While your major does not define your career path, finding the right program is still important. 

Students trying to figure out the right major should visit our Exploring page.

Your students might not know exactly what they can do with their degree, or they might have difficulty narrowing down their options. These resources can help students explore such questions:

• O*NET: Department of Labor's career exploration tool with information on over 900 occupations (include required certifications and job outlook).
   
• Candid Career: a video library of thousands of professionals sharing their paths & tips.
   
• UVM Connect: Students can review alum profiles to learn more about possible pathways; and/or reach out to alums who are "Willing to Help" for informational interviews.
   
• LinkedIn: Like UVM Connect, students can browse alums on LinkedIn to see possible career paths. This video shows them how.

This is a great time to build, or update, a college resume. These living documents help students reflect on who they are, what experiences they would like to pursue (what does the resume not include that you wish it did), and positions them to be ready to apply to opportunities!

• Our Resumes and more page has tips for getting started and several examples across different majors and levels of experience.
   
• Our interactive Career Competencies reflections can help students identify completencies to highlight on their resume. 
   
• Students can learn more and/or submit their documents for feedback by enrolling in our Career Brightspace. They can also drop by and talk to a Peer Leader or coach.

UVM Connect is online community of UVM affiliates (alums, students, faculty & staff) giving users access to an engaged, supportive, and growing global network.  UVM Connect is also home to our Career Interest Groups helping students find others with common interests. 

• Signing up is easy and free.  (Accounts do get approved by the Alumni Association).
• Students should complete their profile and join at least one Career Interest Group (you should too!).
• Students can use the group directory to connect with others, ask questions, and share info.
  • Members expressly identified themselves as "Willing to Help" in a variety of ways...
• Students can explore possible career paths from the directory by using the filter options on the right - they can see what other people with their degree are doing.

Getting experience early on will help students develop skills while determining the career paths they want to pursue (and the ones they don't). Students can get experience in a variety of ways - and all experience counts.

• Students interested in an internship shoul start with our Guide to Internships (PDF).
• Encourage students to join one of UVM's 200+ clubs and organizations. Club involvement provide in-demand transferable skills.
• Handshake is a job board created especially for college students. Have your students create a profile and start browsing part-time job and internship opportunities.
• Ask students to join a Career Interest Group (or more than one). They'll get connected with like-minded peers & professionals and stay updated on career-related events.
• Micro-internships through Parker Dewey are perfect for students who aren't able or ready to commit to a longer internship. These opportunities are short-term, paid, and a great way to get some firsthand experience and/or get a foot in the door of an industry. 

Developing a network helps a student gain support from like-minded people and access to information they might not have had otherwise. Networking can start with building relationships through campus experiences and/or involvement. 

• Clubs and organizations offer a great way to connect with other s with similar career interest/goals.
• Recommend students attend career-related events, so they can connect to professionals in their field of interest. Students can find events through Handshake and our Career Interest Group newsletters.
• Attending any of our fairs throughout the year is another great way to start meeting professionals and learning what opportunities are available.
• Students can explore professional associations through LinkedIn or a simple google search. 

• UVM Connect has thousands of alums who want to help students in a variety of ways - offering internship or job shadow opportunities, introducing students to industry connections, and discussing career paths & career advice.
• Students can also find alums on LinkedIn using the Alumni Tool. 

When students think more deeply about the skills they are developing (and the ones the aren't), they can better focus their goals. 

• Prompt students to think about their experiences, growth, and reflection about their next steps. It's extremely valuable.
• This short questionnaire can prompt deeper reflection.
• This short video offers additional guidance on adding non-work experience on a resume.

Whether they are looking for internships or a full-time jobs, you can support your students by letting them know where to look for work and strategies for a successful search.

• Handshake is a great place for students to start their search and potentially be found by employers looking to recruit Catamounts. They can use the filters to refine and save searches to get notifications when new jobs that fit their criteria are posted.
• Job search strategies can be applied to various job sites. This is a focus on LinkedIn, but the techniques can be used elsewhere.
• Being proactive rather than reactive to job postings leads to stronger results. They should cast a wide net amongst their network, and consider using job sites that cater to specific types of jobs, such as HigherEdJobs or USAJobs.
• The Career Center hosts job and internship fairs each semester. All students are encouraged to attend even if they are just looking around and asking questions. On the same page, students can find other Signature Events based on their specific career interests. 

