Four-Step Guide To Career Success:
Step 1
- Determine interests, values, and talents.
- If uncertain about an academic major, take a career assessment inventory such as the Self Directed Search, Choices, or Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Meet with a counselor to discuss the results.
- If you are undecided, enroll in the Career Planning course, UNST 110.
- Gain experience through part-time jobs, volunteering, and student organizations.
- Activate your account on VHawk Job Talk so you can check out job market and internship information and find out what employers are looking for in prospective candidates.
Step 2
- Research careers which capture your interests.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals who are currently in the field.
- Develop skills necessary to meet job requirements, such leadership computer, and communication.
Step 3
- Develop initial job search correspondence (i.e., resume and cover letter ), which you will be tailoring to individual opportunities.
- Complete an internship.
- Identify industries which hire students with your education and experience.
- Create and take advantage of opportunities to network with professionals in your field.
- Seek volunteer opportunities, part-time jobs, co-curricular activities, and professional groups related to your field.
- Attend programs and fairs sponsored by Career Services.
Step 4
- Complete an internship.
- Consider enrolling in the one-credit course, Job Search Strategies, UNST 410.
- Update resume.
- Attend a workshop on interviewing tips.
- Participate in a practice interview.
- Locate job openings through utilizing V-Hawk Job Talk, other Internet sites, professional associations, networking, career fairs and other resources.
- Attend career fairs and other career events.
The previous steps are what students should do to find career success. You, too, can help your student launch a successful career. As a parent, you play an important role in the career development of your student. Students often look to their parents for advice and direction. Here are some tips for parents regarding career development:
Let your student make his/her own choices: You may be tempted to have your student major in a particular area because it's a "hot" field. Reality is that there is no such thing as a major that guarantees a job. Your student must develop his/her own directions based on their individual interests, skills, and values. Encourage your student to pursue something that reflects who he/she is, then the success will come.
Encourage exploration: Encourage your student to try different courses that may be of interest. Through this exploration, he/she may discover areas previously unknown.
Support involvement in co-curricular activities: Opportunities to demonstrate leadership ability, teamwork, time management and other career-related skills will help your student prepare for the world of work. These "soft" skills are highly sought after by employers.
Be patient and encouraging: Don't ask the dreaded question, "What are you going to do when you graduate?" This question is a "biggie" and often causes panic if it cannot be answered. Instead, encourage your student to begin to research his/her options in their academic program. Offer to help research different areas and be encouraging if they are getting frustrated.
Recommend visits to Career Services: You probably won't know all the answers your student may have, but we can help. We also help students make decisions about majors. Students are not required to use our services but we are here to serve them all.