Pre-College Student’s Role • Prepare application, FAFSA and other necessary documents for SFA admission requirements • Become aware of potential personal, educational and career goals • Attend Freshman Orientation to learn more about SFA and register for courses Parent’s Role • Go through SFA materials with your student and help sort out information • Attend Freshman Orientation with your student and, afterwards, talk about what you both have learned Career Services’ Role • Present information to incoming freshmen and family members through Orientation presentations: o Student Employment elective session o Parent Luncheon o Parent Reception
Freshman Year Student’s Role • Orient yourself to the many aspects of college life, including building locations, study commitments, social activities, etc. • Keep your options open while exploring the academic world. You may have selected a major, but you are still able to consider other options while you’re still early in the game. • Utilize the AARC, an upperclassmen’s advice or a routine schedule in order to develop excellent study skills • Become involved in one student activity or club or attend an informational meeting of one you are interested in • Maintain regular classroom attendance • Establish a good rapport with your academic advisor(s) and faculty members, most importantly the ones who determine your grades • Take part in Career Counseling if you are undecided in your major coursework, or are considering changing your major • Attain a copy of your degree plan, which outlines the courses needed to graduate • Begin building your resume now! During the semester, investigate part-time jobs available on and off campus, and check out summer jobs or opportunities for volunteer experience Parent’s Role • Begin the transition in shifting your role from a “parent” to a “supporter” • Encourage your student to make grades a top priority and to meet with each of his/her professors at least once during the semester • Talk with your student about the different student activity or club that match his/her interests • In order to gain related experience that will serve valuable on a resume, encourage your student to find an on-campus or off-campus part-time job during the semester and a summer job or volunteer experience during the break • Encourage your student to create a Jobs4Jacks account, which will provide them access to job postings, on-campus interview information, career fair attendees, and much more! Career Services’ Role • Assist students in finding a part-time job, summer job or volunteer experience through the use of Jobs4Jacks and the Web
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
Sophomore Year Student’s Role • Explore interests, values and skills and how they relate to the work world • Learn about potential occupations and majors through What Can I Do With This Major? and make tentative choices • Become involved in at least one student activity or club or professional organization or attend an informational meeting of one you are interested in • Take part in Career Counseling if you are undecided in your major coursework, or are considering changing your major • Start assessing values, personality, skills and knowledge through career inventories • Attend career fairs to network and begin looking for potential occupations and employers • Learn to write a resume and interview effectively • Volunteer at conventions or career fairs where professionals will be in attendance • Investigate opportunities for internships and other career-related experiences through on-campus interviews, Jobs4Jacks and the Web • Summer: Obtain an internship or career-related experience in order to “check out” potential career choice(s) • Begin building your resume now! During the semester, investigate part-time jobs available on and off campus, and over the summer, check out summer jobs or opportunities for volunteer experience Parent’s Role • If your student is undecided about their career choice, encourage him/her to see a Career Counselor • Encourage career exploration • Talk with your student about the different career and major choices they are considering and listen to student talk freely about why they are of interest • Familiarize yourself with different career and major choices your student is considering by utilizing What Can I Do With This Major? • Encourage your student to follow his dreams and make the choices that fit, regardless of if you think they are “sensible” • Help your student come up with a list of friends and/or relatives that may work in a field of interest who they could contact for informational interviews • Consider making the initial call with your contacts and, if consent is given, pass along their information to your student to schedule an informational interview • Encourage your student to obtain career-related experience over the summer in the form of a job or internship Career Services’ Role • Offer self-exploration assistance through the use of the Career Counseling, which utilizes Strong Interest Inventory, Sigi 3 and TypeFocus career inventories • Teach goal-setting and decision-making skills • Connect the student with information about majors and careers with What Can I Do With This Major? • Assist the student in assessing skills and knowledge as they relate to the work world • Teach the student how to conduct informational interviews and contact professionals in the field • Familiarize the student with company/organizational information contained within Career Services, local libraries, Vault Career Insider and the Web • Offer workshops on various career-related topics, as well as individual assistance appointments • Advertise internships, part-time and full-time opportunities through on-campus interviews, Jobs4Jacks and the Web • Teach students how to successfully job search for a career-related experience
