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Welcome Parents

As a parent you probably realize the impact you have had in your child’s life. But did you know that when it comes time for students to make career and educational choices parents are the #1 influence? Student's identify their parents as a primary source of career information and support. At some juncture your son or daughter will experience the need for career counseling. When that occurs, please feel free to encourage your son or daughter to become familiar with the resources and services of the Career Center.

We hope the following will provide information helpful in supporting and aiding your son or daughter in making career decisions and life planning. Please feel free to review our web page for other topics of interest, and thanks for visiting the Career Center.

Your role in the process

Career decision making takes time. Be patient and encourage exploration of several career fields.
Encourage the use of campus services and programs such as the Career Center.
Encourage your student to develop skills through courses, volunteer experiences, campus and community activities, summer jobs and internships.
Support your son or daughter in exploring his or her interests, strengths, weaknesses and skills. The Career Center provides a comprehensive administration of the MBTI inventory as well as career exploration instruments.
Assure your student that it’s okay to start college being unsure about a major.

What parents need to know

Students look to their parents for advice and suggestions in making decisions.
The job market is changing daily, many jobs that exist today not did not exist ten years ago.
On average people change careers 5-7 times before they retire.
It is important to assess interest, abilities, skills and values.
Stress the importance of developing contacts in prospective career fields and conducting informational interviews.
Encourage your student to seek out volunteer, summer & part time jobs, co-op and internships.

Core Skills & Competencies Most employers require these qualifications for employment

Leadership/Teamwork Skills

Career-Related Experience: volunteer, summer job, co-op/internships

Oral and Written Communication Skills

Computer Proficiency: database, powerpoint, Internet, email

Welcome Parents

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