Career Conversations During the Holidays
The holiday season can often mean a time of joy and relaxation for many of us, but it can also be a stressful time - especially for college students who may be anticipating the important and sometimes dreaded question, “What are your plans after graduation?”
Whether your student is a first year or a senior, it is always a good time to begin the discussion on career planning. In fact, research shows that students who begin planning early are more likely to land a career position or admission to graduate school upon graduation. It can take anywhere between two and six months (or more) to find an internship or job — making right now a great time to start planning to land an opportunity for next summer.
In order to attempt the most productive conversation with your college student, consider exploring resources together. The ICC Website has many great resources for getting started on finding jobs and internships, including advising services (drop-in or by appointment) and document review. You and your student may also want to view the pre-recorded workshops and videos available 24/7 on our Youtube channel. Students can begin searching for positions on Handshake, our database of jobs and internships. It is also where we post events, including internship and career fairs. When searching for an opportunity on Handshake, users can filter based on their career or industry interests. By filtering jobs based on interest, the process may end up feeling less daunting.
If your college student isn’t sure what opportunities or paths are out there for their major, interests, or experience level, you can spin it into more of an exploration conversation. You can begin on the What Can I Do With My Major page on the ICC website. From there, students can explore data and information pertaining to specific majors. It could also be helpful to read descriptions of different job roles they may have considered. For more in depth conversations on career exploration topics, students can schedule an appointment with a career advisor at the ICC.
It can be reassuring to let college students know that choosing their first internship or job is simply a way to build experience, skills, and self-awareness. You can remind your student that people try out many different jobs throughout their career to find the best fit. A little positivity, guidance, and support can help them understand their potential in their career journey.