Occupational Wellness
Occupational wellness involves finding a career path where you can build your skills while gaining a sense of fulfillment or progress towards your holistic life goals.
Thinking about your future career may lead you to feel both excited and anxious – and sometimes downright panicky as internships or graduation approaches. The fast-paced terms give you little time to focus on your future career before the demands of coursework make it impractical.
Early in your time at Dartmouth, familiarize yourself with Dartmouth’s career resources. You'll learn what’s available, how to explore your interests and strengths, and when and where to apply for opportunities.
Open to all students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional)
The following resources are open to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
- Career Fairs. Throughout the year, the Center for Professional Development hosts career fairs to connect you with employers who are hiring for job and internship positions. While these career fairs are organized with undergraduates in mind, any Dartmouth student may take advantage of the opportunity to engage with prospective employers at these events.
- Thayer School of Engineering Fall Career Fair. Dartmouth Engineering holds an annual career fair for students with engineering or technical backgrounds. This career fair is open to all Dartmouth students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional students).
All Dartmouth students have access to career exploration and coaching resources.
- Most Dartmouth students can book an appointment with a career coach through the Handshake app. Handshake is Dartmouth’s online recruiting platform.
- Geisel medical students instead have access career coaching through their Medical Student Advising Canvas Site and Career Advising SharePoint site.
- Guarini graduate students can email the Associate Dean for Graduate Student Affairs directly to make an appointment.
Navigating the employment environment can present unique challenges for international students, due to immigration rules and different job-seeking and workplace norms across countries.
International students can learn more about the immigration rules that may affect their employment options while studying at Dartmouth and after by reviewing information on Dartmouth’s Office of Visa and Immigration (OVIS) employment pages for students on F-1 visas and students on J-1 visas. Students needing further clarification can schedule an appointment with their OVIS advisor.
Dartmouth Engineering Career Services has also compiled information on working in the U.S.A. When You’re an International Student, which may be helpful to international students, too.
These funds support research activities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
- Arts Integration Grants. Support for incubating interdisciplinary, arts-centric research projects
- Ethics Institute Thomas D. Sayles Research Grant. For students working with a Dartmouth faculty advisor to conduct research on ethics
- Irving Institute Student Grants. Internship, research, and professional development grants for students who are advancing the Institute’s mission of accelerating an affordable, reliable, and equitable clean energy transition for the benefit of society.
- Neukom Research Prizes. Undergraduate and graduate student prizes to recognize outstanding research in the computational sciences.
- Neukom Travel Grants. For students engaged in faculty-advised research focused on the development of novel computational techniques and/or the application of computational methods to problems in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.
Additionally, Center for Professional Development (CPD) Internship Search Resources can help you get your internship search started. While the CPD and its staff serve undergraduates, many of the resources on this page can be useful for any Dartmouth student seeking an internship.
Handshake. Handshake is Dartmouth’s online recruiting platform. Most Dartmouth undergraduate, Geisel, Guarini, Thayer, and Tuck students automatically have a Handshake account created for them once they begin classes at Dartmouth.
After you log in and complete your profile, Handshake will provide you with personalized job and internship recommendations. You can also book an appointment with a Career Coach through the app.
Geisel medical students do not have access to Handshake, but can access Geisel’s Medical Student Advising Canvas Site and Career Advising SharePoint site.
- Networking opportunities for getting guidance on your career path and increasing your professional connections
- Dartmouth Connect. A networking resource similar to LinkedIn, but only for the Dartmouth community.
- LinkedIn Dartmouth Alumni Group. Get guidance on your career path and build connections.
- Center for Professional Development (CPD) Job Search Resources. CPD has many job search resources to get your search started.
- LinkedIn. Thayer Career Center has compiled best practice guidelines that can assist all students in creating a LinkedIn profile.
- Job Search Information for Students with Disabilities. The Thayer School of Engineering Career Center compiled information for interviewing for students with disabilities that is broadly applicable to all students.
Maintaining a student job can be a great way to develop perspectives and practical skills that are valued by employers but often difficult to refine through classroom learning alone.
