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Next time you visit campus, drop into the career services office and pick up a business card from one of the career specialists. When your student is feeling anxious about his/her future, offer the card and say, "Please call this person. He (or she) can help you."

Many students use their first semester to "settle into" college life, and so perhaps the spring semester of the freshman year is the optimal time to start using career services. And, it's a good time for you to prompt that first visit.

Ask your student (casually), "Have you visited career services?" If you hear, "You only go there when you are a senior," then it's time to reassure them that career services is not just for seniors, and meeting with a career specialist can take place at any point (and should take place regularly) during their college career. The sooner a student becomes familiar with the staff, resources, and programs, the better prepared he or she will be to make wise career decisions and achieve their goals. 

Keep in mind that because we believe in the importance of student buy-in, we require the student to schedule his/her own meeting with us.

Writing a resume can be a "reality test" and helps your student identify weak areas that require improvement. Suggest your student use the online career resources. We have a section on resume writing and provide some examples. You can review resume drafts for grammar, spelling, and content, but recommend the final product be examined by a career services professional.

Ask: "Do you have any ideas about what you might want to do when you graduate?"

If your student seems unsure, you can talk about personal qualities you see as talents and strengths. You can also recommend:

• Taking a "self-assessment career inventory," such as FOCUS2
• Talking to favorite faculty members
• Researching a variety of interesting career fields and employers

Even though it is helpful to ask occasionally about career plans, too much prodding can backfire.

Myth: A student must major in something "practical" or marketable.
Truth: Students should follow their own interests and passions. A student in any major can launch a successful career if they have quality career materials, networking and interview skills, and basic career competencies that employers seek. Students should see a career specialist to prepare.

Myth: Picking your major means picking the career you will have forever.
Truth: That's not true anymore. "Major" does not necessarily mean "career", and it is not unusual for a student to change majors. Many students change majors after gaining more information about specific fields of study and career fields of interest. Many students end up doing something very different than originally planned, so avoid panicking if they come up with an outrageous or impractical career idea. Chances are plans will develop and change. It's possible to change majors—and career ideas without delaying graduation.

It's okay to make suggestions about majors and career fields, but let your student be the ultimate judge of what's best.

Career development can be stressful. Maybe this is the first big decision that your student has had to make. Be patient, sympathetic and understanding, even if you don't agree with your child's decisions. 

Career Services will not "place" your student in a job at graduation. Colleges grant degrees, but not job guarantees, so having relevant experience in this competitive job market is critical.

Your son or daughter can sample career options by completing internships and experimenting with summer employment opportunities or volunteer work.

Why an internship?

• Employers are interested in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, which can be developed through internships.
• Employers look for experience on a student's resume and often hire from within their own internship programs.

• Having a high GPA is not enough.
• A strong letter of recommendation from an internship supervisor can often tip the scale of an important interview in their favor.

Part of experiencing college life is to be involved and active outside the classroom. Interpersonal and leadership skills—qualities valued by future employers—are often developed in extracurricular activities.

Employers will expect students to know what is happening around them. Buy your student a subscription to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. When they are home on break, discuss major world and business issues with them.

Most students have a stereotypical view of the workplace. Take him/her to your workplace. Explain to your student what you do for a living. Show him or her how to network by interacting with your own colleagues. Help your student identify potential employers. 

Introduce your student to people who have the careers/jobs that are of interest. Suggest he or she contact people in your personal and professional networks for information about what they do, what they like about their work, and any advice for someone interested in that role. Encourage your child to "shadow" someone in the workplace to increase awareness of interesting career fields.