Students engage in discussion with a career advisor.
Center for Engaged Liberal Arts

Career Exploration and Development

Students at a career development workshop explore the many pathways leading from an academic major to their professional future.
Photo credit: Matthew Lester

Putting the liberal arts to work. Pursuing your meaning and purpose.

The mission of Career Exploration and Development (CED) is to help Obies chart a meaningful path toward their professional future. Our holistic mentoring approach encourages each student to discern and develop the skills, values and direction best aligned with their evolving career goals. We offer one-on-one advising as well as cohort programming to inspire connections and empower students to excel in their chosen fields.

CED provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Accommodations may be requested when scheduling an appointment or by sending an email to career@oberlin.edu.

Schedule an Appointment

It’s your story and your future. Get started.

Learn how career exploration and development experiences can help you shape your Oberlin education.

Career Communities

From the first day on campus, students are invited to join a career community, a themed pathway preparing them for impactful internships and research experiences. Through all four years, our communities offer camaraderie and mentorship from a supportive network of Obies across the world.

Learn more about Oberlin’s career communities

Find Your Community

Explore Oberlin’s six career communities and learn how to get connected with alumni, jobs and internships, and other professional opportunities.

From the Classroom to the World

The engaged liberal arts at Oberlin opens the classroom to the studios, laboratories, and workplaces defining the future.

Aerial view of campus.

Resources

Networking

Talking to people and learning from their experiences is an integral part of career exploration. Think of networking as career education and a form of relationship building.

Diversity and Inclusion

Our advising is responsive to each student’s unique professional goals. Our funding, programming, and identity-based events promote equal access and systemic change in workplace opportunity.

How-to Guides

Study the nuts and bolts of effective communication with our how-to guides on resumes, interviews, personal statements and learning portfolios.

Upcoming Events

Next Steps

An Oberlin education puts the liberal arts to work in achieving a life of meaning and purpose.


Discussion group around a large conference table.
Career Exploration and Development at Oberlin hosts regular student workshops on how to best integrate academic, co-curricular, and professional interests.
Photo credit: Matthew Lester