The career services professional supports the educational mission of a college by assisting students to develop, evaluate, and pursue career aspirations with the goal of securing employment. Career services professionals accomplish these goals with a range of programs, counseling and services designed to help students make the connection between the academic environment and the workplace.
Career Counseling, or Career Services depending on the institution, is frequently offered on a one-on-one basis, but at times this service is provided through group workshops, classes, or computerized guidance systems. Traditionally a standard function of the career services role is to help students develop job search skills however the scope of the career development services has broadened considerably in recent years (Komives, Woodard, & Associates, 2003, p. 344). Career services professionals may teach resume writing, critique students' resumes and cover letters, provide resources on resume and employment letter writing, job interviewing skills, and planning job search strategies. Students may be videotaped in mock interviews so they can see themselves in action. Additionally some career services offices involve alumni, school advisory committees, or employers in critiquing resumes, conducting practice interviews, or leading workshops. Many may also offer sessions on related topics such as professional networking, proper attire, or transitioning to the work place.
Although career centers are most often associated with student affairs, some campuses may house it under academic affairs, the institutional development office, or they may be decentralized into academic departments within professional schools. (Komives, Woodard, & Asso...
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...d and upset because the jobs just aren't there, and when the job market is hot, you have to be ready to deal with employers who are just as discouraged by their lack of prospects” (Thompson, 1999).
The career services program is as effective as the career professional and support staff design and implement it to be. Despite the challenges that Cynthia Matson faces in her position, she is consistently in the top ten percent of ITT Tech campuses for student job placement and has always made the goal of a minimum 80% job placement rate for new graduates. The key to success in this field is to build a relationship early with students and nurture their goals and desires while working closely with academics to assure students are ready for the workforce. "Companies need people who can come in and get up and running without a lot of investment in time." (Lee, 2001).
Ehrenreich opens the book by seeking out a “career coach”, in other words, someone who will help her navigate the sea of job opportunities. From Ehrenreich’s description, the biggest thing the coaches bring to the table is enthusiasm and support. Many results have been positive from someone having a coach to guide them. Barbara was off to a good start in her journey.
Upon doing more research on the career clusters I found a very interesting program that the State of Illinois has underway. The program is entitled the Career Clusters and Pathways guide. What the program is intended to do is to improve on the paths that individuals take to get to higher education and careers. The initiative is a statewide approach to improving college and career-oriented programs that leads students to higher education and employment (2013, p. 3).
Career Academy is an on-campus program where students are encouraged to participate in courses and activities that will prepare them for future careers. Students work towards earning a diploma through the creation of a portfolio. The curriculum is broad and integrative, drawing on each student’s unique needs and skills.
Career Cruising is an informational website and available at participating schools, public libraries, and employment agencies across North America. This program is intended to direct individuals towards appropriate career choices based on specific criteria, such as education, training and previous experience. Individuals can find this information database self-directed, user friendly and rewarding while presenting a variety of options to meet their personal needs. Not only does it offer assistance for the perspective individual in career development, but also on SAT/ACT preparation, online study guides, interview strategies and seminars by promoting growth and effective career opportunities.
2. To provide comprehensive career planning services that support all members of the Northeastern University community in identifying, planning, and implementing sound career decisions
Imperative 3 – The strengthening of the career services identity with the institution. The career services depart was very small! I do not feel it was advertised enough around campus to what services were offered. I learned of the career center by the recommendation of someone that did not attend the university. They had advised they visited their career center and urged me to do the same.
It works to blend ethnics into all areas of student affairs practice, € history, philosophy, and values. It refers to the connection between arguments of the profession and future growth. (f) Human and organizational resources. It refers to the organization and empowerment of student affairs staff. Furthermore, staff development was recognized in the 1960’s keim (2005). There is a need for continual professional development in that student affairs staff prefers discussions rather than reading activities. Mid-level student affairs managers offers varied perspectives on professional development activities include (a) presenting do it yourself programs (b) engage in professional association conferences, (c) taking a graduate courses (d) integration of other staffing practices. (dPersonnel management perceived as the most important (c) leadership (second most important) and student contacts (keim, 2005). I will evaluate more essential development goals. Fiscal management needs additional attention. Staff development is important and valued, but must be used and planned well. Professionals must also take advantage of adult learning theories, models, or processes. Staff perceptions
Time sure does fly; in the blink of an eye, yet another 7.5-week class has come and gone. Just like life, it is scary to think that in just a few short years I will be graduating college and be in search of a future career. The magnitudes of readings, assignments, PowerPoint lectures, and videos have all contributed to the valuable knowledge I have gained since taking this course. Nothing that was presented or required was seen as invaluable towards my progression of career development. This career development course has allowed me to do some self-exploration, career research, and help me understand what influencing factors were related to the job market. Ultimately, this class helped me gauge and find a suitable career path, which will forever shape my future.
The tool is affordable, reliable, valid, easy to use, and yields a wide range of information that can be extremely useful in career counseling. Although anyone can use the tool to identify the best career option, it is important to seek the services of a career counselor in interpreting the instrument’s results. Career counselors are trained in career guidance and can accurately interpret and analyze the instrument’s results while considering an individual’s
“Career One Stop Pathways to Career Success.” NC Employment Security Commission. 2 Sep. 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.
Grover, G. (2002). Career information center eighth edition, computers, business and office. (8th ed.). Michigan: visual education corporation.
The Career Fair Project that we have recently completed was a large undertaking. We, the students, had the task of planning the entire event. This entitled us to make decisions, contact organizations, perform advertising for the event, and coordinate the logistics for the career fair. Throughout this process, I have learned countless skills that have the potential to greatly increase my future success as an individual. The skills that believe will be the most helpful include formal email composition and professional phone call etiquette.
The literature review focuses on the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for high school students. According to Junior Achievement USA (“Are Students Ready for the Workplace?”2013) Many business have indicated that they believe that half of high school students are equipped with the most important workplace skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and written and oral communication. A student that is work ready possesses the specific skills for a specific job that is described in the occupation description profile. The economy of today demands a workforce that is better educated because jobs in todays economy require students to posses more complex skills and knowledge than those jobs of the past.
Documented career counseling dates back to the mid 1800s with forward thinkers such as Nelson Sizer, ...
Choosing a career can be an overwhelming experience, one may be plagued with concerns over making the incorrect career choice, being stuck in a certain field, or splurging on the incorrect major in college. While one has to make that decision on their own, there are certain tools that could help someone make that choice. One tool is career theories. There are many different theories on career choice and development, and they each have valid points. However, the two theories that I found resonated the most with my own experiences of occupational choice and development are Rhoes theories, and Super’s theory. Rhoe’s theory suggests that there is a strong correlation between a person’s childhood experiences, and how to they choose