Working at Dartmouth can also strengthen your relationships with faculty and staff, thereby growing your professional network and cultivating potential future references. Of course, employment also provides you with some income for your day-to-day expenses!
Student Jobs, Internships, and Experiential Learning at Dartmouth
Student Employment Portal - Dartmouth and non-Dartmouth job listings updated daily and geared towards providing students the opportunity to work part-time while taking classes. Consider subscribing to JobMail alerts to be notified when jobs you may be interested are posted.
Please note that the Student Employment Portal is not for use by international student PhDs; international student PhDs should reference the “international student employment” information above and be in touch with their OVIS advisor, if needed.
- Student Job Fair – offered each fall term on the second day of undergraduate classes, this is a great opportunity to meet employers and learn about different paid opportunities at Dartmouth
- Interview Tips – suggestions on how to prepare for and engage in your campus job interviews
- Federal work-study and non-work study job information – information about Federal Work-Study and Leave-Term Work Study
Opportunities through Residential Life
- Undergraduate Advisors (undergraduates only)
- Resident Fellows (graduate and professional students only)
Undergraduate Students
Getting hands-on experience in your area of academic and professional interest is valuable for building your career. Finding and financing your desired experiences can be a source of anxiety.
The Center for Professional Development is an excellent resource for undergraduates who want to find, secure, and select professional development opportunities (e.g., internships, fellowships) and jobs.
Through Dartmouth, lots of other experiential learning opportunities are also available to prepare you for your future profession. For example, leadership development opportunities and/or immersion trips are available through the Center for Social Impact, the Dickey Center, Irving Institute, and Rockefeller Center (“Rocky”).
Your Undergraduate Dean can be another great resource as you weigh how all of these options and decisions will together with all the other academic and personal exploration you're doing as a student. If you need help clarifying your values and needs, a Wellness Check-In through the Student Wellness Center is another option.
Of course, even once you know what you might want to do, there’s still the matter of figuring out finances – and thankfully, Dartmouth has many resources to help you with this, too.
For internships, remember that Dartmouth has many grants that can help you pursue the experiences of greatest interest to you, without forgoing your financial wellness. By familiarizing yourself with these grants and their application deadlines early on, you can stay on top of application deadlines, reduce stress, and make sure you don’t miss out on opportunities.
- Center for Professional Development Funding for Experiential Learning and Unpaid Internships. Learn about leave-term funding through many departments on campus and how you can apply.
- Center for Social Impact. Funding to pursue community-based service internships with nonprofit agencies throughout the United States and United States territories.
- Dartmouth Outing Club Northern Students Internship Grants. A grant to support a hands-on, experiential learning opportunity for students with interests in a wide spectrum of northern forests and lands issues.
- Dickey Center International Internships. Funding to support internship experiences outside the United States.
- The Leslie Center for the Humanities Student Professional Development Fellowships. Funding for currently enrolled students for internships, conferences, workshops, or other professional development activity related to the humanities.
- The Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences Internships. Funding for leave-term eligible internships in the fields of public policy, public affairs, and social entrepreneurship
Dartmouth also offers fellowships for gaining experience in specific roles.
- Dartmouth Library Fellowships. Open to undergraduates and recent grads, these fellowships provide an opportunity to explore careers in libraries and gain practical experience.
- The Hop Fellows Program. A year-long student residency program with a flexible, experiential curriculum designed for students to gain skills and knowledge, connect with peers and artists, and explore the societal impact of the arts.
Dartmouth has a variety of research funding opportunities for undergraduate students, too. For more information about research opportunities and funding, visit the Academic Wellness and/or Financial Wellness pages of this website.
In addition to the opportunities listed above, faculty or staff administrators in your academic department may know of funding sources that are specific to your area(s) of interest. With the Take a Faculty Member to Breakfast or Lunch program, undergraduate students can even invite a faculty member to a meal to discuss these interests.
- Prepare for Graduate and Professional School Programs. The Center for Professional Development has compiled a list of resources on applying to graduate or professional programs.
- Dean’s Certification. This document is sometimes required by professional schools to obtain information about academic and disciplinary misconduct (or lack thereof). Obtaining this documentation can take about three weeks, so be sure to put in your request early, if needed.