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
Junior Year Student’s Role • Pursue major coursework, as outlined on degree plan • Develop a file of career-related projects and references, and also employer/graduate school information • Take a leadership role in a student activity or professional organization you are a member of • Develop marketable skills and enhancements to degree • Attend career fairs in professional attire and other career-related events on campus that match interests • Volunteer at conventions or career fairs where professionals will be in attendance • Conduct informational interviews with professionals who work in fields of interest • Become familiar with company/organizational information through the Vault Career Insider • Participate in on-campus interviews • Hone resume writing and interviewing skills • Reassess career goals, including alternative career plans • Network through informational interviews with professionals in chosen fields • Summer: Obtain an internship or career-related experience to gain professional skills Parent’s Role • Encourage your student to take classes and get involved in activities that will enhance academics and make your student more marketable • Encourage taking on a leadership role in an organization • Talk with your student about career goals and alternative plans • Encourage your student to attend career fairs and other career-related events that match their interests • Provide networking contacts for your student • Encourage your student to obtain career-related experience during the school year and summer that matches career goals Career Services’ Role • Assist the student in assessing marketable skills and enhancements in degree • Host career fairs, including Career Fair, Teacher Job Fairs, Camp Fair and Accounting Fair • Offer mock interviews and resume critiques • Provide additional assistance in the assessment of career goals • Assist student in the job search process, including choosing and applying for career-related experiences • Advertise internships, part-time and full-time opportunities through on-campus interviews, Jobs4Jacks and the Web
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
Senior Year Student’s Role • Plan a lighter course load – job searching takes time! • Research company information on Jobs4Jacks, Vault Career Insider and on the Web • Attend career fairs in professional attire and other career-related events that match interests • Volunteer at conventions or career fairs where professionals will be in attendance • Take a leadership role in a student activity or professional organization you are a member of • Discuss career opportunities and plans with faculty, advisors, counselors and professionals in the field • Select faculty and administrators to act as references and discuss interests, skills, personal strengths as related to positions being sought • Complete file of career-related projects • Participate in on-campus interviews • Conduct self-directed job search, concentrating on networking and applying for positions listed on Jobs4Jacks and other Web resources • Research graduate or professional school information • Take graduate school admissions test(s) • Apply to graduate school • Stay organized; keep a log of contacts, interviews and follow-up activities • Join the SFA Alumni Association to gain a mentor, join an alumni network, open the door to possible career-related opportunities and much more! Parent’s Role • Encourage taking on a leadership role in an organization • Ask your student how you can help • Listen to the fears your student is expressing • Offer to talk with your student about career goals and how interests and skills relate to them • Offer to assist in pulling together names of useful people for your student to network with • Encourage your student to attend career fairs and other events that match their interests • Encourage your student to seek assistance with the job search and participate in on-campus interviews • Talk with your student about graduate or professional school plans • Listen, be patient and don’t worry! Career Services’ Role • Assist students in finding company and organization information within Career Services, local libraries, Vault Career Insider and the Web • Host career fairs, including Career Fair, Teacher Job Fairs, Camp Fair and Accounting Fair • Assist students in selecting references for job searching and applying for graduate or professional school • Offer Job Search workshops and individual job search assistance • Provide contact with companies that are hiring through on-campus interviews • Maintain listings of full-time positions through Jobs4Jacks
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
As an Alumnus... Alumnus’ Role • Join the SFA Alumni Association to gain a mentor, join an alumni network, open the door to possible career-related opportunities and much more! • Remember, all of Career Services’ programs and opportunities are FREE throughout your lifetime as an SFA alumnus. Take advantage of these great opportunities now and forever! • Give back to Career Services from the employer side! Volunteer to host a workshop, hold an information session, present to classrooms or attend a career fair! Parent’s Role • Your job doesn’t end once your student has solidified full-time employment or gained acceptance into a graduate program. Continue to encourage, motivate and support, but most importantly, just listen! Career Services’ Role • As our services are still available to you when you’re 23 or 23 x 3, we’ll always be here to guide, encourage and assist you in all your career-related needs!
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Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices