Career Building
Like most college freshmen, I entered my first year at Ithaca College without the slightest idea about my future career.
Luckily, I heard about the Office of Career Services and all of the opportunities and assistance it provides for students, and I knew that it would be a great start toward planning my future. Soon after discovering all of the benefits of the office, I decided to apply for the position of a peer career adviser (PCA).
To prepare for my new position, I went through an extensive, week-long training course before the fall semester of my sophomore year. During this time, peer career advisers learned how to advise fellow students in all aspects relating to careers:
- how to conduct an internship/job search
- create a resume and cover letter
- and prepare for interviews.
Not only can PCAs be of assistance to students, but the office also includes professional career counselors and employer relations coordinators. With all of the many helpful and supportive individuals available for students at the Office of Career Services, one can be sure to receive all the assistance needed.
Outside of the office, there are many opportunities for students to gain more experience in their career field or area of interest. For example, the office organizes Take an Ithacan to Work each year. This event allows students to shadow a local Ithaca professional in their field of work.
Students are matched up with representatives from local businesses, schools, organizations, and many other career fields to see what it’s like to work in their chosen profession. It is an amazing opportunity for students to get a better feel for what they like -- and don’t like -- about a particular career.
This particular program gave me insight as to what I want to do after graduation. As a psychology major, with a particular interest in school psychology, I was given the opportunity to shadow the chair of special education from the Ithaca School District.
Through this connection, I was given the chance to experience how the school system works by visiting many of the schools in the area while at the same time discussing the daily stressors and joys the career brings to individuals in the field. It was a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the daily workings of what I would be doing as a school psychologist.
Another great opportunity for students to get involved in planning for their future is through the various career fairs, networking events, and online resources available on campus and across the nation. These events provide a great deal of information about a variety of different professions and are extremely useful for students looking for jobs, internships, or graduate schools.
Being a college student, I know how hard it is to find an internship when you have no experience behind you. That is why it is so important for students to attend these fairs. Some students walk away from fairs with a job or internship in hand, just from talking to employers!
And here’s a secret: a large number of employers come to college campuses in order to find college interns, so attending one is truly beneficial.
Students are welcome to come in to the office -- no appointment necessary -- and have a look at the career library or use the various online resources such as the Online Community or eRecruiting. I urge all students to come into the office.
Who knows … you might just discover your future career!
Originally published in Fuse: Career Building.
