Making Decisions
...as many of us can attest to, your career shifts and adapts over time. Most people are presently not in the career they thought they would be in at 18, 25, or 40! Being open to new experiences can enhance a career, and a senior graduating who might be a bit uncertain about their career path or field can benefit from a visit to the Career Center to learn how to leverage their skills in many ways.
What can my student do?
- Students should return to school with a professional interview suit.
- Course requirements for major and degree should be completed.
- Students should attend Master Classes provided by Career Center such as: Interviewing Skills, How to Work a Job Fair, Job Search to update skills.
- Registration with UBjobnet should be completed to receive information regarding campus interviewing and information sessions.
- Your student should be applying to graduate schools, if he or she wishes to attend. A career counselor will be happy to critique essays and answer questions.
- Attendence at the Job and Internship Fairs is vital to job searching efforts.
- Students need to keep good notes and follow-up on all applications and interviews.
- Your student should secure one or more job offers or admission to graduate/professional school. Your student must consider options, make a decision, accept only one offer and decline the others.
What can I do as a parent?
- Suggest using the campus career center throughout senior year. Our office provides assistance in preparation for the job search, such as workshops and individual help with resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, and other job-search skills, a library of books and web sites with links to job resources, and much more!
- Don't nag your child about not having a job yet; this will often have the reverse effect. Use positive reinforcement!
- Offer to assist by sending information you may have found about the career field of your student's choice and/or job listings that may be of interest. Listen for indications from the student that you have provided enough information and help, then take a step back.
- Don't call potential employers to intervene for your child. Contact with potential employers is the candidate's responsibility!
- Be prepared to support your child through the ups and downs of the job and graduate school search. Not every desired job or graduate school acceptance will come through. Your student will need reassurance that for every door that closes, another opens.
*Adapted from
http://www.jobweb.com/parents.aspx?id=40&terms=parents