How to Use the Career Center Effectively
SaveIt is likely that while you are managing course assignments and moving along your educational journey, you have had little time to consider all of your career options after graduation. While you probably have career goals you want to accomplish, you may not know where to start. This is when the Career Center is helpful. The primary purpose of this college resource is to help you master the required skills necessary to succeed in your search for a new career after graduation. The Career Center is the perfect starting point for finding your career path and preparing for your future job search success.
By Dr. Gwendolyn Maria Parrish
What is the Career Center?
It is likely that while you are managing course assignments and moving along your educational journey, you have had little time to consider all of your career options after graduation. While you probably have career goals you want to accomplish, you may not know where to start. This is when the Career Center is helpful. The primary purpose of this college resource is to help you master the required skills necessary to succeed in your search for a new career after graduation. The Career Center is the perfect starting point for finding your career path and preparing for your future job search success.
Exploring Careers:
If you are thinking of changing careers or asking for a promotion in your current job, you will need a plethora of job search and interviewing skills. Everything you need to master those skills will be located in your school's Career Center and can be found both in person if you are in a brick-and-mortar school and online for virtual learners. Learning to use the resources will give you an advantage when beginning your next job search.
Starting a New Career
Before starting a new career, you will need to know what your interests are. It is important that you begin your search in a field you are passionate about; this will help you when you are interviewing since it will be easier to demonstrate your ability to perform the job tasks effectively. Also, you will want to have experience in this field. Your experience may have been gained through volunteering in your local community, a position you had for the work-study program for your school during the time you earned your degree, or a family business that you helped out a few hours a week. The Career Center offers resources that will help you reflect on your interests and experiences to help you determine the career that is the best fit for you. It is also important to understand what each position you apply for will entail since it will help you to know if you are missing skills that require an additional degree. You only want to apply for those positions you are qualified for. Understanding the job duties will help you prepare before interviewing with a hiring manager.
Resume, CV, and Cover Letters
If you have not already prepared a resume, you may want to start now. The purpose of your resume is to showcase all of your skills and experience to show hiring managers that you are a candidate for the position they need to have filled. Even if you have never had a job, you may still have skills you have not considered. This is when speaking with the Career Center representative will be useful so they can show you how to appropriately highlight your skills on a resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) is similar to a resume, but the information is listed in a different format than it is on a resume. Understanding the difference is important since some positions may require a CV rather than a resume. You may find a template for each in your school's career center. A cover letter precedes a resume or CV and is one page long. The purpose of a cover letter is to personalize your interest in the specific job to which you are applying and provides an opportunity for you to describe why you are the best fit for the position.
Networking
What is Networking? You are probably familiar with websites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, but did you know that you can create a professional business profile on LinkedIn? Using the resources provided, you can use this platform to showcase your skills and master new ones. It is important to know that hiring managers often visit this website to scout potential employees. Search for skills assessments that will build your skillset and showcase them on your account wall for others to view, along with current degrees that have been completed. Employers also often use this platform to learn more about you before an interview, so keeping it up to date on your experience and abilities is critical. Please know that since this is a professional networking website, when you share information, be sure it is not too personal. Posts acceptable on other social media platforms would not be appropriate since this is a purely professional network so never post anything you would not want hiring managers to know about you.
Preparing for an Interview
The interview process can be stressful. Whether virtual or in-person, you may feel that you are not prepared to answer all the hiring manager's questions. Visiting the Career Center will help you get all the resources needed to get through your interview confidently. You can also watch helpful videos and even get interview tips for answering the hard questions, such as what your salary expectations may be. These skills are also beneficial when applying for a Federal Work-Study position, as mentioned in the first of this two-part series. Visit the Career Center today and get a jump start on preparing for your next career. Click here to get more information about the Career Center.
Dr. Gwendolyn Maria Parrish
Dr. Gwendolyn M. Parrish is a graduate of MSU, where she received a BA in Elementary Education and an MS in Educational Leadership. Maria has more than ten years of experience in the classroom and two years as a high school vice-principal. She is a graduate of Capella University, where she completed a Ph.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction and Administration. Maria has also been a writing consultant for Capella for the past three years and enjoy working with learners of all ages.Articles & Advice
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