Career Counseling
One-on-one career guidance aimed toward helping you understand more clearly who God has gifted you to be, and how to use those gifts and passions to serve God and others.
Self-Reflect
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the opportunities out there? Having trouble narrowing down a major or what to do with your major? Use the following questions to reflect on your strengths, likes, dislikes, wants, and needs for a future career:
- What gives me energy and what drains me?
- What are my strengths, my likes, and my dislikes?
- What do I value most in a career? Is it directly helping people or working behind the scenes, financial stability, work/life balance, travel, opportunities for promotion and growth, flexible hours, etc.?
- What are my compensation and benefit needs?
- Do I need a job that pays at least x amount or that offers health insurance?
- Am I tied to a particular location or region, or do I have flexibility to take a job anywhere?
- Do I want to attend graduate school or do I need to choose a career that doesn't require an advanced degree?
Everyone has some parameters to work with, and identifying yours can help you narrow the playing field and get you closer to a future career goal.
Research
Once you've identified some parameters for a future career, begin researching fields or careers of interest. Visit the Vocatio Center or utilize your network to find individuals working in areas or careers that peak your interest. Ask questions about what they do and how they got there, and even consider job shadowing to learn more about what that career looks like day-to-day.
Handshake
Handshake is your one-stop shop for all things life calling and career! Just log on to Handshake to use your network Single Sign-On to get connected! Handshake will feature Servant Leadership Program: On-campus Employment as well as off-campus internships and part-time and full-time jobs. You may apply for employment opportunities, upload your résumé, create a professional portfolio, or schedule an appointment with a Vocatio Center Expert!
Set Goals
Once you've identified an area of interest, a major, or even a specific career, start setting small, reasonable goals to stay on top of your career development. Don't forget to visit the Vocatio Center for assistance along the way.
- Create a professional résumé that you can add to and improve upon throughout your career.
- Does your intended path require an internship and/or graduate school? Start planning early by researching programs, identifying deadlines, and working backwards to figure out what application materials you need to compile and when they are due.
- Consider both short-term and long-term goals: where do you want to be 1, 5, and 10 year(s) from now? These goals may change, and that's OK, but identifying these goals now can help you stay on track and take advantage of important opportunities.