Career Development

After four years of exploration, discovery, and practical experience, Bates graduates students who have a strong sense of who they are, where they want to go, and what they want to be.

  • Associate Professor of American Studies Myron Beasley and Ollie Penner ’22 of Pasadena, Calif., a double major in art and visual culture and American studies, discuss summer internships and art spaces.
  • Genesis Paulino ’21 of Lawrence, Mass., a sociology major, partnered with the local St. Mary’s Nutrition Center to develop resources for educational garden activity bins. Each bin focused on a specific garden unit, such as seeds and pollination, and included lesson plans, worksheets, and related books.
  • History major Evan Molinari í16 of Milwaukie, Ore., a purposeful work intern for Rep. Chellie Pingree, working in Washington, D.C., in the congresswomanís office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Shown with the congresswoman and his internship supervisor Evan Johnston. I help the staff with administrative work, I help do research and I do Capitol tours once or twice a week. I learned that I do my best work when Iím surrounded by people I respect and get along with, and thatís definitely true in this internship when Iím working with my fellow interns on project or research or giving a tour, Yesterday we had two interns leading a tour because the group was so big, and I really enjoyed that. So wherever my career path takes me, doing it with other people as a team is what Iím looking for. The whole thing is a massive civics lesson, just being able to see the inside of the process. When Iím on the tours, I tend to be the biggest tourist on the whole tour even though Iím leading it because I get to talk about history, I get to see history, to see the inside of the Capitol. I get to learn so much about it by doing it.
    History major Evan Molinari í16 of Milwaukie, Ore., a purposeful work intern for Rep. Chellie Pingree, working in Washington, D.C., in the congresswomanís office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Shown with the congresswoman and his internship supervisor Evan Johnston. I help the staff with administrative work, I help do research and I do Capitol tours once or twice a week. I learned that I do my best work when Iím surrounded by people I respect and get along with, and thatís definitely true in this internship when Iím working with my fellow interns on project or research or giving a tour, Yesterday we had two interns leading a tour because the group was so big, and I really enjoyed that. So wherever my career path takes me, doing it with other people as a team is what Iím looking for. The whole thing is a massive civics lesson, just being able to see the inside of the process. When Iím on the tours, I tend to be the biggest tourist on the whole tour even though Iím leading it because I get to talk about history, I get to see history, to see the inside of the Capitol. I get to learn so much about it by doing it.

Purposeful Work

The Purposeful Work Initiative is a uniquely Bates take on preparing students for life after college. Through a comprehensive and college-wide, four-year program, we encourage exploration, respect individuality, and build connections, graduating students who are ready to lead lives filled with meaningful work.

Learn why Purposeful Work works

Graduate School

With a graduate-level thesis under their belts, and a clear sense of why they’re applying, Bates graduates boast extraordinarily high acceptance rates to top graduate programs.

Research graduate school support

Job Shadows & Internships

With multiple avenues of obtaining an internship or job shadowing opportunity, thousands of alumni committed to supporting fellow Bobcats, and ample funding, internship possibilities are limitless, and accessible to everyone at Bates.

Explore career-related opportunities

Alumni Outcomes

Learn more about what our most recent graduates and other alumni are doing post-Bates.

Explore Bates