Health Professions Program. Through one-on-one advising and group workshops, Dartmouth’s Health Professions Program supports undergraduates (and alumni!) can explore careers in areas such as:
- Allopathic medicine (MD)
- Audiology
- Chiropractic
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Dentistry
- Midwifery osteopathic medicine
- Nursing
- Osteopathic medicine (DO)
- Pharmacy
- Physical therapy
- Physicians assistant
- Public health
- Veterinary medicine
Sign up for the Health Professions Program listserv to stay informed of opportunities.
The Dartmouth Cancer Center offers programs for undergraduate students interested in cancer-related careers:
- POWERED. This is a two-year program for first- and second-year undergraduate students who are interested in cancer research and meet eligibility criteria.
- Dartmouth Cancer Scholars Program. Upper-level undergraduate students can apply to participate in this program, which involves weekly discussion-based meetings with experts in cancer care and research.
Stress from job-seeking has been linked to emotional and mental health issues including anxiety and depression. Feelings of anxiety and depression are common reactions related to big life changes, like graduation. Dartmouth provides excellent resources to prepare you for your future.
- Job Hunting Resources for Undergraduates. This career guide search tool, curated by Dartmouth library, is broadly applicable to all students, and will help you to research organizations and industries.
- Recruiting Program. The Center for Professional Development provides a structured process for you to search, apply, and interview for both internships and entry-level jobs.
Graduate and Professional Students
The Hop Fellows Program - Special Projects Hop Fellow(s) - While most Hop Fellows positions are geared towards undergraduates, the Special Projects Hop Fellowship is a year-long student residency program open to graduate and professional students. Fellows in this role work with the Manager of Fellowships and Strategic Initiatives to undertake a project of the fellow’s own choosing. Projects can be creative or research based, but must center strongly in the arts.
Irving Institute Graduate Energy Fellows. This is a multidisciplinary pilot initiative for Dartmouth graduate students who are interested in exploring topics and/or pursuing careers related to energy and climate. Students do not need a deep background in energy or climate to be considered for the program.
Resources for QBS Students:
- Career Development for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Students
- Curricular Practical Training for International QBS Student Internships
Resources for Medical Students:
- Medical Student Advising Canvas Site and Career Advising SharePoint site.
- Dartmouth Cancer Center (DCC) Translational Oncology Program for Scholars (TOPS). First-year Geisel medical students can apply for this full-time, 6-week paid summer program offered through the Cancer Center laboratories and clinics at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
- NH/VT Schweitzer Fellows Program is a one-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship dedicated to developing a pipeline of emerging healthcare professionals who enter the workforce with the skills and commitment necessary to address unmet health needs.
- Residency and Fellowship List for medical students interested in pursuing residency or fellowships at Dartmouth
Career Services Support and Formal Professional Development Training
- Guarini Graduate Office of Career Services. Get help with CVs and resumes, correspondence, interviewing practice, finding externships, jobs, and student professional development groups.
- Professional Development and Leadership Training. In partnership with the Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning (DCAL), the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies offers formal professional development and leadership training opportunities to its students. PhD student who complete the specified breadth of training can receive academic credit on their official transcripts.
Funding Opportunities:
- Graduate Student Council Professional Development Support Fund. This fund supports graduate students in their participation in conferences, profession and leadership development, and service
- Leslie Center Student Professional Development Fellowships. Funding for currently enrolled students for internships, conferences, workshops, or other professional development activity related to the humanities.
- Career Services. The Career Services Office at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering is dedicated to supporting engineering students and alumni with tailored advising, resources, and programs to help you achieve your career goals.
- Graduate Student Council Professional Development Support Fund. This fund supports graduate students in their participation in conferences, profession and leadership development, and service.
- Thayer School of Engineering Fall Career Fair. Dartmouth Engineering holds an annual career fair for students with engineering or technical backgrounds. This career fair is open to all Dartmouth students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional students).
- Tuck Career Services. Tuck Career Services provides tools, resources, and support to empower you to identify and reach your goals