5 Ways to Use Your College Career Center to Your Benefit
As a college student, you’ve got big decisions to make–picking a major, deciding on internships and study abroad and finding your professional path. The good news is your college career services center is a source of major support.
From interview prep and résumé-writing tips to networking and shadowing opportunities, to exclusive access to job search portals, you’ll be glad you took advantage of all your career center has to offer.
Read below to learn five ways you can benefit from your college career center.
1. Get professional direction starting your first year.
It’s never too early to head to your university’s career center.
At Sacred Heart University, you can explore your future possibilities at the Center for Career & Professional Development from day one. In the Discover YOU program, you’ll learn about majors and careers and begin seeing connections between your studies and your future endeavors.
2. Learn to stand out from the crowd – even before graduation.
Years away from searching for your first full-time job? Your university career center can help hone the skills that will make you stand out from the pack at graduation. You’ll discover your strengths and create a customized plan to build skills and confidence.
Many career centers offer aptitude tests and one-on-one counseling to hone in on your possible professional goals. Take the career center at Sacred Heart University–there, you can receive individual advisement with a guided exploration of your skills and interests. Throughout your college career, you can gain digital badge credentials tailored to industry needs like leadership and remote work to be showcased on your résumé, LinkedIn, job applications and more long before you’re ready to search for a job.
3. Find internships, study abroad opportunities and extracurriculars related to your chosen field.
The career center can help you search for ways to explore your interests and build your skills outside of the classroom.
Does your college host internship or activities fairs? Sign up and go with an open mind. You may hear of a club or campus volunteer program perfect for your interests. Maybe there’s a study abroad program right up your alley in a country you haven’t considered yet.
Students can benefit from hands-on internship experiences across the Sacred Heart’s broad network. Partnerships with world-class hospitals, nationally-ranked schools, Fortune 500 corporations, sports organizations and employers in Connecticut's "creative corridor” mean you can accumulate a full resume even before you graduate. SHU students have interned at Microsoft, ESPN, Morgan Stanley, NBC News, IBM, HBO and many more.
Looking to network and get your name out there with top employers? The SHUConnect portal is a one-stop shop to learn about job shadowing, mentoring programs, visiting panelists and networking events that will inspire you and help you make connections as you get ready to land a prime job or internship.
4. Learn to write a résumé.
Worried your résumé is too flimsy to earn a second look? The career center is the best place to go for advice on making the most of the skills and experience you might not realize are valuable to an employer.
Are you a future nurse who has volunteered at a hospital? Are you bilingual? Did you start your own Etsy business last summer? Talents and initiative shown in high school, community service, extracurriculars and internships showcase positive qualities employers appreciate.
Even if you’ve had three career-focused internships and won awards in your field, creating a standout résumé can be a daunting task. Career center experts can help you organize summer jobs clearly, highlight accomplishments succinctly and get noticed.
5. Land your dream job with interview prep.
Congratulations! The experts at the career center are here to make sure you are confident and ready to make a great first impression at your interview.
If you’re worried about the interview process, the career center is the best place to turn for one-on-one coaching. They’ll help you discover the organization’s goals and mission so you can anticipate questions and speak knowledgeably about how you’ll be a great addition to the company’s team.
Career center professionals can put you through mock interviews to tame your jitters, boost your confidence, hone in on key points you want to convey and help you appear more polished and professional.
What sets Sacred Heart University’s Career Center apart?
At Sacred Heart, 99% of graduates are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within a year of completing their studies. And it’s easy to see why. From the first day of freshman year to commencement and beyond, SHU’s Center for Career & Professional Development provides strong, cutting-edge support to help students discern and reach their professional goals.
In addition to the Discover YOU program and one-on-one interview coaching and résumé advice, SHU offers personalized services targeting specific careers, including grad school advising and custom action plans. With an Accounting and Finance Career Fair, Meet the Employers events, recruitment weeks and internship fairs, the Center tailors events to your goals.
In addition, the SHU community has access to the exclusive online job search tool Handshake, which houses more than 3.5 million jobs and internships across the globe. Companies like ESPN, FBI, Deloitte, Hartford HealthCare, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft and Sikorsky are looking specifically to work with SHU students and alumni, who have a strong reputation as top performers.
In turn, our alumni network of over 50,000 strong are eager to support students launching their careers. And you’ll enjoy lifetime access to our career services after graduation.
Want to know more about how SHU’s Career Center can enhance your undergraduate experience at Sacred Heart University?
Talk to our team of admissions counselors. Have a one-on-one conversation with one of our counselors to get all your questions answered either virtually or in person. Schedule your tour today!