V. CAREER PLANNING

The College Career Development Center

The Career Development Staff is professionally trained to assist students in their career decision making, career planning and job search throughout college. Student questions and needs are diverse and so are the services. The staff strives to provide the best possible service regardless of career interests or college major.

The Center's philosophy is to support students in their decisions. Staff will assist students as much as possible through career counseling, workshops and support services that have been designed to work to their advantage. The bottom line; however, is that the responsibility for making decisions, planning, securing employment, gaining admission to graduate school or otherwise planning for life after graduation rests with the student.

Career Development services are available on a walk-in or appointment basis and staff are conducting workshops on a regular basis. Students are invited to visit the Career Library, use computers available for resumes and cover letters, schedule time for DISCOVER (a computer-based career guidance system), or register to receive job vacancy listings. Staff are also reaching out to potential employers and graduate school programs to increase opportunities for students.

Students need to take the initiative to contact the Center. Career issues affect everyone and are an important consideration for most students; however, it is easy to procrastinate given the demands and diversity of college life.

The Career Development Center (CDC) is located in Netzer Administration Building, 110. The hours are 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:30 Monday through Friday.

Seminars and Workshops

Scheduled throughout the year, seminars and workshops cover all aspects of job hunting, graduate/professional school search and career planning. Schedules are posted throughout the campus and are available in the Center. They will make every effort to accommodate you if you cannot participate at the scheduled time. Individual appointments may be scheduled on week days to help you work through concerns or problems associated with any aspect of career development. Frequently, students use individual appointments as a springboard to utilizing other services and to deal with issues throughout their search.

Workshops include:

Job Search Strategies	Interview Skills
Graduate and Professional School Search	Resume Writing
Cover letters

Resume critiquing and Mock Interviews are also available. Ask at the CDC for details.

DISCOVER

DISCOVER, a computer-based career guidance system, assists students to analyze their interests, skills and experiences, then identify and explore career options. The program has features for every student-especially undecided freshmen and sophomores. No prior computer knowledge is necessary, but students must schedule time on the system.

Career Library

The Center's Career Library is steadily growing and features resources for exploring careers, job hunting, and exploring educational alternatives. Handouts supplement your work, and staff and student assistants are available to help you find what you need.

Credential Files

Credential Files are maintained for graduates and alumni to support their efforts to obtain employment or admission to graduate/professional school. You must initiate and update the file by picking up a "credential packet" at the Center. Provisions have been made to utilize this service throughout your career.

Job Vacancies

In addition to computerized job referral, the Center receives, produces and subscribes to over 45 different vacancy listings. Job seekers identify which are most appropriate in their fields, and monitor them regularly.

Computerized Job Referral

Seniors and alumni register for the Center's computerized referral program. Job listings are processed on the basis of geographic, occupational and other criteria, then referred to interested candidates.

Campus Interviews

Representatives from business and industry, education, government and graduate/professional schools periodically visit the campus to interview candidates for openings. Interested candidates should pick up schedules and procedures regularly, and watch for last minute additions. Competition is keen for campus interviews so start early. Alumni can be permitted on campus interview schedules only when current students do not fill these schedules.

Speakers

Career Development Center staff are available to address your hall, club, organization, honor society, fraternity or sorority. You supply the audience, give plenty of notice and identify the needs of your group, and Career Development Staff will plan and present a program tailored to meet your needs.

Career Development Courses

Career Development Center staff teach two courses: Survey of Career Fields and Career Preparation. Consult a college catalog or course listing for details.

Time Table for Career Planning   

 

FRESHMAN
CAREER SERVICES	YOUR CAREER PLANNING CHECKLIST
Discover	Adjust to college life.
Career Counseling	Develop effective study skills, exam skills and time management skills.
Career Information	Get involved in out-of-class activities.
Career Decision Course	Explore academic disciplines and career options.
Summer Jobs	Clarify values and interests related to career choices.
Career Fairs	Learn effective decision-making skills.
Academic Advisement	Seek assistance from career counselors, faculty advisors, parents.
Transfer Advisement	Become familiar with and utilize college support services (e.g. Writing Center, Reading Center, Counseling, Health and Wellness Center, Advisement Office, etc....).

