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Summary of Small Group Discussions
Student Scenario Strategizing: Effectively Addressing Various Career Questions
that Come Up in Advising Sessions
Facilitated by the Career Center Counseling Team
Thursday April 9 2015; 11:30-12:30; EEB 303
APAC and the Career Center
Description: Ever feel unsure about (or totally stumped by!) the career-related questions your students
ask you? Join counselors from the Career Center for small-group and large-group discussion about
common and really “out there” questions students ask about career paths, internships, job searching,
salaries, etc. Advisers will have a chance to submit their questions ahead of time to help shape the
discussion.
Small group discussion points based on questions advisers submitted:
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CONNECTING MAJORS WITH CAREERS
HOW TO BE COMPETITIVE IN MY FIELD (JOB OR GRAD SCHOOL)
NETWORKING
NEGOTIATING (SALARY, POSITIONS, START TIMES ETC.)
TOP THINGS STUDENTS CAN DO TO BE CAREER SEARCH READY
“GO TO” RESOURCES TO ADDRESS COMMON CAREER RELATED QUESTIONS
Connecting majors with Careers:
 Breaking through stereotypes and expectations of how to obtain specific jobs
 Focusing on career center exploration first before examining a career
 Modeling and providing first hand examples of how others have obtained their career
 Explaining that careers aren’t linear
 Seek out experiences that provide enriching, deep, undergrad experiences
 Compliment majors with co-curricular experiences that build confidence, skills and networks
 BA VS BS degrees: blog jobs show that distinction not so relevant
 What is an entry level positon my major has prepared me for
o “What to do with a major in….?”
o LinkedIn-look up alumni from UW as well as other universities
o Attend employer led workshops and Careers In… panels
o Informational Interviews
 Use strengths based approach when taking with students (ask about favorite classes, projects,
experiences) . Dependable strengths workshops, trainings, etc.
 Reflect on goals then plan backwards
Connecting/networking/interviewing
 Get comfortable with informational interviews
 LinkedIn … to: see career trajectory, request info interviews, find graduates in your dept.,
research, job search etc.
 Engage with alumni association and professional associations (remind student that joining cost
is an investment and tool to reach new heights and to not view it as a barrier)
 Talk about projects as jobs
 Use STAR method in job/internship interviews (pg 35 in the Career Guide)
 Practice “tech interview questions”
How to lead students who don’t realize what they need to do or where to start:
 Encourage integration of course work with career seminars and workshops
 Take classes outside major
 Conduct internal and external exploration of self and options
International Students:
 Who want to go to grad school and stay in U.S
o Seek out Global Employers
o Cultural and economic non profits
o Domestic Employers that hire internationally
o Start ups
 Utilize current resources: FIUTS, ISS, Career Center, Advising
 Emphasize networking
 Encourage learning how to secure work in native country
 Take advantage of extracurricular and co-curricular activities that provide US job like
experiences
Key Resources:
http://careers.uw.edu/Advisers/Advisers
 Get To Know Your Career Center
 Departmental Partnership Examples
 Key Resources for Students
 Key Resources for Advisers
 Adviser Training Series
http://careers.washington.edu/Surveys
UW Alumni and Employer Surveys
http://careers.washington.edu/Workshops
Informational Interviews (and other) online workshops
http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Success-Certificate
Career Success Certificate … (please note: we are happy to collaborate with departments and
programs and tailor this for specific courses or majors!)
http://careers.washington.edu/Home-Page/SocialMedia
Career Center … Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest
http://careers.washington.edu/Students/What-Can-I-Do-With-a-Major-In
Career Paths series
http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Husky-Hired
Husky Hired! A Career Center Spotlight on Student and Alumni Success
http://careers.uw.edu/Students/International-Students-0
Career Resources for International Students
http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
Glassdoor: an inside look at jobs, companies, salaries, interviewing
http://www.payscale.com/
PayScale: research salaries!
http://www.indeed.com/
Indeed.com: job search, job trends, salary info
http://www.onetonline.org/
O*Net OnLine – occupational database/research
http://careers.washington.edu/sites/default/files/all/admin/wois/woisinfobox.html
Washington Occupational Information System (UW site code for home computer: ddg510)
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.washingtonlifescience.com/
WashingtonLifeScience: job search & employer directory
http://www.washbio.org/
Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association
https://university.linkedin.com/higher-ed-professionals
LinkedIn for Higher Ed Professionals
https://students.linkedin.com/
LinkedIn tips and videos for students
https://www.linkedin.com/college/alumni
“Find Alumni”: Use the above link, or if you are logged into LinkedIn, under the ‘Connections’ tab in the
main bar at the top of the page, select ‘Find Alumni’, and search (by keyword or sort via categories)
through 220K profiles of Huskies and find out “where they work”, “what they do”, “where they live”,
“what they studied”, “what they’re skilled at” and “how are you connected”.
https://www.linkedin.com/edu/fos
“Field of Study Explorer”: Use the above link, or if you are logged into LinkedIn, under the ‘Education’
tab in the main bar at the top of the page, select ‘Field of Study Explorer’, to investigate what careers all
LinkedIn members with that major have pursued. For example, if your major is ‘English’, you can see
what 2 million+ LinkedIn members who studied English, are doing in their careers! Incredible research
tool for career ideas, options and possible contacts.
http://www.summer.washington.edu/courses-programs/summer-certificate-programs
Business Essentials and Localization UW Certificates
http://expd.washington.edu/scholarships/current-undergraduate/all-undergraduates/planning-forgraduate-school.html
Office of Merit Scholarship Fellowships & Awards: “Planning for Graduate School”
http://expd.washington.edu/scholarships/current-undergraduate/all-undergraduates/planning-forgap-years.html
Office of Merit Scholarship Fellowships & Awards: “Planning for Gap Years”
SUPPORTING CAREER EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We encourage students to think about career exploration from both an INTERNAL and
EXTERNAL perspective.
