PARENTS FAQS
When should my daughter/son begin to utilize the Career Services Office?
The Career Services office welcomes students from their first days on campus. They are encouraged to begin the Pathways program in their first year on campus.
What timeline should my daughter/son follow during their four years at HWS?
1st Year: Become aware of you and the resources around you
- Become a part of Pathways
- Identify and explore your interests, values and abilities
- Develop relationships on campus
- Meet regularly with your first-year adviser and meet new faculty
- Join a campus club of interest or volunteer on/off campus
- Apply for a work-study position
- Register on eRecruiting and explore the career center’s library
- Shadow a professional in a field of interest
2nd Year: Explore and prepare your academic majors and career interests
- Finalize your academic major
- Identify at least two career interest areas
- Research study abroad opportunities
- Look into internship and volunteer opportunities
- Brainstorm and draft your résumé
- Cultivate job related skills such as leadership and teamwork
- Join professional associations in a field you are pursuing
- Revisit goals you set for yourself in your first year
- Find a career related summer internship
- Conduct an informational interview with alumni/ae in Career Network
3rd Year: Take advantage of the many experiential education opportunities
- Investigate post graduate options: employment, graduate or professional school or fellowships
- Take graduate school entrance exams if applicable
- Attend local job fairs
- Initiate contact with potential employers through calls, letters and information interviewing
- Secure experiential education opportunities
- Verify academic requirements with your faculty adviser
- Continue to assume leadership roles on campus
- Update/revise résumé and write cover letter
- Visit prospective graduate schools during summer months
- Tap into your networks and let them know you are actively job searching
4th Year: Execute your career preferences and market your accomplishments
- Kick your job search into high gear early in the fall term
- Gather letters of recommendation from faculty and employers
- Perfect your résumé, cover letter and job hunting skills
- Participate in the career services recruitment program using eRecruiting
- Continue to tap into your networks; let them know you are job searching
- Attend local job fairs and evaluate job options
- Take graduate exams if have not already done so
- Accept job offers or graduate school acceptances
How will Career Services help my daughter/son follow the timeline?
- Start Pathways and fill out the workbook
- Career counseling: assessing interest, skills and values
- Introduce the Career Network of alumni/parent contacts for informational interview and networking
- Assist with internships, summer jobs and full time opportunities
- Provide advisement on job search strategies for summer jobs, internships, fulltime opportunities
- Provide resources for a major declaration research
- Assist with capability building: resume and cover letter writing, mock interviewing and etiquette techniques
- Emphasize the importance of leadership on and off campus
What should seniors do in order to enhance their chances of finding a good job?
Meet with a Career Services staff person to develop an individualized job search plan!
What should students be doing if they are interested in graduate study?
- Meet with faculty in their discipline and designated advisors to discuss their interests
- Review our Graduate School Guide
- Review resources in the Career Library and on our web page to identify relevant graduate programs
- View Web sites or send away for literature about schools; visit schools of greatest interest and/or have telephone discussions with department heads
- Meet with a Career Services staff person regarding your graduate school planning
How can parents help Career Services?
