Career Center Organization

In order to obtain optimal benefit, you need to understand your Career Center organization. There are two distinct career functions which are provided on most college campuses:

1. Career planning and exploration
2. Job search assistance

The former involves vocational counseling and testing to assist you in choosing a potential future career. The latter is designed to assist you in locating your first job after graduation, as well as helping you find employment while you are enrolled. As discussed earlier, you need to thoroughly research your career options and know what you want to do before you begin your job search. Always complete the former step before you begin the latter.

Some colleges divide these two functions into separate offices, with career planning handled by a "Career Services" or "Career Planning" office. This can sometimes be part of Student Services or Counseling Services. The primary emphasis of career planning is to help you better understand your individual aptitudes, personality, interests, and values in relation to career options. This evaluation may be done through a series of standardized tests and computer-based programs, which are then analyzed by an experienced career counselor, who assists you in mapping the results against potential careers. Career planning is best accomplished as early as possible in your college career, although you should never skip the step simply because you "got started late" and now you need to start looking for a job. Take the time necessary to properly evaluate your background and explore all the opportunities which may be available to you. It will help you immensely in becoming more focused and targeted in your eventual job search. And in achieving greater happiness in your eventual career.

Job search assistance is usually found on campus at the Career Center (which can go by many different names, including "Career Development" or "Career Services"). In some schools, all career assistance functions are contained within a single office, sometimes even combined with Career Planning. At other schools, the job search assistance may be divided by undergraduate and graduate degrees, or may be divided by specific majors. Some schools also maintain an active alumni career office, often as an adjunct to the Alumni Relations office. If this all sounds confusing, it's not intended to be. You simply need to locate the office which is designed specifically for you. And if you happen to wander into the wrong one, just ask and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

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