Career Guidance for First-Generation Students
First-generation college students are learners from households where neither parent (or guardian) has obtained a Bachelor’s degree. In other words, they are the first ones in their immediate family to attend college. These students forge their own paths ahead in college without following footsteps from a previous generation which can be both exciting yet intimidating. […]
Discover, Embrace, and Fulfill Your True Self this New Year
With every new year comes an internal pressure to become a happier, healthier, more productive version of ourselves. An alarm goes off in our mind that screams THIS IS IT – this is the year I am going to change myself for the better. While making positive lifestyle changes is never a bad idea, I […]
How to Make Career Decision: Flip the Script
Three of the most important decisions young adults will make involve their major, their college, and their career. How should students make those decisions and, more importantly, in what order? Some students may pick the college they’d like to attend based on location, recommendations, or their parent’s alma mater. After a few semesters at school, […]
Best Career Advice: Are Colleges Giving Students What They Need?
Do U.S. colleges provide students the best career advice to build successful careers? According to an article in The Atlantic, maybe not. Citing the results of a Gallup-Purdue Index study suggesting that just one in six college graduates in the U.S. found their Career Services office to be “very helpful.” The article argues that perhaps […]
Should Strengths Guide Students’ Vocational Discernment?
Should Strengths Guide Students’ Vocational Discernment? There is something intuitively appealing about strengths. We tend to assume that identifying and leaning on their unique strengths is a key path for helping students develop and succeed. That assumption seems like a safe one, but it doesn’t answer the question of how, precisely, student strengths influence their […]
College Advice for Freshman: Four Things You Should Consider This Fall
For the sake of redundancy, I’ll skip the common college freshman advice to leave your door open in the residence hall and actually go to class. Both great tips (and you should definitely do those things!), but I know you’ve heard it all before. As a recent college graduate and former freshman orientation leader, I […]
Examples of Career Goals for Each Step of Your Journey
Let’s go over some examples of career goals to help you set yours. Why is this important? Setting goals, specifically SMART and SMART(ER) goals, is an effective method to improve your likelihood of reaching critical milestones. Many of us have goals related to financial savings, personal improvement, and most likely our careers. Below, we explore […]
How to Find Your Calling: What Parents Can Do to Help Their Children
“How to find your calling” is not something we normally think about as young children. But if you’re a parent of young children, you may find yourself looking at your kids and wondering: What are they going to end up doing when they grow up? Will they feel about their jobs the way you feel […]
Holland’s Interest Inventory: Finding the Right One
Defining Interests Holland’s Interest Inventory starts with your interests. Interests represent preferences for certain types of tasks of work activities. They are what keep us motivated and energized. With a firm understanding of our interests, we can pursue enjoyment and satisfaction within our lives as well as our careers. The primary model for categorizing and […]
Self Assessments for Students
Hear me out, the best way to prepare yourself to head back to school this fall is to take tests. Don’t worry, you don’t have to study for these types of tests – because they are all about you! Self-assessments are a great tool for students to uncover valuable insights about themselves. They also help […]
