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Welcome, Cornell parents, to the Career Services
website.
As children head off to college, many parents struggle with the changing role they play in their student's life. We hope the following Parent's Guide to Career Services emphasizes the important mentoring role you continue to play and helps you encourage good choices while supporting their independence.
Parent Guide to Career Services:
Helping Sons and Daughters with the Career Development Process
First Year: Starting the Groundwork
Questions they might ask:
- What major should I choose?
- What is a college education all about?
- How do I find out what I want to do with my life?
Things to consider:
As new students, their concerns about majors and careers may be just beginning. By planning how they will involve themselves in different courses and experiences and by exploring career ideas with an academic and a career advisor, they will begin to be responsible for their own future.
Recommendations for parents:
- Although it may seem helpful, refrain from suggesting or selecting your student's major for him or her. Instead, ask about likes, dislikes, strengths, and goals.
- Let your son or daughter know that they should consider college a preparation for life. The decisions they make in college will influence their future. Support those decisions.
- Remind them that they don't have to decide on a major right away; however, encourage them to make a tenative career choice. Know that change is possible.
- Recommend that they start their personal development by joining at least one student organization, helping them develop skills employers value.
- Encourage them to visit the Career Services Office to begin exploring career options.
- Remind them to read the college catalog to become familiar with available majors.
- During summer vacation, encourage them to get a job with opportunities to gain work experience and improve interpersonal communication skills.
Sophomore Year: Building a Foundation
Questions they might ask:
- Is this the best major for me?
- How do I plan a meaningful and marketable education?
- How can I develop work related skills?
Things to consider:
Your student needs to declare a major by February of their sophomore year. By meeting with a career professional as well as their academic advisor, students can select the best major while determining what career fields are associated with specific majors. Students can experience careers first hand through job shadowing, alumni networking, externships and internships.
Recommendations for parents:
- Suggest they talk with a career advisor to help them with their choice of major and to develop a Career Action Plan.
- Persuade them to gain hands-on experience through externships, internships, part-time jobs and volunteer work.
- Help them choose electives that will give them additional skills.
- Encourage them to participate in resume writing and interviewing activities through the Career Services Office.
- During summer vacation, suggest that they find a job or internship with opportunities to gain work experience and improve interpersonal and communication skills.
Junior Year: Evaluating Progress
Questions they might ask:
- How do I identify specific job possibilities to go with my major?
- Should I consider doing an internship?
- Is graduate/professional school for me?
- When should I take entrance exams for graduate/professional school?
Things to consider:
The junior year is not too early to identify and gather information about companies and/or graduate and professional schools. It is also an excellent time to participate in an internship to gain exposure to professional employment.
Recommendations for parents:
- Encourage your son or daughter to join student and professional organizations related to their majors or career choices.
- Talk to them about participating in an internship during the school year or over the summer.
- Advise them to visit the Career Services Office often to discuss their goals with a career advisor, get information on internships, keep their resume updated, and provide information on graduate schools, including testing information.
- During summer vacation, encourage them to participate in a summer internship or to find a summer job that provides them with relevant work experience and an oppportunity to improve further on their communication skills.
Senior Year: Deciding and Committing
Questions they might ask:
- How do I identify my employable skills?
- What am I going to do after graduation?
- How do I get ready for the job search process?
Things to consider:
It's time to make a final decision about career options. Students should stay in touch with Career Services for graduate school information, interviewing opportunities, and presentation skills.
Recommendations for parents:
- Talk to your student about developing a job search plan. Let them know that the Career Services Office is there to help them develop their own personal job search strategy.
- Assist them in purchasing a professional suit complete with accessories so they will be ready to attend career fairs, job interviews, and graduate/professional school interviews.
- Help them practice interviewing skills by asking them questions. Let them know that through the Career Services Office they can attend interviewing skills workshops and participate in mock interviews.
- Encourage them to use the Career Services resource library, participate in Interview Days, use the webpage for their job search, and check job listings in the office.
- Help them develop a network of contacts consisting of family and friends.
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