Career Wellness

What is Career Wellness?

Career wellness is a concept that focuses on the intersection of career development, mental health, and wellness.  Although we think of career as picking a major or employment we have held or hope to hold in the future, the concept of career is more complex and holistic.  Career choices can be influenced by our mental health, interests, values, personality, exposure to experiences, identity, family and cultural expectations, access to opportunities, and navigating societal structures.  Career Wellness focuses on how we understand and talk about ourselves, recognizing and attending to our needs, and making empowered authentic choices based on who we are and what is important to us.

What Resources are Available?

Career Wellness Consultation Sessions: 

One of our psychotherapists, Neal Sardana, has a special interest in the intersection of career and mental health.  You can email him at nsardana@wesleyan.edu to schedule a career wellness consultation.

Unsure about your major or career path?  

Stressed about finding an internship, job, or getting into graduate school?

Need support balancing the many roles that you take on at Wes?

Experience Imposter Syndrome?

Some things that a consultation can focus on are:

  • Learning more about the career development process, career wellness and how the concepts can be applied to your specific career situation
  • Using interactive card sort activities to better understand your strengths, values, and needs
  • Talking through and gain tools to work with feelings of imposter syndrome, decision fatigue (feeling overwhelmed among many choices), career anxiety and stress
  • Discussing how aspects of your identity, family or cultural expectations, and mental health may be affecting you as you make choices around major, internship, job, or graduate school
  • Exploring and developing your personal and professional stories that can used in a resume, cover letter, interview, or graduate school application
  • Developing a personalized career wellness plan as you balance the various roles you take on at and outside of Wesleyan
  • Talking through navigating the transition into and out of Wesleyan
  • Learning about campus resources that can support you through your career journey here at Wesleyan

Therapy Services

In addition to career consultations, you can set up on-going therapy with CAPS to support you in your career development. For a short article discussing how therapy can benefit your career development, click here.

For more information about how to schedule a therapy session, click here.

In addition to CAPS Resources, here are some wonderful resources offered by our campus partner, the Gordon Career Center.

Career Wellness with the Gordon Career Center

DID YOU KNOW? - You can meet with Gordon Career Center advisors even if you don’t have a specific career interest or goal, job application, or future plan in mind. GCC advisors are here to support you through confusion, curiosity, and uncertainty. These appointments provide a safe space to explore how your identities, background, and community influence your career aspirations and decision-making.

Whatever stage you’re at in your career exploration journey, the Gordon Career Center welcomes you! Even after graduation, Wesleyan alumni can continue to access Gordon Career Center advising appointments and resources. 

You can schedule an appointment to:

  • Explore a variety of career paths in a judgment-free environment
  • Learn about specific industries and professional graduate education including medical and law school
  • Discuss your professional goals in relation to your identities, such as race/ethnicity/nationality, gender identity and expression, sexuality, class, disability, first-generation status, citizenship status, etc.
  • Receive feedback to edit resumes, cover letters, and other application materials
  • Practice mock interviews and networking
  • Share a job offer letter with an advisor for opinions
  • Apply to campus jobs, learn about your student employee rights and responsibilities, and receive support in navigating any difficulties you have in your campus employment, including termination.

Explore the Gordon Career Center website for a comprehensive hub of resources and services, including self-reflection tools and courses. Email careercenter@wesleyan.edu with any questions! 

See below for some standout resources. 

Grant Funding

The Wesleyan Summer Grants Program provides funding to alleviate costs associated with pursuing career-related summer experiences. Applications open annually at the start of the Spring semester and funds are awarded up to $5,000. Funding can be used to cover expenses directly related to the experience, including housing, food, travel, clothing/equipment, and program costs. Summer experiences eligible for funding include internships, volunteer work, academic programs, research (with an organization), independent projects/research, thesis research (Juniors only), and entrepreneurial ventures. See more information about application deadlines and how to apply on the Wesleyan Summer Grant webpage.

The Gordon Career Center’s Career Development Grant (CDG) provides financial support to offset costs associated with career exploration and preparation. Priority is given to those applicants with the highest level of financial need and grants are awarded throughout the academic year until funds for the semester are exhausted. Eligible expenses include: professional attire, transportation for career-related travel (such as recruiting events and interviews), graduate entrance exam fees (e.g. LSAT, MCAT), and more. Click here to learn more about eligibility and funding.

Opportunities to Connect with Alumni

Join WesConnect, the University's online community, to network with Wesleyan alumni. Beyond a community directory, WesConnect resources include an upcoming events calendar, business directory, and alumni photo albums. 

The GCC’s annual WesLink program is designed to connect current Wesleyan students with alumni and parents virtually during winter break for individual career conversations. Learn how alumni leverage their Wesleyan education, explore a wide breadth of career options, practice your professional communication skills, and develop meaningful relationships to help guide your career development and decision-making. Learn more about WesLink here.

See the Wesleyan Affiliated Jobs & Internships page to discover exciting career opportunities posted by Wesleyan graduates and parents eager to hire talented Wesleyan students and alumni. 

Campus Jobs

Read this article to learn more about How to Find a Job & Work On-Campus!

See the Student Employees webpage to learn more about hiring processes, and your student employee rights and responsibilities. Email campusemployment@wesleyan.edu for further support!