Axe ’Em, Jacks!
It is never too early to start exploring your career options! A variety of programs are provided to assist in the career choice process, including individual coaching; assessment of interests, values and personality characteristics relevant to career planning; and an extensive collection of self-help resources.
What is career coaching?
Career coaching promotes development and self-knowledge through education to help you make appropriate and satisfying career choices. Services are designated to aid you in the process of selecting or changing your major and matching your career possibilities to your strengths, interests and personality.
How does the process work?
With a career coach, you discuss various experiences with school, hobbies, previous employment, etc., to give the coach a sense of who you are, as well as what type of information or benefit you expect to gain by participating in the process. The coach then describes the services available to help you reach your goals. This typically involves you completing some interest and personality inventories.
The Center for Career and Professional Development utilizes two career inventories:
Career coaches at the CCPD are certified to interpret the results of these inventories. After you have completed an inventory, the coach will provide a personalized interpretation of the results. This includes discussing what careers match your interests and what work environments fit your personality characteristics. Information on matching careers and academic programs you may want to consider is provided, along with additional self-help resources, to help you reach your goals. After you’ve researched various career and academic options, you are provided with the opportunity to discuss any questions that have arisen during your search.
At times, you may still feel conflicted about which path to follow. This is a great opportunity to explore the challenges of making certain choices and to process the information so you feel comfortable with the academic and career path you have chosen.
How do I make an appointment?
Students who would like to see a career coach can submit a request through their Handshake account:
- Log on to Handshake using your mySFA credentials.
- Click on "Career Center" at the top of the homepage.
- Select "Appointments".
- Click “Schedule a New Appointment” and select "Career Coaching Consultation".
- Select the date and time that works best for your schedule!
Mentorship
Mentoring is more than 'giving advice', or passing on experiences in a particular area or situation. It's about motivating and empowering you to identify your own issues and goals, and helping you to find ways of resolving or reaching them — not by doing it for you, or expecting you to "do it the way I did it", but by understanding and respecting different ways of working.