Yale’s Office of Career Strategy is committed to ensuring that all first generation and/or low income students feel supported in exploring different careers, searching for internships/jobs and applying to advanced-degree programs. We realize that many FGLI students face additional obstacles when approaching these processes, and our goal is to help you overcome them by providing guidance and sharing our specialized resources.
Some employers may offer diversity recruitment programs aimed to address historical gaps in the workforce, and students are encouraged to research those programs to learn more.
Tell Your Story
- Understand how to manage the career decision-making process
- Develop your professional skills and gain invaluable experience
- Articulate your professional narrative : Developing a well-thought out professional narrative to market yourself to employers is essential to an effective career search. Devote time to thinking about your skills and experiences and how you would like to market them to employers.
- Plan your job search
- Build your resume and write a cover letter
- Seeking funding and support
- Schedule an Advising Appointment through Yale Career Link
Engage Yale Alumni
- 1stGenYale :Â This shared-interest group (SIG) under the Yale Alumni Association aims to connect first-generation alumni with each other and with current FGLI students to share their own experiences and become resources for current students.
- Utilize the Peer Networking Lists in Yale Career Link
- Identify potential mentors with Yale alumni via Cross Campus, Yale’s new online networking platform. Join various groups in Cross Campus including the 1stGenYale group.
- Create your LinkedIn Profile and start using the Yale Alumni LinkedIn Page.
- Conduct informational interviews to learn about career paths and build future relationships.
Professional Development & Extracurricular Activities
- FGLI student organizations at Yale : Yale College supports a number of student organizations aimed at developing community among first-generation and/or low-income students throughout their time at Yale.
- Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity : Services, programs, and support for first-generation low-income Yale GSAS students.
- Yale GSAS student organizations : Leverage the institution’s resources to meet with peers, develop skills, and contribute to Yale and the community.
- Yale College student organizations : Acclimate to the university setting, engage with your peers and develop personally.
