Welcome Parents & Families
Whether your student is a first time traditional freshman or a part-time returning adult learner, Career Services is here to provide support, guidance, and resources for your student at every point in the career development process. Although it is up to the student alone to determine and pursue a career, you play an integral role by providing insight, encouragement, and support. We encourage you to be an active part of your student’s career development and have provided a few resources to address your questions and concerns. If you cannot find the information you are looking for or have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What Employers Want
Students report one of the main, if not the only, reasons for attending college is to prepare for a career. However, simply earning a degree is not always enough in a competitive job market. A variety of factors influence hiring decisions.
Skills and Qualities
The Top 10 Most Important Skills and Qualities**
- Verbal communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Teamwork skills
- Analytical skills
- Initiative
- Problem-solving skills
- Written communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Computer skills
- Flexibility/adaptability
Education and Experience
Although employers generally value similar skill sets, some industries require specific degrees and related certifications to be eligible for entrance and advancement. Other value a variety of educational backgrounds. In addition to earning a degree, extracurricular activities are very important to a successful college experience.
In a recent survey, employers were asked if they had equally qualified candidates, what attributes would influence their candidate selection decision. “Major” and “has held leadership position” tied for first while “high GPA” and “has been involved in extracurricular activities” tied for second** demonstrating that employers value both education and extracurricular success. Encourage your student to:
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Research - Career Services is a great place to start. A career counselor will help your student discover the education and skill set required for any careers of interest.
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Talk to professionals in their intended field – Direct your students to our office where we can find them a contact through our "Career Connections" program. Professionals are eager to share their knowledge and experience with students.
- Get some experience – Encourage your student to participate in experiences that will develop skills. Direct him/her to our online job posting system "Hire-a-Shocker" to apply for part-time or full-time job opportunities or volunteer experiences.
- Participate in extracurricular activities – Support your student's efforts to become involved in one of the more than 150 student organizations on campus or in the city of Wichita. Volunteerism is another way to build skills and add to a resume. Many employers look for someone who wants to give back to the community.
- Practice time management and balance – In a perfect world, your student could do it all and do it all well, but understanding limits is an important part of the process. Ask your student questions that help to identify priorities. Most employers would rather hear about a few select meaningful experiences than several superficial ones
** According to National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) data collected from a 2010 survey of 197 employers about what skills and qualities they felt were most important when hiring employees.
How You Can Help
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Initiate career related conversations, ask questions about career interests
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Encourage exploration through classes outside of their major, campus activities, and volunteer experiences
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Discuss legitimate concerns and talk through the pros and cons of different career fields
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Offer feedback to your student on what you see as his/her special strengths
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Direct your student to resources on campus such as Career Services
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Refer your student to colleagues, friends, neighbors, parishioners, family and community members with experiences related to his or her interests
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Become a Career Connection and help other students find their passion
Our Services
Career Counseling: If your student is exploring their options or is considering a career change, a career counseling sessions with a career counselor can help student explore majors and careers, identify their skills and strengths, and help develop a plan to reach their goals.
Job Search: If your student is looking for a job, we offer one-on-one appointments to develop a job search strategy, create or strengthen a resume, and search for contacts for informational interviews.
Resume/Cover Letter Review: Students can meet with one of our staff members to review a resume or cover letter. We meet regularly with local employers to find out what they expect to see on a resume from a WSU student or graduate.
Mock Interviews: Whether applying for a full time job, part-time job, graduate or professional school admission, students can meet one-on-one with a career counselor to practice interview skills.
Career Connections: The best way for your student to learn more about a career field is to talk to a professional. We work with students to find a professional in the Career Connections program who will share insight and experiences in an informal interview.
Hire-a-Shocker: Whether your student is looking for a part time job during their time at WSU or is a recent graduate looking for full time work, our online job board system, Hire-a-Shocker features job postings from local, national, and international employers.
Events and Workshops: Throughout the year we offer events for students at different stages in their career development. Some examples are: career fair, interview days, workshops, networking events, and major panels. We suggest keeping up with our events by reading the Hire-a-Shocker newsletter, by friending us on Facebook, or following us on Twitter. Click here for a list of student events!