How do you know if career planning help for college students is needed or if you should wait and give them time to figure it out themselves? I’m going to give you some signs to watch for today so you know when to reach out for help for college students.
I know a young individual who graduated from college two years ago, was a good student and well-respected by his instructors and peers, very involved on campus, and had talent galore. He is now a Barista and struggling with what he is going to do with his life. Hear me loud and clear, Baristas are my favorite; they keep me and the rest of the world running with their magical caffeinated potions! The shame here is that this young man is working a job that he could have had just out of high school without the $100,000 of student loan debt he now has as a burden. I am confident this scenario could have been avoided. All this young man needed was a little help with career planning.
Five Signs Career Planning Help for College Students is Needed
The student is an undecided major or is taking general education courses and will declare a major later.
This one is very common. I know very few students, I actually can’t think of one as I’m writing this, that has had a career epiphany while sitting in a general education course. The idea of dabbling in some coursework seems logical. However, the truth is the general education core at most colleges is filled with math, English, science, art, history, etc. There is little to no career exploration going on in those classrooms. Once in a while, a student will engage in a College Success course where he/she will scratch the surface of career planning. The issue here is that there are probably 50+ students in that course and one instructor. It is likely the student will not get the challenging questions and one-on-one attention that such a serious life decision requires unless he/she is motivated and confident enough to seek out one-on-one help from the instructor during office hours. And, as a college student, I know I was not!
The student has not gained career-related experience.
Unfortunately, many students think that they are planning for their careers by going to college and earning that degree. This is not so. While academic planning and career planning are related, they are much different. Each student should have a set of academic goals and a separate set of career goals. In a competitive job market, employers aren’t going to be impressed with a college degree and no relevant work experience. Job shadows, internships, and part-time employment coupled with the degree make a candidate rise to the top. The student candidate with a 4.0 and no experience is rarely going to beat the 3.0 candidate who has experience working in the industry.
The student is not actively involved in networking opportunities.
When I teach a course, I always offer extra credit opportunities to students that revolve around networking. Yes, it is intimidating, but it is crucial. Some students, especially those with more introverted personality types, need extra help identifying good networking opportunities and coaching that will help them feel more comfortable and confident communicating in these situations. If a student is entering their second year of college and hasn’t explored opportunities to network, they are missing out on key opportunities! Whether they get involved on-campus, in community-based networking events, or in student chapters of professional industry organizations, students need to be making an effort when it comes to professional networking the moment they begin their post-secondary education.
The student has changed majors or has chosen a versatile degree.
Changing majors, especially more than once, is essentially a cry for help. I’ve seen many students who are unsure of what major/career they want to pursue, so they change several times and then end up settling for a degree that they think is versatile. The issue with a versatile degree is that other candidates have more specific and relevant knowledge. If a student expresses that they have chosen a major because of its versatility, challenge them to get connected with someone who can help them pinpoint a fulfilling and rewarding career path.
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The student is pursuing a degree that does not align with opportunities in the job market.
A crucial step in the career planning process is the financial reality and job outlook piece. Many students skip this step. Communications and fine art degrees are two examples of degrees that graduates in 2018 had difficulty finding related employment. Here are some questions to get students thinking about how well their degree will translate to a viable career:
- Does the degree I am seeking align specifically with the requirements listed in job descriptions currently on the market?
- What is the projected growth of the career field in the next ten years?
- How many expected job openings in the next five years?
- What’s the average wage for my state/geographic region?
For students who struggle to answer the above questions, consider directing them to the US Department of Labor’s website, ONET, for at-a-glance data and statistics.
The sooner the better but, no matter the age of the student or recent grad, it is never too late to seek career help. Don’t invest thousands of dollars in education without a thorough career plan!
How can my career planning help for college students benefit your child?
My name is Loren Kelly and I have 10 years of experience in high education coaching students through career and education decisions. My approachable and empathetic demeanor makes my career planning help for college students effective and powerful! I specialize in helping students get clear on a career path and plan the education, training, and experience they need to excel AND I love this work! Book a no-obligation, free consultation today! I enjoy chatting about careers with students!
