Families' Guide to Career Development
One of the most valuable things a family member can do to assist their student with the career planning process is to listen and maintain an open mind to often unclear ideas.
Career development and planning can be stressful. It requires family members to be patient, empathetic and understanding, even if you don’t agree with their thought processes, comments, ideas, or decisions.
Below is a list of things you can do to help your student get focused.
Encourage a Visit to Career Services
Please reassure your student that career services is for all students and majors and while meeting with a career counselor can take place at any point in their college education, the earlier the better! In fact, what is valuable about an early career conversation is planning out what your student can take advantage of during his/her time at Texas A&M-Texarkana.
Suggest Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Assistance
A resume is one of the critical “tools” for every student. The earlier your student puts one together the better.
Resume and cover letter examples are available online How to Create a Job Winning Resume. Our staff is here to coach students through this process.
Please suggest that your student have at least one other person review their resume and cover letter before submission. More recruiters are using social media to search for top talent; therefore, talk to your student about creating a powerful LinkedIn profile. We’re here to help with their profiles as well.
Encourage Future Career Reflection
Many A&M-Texarkana students come to the university already knowing their major and what they want to do after graduation. However, if they aren’t clear, please recommend that they meet with a career counselor to discuss options. A career decision should be an ongoing process and not a one-time, last-minute choice. Further, please encourage your student to complete the TypeFocus7 career assessment.
Emphasize the Value of Internships and Volunteer Experiences
Relevant work and volunteer experiences can be critical to finding employment in today’s job market, so internships are key. An internship provides a “laboratory setting” for your student to determine what they want to do (or not do), are good at (or is not good at), likes (or dislike)—all of which are important.
Employers are interested in employees who have:
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills
- The ability to work in teams
- Project management skills
- The ability to take initiative and follow through
- The ability to utilize technology effectively
