What can you do to help your students? How can students prepare for their careers?
We recognize the powerful impact VCU faculty can have and we want to be your partner in the success of VCU students. We have a shared desire to prepare VCU students to enter the world of work as highly-sought-after professionals.
We know that you’ve got a lot on your plate. Maybe you know how to help students, but you don’t have the time to work with them one-on-one. Or maybe you have students asking questions about the job market that you’re not quite sure you have the answers to.
With engaging, career-focused presentations at the ready, we can utilize your class time to educate students on the core career skills necessary for their long-term professional success. Request a presentation and let us know how we can help!
Sample workshops and programs
- Job or internship search strategy
- Writing a resume & cover letter
- Professionalism at work & in class
- Personal branding & networking
- Graduate application strategy
- Building an online portfolio
- Overview of our resource
- Teaching critical career skills
We understand that as faculty members you are interested in teaching students both in- and outside of the classroom. You recognize that the student’s journey doesn’t end at graduation. You also know that success in the workforce requires that your students understand more than what they learn in class.
So how can you prepare your students with the career competencies that today’s employers are expecting? What are the critical career skills your students need for success? Look over our career curriculum information to learn how to integrate career development activities into your syllabus.
For additional information or consultation, please contact Haley Sims, firstname.lastname@example.org, senior associate director career advising.
Implementing career development into your courses
As your partner in preparing students for personal and professional success, we have created a series of easy-to-implement career development exercises for your courses. Our activities are based upon 11 primary career-related learning goals that align with our advising model and with the mission, vision, and existing outcomes of the university.
These learning goals were identified with the intent that all students participating in career-related courses would achieve these goals by engaging in activities and assignments meant to foster active consideration and exploration of career opportunities.
These activities are part of a collaborative effort to:
- Assist staff and faculty in developing career-related courses.
- Ensure that students are acquiring core professional development knowledge essential for post-graduate success.
When creating a course syllabus, it is important to take into account how the 11 primary career-related learning goals are directly measured. In other words, each learning goal should have an assignment or activity that measures whether or not the student achieved the goal.
How to implement these activities in your courses
Each of the career-related learning goals and specific student learning outcomes is outlined Career Course Activities Workbook. For additional consultation or assistance, please contact Haley Sims, email@example.com.
Exercises based on our advising model
Gain self-knowledge. Explore industries. Research the market.
- Career Genogram
- Social Media Platforms
- Interests Assessments
- Life Role Pie Chart
- LinkedIn Activity
- Mad Lib Mini Biography
- Note to Self Activity
- Road Trip Nation
- S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting
- Salary Research
- Values Sort Activity
Evaluate and reflect on the factors that influence your career decisions.
- Identifying Organizations by Interests and Values
- Interview With Board of Advisors
- SWOT Analysis
- Write Your Own Job Description
Craft your message and "brand" for your defined audiences.
Learn to effectively apply the tools to articulate goals and find success.
Continue to grow and learn within your profession.
What is InterviewStream
Whoever said practice makes perfect had InterviewStream in mind. InterviewStream is web-based video interface that allows a student practice for an interview, rehearse an elevator pitch or improve their public speaking. Utilizing a webcam and a microphone, students respond to a series pre-recorded interview questions from their computer. Students are recorded and are then able to review their responses.
We use InterviewStream frequently to assist students with preparing for interviews, eliminating the dreaded ums and ahhs from speech, and helping non-native speakers feel more comfortable interviewing in English.
How you can use InterviewStream
As a faculty member, you have the ability to create your own account. Once you’ve created an account, you can select pre-recorded questions, record your own custom questions and then review view student responses at your convenience and provide feedback.
To learn more about how to incorporate InterviewStream in your curriculum, contact Melinda Snyder, assistant director public service and nonprofit.
The Career Development Collaborative hosts four meetings a year:
Members of the Career Development Collaborative are invited to join our Blackboard organization page where we share information about resources, past and upcoming meetings.
For information on our schedule of meetings, upcoming topics, and how to get involved, contact a member of our Executive Board.