CCD Self Help

Center for Career Development

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Self-Help Information

Here are links to career options that are directly connected to choice of major, professional preparation and job search strategies, and tips for planning for the right graduate school in a timely fashion.       A) There are several career related issues common to most students, and the following should help you with some of your questions: "What Can I Do with a Major in??"       Here are three excellent websites that can give you some starting points and ideas:

• From Major to Career: Dickinson College's On-Line Liberal Arts Career Center
• The College of St. Joseph's Kaleidoscope of Careers
• For careers in business administration

Career Preparation and Search Strategies

      The following are sites that can give you tips in issues ranging from, resume preparation and professional correspondence to interview tips and career fairs to planning a strategic career campaign. Again, these sites are meant to be supplemental to your work with CCD. The more informed you are, the more we can do together.

• Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook
  This on-line version of the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook is a national index of career fields and specific opportunities detailing required training and education, employment prospects, salary levels, job responsibilities and work environments.
  
  
• National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Web
  Designed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, this comprehensive site offers information ranging from resume writing and interviewing tips, to internship opportunities, to an on-line Career Fair.

Similar site to Job Web are:

WetFeet
CollegeGrad
CareerFair
Campus Career Center

Preparing for Graduate School

      An extensive list of useful internet links covering all major areas areas from the decision-making process, to application tips, to test preparation, essay writing , letters of recommendation, securing funding and more is available at:

http://www.gettingintogradschool.com

1. Use the templates of resumes in this site to construct one of your own. Then bring your draft to us in Geary 104. An appointment with a career counselor will be made, and your questions about how CCD can help you are addressed.
2. Register for the CCD Internship and Field Experiential Program. Upon registration, an appointment will be set up for a needs assessment. In working with a CCD counselor and your academic mentor, you will determine which internship (or field-based opportunity) is best for you and learn how to take the necessary preparatory steps to ensure the opportunity is career building. One important step is the negotiation of the Learning Contract, which allows you, your academic and site supervisors to conjointly establish and agree upon goals for skill development, learning, and your contribution to the site organization.
3. If you are looking for part-time employment search our Job Connections site. But remember that every opportunity to develop your skills is just that an opportunity. If you are involved in community service and your major is business, can you apply and develop your skills in accounting, marketing, etc... A part-time or work-study position can serve as powerful means to demonstrate that you are: reliable, hard working, an excellent communicator, have strong problem solving abilities.
4. The Center also offers classroom instruction in the offering of a two-credit course every semester. The Seminar in Career Development and Professionalism is taught by the CCD Director, who describes its purpose as follows:

"This course is designed to enable students to gain insight and tools essential for effective career management. Issues of appropriate career choices: self-assessment of interests, values and skills, understanding the steps in career decision making - the dialogue of self and external environment and finally, ownership of skills needed to obtain and keep a career-track position, will shape the path of specific learning objectives."

Students should consult their academic mentors to determine if this course is recommended or required in their program of study.

5.  Use our resources! Search our entire collection of books and publications through the Schoenbaum Library's online catalog. Explore the Library's vast online databases/indexes covering virtually every major field and discipline. Search for specific CCD references by subject heading: "The Center for Career Development".

CCD Databases and Key Links

The Center maintains an active database of all internship opportunities in the region and has access to extensive information on and off-line on national and international internship, career fair, and job opportunities. To take advantage of these resources, make an appointment with CCD staff to discuss your career plans.

6.  Attend Industry Specific Career Fairs and On-Campus Opportunities -CCD annually hosts a National Education Consortium and Health Sciences Career Fair. These are networking opportunities designed to bring employers and UC students together. These events can be invaluable if you are looking for a job or researching career options or particular companies. To appreciate just some of the many other on-campus professional opportunities, re-visit the Business Administration (link) site. The Visiting Executive Program and Entrepreneurship Center alone offer a range of exciting possibilities!