SOPHOMORE
CAREER SERVICES	YOUR CAREER PLANNING CHECKLIST
Discover	Narrow career options through exploration.
Career Counseling	Develop short and long range career goals.
Career Information	Select academic program: Majors/Minors/Concentrations.
Career Decision Course	Attend job fairs, career seminars and related workshops.
Summer Jobs	Take career planning course if available.
Career Fairs	Explore possibilities for internships, independent study, volunteer and community work and related summer employment.
Academic Advisement	Develop assertiveness, interpersonal skills, initiative and other career-related skills.
Transfer Advisement	Check progress with career counselors, faculty, advisors, parents.

JUNIOR
CAREER SERVICES	YOUR CAREER PLANNING CHECKLIST
Discover	Explore career options in-depth.
Career Counseling	Check academic progress, plan for completion of requirements.
Career Information	Narrow career choices to three or four that are most interesting.
Job Skill Course	Explore graduate and/or job related opportunities in your field.
Summer Jobs	Learn about graduate school admissions and/or job hunting.
Job Skill Workshop	Seek out leadership responsibilities in course-work, employment and activities.
Career Fairs	Complete internships and independent study.
Graduate School	Develop assertiveness, interpersonal skills, initiative and other career-related skills.
	Check progress with career counselors, faculty advisor, parents.

SENIOR
CAREER SERVICES	YOUR CAREER PLANNING CHECKLIST
Job Referral System	Register for Career Development services.
Job Vacancy Boards	Continue to explore career options in-depth.
Career Counseling	Implement job search early.
Employment Directories	Attend workshops, seminars or class on job hunting skills.
Job Skill Course	Attend job fairs and participate in campus interview opportunities.
Campus Interviews	Develop assertiveness, interpersonal skills, initiative and other career-related skills.
Job Search Workshop	Check progress with career counselors, faculty advisors, parents.
Career Fairs	Develop a contingency plan in case immediate career plans are not realized.
Credentials	Complete graduate school admissions process, if appropriate
Graduate Schools

JOB VACANCY LISTINGS

The Career Development Center prepares and sends Job Vacancy Listings to registered students and alumni on a bi-weekly basis. This service is not a substitute for an active job search and there is no guarantee job vacancies will be received which match a particular registrant's background or preferences.

RESUME EXPERT users are automatically added to the job vacancy mailing list when their registration information is uploaded at the Career Development Center. In addition, their resumes are available for referral to employers who desire candidate resumes. RESUME EXPERT is the preferred method of registration with the Career Development Center because students also receive a powerful and portable resume generator. For further information about RESUME EXPERT, review the RESUME EXPERT HANDOUT.

Upon completion of the registration form on the reverse side of this sheet (or RESUME EXPERT), candidates will be included on the job vacancy mailing list. Candidates receive bi-weekly vacancy listings on or about the 1st and the 15th of each month. The system is also used to notify candidates of on-campus recruiting opportunities and other career services.

Openings processed by the Career Development Center include telephone and mail listings received by the Center. These openings are usually at the entry-level or require limited experience, and reflect today's job market demands and Oneonta State degree offerings. Openings received second-hand (i.e. from other job listing services) are not processed through this service, but are posted in the Career Library, Administration 109, for review.

The Career Development Center encourages candidates to utilize other job listing sources in the Center (including JOBLINK, the NYS Job Service system), other college and university career development offices in their local area, professional publications and organizations in their field of interest, alumni contacts and other direct job search strategies.

Records are removed from the system according to the following schedule to avoid referral of unavailable candidates.

GRADUATING SENIORS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
September 1, December 1 or April 1 following graduation
(Whichever comes first)

ALL OTHERS - Six months from date of entry

Candidates must notify the Career Development Center to remain on the system after this date. Cooperation in contacting this office when employment is secured is appreciated.

Alumni and candidates not affiliated with the State University of New York, College at Oneonta are charged a fee for this service. Seniors and graduate students, who wish to receive vacancy listings after graduation, receive a three month grace period before paying a fee. Fees are charged for the listings on September 1, December 1 or April 1 following graduation (whichever comes first).

Job Vacancy Listing Fees

Department Career Guidance

Department Faculty advisors will gladly answer students' questions regarding their course and schedule planning, volunteer and paid experience opportunities, career planning, and graduate school or other continuing education experiences. Major advisors often have listings of current openings and opportunities. The Fashion Merchandising area maintains a "Resume Book." All alumni of the Department are encouraged to keep in touch. Alumni provide valued information and contacts for current students and faculty.

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