You may think your school's career center is only for senior year. But throughout college the career center can help you choose a major, secure a summer internship or find a job after graduation.
Explore Majors and Careers
"We help people look at themselves," says Jennifer Kimbarovsky, career counselor at Northwestern University's career development center. "We want to help students discover who they are in a work-related sense, what are their skills, values and motivations, and how they could apply them to a future career."
Use the resources your career center provides to research job options that match your interests and personality.
- Self-Assessment Testing: Take the Strong Interest Inventory Test or the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator. Most career development offices offer these tests which match your interests with a major or career track.
- Career Research: Get access to the best online and print resources for researching careers and companies.
- Informational Career Lectures: Ever wondered if you'd like a career in public relations, advertising or consulting? Check your career center's lecture schedule to meet with professionals in the fields that interest you.
- Alumni Contacts: Career counselors can connect you with alumni working in different fields—a great way to get "insider info" on careers.
Job-Hunting and Work Experience
"Work with a career counselor to develop a job search plan," says Dianne Siekmann, associate director for employment services at Northwestern University. "Your career counselor can help you structure a timeline to finish your resume and cover letter, practice a mock interview and keep track of the employers you contact."
Attend practice sessions your career center offers to polish your interviewing skills and maximize your job opportunities.
- Career Competency Seminars: Discover how to translate your life experience into skills you can put on your resume. These seminars teach you how to look at your past experience from an employer's point of view.
- Interview Workshops: Take a "practice run" to strengthen your interviewing skills, whether you're applying for a job or professional school.
- Resume and Cover Letter Review: Not sure whether to use boldface or bullet-points? Your career center can proofread your resume and cover letter and offer tips for a professional polish.
- Internships: Companies often post internship notices at college career centers. Internships offer flexible hours, valuable work experience, resume-building credits and post-graduate references.
- On-Campus Interviews: Many companies go directly to college campuses to recruit new employees. Check the interviewing schedules at your career center to find when companies are coming to your campus.
- Summer, Part-time or Temporary Jobs: Career centers often have listings of companies or organizations in need of temporary and short-term employees.
For Graduation and Beyond
- Applying to Professional School: If you're considering law, medical or business school, the career center can connect you with educational services that offer practice tests and helpful info like deadlines, standards and fees.
- Applying to Graduate School: Get the latest on program requirements, financial aid and timelines for applying to advanced degree programs.
- Tests for Graduate and Professional School: If you're taking the GRE, LSAT, MCAT or GMAT, check your career center to learn about test dates, scoring practices and how your scores affect your application.
- Post-Graduate Support: You may be able to use your school's job search services after graduation. Keep in touch with your school's alumni network to make the most of these resources.
Don't wait until senior year to use an invaluable service on campus. Your college career center can help you achieve your goals from freshman year through graduation and beyond.
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