Nowadays, there are counselors for almost every aspect of the human experience. Before I started my internship at Career Services, I didn’t know as much about what career counselors do, beyond helping students to find jobs. Having worked here for the entire semester, I now see how many other ways career counselors assist students. Career counselors can help you:
- Understand what you do well and where your interests lie through assessments and discussions
- Explore potential majors, careers or graduate programs using a variety of resources (online and offline)
- Establish connections with alumni, employers, or admissions representatives at schools you are interested in applying to
- Apply to graduate/ professional school, or to employer organizations
- Evaluate your options and making decisions about your post-graduation plans
- Develop resumes, cover letters, letters of application, and personal statements
- Create a strategy to reach your goals
- Learn the interview, follow-up, and networking skills needed to pursue opportunities
- Learn about various industries and professions
- Navigate the variety of career and internship-related programs offered through Career Services and across campus
You might think that you don’t need someone to help you with these things, and that you can “handle it on your own.” However, even the most motivated and career-minded students use career center resources to help support and guide their individual efforts. In fact, there is even a direct correlation between use of your college career center and student success in the job market. In a national survey of college students, “the likelihood of a student getting a job offer increased with the frequency of career center use” (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2010 Student Survey). The survey also showed that “use of career services resulted in higher median salaries, and median salaries climbed with increased use. “ Okay, I am not trying to sound like an infomercial here…but you get the picture.
Career Services and the career counseling staff are such a valuable resource for students, I think every student could benefit by visiting the office during their time in school. It just makes sense; when thinking about your career, why wouldn’t you use every resource available to you? Now I realize that at a school as competitive as Princeton, some may feel that seeking help might create the perception that they do not have everything figured out yet. Guess what! Not every student on campus has their career plans all figured out. Meeting with a career counselor just means that you are using all the resources at your disposal. Remember, any information discussed between you and your counselor is considered personal and confidential.
So, what are you waiting for? If you are feeling stressed out by even the mention of the word “career,” then speaking to a career counselor may really help. Don’t procrastinate, the sooner you get started in this process, the better. The best way to get started is to schedule a 30 minute appointment by calling Career Services’ front desk at (609) 258-3325. Or, if you have quick question, feel free to stop by for a 15 minute walk-in on any weekday afternoon from 3:00- 5:00 PM. Career counselors are here to help you, so let them!