Congratulations, Class of 2026! We hope you are proud of all your accomplishments during your time at Swarthmore College. While some of you know what your next steps will be, we know others may be working to figure out their path. Wherever you find yourself, know that Career Services is a resource for you as alumni! We know the job market is extremely competitive and things can feel so uncertain, but trust that you are equipped with the tools to come out on top.
As a Liberal Arts graduate, you are uniquely built for this. Here are some ways to succeed.
Showcase Skills-Based experiences
The transferable skills you have developed through your liberal arts experience – in some cases you may not have even known it was happening – will prove to be invaluable as you continue on. A few that come to mind are:
- Classroom experiences – research papers, projects and seminar discussions have helped develop key skills employers seek – analytical, critical thinking, communication and organizational skills.
- Internships – experiences in various workplaces have allowed you to grow new skills that are great resume boosters.
- Athletics – growing your leadership skills and team building in addition to showing commitment and dedication while managing a rigorous course load.
- Student Groups – Organizing events or fundraisers and bringing in guest speakers – all have helped you hone your organization, time management, communication skills, and more that employers are seeking.
- Learning Opportunities – include completion of “courses” from things like LinkedIn Learning, AESOP, Wall Street Prep and others.
- Study Groups – working collaboratively in teams to problem solve and work towards solutions.
Swat Support
You don’t have to navigate this on your own. Career Services support does not expire when you get the diploma – most of our services are available to alumni! There are many Swat-specific resources for you to take advantage of after you graduate:
- JobSearching:
- Handshake – As an alumni, you will continue to have access to thousands of employers and opportunities through Handshake. Senior students are encouraged to update their primary email in Handshake to their permanent email BEFORE your single sign-on expires.
- SwatLeads Collection in Handshake – job/internship postings often with alumni, friends of the College or employers excited to connect with Swatties!
- Senior Success Collection in Handshake – a grouping of jobs, employers and events that are geared towards the graduating class. W
- Support and Exploration:
- 1:1 Advising – Meet with a career advisor in our office to strategize, work on applications, tailor your resumes and cover letters, talk about networking, practice and do mock interviews and so much more! No matter where you are on the journey, you can meet with a member of the Career Services team. Schedule a meeting in Handshake.
- Networking:
- SwatLink – Swarthmore members only and alumni have indicated their areas where they can be a valuable resource for you. Mentoring and advice at your fingertips. Check out the ‘Swatties Helping Swatties’ group in SwatLink too.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a valuable tool to expand your reach and connect with professionals in various industries. The Swarthmore specific sub group – Swatties helping Swatties – is a warm place to network! You can also use the Alumni tab on the Swarthmore College page to search fellow alums and learn more about their journeys.
- Career Shift – A networking tool used to help identify company-specific contacts and “hidden gems” in the job market. This resource can also be used to explore opportunities, even those eligible for H1B visa sponsorship.
We hope that you find these tips helpful! Best of luck as you move forward in your search and don’t forget to reach out. For more tips on job searching and AI, check out our other “Dear Graduates” Blogs: Job Searching in a Tight Economy and The Artful use of AI.
