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MU BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE
Denise Hogsett: Career services provides tools to pick the right path
Students Nataia Jackson, from right, Angela Brehm and Eric Rogers gather information from MU Career Services event planner Glen Midkiff on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, during the 2008 Marshall University Major Expo in the Memorial Student Center.
Purchase this photoOK, I have arrived on campus at Marshall University, ready to jump into college life. I made it through welcome weekend. I have my class schedule. I'm pretty sure about my major choice, and now Career Services is telling me I need to start the process of planning for my career. Hey, I just got here. So what's up with that?
Well, the reality is that you are at Marshall University to prepare yourself for a successful life in the working world, and Career Services is here to give you the tools you need to find a great career.
And you expect me to do everything needed to be successful in my first year of college? That's a lot to expect, don't you think?
Preparing for your career is a process, and you can't do it all in one year, especially your freshman year. One of the things you should do this first year is concentrate on your GPA. Some students who get off to a rocky start eventually pull up their grades. However, this can be difficult. So make academics a high priority beginning now. It might take you a while to adjust to the rigorous demands here, but you can do it with help provided on campus. Your GPA will be important to prospective employers in the near future.
OK, OK, so I know I will need to study hard. Can I at least attend some campus functions?
Yes, by all means! Get involved with extracurricular activities after you settle in. Volunteer, join a club or student organization, gain leadership skills and teamwork skills.
I hear you, but I need to work part-time, too. I'm gonna need some cash, you know?
And we can help you with that. Career Services has a program designed to help students secure part-time jobs. We can help with your resume, and get you started on your search for work through our JobTrax system located on our Web site at www.marshall.edu\careers-services. Our Student Jobs Coordinator, Amber Bentley, will be happy to assist you in your search if you need help finding a job.
What if I am not making the right choice when it comes to a major? I think I know what I want to do, but what if I am wrong?
Come in to see us, now, during your freshman year and we will help you chart a path to find what you might want to do by "thinking, exploring and doing." You can start by going to our Web site listed above and logging into SIGI 3, a self-guided assessment to start to develop decisions on a major and eventually a career plan. Then, make an appointment to see a career adviser, and you are on your way to your future!
Wow! It's great to know that I'm not hanging out there all alone (no offense Mom and Dad) in making these important decisions.
What a deal! Career Services! Free services to all Marshall Students. Seek help early in choosing your major and preparing for your career. Competition for good jobs is stiff. Let us be your next best friend and adviser about how to become a strong candidate for the job of your dreams.
Denise Hogsett is the director of the Marshall Career Services Center. She can be reached by calling 304-696-2370.
Start now!
Several opportunities to explore potential careers will be offered on campus this fall. For individual help, contact the Marshall Career Services Center at 304-696-2370 or www.marshall.edu/career-services.
- Sept. 3 -- Career Expo Success Workshop, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Student Center, 2W16
- Sept. 24 -- Career Exploration Discussion Panel, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Student Center 2W16
- Oct. 8 -- Career Extravaganza, Student Center
- Sept. 25
- Oct. 16
- Nov. 13
- Dec. 4
Once you decide on a career and land that big interview for a job or internship, do you know how to behave when your interviewer takes you out for a meal? Etiquette Dinners to teach you just that are held once a month, from 5-6:30 p.m., at the John Marshall Dining Room in the Student Center.
Dates for fall are:
