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Students of Color

Students and Alumni of Color may have unique considerations as they search for an inclusive, supportive, and affirming place to work.

CCDAE Commitment

  • As staff and aspiring allies at the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration, we strive to:
    • Create a safe and welcoming environment for Students of Color, both in our physical space and interpersonally 
    • Encourage Students of Color to discover and explore their individual strengths and skills, and to help you make a more informed choice about internship opportunities and employer selection
    • Challenge barriers and stereotypes within our day-to-day interactions with University of Tennessee, Knoxville students, faculty, and staff
    • Increase awareness of resources and services available to support Students of Color in making informed career decisions.

Support on Campus 

Researching Internships, Jobs, Opportunities and More

  • There are many organizations, internship programs, and extracurricular training opportunities that actively recruit People of Color. Try searching for these opportunities with the following keywords:
    • Identity (e.g. Black, LatinX, Indigenous, Asian) 
    • Profession or industry area (e.g. accounting, social work, engineering, teaching) 
    • Geographic location (e.g. region, state, or city) 
    • Identity-specific programs often contain the terms “diversity”, “inclusion”, “affirmative”, “fellowship”

Evaluating Potential Employers and Resources Beyond Campus

  • While it may be difficult to determine how truly supportive any organization is, and if its commitment to recruiting is matched with its commitment to retention, proactively exploring some of the following key indicators can give you a sense of their values. 
    • DiversityInc – Top 50 Companies – An annual list of the top companies that are considered to be the most inclusive for employees.
    • Glassdoor – Allows you to see what actual employees have to say about their company.
    • Jopwell – An employment platform that connects those with underrepresented race and ethnic identities to jobs they might love in different industries.
    • INROADS – A national organization that provides Students of Color with career development training and internship experiences.
    • HACU National Internship Program – Connects students with corporate and federal opportunities.
    • Scholarships and Resources for Hispanic & Latinx Students – A compilation of resources and scholarships.
    • LinkedIn – Use this platform or company’s employee directory to see if there is any racial/ethnic diversity.

You might also want to do additional research on an employer’s compliance with federal laws:

  • Glassdoor can help with this or use a search engine to enter the employer’s name along with an identifying term such as “lawsuit” or “civil rights violation” 
  • Check the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) website, it has an appellate briefs search
  • Keep in mind that often charges of discrimination can lead to an employer introducing new policies and starting the change of the culture in their organization.