Reed College
Reed College

The Center for Life Beyond Reed

First Year Corner

We aren’t the first or the last to say this, but welcome to Reed! Your journey here has just begun, but it’s never too early to explore your passions and learn how to translate them into career exploration. From convocation to commencement (and beyond), CLBR is here to support you as you learn, grow, and explore.

Peer Career Advisors (PCAs)

Peer Career Advisors (PCAs) are upper-division students hired by CLBR to support first-year students’ career exploration through peer-to-peer conversation and advising. PCAs play a pivotal role in connecting first-year students to opportunities and resources provided by the Center for Life Beyond Reed (CLBR) and in helping students with various professional development pursuits. PCAs receive in-depth training and work closely with CLBR staff to keep a working knowledge of job search strategies and various opportunities. PCAs assist students with the following during the academic year:

  • Writing resumes, cover letters, and personal statements
  • Preparing for interviews
  • Networking
  • Searching for internships/jobs/opportunities
  • LinkedIn profiles
  • Reed-based fellowship and award applications

Meet Your PCAs!

Headshot of Delyse '27

Delyse '27

she/her
Peer Career Advisor
Hi! My name is Delyse, I’m a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology with an allied field in biological and computational sciences. As a Peer Career Advisor, I look forward to helping students build their resume, practice interview skills, and explore career opportunities. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, traveling, and trying new food spots. Looking forward to connecting and supporting you as you navigate your career journey!
Headshot of Hanae '27

Hanae '27

she/her
Peer Career Advisor
Hi! I’m Hanae (she/her), a senior Economics major from Las Vegas. I recently came back from a year studying abroad in Tokyo, and I’m excited to be a PCA! CLBR has helped me tremendously as a first-generation college student, from supporting scholarship applications that helped make my year abroad possible to believing in me and encouraging me to pursue new opportunities. I hope to provide that same support and make these resources more accessible to other students. Outside of school, I enjoy thrifting, photography, visiting cafes, hiking, and bouldering!
Headshot of Gaby '29

Gaby '29

she/her
Peer Career Advisor
Hi! I’m Gaby (she/her)! I’m a sophomore majoring in English with minors in Spanish and Film. I’m currently on the pre-law track, though I’m still not ruling out becoming an English professor someday! I’m from Colombia, so international students–I got you! I’m always happy to chat, and one of my favorite parts of being a PCA is helping students figure things out so everything feels a little less stressful. I can’t wait to meet you! :)
Headshot of Sam '27

Sam '27

he/him
Peer Career Advisor

Hello! I'm Sam, and I'm a second-year Psychology major. As a PCA, I'm excited to meet new faces, learn about people's passions, and help fellow students navigate Reed's many resources to achieve their goals. Outside of work and academics, you can usually find me in the PAB playing piano, working out at the gym, or relaxing in my room playing video games. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you throughout your career journey at Reed!

Headshot of Khushi '27

Khushi '27

she/her
Peer Career Advisor

Hi! I'm Khushi a professional overthinker turned Quant Econ senior. My career advising origin story starts with a summer internship so chaotic I applied to the same company twice with two different resume (neither of which were good). A peer career advisor rescued me and I've been paying it forward ever since.

How Can I Meet with a PCA?

1:1 Advising

You can work with PCAs 1:1 by booking an appointment through Handshake. Meeting with a PCA is a great choice if you are new to working with CLBR, are working on the first draft of your resume, or applying to a Reed-based award. 1:1 appointments are 30 minutes and are conducted virtually.

Drop-In Advising

PCAs are available for a two-hour block of time to answer questions from students and provide advice on resumes, cover letters, and other application materials. No appointments are necessary. You can find the current hours and location in our event calendar.

PCA-led Events

Similar to CLBR staff, the PCAs host virtual or in-person events each semester. Examples of past events include:

  • “Finding and Funding” — where students learn how to find, create, and fund summer opportunities
  • Application Work Parties — where students can work in an informal environment on upcoming application deadlines (eg., summer funding deadlines)
  • LinkedIn Workshops — where students learn how to use LinkedIn and have time to create their profile with PCAs to provide advice

Interested in attending an event? Keep an eye on the events calendar and Handshake! All CLBR events are advertised there, and we share event information in our weekly newsletter.

Additional Resources

Are you looking for on- or off-campus work, but need a resume and you’re not sure where to start? Check out our guidelines on resumes below!

CLBR Resume Guidelines

Did you know that you can apply for awards and funding as a first-year student? Take a look at the Fellowships & Awards directory! You can filter opportunities by discipline, award term, and class year.


Student Funding & Fellowships