How Parents Can Support Career Planning
During the college years, it is important for students to engage themselves in their own career development even as early as their freshman year. This developmental process typically involves assessing skills, interests and values; exploring possible careers; and finally, job searching. One of the most valuable things parents and guardians can do for their student is to provide support and encouragement. Many young adults cite their parents as an important influence on their career choices. Open-minded, nonjudgmental support from a parent or guardian can be significant in choosing a major and beginning the journey down a career path.
Career Exploration
There are many ways that parents and guardians can actively engage in their student's career exploration without over-stepping their student's need for independence. First and foremost, being aware of and encouraging the use of on-campus services can foster education and career building experiences. The Career Planning and Development Center (CPDC) offers information, guidance, and opportunities for career building and job searching at no cost to students. It is never too early for a student to begin thinking about a career after graduation, and the CPDC can help to appropriately pace a student through the career development process. The services CPDC can provide a first- or second- year student include career advising, free career assessments and interpretations by a trained professional, mentoring opportunities with alumni, exposure to career tools to aid in exploration, and much more.
In addition to encouraging the use of the CPDC, parents and guardians can provide the resources to expose their student to possible careers. Friends and family members in interesting jobs can be a great source for information about job functions, work environment, and salary. Mentoring relationships and informational interviews can help students make informed decisions about possible careers. Also, urging involvement in campus activities, volunteer opportunities, and part-time work can help students with choosing a major and with exploring values and skills important to them in the job. Encourage students to think about and articulate transferable skills learned in various part-time jobs. By their sophomore and junior years, students should be seeking internship opportunities related to their future career.
Job Searching
Job searching can be made easier by using the CPDC to connect with internships and full-time jobs. The CPDC has resources to connect students to local opportunities and jobs around the country. Internships help students acquire transferable skills that are essential when starting a career. Job searching for these opportunities can be encouraged especially during a student's "down-time," such as lwinter, spring and summer break periods.
Parents and guardians also can encourage their student to attend a career fair. The Northeast Indiana Career Employment Expo occurs every spring and connects students to local opportunities in government, health care, manufacturing, transportation, financial, and food/beverage industries. This year, the fair will take place on Thursday, April 12, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. About 60 local employers will attend, all seeking students to fill part-time, internship and full-time positions. Every winter, the CPDC coordinates a job fair on Indiana Tech's campus attracting more than 75 employers. The CPDC also can connect and prepare students for career fairs that may be happening in or around their home town. Career fairs are beneficial for the serious job seeker and also for a student looking to learn valuable skills.
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