Top Ten Ways to Support Students in Their Career Planning

1. Listen. Let students talk about where they are in the process, and encourage them to connect with Career Center resources.

2. Encourage internships. Internships are critical learning and skill-building experiences. They allow students to experience real-world working situations, develop applied skills, explore workplace cultures, and network with potential employers. Furthermore, over 30% of internships lead to full-time jobs. Please encourage your student to complete at least one internship during his or her time at Washington University.

3. Provide support. For many students, attempting to find an internship or full-time job may be their first real experience with facing obstacles and perhaps not achieving their goals. Remind students that resiliency will help them in their search and in their working lives.

4. Remember that academic majors do not equal careers. Remind students that most people will change careers several times over the course of their lives, and that many people do not go into a career field that is directly related to their major. Instead, help students identify their interests and passions through informal conversation and encourage them to explore possible paths.

5. Teach Networking. Help students brainstorm about the people in their world. If you are comfortable, share your networking success stories. Offer to role play a mock informational interview with a student to make the process feel less intimidating. Encourage students to use Career Connections, the on-line alumni networking database.

6. Normalize their feelings. Many students look to you as a coach and support system. Remember that it can be scary to begin the self-assessment and career research process. Encourage students to begin the process today, even if they feel nervous or unsure. Remind them that it is okay to take small steps. Learning to write a resume or attending a workshop may be a good first step.

7. Utilize our Web site. We offer a wealth of information for undergraduates… from help with resumes to excellent career research Web links. Encourage students to check it out.

8. Remind them to take advantage of Quick Questions. Students can drop by 157 Umrath Hall, Monday through Friday, from 12:00-5:00 pm, or 204 Lopata Hall, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1:30-4:30 pm. No appointment is needed to get help with a resume or cover letter, start an internship search, or use resources.

9. Encourage students to update their student profile on eRecruiting, our on-line database of internships and full-time jobs. The student’s profile will help us send emails highlighting internships, jobs, and events that match his or her preferences.

10. Emphasize the value of workshops and special events. Refer students to our Calendar of Events and encourage them to attend programs. We offer workshops such as Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Interviewing Skills 101, Internship Search Strategies, and Job Search Strategies. Students can also attend numerous special events, such as panels and roundtables, to help connect them to the world of work.

Thank you for your support. We need you to help us reach every student!