Career Development empowers students to set and achieve their post-graduate goals. Families have a large impact on the lives of their student, particularly with regard to initiative in planning for a career, and we aim to partner with you in support of your student's future.
Students who are ready to address career/life planning decisions probably will be able to get early experience and the necessary information to inform their future decisions. With this in mind, here are a few tips that you as a family member can use to help get your student ready to move through the career development process:
- Start early. Familiarize yourself with the services offered by the Career Services team and encourage your student to begin working with us during their first year at Rhodes.
- Emphasize internships and research. Internships and research provide excellent opportunities for students to test out career interests, gain valuable experience, and connect with employers who may later hire them upon graduation.
- Listen. Encourage your student to talk about their ideas and explore their interests. Ensure that you maintain an open mind to careers and majors that may not be in line with your original expectations. Try to understand their point of view.
- Initiate a conversation. Talk to your student about their life goals and career plans. Be patient, encouraging, and deliberate. Having these conversations as early as possible can facilitate their desire to explore these issues. Ensure to ask open-ended questions, and help your student clarify their priorities, ideas and concerns.
- Be supportive. Motivate your student as they explore different activities and interests. Give constructive feedback and encourage them to remain true to their values and interests.
- Let your student decide. While your input is valuable, remember that the final decision must ultimately be your student's. Overtime reduce your role in their decision-making as they begin to develop independence.
- Help network. Help your student develop contacts for information, advice, and assistance in career planning and job searching. Introduce them to colleagues, friends, family and community members with related experience. Encourage them to actively network with people who share similar interests or who work in their intended career field.
