Career Conversations & Resources

Faculty and staff at CSP play a pivotal role in helping students explore careers and prepare for their future. It is important that CSP faculty and staff have a common understanding and baseline on what to cover during career conversations. The information below is intended to be a resource to aid in the great work you are already doing.

  • Ask open-ended, reflective questions to better understand your students goals and determine how you might be a resource to them.
  • Help students feel supported in the present moment by framing questions around short-term needs.
  • Normalize uncertainties and remind students that career development and preparedness is an ongoing process.
  • In addition to providing expertise, resources and/or contacts that can be helpful, you can also support students by teaching them where/how to get information, weigh multiple perspectives and then make decisions that best align with their values, interests, skills and goals.

We recommend asking questions that can help them articulate aspects of their self-awareness.

  • What are their values, interests, skills and goals?
  • What problems do they want to solve? 
  • What issues do they want to work with?
  • What do they enjoy doing? 
  • What have they experienced so far that they did not like? 
  • What energizes them? Depletes them?
  • What do they do well and excel in?
  • How might their family, culture or financial circumstances impact their choices?
  • What classes have they taken and enjoyed?
  • What types of careers/job titles have they thought about with their major/program of study?
  • If they were to pursue another major/program, what would it be? Why?
  • What aspects of a potential major are most important to them (e.g., job prospects, intellectual challenge, personal fulfillment)?
  • When they look at their current/prospective major in the academic catalogue, which courses excite them? Which are they not excited about?

Students are less likely to feel overwhelmed by researching and exploring different industries if they spend time reflecting on questions like this beforehand. It also gives them a better sense of clarity and motivates them to find out more information.

Resources you may recommend are:

  • Complete a self-assessment
  • Explore majors with What Can I Do With a Major In

Students are often looking for a place to start in a sea of opportunities and resources. Help them identify what part of their exploration feels the most pressing, what they would like to prioritize in their search or break down the process into smaller goals. Determine what resources or connections you might be able to provide based on their interests. Offer them specific names of people to talk to or, better yet, introduce them to a connection.

You likely have advice on useful resources and perhaps even contacts at other institutions, companies, professional organizations or former students you’ve mentored that would be a welcome first connection. We encourage students to follow their curiosity and reach out to faculty, alumni and other professionals in order to build relationships, learn about their career journeys and ask questions. Our LinkedIn, Informational Interview, and Professional Association resources can help them get started in finding the right people and framing the questions they’d like to ask or advice they’re seeking.