Explore Careers

Individual Appointments
Individual career counseling appointments are available to assist students in exploring careers. Students usually begin exploring careers by reading about them through online tools or materials in the Career Resource Library. When students have identified a few occupations they want to learn more about, they are encouraged to conduct informational interviews or job shadows and participate in events connecting them to professionals in each career. Students should critically evaluate potential careers based on their interests, skills, values, and career goals.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information produced by the U.S. Department of Labor. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes the working conditions, required training and education, earnings, and expected job prospects for a wide range of occupations. This online resource is especially useful for those students who are just starting to explore careers.

E-Link
E-Link is an online system that allows students to brose through internship and job opportunities posted by employers with CSB|SJU. Students who wish to learn more about careers can use these postings to learn about job requirements and duties. Sections of E-Link are also dedicated to information on specific companies, industries, and cities.

Faculty and Staff are welcome to use E-Link as a tool to become familiar with the jobs and internship opportunities available to students. Please call CSB #5707 or SJU #3236 for your E-Link username and password.

Career Exploration Series
Career Services hosts numerous CES sessions throughout the academic year. Panels center on either ‘What can I do with a ______ major?’ or ‘Careers in _____’ , and are designed to help students gather information about majors and career paths. Each session begins with a panel-style discussion during which the panel members discuss their educational backgrounds and career path. The session concludes with Q&A and the opportunity to speak informally with the panelists. These sessions are designed to help students make more informed major and career decisions.

CES events are held most weeks during the semester, on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. For a complete listing of the CES events offered this year click here. Please contact us if you have suggestions for a new CES topic.

Informational Interviewing and Job Shadowing
Once a student has identified his or her intended career, it is time to gather information from someone working in that field. The “Informational Interview” is usually 30 to 60 minutes in length and consists of the student asking the professional questions about his/her career and preparation for the career. “Shadow” experiences can range from one day to a few days to a week or longer, depending on the individual and the occupation being explored. Job shadows are a chance to view a professional on the job and to experience the work environment first-hand. Informational Interviews and job shadowing are great techniques to learn more about careers and to help narrow down choices.

Career Services staff can help students learn about and prepare for both these experiences. The Career Resource Centers also house the career and networking (CANE) files (CSB|SJU alums) and is a great resource for identifying professionals to contact for an informational interview or shadowing experience.

Networking
Many people mistakenly think that the only purpose of networking is to find a job. While it is estimated that 60% of jobs are found via networking, the primary purpose of a network is to share information. Career Services sponsors networking workshops and events throughout the academic year. Students can also meet individually with a Career Counselor to learn how to add new contacts to their networks and enhance their networking skills.

Career Resource Centers
Students will find books, pamphlets, files, videos and internet resources that describe a broad range of majors and occupational choices. The Career Resource Centers are staffed by trained student Career Assistants, who are available to assist students on a walk-in basis.

Researching Careers Worksheet
This ATLAS worksheet provides questions students should consider when researching a career. The worksheet addresses topics like job duties and responsibilities, education and training, salary/benefits and prospects for promotion. This worksheet works well on its own, or as part of a class assignment.

Career Designs
Career Designs, the monthly publication of CSB|SJU Career Resource Centers, is used to inform about career issues such as choosing a major, preparing for graduate school, searching for an internship or job, as well as highlighting information on upcoming workshops.