Welcome to our community for students of color! This virtual online community is a dedicated space for students to connect, peruse resources, and find valuable information to help at any stage of your career journey.
Students of Color
Navigating Your Career Journey
The Lewis & Clark Career Center is dedicated to supporting students of color as you explore, launch, and grow your careers. While entering the professional world offers exciting opportunities, we also recognize that systemic barriers, racial disparities, and narrow standards of professionalism remain real challenges. You should not have to navigate these realities alone.
We offer a dedicated, confidential space to talk openly about the practical and systemic dynamics of entering the workforce:
- Talk through what it means to be one of few—or the only—person of color in a workplace, manage feelings of isolation, and identify genuinely inclusive employer cultures.
- Navigate traditional workplace expectations around hair, clothing, and communication style while staying true to your authentic identity.
- Ensure your application materials reflect the full range of your experiences, including work, caretaking, and leadership gained through family, community, or informal networks.
- Overcome the hesitation to apply for positions when you don’t check every single listed qualification, while mastering résumés, cover letters, statements of purpose, and interviews.
- Prepare for real-world dynamics like racial disparities in pay or advancement, and connect with campus resources if you ever encounter bias or discrimination.
How We Partner With You
You don’t need to have all the answers—or even a clear career plan—to come talk to us. We provide a welcoming, nonjudgmental space to help you:
- Translate your strengths: Package your full range of experience into high-impact application materials.
- Evaluate employers: Research organizational values, workplace cultures, and equity practices before accepting an offer.
- Practice authentic networking: Develop interview, negotiation, and communication strategies that respect your personal boundaries and style.
- Connect with community: Tap into alumni networks, campus allies, and mentors who understand your path.
