3 minute read
Hands-On Liberal Arts at Puget Sound
Next Article
Your Puget Sound education opens doors: to a broad understanding of the world, an active life of the mind, deeper knowledge in your areas of interest, and a lifelong network of support.
The critical thinking, strong communication skills, resourcefulness and ability to work with teams that stem from a liberal arts education at Puget Sound prepare students well for a competitive job market. Combined with our emphasis on learning from experiences, a Puget Sound education equips our graduates to confidently face their futures. We believe in the value of learning by experience. You’ll notice that our students are employed in a plethora of on-campus jobs where they gain useful skills they’ll take to their first jobs after graduation. We take student employment seriously; on- and offcampus employment as well as internship and career services are housed in the same office, Career and Employment Services (CES). “Our structure gives student employment credence, and shows students the value of their parttime job in helping to figure out their career paths,” notes Alana Hentges, director of career services.
93% of the Class of 2017 were employed, in graduate school, or participating in service projects within seven months of graduation.
“Students start on their career path from Year One,” adds Mona Lawrence, director of student employment services. On-campus employment is one of the ways you can learn skills from observing and working with others. Sara Cohn ’19, from Los Angeles, Calif. recalls working in the Diner, the primary culinary hub on campus as a first-year student: “I definitely think working at the Diner showed me I could be a part of the Puget Sound community it put my foot in the door to help me get involved on campus, and taught me a lot about time management.” In addition to on-campus employment, Puget Sound offers other practical ways to help you connect with other Loggers and prepare for your professional future:
Career Advising
To provide supportive guidance related to your future beyond Puget Sound, you have access to a professional team of advisors. Students meet one-on-one with Career and Employment Services advisors to create and review résumés and cover letters, search for jobs or internships, and apply for part-time or on-campus jobs.
Reflective Immersive Sophomore Experience (RISE)
With support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, RISE offers sophomores the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning through an internship. Students earn academic credit with a course that prepares them for a summer internship experience.
Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Night
A tradition with a 30-plus-year history, Loggers help Loggers during a networking event when alumni return to campus to connect with current students and offer encouragement, inspiration, and advice.
Nearly 2,000 part- and full-time positions were posted to LoggerJobs, Puget Sound’s online database for jobs.
INTERNSHIPS
Puget Sound Loggers gain real-world experience as interns with local organizations such as Minor League Baseball team Tacoma Rainiers and community newspaper Tacoma Weekly.
More than 350 employers hosted Puget Sound students as interns around the world last year; each year more than 50% of students engage in internships. Last year’s internship sites included:
Retail Management Intern, Nordstrom SEATTLE, WASH.
Hospital Intern, Sutter Medical Center SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
Design Intern, Museum of Glass TACOMA, WASH.
Executive Team Lead Intern, Target MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
Commercial Credit Group Intern, Bank of Hawaii HONOLULU, HAWAI’ I
Public Outreach Intern, U.S. Department of State BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
TAKE A LOGGER TO WORK DAY
During winter break, Logger alumni and parents welcome current students into their workplaces for job shadowing experiences in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Denver, Honolulu, the Bay Area, and other major cities. Recent hosts include:
Senior Director, Creative Strategy, Design NIKE
Senior Business Development Manager MICROSOFT
School Psychologist CHERRY CREEK SCHOOLS
Conservation Engagement Coordinator CITIZENS FOR A HEALTHY BAY
President/CEO TACOMA URBAN LEAGUE
Vice President Supply Chain Finance BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES
Senior Experiential Graphic Designer ARTHOUSE DESIGN
Park Ranger, Point Defiance Park METRO PARKS TACOMA
Human Resources Director QUALCOMM INC.
Policy Director SECRETARY OF STATE OF WASHINGTON
Senior Financial Specialist INTEL
Rocky Shores/Tundra Intern, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium TACOMA, WASH.
Gallery Guide, Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum of Modern Art WASHINGTON, D.C.
Camp Intern, YMCA Computer Training Center and Digital Studio REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
Investigative Intern, Office of the Colorado State Public Defender DENVER, COLO.
Immigration Intern, Tacoma Community House TACOMA, WASH.
Make-A-Wish Intern, Make-A-Wish Hawai’i HONOLULU, HAWAI’ I
Production Assistant, Wilson Dow Group CHICAGO, ILL.
Finance Intern, Fidelity Investments MERRIMACK, N.H.
Baseball Operations Intern, Seattle Mariners SEATTLE, WASH.
Hospitality and Events Intern, Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WASH.
Education/Outreach Intern, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group BELFAIR, WASH.
