At Wheaton, we are committed to providing a transformative experience. That’s why we’ve reimagined our career services to create new opportunities to enhance your personal, academic and professional growth. The Life and Career Design Institute at Wheaton augments our high-quality education with innovative design thinking to help you learn skills and build a mindset for success in college and throughout your life and career.
What is Life and Career Design?
Life and career design uses design thinking principles to help you make informed choices about which direction to take. With our Life and Career Design Cycle, you’ll learn strategies to create meaningful experiences at Wheaton and develop a life and career path that aligns with your interests, values and desired lifestyle.
From your first day at Wheaton and beyond, you’ll receive individualized support and collaborate with a Career Navigator to explore your interests and varied career paths. Then connect your goals through courses, clubs, and experiential learning opportunities. Plus, you’ll make career connections on campus, within our alumni network and through external organizations. Best of all, you’ll gain life-long skills to help you navigate the inevitable challenges life throws your way—both professionally and personally.
Meet Your Career Navigator
Are you ready to start designing your college to career roadmap? Simply login to Handshake to schedule an appointment or stop by our Life and Career Design Institute located in Kollett Hall.
How Does it Work?
You’ll receive personalized coaching tailored to your journey, using our Life and Career Design Cycle. This iterative process helps you reflect on experiences, maximize resources, tell your story, and take action. You’ll develop custom systems that work just for you to build confidence and resilience to achieve your goals.
SELF: Build self awareness and understanding
Identify your values, strengths and goals.
SYSTEM: Develop a plan to access support and opportunities
Test self-awareness and apply classroom learning in career-oriented activities and experiential learning.
STORY: Craft a coherent and compelling story
Through guided reflection, you’ll learn how to make sense of your path and communicate it in a clear and meaningful way.
SYNTHESIS: Synthesize your learning experiences
Understand where you’ve been and create a plan for a successful path forward.
Who We Serve
The Life and Career Design Institute is not just for students. We proudly serve the entire Wheaton community! Here are just some of the ways we can help.
Students
Learn about the ways we can help you find and prepare for jobs and internships and plan your career trajectory.
Employers
Gain access to an extraordinary pool of Wheaton talent by posting jobs and internships with us, or hosting on-campus or virtual interviews and events.
Alumni
Share opportunities and knowledge with the Wheaton community, build your Wheaton network, or access support for your own career journey.
Families
Learn ways to engage with your student and the college to champion your students’ success.
Faculty
Partner with us to discuss workshops, seminars, departmental visits and other ways to connect classroom learning to careers.
Staff
Connect with the Life and Career Design Institute to learn how to apply design thinking principles to your Wheaton career.
Get Hired
Jobs