It’s hard to find anything that’s free nowadays, but when it comes to getting advice on how to pursue your career or college plans, there’s a great source that’s not only free, but one that very few people use. Combined with the great resources on myFootpath.com, the counseling and advising team at your training institute or college is the ideal combination of free, up-to-date resources to help you create a career plan designed for personalized success.
Here are some of the services you may want to consider at your school:
Class Advising
Chances are you met with an adviser when you looked into your school, and this same adviser may have helped you pick your first few classes. Many students don’t realize how important it is to see this adviser every time you sign up for classes. They can look at the classes you’ve taken so far, recommend what classes you should take right away and which ones can wait, and let you know about any changes to your program that can save you time and money. Most advisers work on an appointment basis, but this is a very helpful step to make sure you attain your career goals quickly and completely.
Career Placement
It’s always a good idea to keep your eye on the job market while you’re a student. Hiring trends and “hot” jobs can change dramatically from one moment to the next, and this information can help you as you make your plans. Career placement is also the place where most companies will post opportunities for job shadowing or internships. These are perfect opportunities to try out a career and see if it’s for you. It’s good to stop by placement services once every 4-6 weeks, just to stay in tune with current trends. Check out the articles about top fields and top careers for the next decade that can spur some ideas on your career.
Career Services
It’s also important to keep your job seeking skills sharp, and that’s where career services come in handy. From resume preparation to job interview techniques to how to present yourself at a job fair, these skills show you how to take the training you’ve received and turn it into a rewarding career—and these services are also usually free. These services may be offered in career placement or in the advising center. Either way, be sure to make the most of them. You may also want to review our 10 tips for a successful job search to help you hone your approach.
Career and Life Decisions
It’s not uncommon for students to get through a few classes and think twice about a career—is this really for you? Are the jobs really out there? Is this something you want to do for the rest of your life? Counselors and advisers at your school can help you find answers to these questions, and help you build a career path that may include one job or many. In addition, counselors can help you look at the choices you’ve made and see if it’s time to pursue another option—and if it is, you’d be amazed at how freely counselors will recommend programs at other schools, if that’s what’s best for you! Trained, licensed counselors are some of the best listeners in the world, and their only goal is to help you.
It’s not always easy to pick a goal or get there—either way, there is a support team waiting to help you build a plan or two. Reach out to them, and you’ll be pleased to see how much they have to offer.
Interested in information on a degree program? You can always talk to one of our educational advisors here at myFootpath by calling 1-866-305-8525.
