programs, exciting conferences, and other external opportunities. I have attended two Women in Business conferences, met a digital marketing mentor, and participated in a virtual development program all through CAC recommendations. - Meet with your advisor
My advisors have been amazing. By my second year at the College, I had established a great relationship with them. They will know about the type of career opportunities you are looking for, and they will let you know if anything ever pops up that might peak your interest. The summer after my freshman year, I went to multiple one-on-one resume and interview preparation meetings that I knew would help me in future networking opportunities and internship applications. The earlier you start thinking about your personal brand, the better.
If you want to learn more about the Career Advancement Center, you can visit their webpage here.