Maximizing the Value of a CU Boulder Degree

Your Student’s Professional Development

Presented by Dr. Lisa Severy, Director of Career Services Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Our Approach in Career ServicesCareer Decision-Making

• Who Am I and What Do I Want?Strengths Based Approach

• What’s Out There?The World of Work

• Decision

• Action

• Evaluation

• No Promise of Life-Long Employment• No Predictable Career Paths• Viewing Employers as Clients• Multicultural & Global• Highly Technical in Every Field• Extended Adolescence & Exploration

– More Likely to Return Home After Graduation– More Likely to Change Jobs Frequently

Your Child’s World of Work

• Interesting Work• Good Benefits• Job Security• Chances for Promotion• Opportunity to Learn New Skills• Geographic Location• Minimum Week for Annual Leave• High Income• Being able to work independently• Limited job stress

Preferred Job Characteristics

Tuition Reimbursement

Good Health Care Benefits

In-House Training

Performance Bonuses

Flexible Work Hours

Internal Job Postings

Formal Mentoring

Informal Mentoring

Responsibility for Complete Tasks

Special In-House Experiences

Best Practices for Retaining Young Adults

What Employers Want

Flexible

Focused

Directed

Connected

Marketable Skills

• Computer Skills• Quantitative Skills• Communication Skills• Marketing Skills• Scientific Skills• Foreign Language Skills• Leadership Skills

Gaining These Skills

• Required & Elective Coursework• Student Organizations & Activities• Student Government - CUSG• Volunteer Work• Internships – Paid or Unpaid, Credit or No Credit• Jobs• Study Abroad

Value-Added Enhancements

• Grades

• Extracurricular Activities

• Contacts

• Job-Seeking Skills

• Relevant Course Work/ Course Projects

• Professional Experience

• Appropriate Use of Social-Networking Sites

Considering Graduate School

Reasons to AttendAdvanced Training in a Specific Discipline

Requirements for Certain Fields

Higher Marketability & Wage (in some fields)

Joy of Learning & Research

Reasons Not to AttendLack of Career Focus

Pressure from Family or Friends

Misconceptions About the Job Market

Lack of Maturity

Unrealistic Expectations of Graduate School

• Listen & Encourage Open Discussion

• Reinforce the Idea that a Major and Career Decisions are NOT Permanent

• Encourage Exploration

• Help Students Connect with Professionals in Fields in Which They’re Curious

– LinkedIN

How YOU Can Help

Support from CU

• Career Counseling & Academic Advising

• Forever Buffs

• Internships & Co-Ops – (Major Department or Career Services)

• Student Employment

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities

• Career & Professional Development Programming

• Career Fairs & On-Campus Recruiting

• LinkedIn Networking Group

2010-2011 Snapshot

Full Time Job Postings

3,444(Up 23%)

On-Campus Interviews

3,008 (Up 9.6%)

Current Estimated Annual ROI:

Out-of-State, 9.5% In-State, 12%

Fam

ily Web P

agesCareerServices.Colorado.edu

Come See Us!

Career Services

Open House Today!

1:30 – 3:00 pm, C4C