Tips for parents of Freshmen
- As new students, their concerns about majors and careers may be just beginning. By planning how they will involve themselves in different courses and experiences and by exploring career ideas with an academic advisor, career professional or mentor, they will begin to be responsible for their own future.
- Winter break is a perfect time for students to begin exploring a variety of careers through informational interviews. Parents can encourage their student to identify and contact professionals in their chosen fields.
- Tips on how to prepare for introductory meetings are available through the Career Service Center.
- As part of the First-Year Seminar class, all students will gain exposure to Career Services. They will take part in a self-assessment activity. Ask them to tell you about this over breaks.
- Encourage your student to consider enrolling in a career planning course, designed for students in the beginning stages of career exploration.
- Although it may seem helpful and appropriate, refrain from suggesting or selecting your son or daughter’s major. Instead, ask about likes, dislikes, strengths and goals.
- Remind them that they don’t have to decide on a major right away, however, encourage them to make a tentative career choice. Know that change is possible.
- Remind them to read the college catalog to become familiar with available majors.
- Let your son or daughter know that they should consider college as a preparation for life. The decisions they make in college will influence their future. Support those decisions.
- Recommend that they start their personal development by joining at least one student organization, helping them develop skills employers value.
- During summer vacation, encourage them to get a job with opportunities to gain work experience and improve interpersonal communication skills.
Tips for Parents of Sophomores and Juniors
- Graduation may seem far off, but sophomores should be preparing to declare a major and juniors preparing for a job search.
- Encourage your student to consider enrolling in a career planning course, designed for students in the beginning stages of career exploration or a job search strategies course, designed for students with a concrete career path in mind. .
- The Counseling Center offers individual career exploration sessions and career exploration workshops, which are ideal for students who have not declared a major or decided on a career path.
- Winter break is a perfect time for students to reflect on their extracurricular involvement outside of class, and consider exploring new opportunities in the spring semester, or narrowing their list of activities to better prepare them for their career goals.
- Encourage your sophomore or junior to mark the calendar for the annual WorkForce Career and Internship Fair on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union. Students will hear more about this opportunity through Student News Briefs or by visiting the Career Services Center website.
- Suggest that they talk with a career professional and take career inventories to help confirm their choice of major.
- Ask them to explore ways to gain on-target work experience through internships and volunteer work.
- Persuade them to participate in resume writing and interviewing activities through the career services center while beginning to develop a resume.
- Ask what student and professional organizations related to their majors or careers or available on campus.
- Help them polish their resume and stress that they have it critiqued by a career professional.
- During summer vacation, encourage them to get a job with opportunities to gain work experience and improve interpersonal communication skills.
Tips for Parents of Seniors
- Encourage your student to consider enrolling in a job search strategies course, designed for students with a concrete career path in mind.
- Encourage your senior to mark the calendar for the annual WorkForce Career and Internship Fair on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union. Students will hear more about this opportunity through Student News Briefs or by visiting the Career Services Center website.
- Help your student pick out a professional suit complete with shoes they can wear to career fairs, interviews and graduate/professional school interviews.
- Help them practice interviewing skills by asking them questions. This can be done casually or formally. Encourage them to participate in a practice interview.
- Encourage them to use the Career services resource library and website to research companies and regularly check job vacancies.
- Help them develop a network of contacts consisting of family and friends.
Check our list of most frequently asked questions by (and for) current parents. 
