Most college campuses these days have an office devoted to how students can plan for and pursue careers after their time as students. While the nitty-gritty details of these offices likely change from campus to campus, the overall purpose remains the same. Not many students visit their career center before graduation. They then feel left in the dust when they aren’t prepared for life after college. We’ve compiled a list of reasons to visit your campus career center- check them out below!
Resources from the Career Center
The career center on your campus will have a wealth of knowledge, as well as real resources for you to use. Often, the office will have physical handouts for you to take. These may have career guide booklets, which typically have examples of resumes and cover letters, information on preparing for an interview, and tips for getting involved on campus. These resources are invaluable. The career centers regularly work with employers to see what they value in graduates they’re looking to hire upon graduation.
Peer Advisors
Many career centers also have peer advisors. These are mostly other undergraduate students who are trained to assist students that come into the office. These peer advisors don’t hold graduate degrees in career counseling. However, can answer your questions about resumes, cover letters, how to find jobs and internships, and more. If you’re nervous to talk to an actual career advisor, a good first step is to see if your campus office has peer advisors. Talking to a peer advisor first can give you confidence in meeting with a career advisor, or simply help if you have a quick resume question.
Mock Interviews
Your campus career center may work with some local and national employers to provide mock interviews for students. Mock interviews are almost exactly like real interviews, except that you and the fake employer get to give feedback for one another. It can be a great way to practice your interview skills and get tips from real recruiters. It can also help you gain confidence in your interviewing skills, setting you up for successful real interviews.
Professional Career Advisors
These are the big guns in a campus career center. Career advisors have gone through graduate school programs to prepare them to work with students on a college campus. They can help students in a variety of ways. If you aren’t sure what you want to major in or do after graduation, it’s a great idea to go to the career center early. Career advisors can show you numerous personality and career assessments to help you identify what kinds of careers you may be interested in. The more you meet with a career advisor, the more you will accomplish. The face time can also help you if employers reach out to your career advisor for students to potentially hire; your name might make it on that list.
—
This is just a small list of the many reasons why you should go to your campus career center. Visit early, and visit often. Check out our college match tool to see what colleges best fit you, and then check out their on-campus career centers to find out what they offer.
