Parents Top 10

1.)   Encourage involvement on-campus. Whether your son or daughter chooses to play sports, join a club, or participate in intramurals activity, this level of activity can show future employers leadership potential, time management skills and the willingness to go the extra mile—traits all employers covet.

 2.)   Push volunteering.  Volunteering, particularly in something that relates to a chosen career path, again demonstrates to future employers a student’s abilities and skills in the “real” world.

 3.)  Support your student’s choice to study/travel abroad.  The experience gained from being overseas is critical in today’s global economy.

4.)   Make sure your student knows the paramount importance of internships.  Nationwide, 40% of all interns eventually end up working for the organization in which they interned.  Faculty as well as the Career Center will assist students in making an internship a reality.

5.)  Ensure your son/daughter knows general work experience is paramount to overall career success.  Students can get one of twelve hundred jobs available on-campus that build skills.  

6.)   Give career-friendly presents to your son/daughter, especially in  their last year.  Things like a nice pen, a new tie, dress shoes, a suit or a leather notebook can really help a student's confidence during the process.

7.)   If graduate school is in the near future, tell your student that grades count.  To get into a good graduate program a minimum GPA of 3.0 is needed—and freshmen grades count too.

8.)   Help your student acquire technological skills.  Computer competencies are a must no matter what career path is followed. 

9.)   Serve as a network contact for your son/daughter.  Offer encouragement to your student to approach your colleagues, friends, neighbors and coworkers and ask for information and request experience related to his or her interests and career path.

10.) Send your students to us.  Encourage them come in to make an appointment, research various careers, complete a career assessment, or get assistance in choosing a major.  Learning where we are and how we can assist will be very helpful to your offspring’s career success.  A national survey of students indicates that Career Centers truly do help!  See the chart below for further evidence.

(Survey consists of 1200 + students from the National Association of Colleges and Employers)

For more tips offered to parents by the National Association of Colleges and Employer click here.