Students are often compelled to take action after a conversation with a trusted professor, advisor or faculty member. By partnering with the Career Development Center and emphasizing the importance of engaging in professional development early in their academic careers, you can make an enormous impact.
One of the best ways for students to get a job after graduation is to invest in relationship building. Faculty can help students connect with alumni and industry professionals for informational interviews and to broaden their professional network. The Career Development Center offers events that facilitate networking with industry leaders and programs that educate students about career development skills.
Student gain invaluable experience, learn about the world of work and make connections within it through internships or volunteering. The more people that are influential in students’ lives, encouraging them to seek out these experiences, the better.
If you hear from an employer about ways to engage with Oregon State, please refer them to the Career Development Center's external relations team. Our team will make sure the employer receives support and learns about the broad opportunities available to them at OSU. Also encourage employers to post any open positions at their company that they would like to promote with students to Handshake. Posting on Handshake increases students' access to great opportunities and breaks down silos in the university. In addition to forwarding opportunities to your students, the below text can be used to encourage employers to post their jobs and internships on Handshake:
Thank you for sharing this opportunity with me. I’d also encourage you to add it to our university-wide online job board, Handshake. Doing so will give you a much broader audience of students who can see and apply for the post. Additionally, on Handshake you can search for students with the specific experience you’re looking for and message them individually to encourage them to apply. You can also schedule interviews and register for career fairs in the platform (which is used by 700+ universities across the country).
Faculty can be advocates for the free services that the Career Development Center provides OSU students. Encourage students to use these resources as early as possible in their academic careers. The most successful students are those who are working toward their career beginning their first year. Direct students to the Career Development Center drop-in sessions in the Kerr Administration Building for résumé assistance, to the resources and online career tools on this website and to the CDC staff affiliated with your college for other ways to engage.
Have students asked you to review their résumés? Encourage them to first upload their materials to our online résumé reviewer, VMock. They can also make an appointment with their college-specific career advisors through Handshake.
The Career Development Center puts on several career fairs and numerous career-related events and workshops throughout the academic year. You can support the Career Development Center by announcing and promoting these events in your classes. Or consider making career fair or event attendance an assignment or extra credit opportunity. Additionally, faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend career events to network with employers, make connections and learn about industries.
There are many ways that you can incorporate professional development opportunities into your coursework. Explore some of the possibilities and connect with the Career Development Center for additional information.