Career Development Center

Parents' Guide

Given students' expectations during this exciting, sometimes confusing and sometimes stressful process, below are a few ways in which you can support their development.

Student Expectations
Statistically, students in the millennial generation are values-driven, achievement-oriented, ambitious, and feel they have a lot to offer. This translates into a variety of expectations that may be dissimilar or unique from your professional values. Particularly in a liberal arts setting, your student is likely to change majors and career goals multiple times throughout his or her college career; your student may be less tolerant of work environments that don't match their values or don't offer immediate opportunities for advancement, and they may be eager to change jobs and occupations often.

Support

  • Allow your student the freedom to have new experiences
  • Encourage exploration of new ideas, experiences, occupations
  • Welcome ideas and values which are different than your own
  • Actively listen to what your student shares with you
  • Be positive and supportive when your student makes a poor decision or fails

Information

  • Talk openly and honestly about your current job, including both the pros and cons
  • Be willing to discuss your own career development history
  • Share with your student about various occupations
  • Encourage your student to find out about occupations of interest, referring him/her to appropriate resources

Personal Insights

  • Help your student to objectively look at his/her strengths and weaknesses and suggest how they might relate to various career areas
  • Remember to celebrate your student's positive attributes and accomplishments

Contacts

  • Refer your student to friends/acquaintances who might discuss their occupations with him/her
  • Encourage your student to find a summer/part-time/volunteer job that will help him/her explore a potential career field
  • Advise your student to avail of your personal/professional contacts to find employment after graduation

Motivation

  • Encourage activities that promote initiative and career discernment
  • Assist your student in setting reasonable goals
  • Ask questions that will encourage further career information-seeking behavior