How to Improve Career Development Opportunities for First-Generation Students

First-generation students face unique challenges in the career development and exploration process that continuing-generation students may not encounter. First-generation students are less likely to have established professional networks than students with parents who navigated the college process or have industry connections.

They may also be less familiar with norms around networking and they may be more hesitant to reach out to professional contacts for guidance or support. In a job market where 70% of jobs are obtained through networking and 80% of jobs are never officially advertised, first-generation students face steep barriers in the career search process.