One Small Step
Apr 28, 2022
(a message for students) When I first started in this field, I learned from students that you were reluctant to visit the career center for three reasons, all of which blew my mind and made me realize the challenge of my job:
You might have no idea what you want to do, so you are afraid or embarrassed to come in and talk about it.
You have an old resume (or no resume) and you might be embarrassed to show it until it gets better.
The timing is all wrong--you aren't ready to "start a search" yet, so you're not sure why you would bother coming in now.
Can I dispel these myths with a few assertions of my own?
First, very few college students know what they want to do or what they are passionate about (see my thoughts on passion here). Even fourth years (seniors!) struggle with deciding the one thing they want to pursue. While getting to an eventual answer is important, more important is starting the exploration. Career Center advisers love to help students begin to explore.
Second, believe it or not, career advisers are really good at helping with resumes. But, surprisingly, most visits to career centers may start with a resume review, but quickly turn into a conversation about possibilities and pursuit, rather than the technicalities of crafting a resume (for resume help now, go to VMOCK for online advice). So take whatever you have, and use your resume to start a conversation with a career adviser today.
Finally, the time to "start your search" is NOW--whether you are a fourth year or a first year, now is the time to engage in the process. Every small step gets you closer to finish.
Convinced? Visit Newcomb 170 or the 1515 Career Exploration Center on the Corner today. And ask for some free socks.
