Parents & Family
May ’25 News
Is your Wake Forest student or recent graduate seeking career support this summer? Our Career Team is here to help! We offer personalized guidance to assist with everything from figuring out career goals to polishing resumes and developing job search strategies. Plus, they’ll still have access to job postings and great networking opportunities. Please encourage them to connect with us for a successful transition. For more, see opcd.wfu.edu/parents.
College
Make the Most of Your Summer. Here are three things for your student to know:
- Summer is a great time to take action, and this is just a reminder that the OPCD is here to help! Whether your student is busy with an internship, working, taking classes, or figuring out their next steps, we offer our support all summer. From looking over their resumes to helping them think about their experiences and prepare for what’s ahead, we’ve got them covered. They can easily book an appointment with us on Handshake.
- Getting ready for a summer internship? – Our OPCD page has helpful tips that your student might find useful as they begin. (By the way, these suggestions are also really relevant if they’re about to start their first job!)
We’d love to hear about your students’ summer plans or their thoughts after graduation! If they’re interning, doing research, or volunteering, please encourage them to share their experiences with us. And if they’re graduating in May, we’d appreciate it if they could fill out our First Destination Survey—it helps us better support all our students.
School of Business
Just checking in – is your recent graduate still figuring out their next move? Our Market Readiness & Employment (MRE) team is here to lend a hand all summer long!
We offer personalized support and really useful tools to help your grad clarify their goals, polish their application materials, and build some serious momentum in their job search.
Here’s how your student can get started – feel free to pass this along:
- Check out the “Jumpstart Course”: It’s our free, self-paced Job Search Strategy Prep Course, and it’s perfect for recent grads who want to get organized, feel more confident, and start moving forward. Encourage them to sign up today! https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/2022/04/jumpstart-your-job-search
- Book a 1:1 Career Coaching Session: Whether they need help spiffing up their resume, practicing those tricky interview questions, or just exploring different career paths, we’re here all summer for virtual or in-person coaching. They can easily schedule a session through Handshake: https://wfu.joinhandshake.com
- Keep an eye on opportunities through Handshake: Their Handshake access continues even after graduation, and it’s packed with job postings and internships.
- Connect with the awesome Wake Alumni Network: The Wake Network is a fantastic resource for making real connections and uncovering opportunities they might not find otherwise. They can get started here: https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/wake-network
Our team is ready and excited to support your graduate as they embark on their next chapter. Please encourage them to reach out – we’re here to help! If your student isn’t quite sure where to start, they can always email the MRE team.
Job/Internship Search
Good news – Handshake still lists jobs for May grads and summer internships for underclassmen!
If your May graduate is still figuring out their next steps, please encourage them to set up their alumni@wfu.edu email. This will allow them to keep their Handshake account active for their job search.
For underclassmen on the hunt for summer internships, updating their career preferences in Handshake is a great idea. The system’s AI can then send them potential matches. It’s also important to apply early if they see something they like, as opportunities close early once they’ve received enough applications.
If anyone you know has hiring needs that might be a good fit for a Wake Forest student, please connect them with Dana Hutchens at hutchens@wfu.edu.
Spring Webinars
Families of Graduating Seniors
This parent-focused April 9th webinar, led by Andy Chan and Heidi Robinson, shares insights with parents of graduating seniors on Wake Forest’s career readiness efforts, the job market, and how parents can support their seniors. The video highlights empathy, networking, resilience, and career tools like Handshake and alumni connections—reassuring families that support continues beyond graduation.
Families of First-Years, Sophomores, and Juniors
This April 15th webinar is designed to guide parents in supporting their students’ pursuit of internships and experiential learning opportunities. Wake Forest experts Minta McNally, Andy Chan, and Heidi Robinson share valuable strategies for navigating the job search, utilizing resources like Handshake, and emphasizing the importance of diverse experiences in preparing students for career success.
What can you do as a parent?
Parents play a critical role in their child’s college experience and their decisions for the future. However, the world of work is quite different than 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. In order to give your student sound advice, it is essential for you to understand the environment, resources and opportunities available for your student. You can play an integral role as your student navigates through their time at Wake Forest and makes plans for their future.
How can I guide my student through the college-to-career process?
You know the furniture assembly instructions that are impossible to follow especially when you have missing parts? Our Ready 7 process is not like that! We not only provide 7 achievable steps for students to follow, but also the tools and resources to complete them in order to be fully “career and life ready.” As a supporter of your student, we are providing you with a Ready 7 guide which includes language on how to help your scholar navigate the process.