PARENTS AS
PARTNERS
Supporting Your Student’s Career Success
Towson University Career Center
WHAT ARE YOUR
CONCERNS?
 Undecided major
 Work ethic
 “Impractical” major
 Finding a part-time job
 Competitive major
 Finding an internship
 Motivation/Focus
 Finding a full-time job
 Competitive job market
 Getting into
 Social Media/Branding
grad/professional school
WHO ARE THEY?
INTERESTS
SKILLS
VALUES
PERSONALITY
Resources
Compass
MBTI
StrengthsQuest
1:1 Counseling
GENL 121
COMPASS Login
Me/Not Me
Personality Blend
Career Matches
Career Description
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 It’s all about your student
 Share your impressions of your student’s strengths
 Think about your own career and the implications of how it
fits (or doesn’t) with your interests, skills and values
 Encourage them to take advantage of campus resources
WHERE ARE THEY
HEADED?
Majors
• Major Pages
Careers
• OOH, Resource Library,
Professional Associations
Salary
Offers by
Major
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 Talk about your own career path and decision-making
process
 DON’T pressure or live through your student, let them find
their own path – but with your insight and support
 Expose them to the world of work
 Encourage them to take advantage of campus resources
INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS
Not asking for a job –
Just advice…
People love to help
when…
I need to know…
• Focus on gathering insight,
information, advice
• No job to offer = “no” to request;
Asking for expertise = “yes”
• You make it easy for them to say yes
• ID them as the expert
• They can talk about themselves
• Will I like this?
• What does it take to be successful?
• How should I prepare?
• Best way to connect/job search?
CAREER MENTOR DATABASE
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 Help them understand the value of
networking in your life/career
 Make introductions for informational
interviews
 Volunteer to be a resource for their friends
 Volunteer to be a mentor
 Encourage them to take advantage of
campus resources
WHAT IS THEIR BRAND?
Resumes
Online
Samples, 1:1
Reviews
Interviewing
Employer
Mock
Interviews
Networking
Business
Etiquette &
Networking
Dinner
Social Media
Consultation
Professional
Attire
Savina’s Closet
Hire Attire
Fashion Show
+ Contest
Attributes
Employers
Seek on a
Candidate’s
Resume
Attributes
Employers
Seek on a
Candidate’s
Resume
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 Offer to review/practice
 Share your experiences with interviewing, resumes, etc.
 Help your son/daughter find their first, professional suit
 Communicate what employers want (skills/experience) to
help your student make decisions about how they spend
their time
 Encourage them to take advantage of campus resources
WILL THEY FIND A
JOB/INTERNSHIP?
Hire@TU
Career &
Internship
Fairs
On-Campus
Interviews
Networking
Events
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 Be their cheerleader
 Share how you found your jobs
(networking anyone?)
 Don’t play the job seeker’s role
 Encourage them to take
advantage of campus resources
HOW YOU CAN HELP
 Get them excited for the transition – will be different – but
good!
 Share challenges you faced in college/early career – and
strategies that were helpful for you
 Understand real world expenses and budgeting – share your
strategies
www.towson.edu/careercenter/employers
CAREER CENTER
 7800 York Rd., Ste. 206 (Above Bill Bateman’s)
 M-F 8am-5pm
 Express Hours M-Th 1-3pm
 410.704.2233
 careercenter@towson.edu
 www.towson.edu/careercenter
 www.towson.edu/careercenter/families.asp
 Thriving Tiger Blog: http://thrivingtiger.wordpress.com/
Facebook: CareerCenterTU
Twitter: TUCareer