Career Services
At Hendrix, you’re not just picking a major, you’re building a toolkit for the future. We give you the tools to explore everything from liberal arts to the sciences, all while helping you along the way.
Via Hendrix
Via Hendrix is a comprehensive initiative to incorporate career preparation throughout its undergraduate liberal arts curriculum, introducing a semester-long workforce experience for all students. All students will complete a cooperative education, or co-op, which involves professional work or research placements as part of their degree program.
Students will gain hands-on experience in their prospective fields which will increase their job extensions post grad.
- While many schools offer internships, those are typically optional, shorter, and less intensive. The Via Hendrix co-op strategy features a 12- to 14-week immersion.
- Students prepare their first year; each will receive an integrated advising team to provide academic and professional support through graduation.
- Co-op companies include health care providers, professional sports teams, law firms, nonprofit organizations, government entities, and more.
“Co-op is an extension of the liberal arts classroom, building our learning experiences out into the professional world,” said Hendrix President Karen Petersen. “Via Hendrix will create a real-time, continuous feedback loop with employers of all types, giving us powerful insight to adjust over time and to foster a talent pipeline for partner organizations that host our students.”
In their fourth and final year, students will reflect on the totality of their experience as they work with their integrated advising teams to apply for jobs or graduate school.
Your Next Four Years
One size does NOT fit all! Your journey at Hendrix may not look like the plan below, and that’s OK. These are some suggested activities to help you hit the ground running and finish strong as you grow in your time at Hendrix. No matter what you plan to do after graduation, Career Services can help!
First Year
Check Daily / Weekly
- Check your Hendrix email EVERY day
- Use your HDX Today app to read Hendrix Today AT LEAST 2-3 times/week
- Follow Hendrix Career Services on Instagram @hendrixcareer
- Explore multiple majors or search for information about your chosen field with the “What Can I Do With This Major” button below
Time to Meet
- Meet with your professors outside of class
- Meet with Career Services to explore majors and career options
- Schedule a meeting to get to know your advisor
- Meet with your integrated advising team which includes Career Services
Branch Out
- Join a campus organization or start volunteering with a local non profit; find more volunteer opportunities HERE.
- Participate in an internship this summer (after your first year)
Sophomore
Year two brings further exploration into your major! You’ll expand your horizons by making connections, generating quality research, and harnessing resources available to you. Questions will arise and we are here to help.
Time to Meet
- Meet with Career Services to explore your chosen major and how it relates to careers
- Meet with Career Services in your spring semester to find an internship and begin looking into your prospective co-op
- EVST, HESC, and SJSA students…you will need to complete an internship before graduation
Check it Out
- Check out the Career Explorer and Career Finder found in HireHendrix; you can take a quiz and get career suggestions then do a deep dive into specific industries and careers
- Build alumni connections through Career Term, HCAN, and FACT Fridays
- Visit the Study Abroad Office and/or the Study Abroad Fair
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities if considering medical school or graduate school
Junior
This year is all about being proactive and defining your path. Your steps will bring you to leadership opportunities, professional associations, and/or further education. Take your previous preparation and watch it blossom this year.
Participate
- Complete your co-op by the spring of this year
- Become a leader in one or more campus organizations
- Join a professional association if graduate or professional school is in your future
Extending Your Learning
- If planning to attend graduate school, explore graduate programs and meet with your advisor to develop a concrete plan
- If a pre-med, do medical school interview preparation and work on personal statements with Pre-Med Advising Committee and your advisor
Senior
Welcome to the finish line! Your hard work is about to pay off. As you prepare for graduation, you’ll prepare any application materials, polish your resume, and start looking at potential job openings.
Final Preparations
- Update Resume (Do you need a CV?)
- Practice writing a cover letter
- Schedule a mock interview with Career Services
- Participate in a final internship or research opportunity
- Begin job search, prepare your application materials, and let us know if you need assistance!
We’re Always Here to Help
- Have Career Services review your application materials before you submit them
- After you graduate, Hendrix Career Services is STILL here for you! See our Alumni page.
Graduate and Professional School
Students considering graduate or professional school programs should meet with their academic and/or pre-professional program advisor(s) to assess the pros and cons of an advanced degree. They can help you discern and reflect on the decisions ahead including when, how, and where to apply after graduating from Hendrix.
Looking Further
Is a graduate degree necessary? Search LinkedIn to find examples of career pathways that you are seeking. Consider whether gaining more experience through employment, a gap year experience, internship, or shadowing might be useful in your application process.
Applications
Many application cycles begin a year or more before enrollment (i.e., if you plan to begin your program in Fall 2026, you will apply in Fall 2025).
Research Your Chosen Career
Research the career you want and see which programs would benefit you best. Use search engines such as Peterson’s Guide and GradSchools.com to find programs.
Consider Applying to 4-6 Schools
- Where are the scholars in your field?
- Which program best fits your career goals?
- Where do you want to live for the foreseeable future?
- What are the employment outcomes of the graduates?
- Does the vision of the program or the institution’s philosophy fit with your own values?
- What are the financial aid opportunities?
Gather Your Questions / Concerns
- What is the application timeline for each program?
- Is there a common application?
- How many recommendations are needed?
- Do you need a graduate admission test (i.e. GRE, LSAT, etc.)?
Things to Note
- You can request transcripts through the Office of the Registrar.
- Most programs require a personal statement and a curriculum vitae (CV)
- The Hendrix Writing Center can help you prepare those important documents.
- Some programs will invite you for an interview and some will request a writing sample.
- The Career Services’ staff can help with alumni connections and in some cases, mock interviews.
- Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college www.finaid.org
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Soros Fellowship (immigrants and children of immigrants eligible)
- Samvid Scholarship (merit-based graduate scholarship)
- Professional associations for scholarships (i.e., APTA, aswb.org)
- Search for employment opportunities at the institution.
- The position may give a tuition discount or provide housing on campus.
- Masters and PhD programs often have teaching fellowships, research assistantships, and other financial aid opportunities.
- Check with each program’s Office of Admission.
Graduate Programs Search
Graduate Admissions Tests
Career Competencies
Hendrix College cultivates graduates who are ready to engage with the world beyond our campus. Embracing eight Career Competencies, our entire community works together to inspire graduates to live out “lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.”
Cultivate
Eight Career Competencies
With the guidance of the college community and the curriculum requirements, our students benefit from the breadth and depth of a liberal arts and sciences education combined with career readiness components.
Catalog & Careers
Career Planning
Explore our Academic Catalog and the real-world application of each major as well as examples of internships, graduate schools, and employment outcomes of students and recent grads.
Employers
Looking to partner with Hendrix and provide co-ops for our students? Explore how we can help connect our students with your company.
Via Hendrix integrates a comprehensive initiative to incorporate career preparation throughout its undergraduate liberal arts curriculum, introducing a semester-long workforce experience for all students. All students will complete a cooperative education, or co-op, which involves professional work or research placements as part of their degree program.
By partnering with businesses that will provide real-world experience, this gives our students an advantage post graduation.
Visit Us
Whether you are a local to Central Arkansas or a reach across the map, we are here to help plan your Hendrix College visit today! After viewing our campus video, download the campus map to navigate our campus, then meet with us so we can provide resources to help pave the path to your future career.
Contact Us
Reach out to Career Services by email, phone, or in-person. Career Services is located in the Hendrix Student Life and Technology Center on the Second Floor.
Phone
Mailing Address
Office of Career Services
1600 Washington Avenue
Conway, AR 72032-3080