Strategies for Internal (Self) Exploration:
Consider the factors that influence your major/career decision:
 Personal/Cultural/ family expectations and values
 Popular or prestigious majors (STEM)
 Majors that lead to well-paying careers
 Scholarships granted for a specific field
 Interests/strengths/passion for field
Explore STRENGTHS with the Dependable Strengths Process (Evaluate strengths and
experiences  potential resume builders):
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90 minute workshops offered specifically for International Students
Exercises in The Career Guide pages 6-9
WOIS-Dependable Strengths on the Internet www.wois.org UW site code for home
computer: ddg510
Reflect on/journal about experiences before & during UW (assignments, projects, events):
 What did you enjoy, feel energized by, came “easy”, complemented on
 What specific skills are you developing from your course work both in and outside your
major
Helpful Exercises and Assessments:
 Values Card Sort-engaging activity designed to clarify underlying career values (ask a
counselor)
 Explore Your Path Lab-activity to help students explore careers
 Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) offered by Counseling Center
www.washington.edu/counseling
Most used indicator of adult personality patterns. It identifies individual
preferences on four dimensions, two related to job content and two related to
work environment. The results of can help guide choice of academic major,
career direction.
 Strong Interest Inventory (SII) offered by Counseling Center
www.washington.edu/counseling
Identifies interests and compares this information to the likes and dislikes of
individuals in over 100 occupations. Where there is similarity in interest, there is
likely to be job satisfaction.
Strategies for External Exploration
Research:
 What to do with a major in………………? UW
http://careers.washington.edu/Students/What-Can-I-Do-With-a-Major-In
 What to do with a major in……………? UNC Wilmington
http://uncw.edu/career/WhatCanIDoWithaMajorIn.html
 WOIS (Washington Occupational Information System) www.wois.org (UW site code for
home computer: ddg510) & O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
www.onetonline.org provide detailed descriptions of occupations (skills, education,
salary, occupational outlook etc.)
 Myvisajobs.com www.myvisajobs.com – a visa job information portal. Largest
employment website for international students. Research employers who have filed
H1B visa applications.
 GOINGLOBAL www.goinglobal.com – the leading provider of both country-specific and
USA city-specific career and employment information. USA City Career Guides include
H-1B visa employers.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) www.bls.gov – the principal fact-finding agency for the
Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.
Take classes, connect with professors, talk with advisers (Networking for Shy People
Workshop at TCC)
Informational Interviewing:
 TCC Career Guide-how to get started page 11
 Branching Points Website www.branchingpoints.com (created by a UW Graduate
Student studying biology) – focused on science yet great for all students
 Go to LinkedIn for potential contacts
Join LinkedIn www.linkedin.com :
 Research Employers & Industries
 Look for UW alum and others with degrees and fields of interest, see where they are
working, connect with them, set up informational interviews
 Join CPT (Curricular Practical Training) & OPT (Optional Practical Training) groups
On & Off Campus Opportunities to Build Resume:
 Volunteer and/or job shadow in areas of interest (check with ISS advisor, may need CPT)
 Connect with EXPD (Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity) to explore
Undergraduate Research/Internship/Community Service opportunities
 Look for on-campus jobs that align with interest
 Seek out opportunities in clubs/organizations (i.e. FIUTS, AIESECS, Husky Leadership,
many others)
WORKSHOPS/LABS/CAREER MEETUPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS-SPRING QUARTER 2015
TITLE
DATE
TIME
LOCATION WEEK
Resume Lab for International Students
Tues. 4/6/15
2:30-4:00
MGH 136
2
Career Fair Success for International Students
Tues. 4/14/15 3:30-4:30
MGH 136
3
Strengths Identification for International
Mon. 4/20/15 2:30-4:00
MGH 136
4
Students
Meetup: Career Strategies for International
Thur. 4/30/15 12:30-1:30
MGH
5
Students
Commons
Interviewing Lab for International Students
Thur. 5/7/15
2:30-4:00
MGH 136
6
World to Work Week TCC and FIUTS events
TBA
7
TBD
Job Search and using GoinGlobal for
Mon. 5/18/15 12:30-1:30
MGH 136
8
International Students
LinkedIn Lab for International Students
Tues. 5/28/15 2:30-4:00
MGH 136
9
Meetup: Informational Interviewing for
Thur. 6/1/15
12:30-1:30
MGH
10
International Students
Commons
Resume Lab for International Students
Thur. 6/4/15
2:30-4:00
MGH 136
10
Contact Katie Hearn Zang, Career Center Counselor if you have questions [email protected]