Career Development is a lifelong and ongoing process. While a student is at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, their career goals are sure to evolve in some way as they explore their academic interests, extracurricular, and co-curricular experiences.
The Career Development steps highlighted below can be utilized each time a student or alum considers changing their major or career. While it is the student who will ultimately be making these decisions, having others around them in a supportive manner is important.
Step One: Know Yourself​
A well-researched career decision is best made when one becomes aware of and identifies their interest, skills, and work values. The Career Center can help students assess their interest, skills, values, and personality as they make decisions about possible majors and careers. The Career Center also offers a twelve-week, one-credit Career Exploration course.
You can help by:
- Encouraging the student to seek out opportunities that lean towards their interests and strengths
- Encouraging the student to reflect on their experiences inside and outside of the classroom
- Discussing strengths and skills you notice within the student
- Encouraging the student to visit the Career Services Center
Step Two: Understanding Career Fields ​
The goal in this step is to identify possible career options which match a student's unique style, interests, skills, and work values. The Career Center can help students discover various methods for obtaining information about career fields so that comparisons can be made.
​You can help by:
- Encouraging the student to gain insights through reputable online resources, workshops, informational interviews, industry guest speakers, panels, and other career events
- Comparing and contrasting the student's career fields of interest
- Encouraging the student to visit the Career Services Center
Step Three: Try-on Careers
The goal of this step is test-driving a career choice to see if it is a fit. Observing professionals and working in the field while gaining career-related experience are great methods for trying on careers. The Career Center can help students with creating or enhancing their professional documents, preparing for interviews, and looking for relevant career-related opportunities.
You can help by:
- If possible, connect the student with professionals you know working in their field(s) of interest
- Encouraging the student to create/update their professional documents
- Encouraging the student to obtain a career-related experience whether it's an internship, co-op, part-time or summer job, volunteer experience, or service learning
- Encouraging the student to visit the Career Services Center
Step Four: Make a Decision​
After trying on careers, it is a good time to begin evaluating and selecting options which best meet the majority of the student's criteria. The Career Center can help students develop a map or plan which will help them progress towards their career goals.
​You can help by:
- Being open to discussing the student's career goals in a supportive manner
- Encouraging the student to begin exploring necessary next steps for progressing towards their career goals
- Encouraging the student to visit the Career Center
​Step Five: Act on that Decision ​
Once the student has made a decision and developed a career goal, they could be ready for their internship/job search.
​You can help by:
- If not already complete, encourage the student to create/update their professional documents
- If not already complete, encourage the student to seek assistance with interviewing
- If required to fulfill their career goals, encourage the student to explore graduate or professional school
- Encouraging the student to gain knowledge on hiring trends for their career field(s) of interest
- Encouraging the student to visit the Career Center
Step Six: Evaluate Your Choice ​
It is not uncommon that even after making a decision, a student discovers information that they had not uncovered before that causes them to question their choice. It may be necessary for them to re-enter the career development process and re-evaluate their choice. The Career Center is dedicated to assisting undergraduates, graduates, and alumni no matter what stage they are at in the career development process.
​You can help by:
- Being open to discussing the student or alum's concerns in a supportive manner
- Encouraging the student or alumni to visit the Career Center