• Remind students to update their Handshake and LinkedIn profiles as they gear up for the job search.
• Ask students if they know how to tell their story. They can use the S.T.A.R method to explain how their experiences have made them the person they are.
• We also recommend that students prepare an elevator speech so that they can introduce themselves concisely. It might sound easy, but many people are not comfortable talking about themselves. Practice is important!
• Students should check out or Job Search Checklist (PDF) before they apply.

When your students are ready to apply, we have a few tips to help them be successful.

• Let your students know that it is important for them to read job descriptions carefully. These can help them know the information they should include in resumes and cover letters and it can help them predict the kinds of questions they'll be asked in interviews.
• Remind students that resumes should be tailored to specific positions. Using keywords found in the job description is important. Sometimes ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) will do initial screening of a resume before a human sees it.
• Students can find resources for interview preparation on our Resumes + More page, and they can schedule a mock interview with a career coach.
• We recommend students use UVM Connect reach out to alums in their field who might be willing to help review a resume, do a mock interview, or provide any other insights into the application process.
• And of course, students can submit resumes and cover letters to the Career Center Brightspace site for feedback.

Not every student wants to jump into their career immediately after graduation. Graduate school, volunteering, working abroad, taking a growth year are some of the options students should consider. 

• If a student is thinking about grad school, we suggest they check out or resources for considering grad school.
• This blog post lays out some non-traditional post-graduation options your students may want to explore.

Want us to host a workshop for your students? You can request a workshop here.

Request a Workshop/Presentation

UVM's six Career Interest Groups are dynamic networks of students, faculty, staff, and alums who share common interests, wisdom, and opportunities.  This online community -specifically for UVM affiliates- enables you to tap into an engaged, supportive, and growing global network to find alums and help your student get connected. 

Get Started with UVM Connect

• Create your profile, confirm your email and then select the Career Interest Group of greatest relevance.
• Once logged in, use the left navigation pane to join additional groups. Join as many as you'd like. Come and go as you please.
• Let students/alums know how you are "willing to help".

Tips for Using UVM Connect for your Students

An Open-Source Discussion Board
Students can post career-related questions to people in their future fields. This is especially helpful for students completing an internship, practicum, or other experiential learning experience.

Discover Potential Career Paths
Students can search the UVM Connect directory based on keywords to see what paths others in their field or with their major have taken in their careers. Students can broaden their perspectives and understand that their major is not necessarily their career.

Demystify Networking
Ask students to message an alum (or a few) to ask career-related or graduate school questions. Your students will be surprised how easy it is.

Find Guest Speakers
Tap into the alum network to find speakers that may appeal to your students – or better yet, ask your students to make a list of potential speakers. Who can relate to your current students better than alums?

Promote events
Announce upcoming events and/or raise awareness of additional opportunities on and off campus.

Stay connected
Graduation does not mean goodbye. Stay in touch with former students as a colleague, mentor or friend.

• FAQ– This page provides resources to answer students’ most common career questions.  
• Path to Career Success – This resource provides a big picture view of what steps students should take throughout their time at UVM. All paths are unique, but this is a great place to start.  
• Career Quizzes (CQs)– By taking these annual Buzzfeed-style quizzes, students get a personalized update of where they are in terms of career readiness and what they should do next. 
• Career Interest Groups – Joining a Career Interest Group is the fastest way for students to get connected to people, events and resources related to their career goals. Low effort, high reward. 
• UVM Connect – Encourage students to sign up for UVM Connect. They can connect with alums who are willing to help with their career questions and preparation. 
• Handshake – Setting up a Handshake profile will allow students to browse job and internship opportunities. They can also find career-related events happening on campus and online. 
• Feedback for Students – Students can submit application materials to the Career Center for feedback. They can get feedback on resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches, LinkedIn profiles and Handshake profiles.