Faculty
Preparing for the working world can take many forms, both in and out of the classroom. Faculty can integrate career development activities into their courses in several ways. Career Services is ready to collaborate with you to help students acquire and develop the skills, knowledge, experience, and connections necessary for career success in a dynamic global environment.
Mock Interviews/Interview Practice
Career Services staff members can conduct mock interviews as part of a class or by individual appointment. Students receive immediate feedback and strategies for interview success. Alumni or community organization members can also conduct the interviews as a class event on campus. Big Interview combines expert video lessons with AI-based virtual practice interview tools. It is adaptable to in-class, remote, and hybrid instruction! Contact Career Services for a demo.
Job Shadows/Information Interviews
Career exploration tools allow students to learn about a career of interest by shadowing or interviewing a professional currently working in that field. This is a great starting point for students who may have a general interest but little knowledge about a certain career.
Career Papers/Assignments
Students gather information and write a paper on a specific career or job search topic. Students can use the Career Services website, along with “What Can I Do With This Major” (www.whatcanidowiththismajor.com) and “O*NET” (www.onetonline.org), to conduct their research.
Individual Resume and Cover Letter
Students develop their resumes by having a draft critiqued by a Career Services staff member.
Career Assessments
Self-assessments like StrengthsQuest and PathwayU are a starting point for self-exploration and allow students to relate personal strengths, interests, abilities, and preferences to career paths. However, self-assessment results do not provide concrete answers. Instead, they prompt students to explore career possibilities in a reflective manner.
Presentations
Outreach presentations are available on a variety of career-related topics. These presentations can relate to specific course content, general career development, or preparation for “real world” experiences after graduation. Need to be absent from the classroom? Consider scheduling a career presentation while you’re away.
Topics we cover:
- Major and Career Decision-making
- Resume & Cover Letter
- Interview Strategies
- Job Search Strategies
- Networking & Business Etiquette
- StrengthsQuest
- Graduate School Information
- Soft Skills & Career Competencies
Career Panels
Career Panels allow students to learn from and network with diverse community professionals. Panelists speak about their careers, discuss how they attained their occupations, and offer advice to students interested in those careers. Participating faculty dedicate a class period to covering a specific topic related to their academic discipline or course topic. The Office of Career Services will handle all the planning, including securing and getting the panelists to the classroom.
How Career Panels Benefit Students
Career panels help students:
- clarify career interests
- make informed occupational decisions
- learn current information and trends in today's job market
- network with a number of professionals
Request a Career Panel
We organize panels year-round based on faculty and staff requests. Faculty or staff can request a career panel at any point by emailing [email protected] with the panel topic, day, and time and the types of panelists they are looking for.
Referral for Services
General Services We Provide to USCA Students
Individual Career Coaching
- Students can schedule an individual appointment with a mentor from the Career Services Office.
- Appointments can relate to various issues, including career planning, experiential education, job search, and graduate school.
“What Can I Do with This Major?” Website
- Students can explore majors of interest and view outlines of common career areas, employers, and strategies for maximizing career opportunities.
- Each major link provides a great representation of typical careers in that area as well as additional information and websites.
Career Assessment Tools
- Students can look for themes in results to see how interests, skills, and values relate to careers.
- Groups and organizations can assess individual strengths and their fit in a team dynamic.
Job Shadows/Information Interviews
- The best career information comes from individuals currently in particular careers.
- Shadows and information interviews are great for students to build their network.
CO-OPs/Internships
- Professional work experiences that provide students with the ability to gain knowledge and skills in a particular career area
- Students are placed in a professional setting where they are mentored by knowledgeable individuals working in the field.
- Employers highly value relevant work experience!
Handshake
- This online job board allows students or alumni to search for on-campus, off-campus, part-time, and full-time positions.
- Internships are also listed on Handshake.
Resume and Cover Letter
- Students learn effective formats and strategies.
- Students learn how to match personal information to positions applied for and highlight how to best fit an organization’s needs.
Job Search and Interview
- Students learn how to put together an individual job search plan.
- All areas of a search are covered, from where to look to how to prepare for a successful interview.
Graduate School/Professional Programs
- Students learn to find specific schools with particular programs and what to put in personal statements.
- Students learn how to prepare for specific graduate admissions exams.
Career Fair
- Our annual career fair brings employers to the university to meet and recruit students.
Leadership USCA Program
- Leadership USCA is a unique academic and co-curricular experience built upon the cornerstones of citizenship, service, career preparation, and leadership.
- Combines coursework and a variety of experiences that position students to be more marketable in a competitive workplace
- Coordinated in partnership with the Office of Student Life
- More information here