Career Exploration and Development

Junior Practicum 2.0

The Junior Practicum offered me the opportunity to engage in learning and discussion with my peers, build up my career skills, and explore issue areas I care deeply about. Through my fully funded internship [at a women's health non-profit], I was able to put my new skills into practice and make professional connections. The experience I gained has helped me continue to pursue my goals within and outside of Oberlin."

Yael Benvenuto Ladin '22

The Junior Practicum program provides third-year students with a unique and engaging opportunity to gain the skills and confidence to launch into a high-quality summer internship successfully. Students who complete the Junior Practicum program will receive up to $4,000 to pursue a summer experience.

Each Junior Practicum student will participate in activities related to one of six career communities:

The 2022-2023 Junior Practicum application deadline has passed; however, students of all class years are welcome to attend most events, whether enrolled in JP or not! See the "Events and Key Dates" dropdown below.

Originally launched during summer 2020, Junior Practicum has undergone several evolutions to help it deliver the most flexibility and impact to students. For 2022-2023, we are excited to launch “JP 2.0,” which streamlines the application process and offers greater flexibility to attend events that fit into their schedules.

Please note that the Music Leadership Career Community taught by Conservatory Professional Development will remain a LEAD course (LEAD 375) meeting the second module of the fall semester.  For all other career communities, participating students will complete the following requirements:

  • Workshops, panels, and other events: Attend three career development events. Workshops, alumni, panels, and the Fall Mixer all count toward this requirement. Visit Handshake to view all upcoming career development events.
  • e-Portfolio: Complete a record of your JP experience in Digication.
  • Resume review: Resumes must be reviewed and approved by a career advisor. Students will complete this requirement by attending a resume workshop or having their resume reviewed by a professional or peer career advisor.
  • LEAD 375 Music Leadership Career Community students will not be required to complete any of the events listed above, but will be required to complete the fall semester second-module class with Associate Director of Conservatory Professional Development, Susan Ellinger.

For those familiar with our previous programs, please note that CED and Conservatory Professional Development will no longer match students with internships. Alumni, parents, and friends of the college will post opportunities, and students will apply by submitting well-crafted cover letters and resumes and sit for an interview. This will allow juniors to practice and hone their interviewing skills and develop the confidence to interview well and land an internship or a job.     

CED provides monthly career-related workshops, panels, and mixers that you can attend at your convenience. We encourage you to reflect on which events will provide you with the skills and knowledge to help you navigate and manage your career. Visit Handshake to view all upcoming events that will count toward the JP requirement.

By participating in Junior Practicum, students will:

  • articulate how their liberal arts education and academic course(s) of study contribute to their future career path;
  • gain insider knowledge of a professional field of interest and have the opportunity to bridge academic study and real-world application;
  • network with alumni, parents, and prospective employers from their career fields of interest; 
  • gain insight into workplace culture on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; self-efficacy; and performance management;
  • develop professional skills related to interviewing, resume, and cover letter writing; and
  • design a career management action plan to utilize in the future.