TOP 5 WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR STUDENT…
1- How can I encourage my student to get started on his career exploration or job search?
Parents are a primary resource and sounding board for students' career and educational decision making. Be
willing to have conversations with your student about what he likes to do, what he doesn’t like to do, what he
finds challenging, what he is excited about, etc. Then encourage your student to utilize the resources available at
Cornell. He should talk to his advisor as well as the Career Engagement Center staff. Suggest that he also talk to
other faculty or staff on campus who can be a coach or mentor to him.
2- My student doesn’t know what he wants to do after college, what should he do?
The Career Engagement Center (CEC) offers individual career advising appointments where our professional staff
members can sit down with students and discuss their interests, skills, and knowledge areas and help offer some
direction to students. One of the first things we will suggest to students is for them to take the Strong Interest
Inventory, which is a very thorough career assessment that gives detailed results about career areas for them to
explore. We will then work with them to narrow down their interests, suggest ways they can research these fields,
connect them to professionals in industry, and other ways to explore their main areas of interest.
3-
My student wants hands-on experience, how can she get it?
The CEC focuses on creating experiential learning opportunities for students. We coordinate opportunities for
students to explore different career fields through things like informational interviews, job shadows, and road trips
to various companies. We also help facilitate networking opportunities for students to interact with and talk to
professionals in a variety of fields. Through this exploration and networking students can then apply for
internships or Cornell Fellowships in order to gain experience and build on their skills before graduation. Our
office has several resources online that students can use to search for internship positions. We can also help
connect students with alumni and other employer partners who have shown an interest in hosting an intern.
4- My student is thinking about going to graduate or professional school, what does she need to do?
The CEC and staff and Cornell faculty are available to talk with students about whether graduate school is right
for them. The CEC offers individual advising, information about entrance exams, and workshops on the graduate
school application process. The Writing Studio in Cole Library is another great resource for writing personal
statements. For students interested in law, health care or business we would encourage them to work with the
other centers on campus: The Center for Law and Society, Dimensions: the Center for the Science and Culture of
Healthcare, or The Berry Center for Economics, Business, and Public Policy.
5- How can I ensure my student will be employed after college?
Students need to clarify what it is they really want to do. To be a competitive applicant in a challenging economic
climate, students need to have concrete and tangible experience both in and out of the classroom in their field of
interest. Getting started early with the CEC during a student’s time at Cornell can help them gain more
experience, expand their professional network, and give ample time to focus on their job search process prior to
graduation.
If you have additional questions or would like to speak with a CEC staff member specifically
about your student, please email us at career@cornellcollege.edu, or call 319-895-4457.