Hidden career development resources

Sharing overlooked on-campus tools for post-grad success

HALEY JACOB / FEATURE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

While the college experience is most commonly seen as a time to attend classes, build friendships, and explore your interests, one of the most important aspects for many is gaining work experience and partaking in opportunities to prepare for post-graduate life. 

Whether joining an accounting club or running for student government, crafting a resume complete with valuable experiences is key to standing out to employers and presenting yourself as the best candidate for any job. 

The Career Development Center (CDev) is an on-campus resource specializing in career advancement and preparation. Yet, many of their resources remain underutilized. 

By visiting the “Undergraduate” section on CDev’s website, the “Get Started” tab will bring you to a three-stage career plan. Here, the path toward building your professional candidacy and experience is made easy.       

Knowing yourself is key to choosing a career path

The first stage of the career plan is “Know Yourself.” One of the recommendations in this stage is to meet with a Peer Involvement Consultant. 

The consultants help students get involved in organizations and clubs on campus that best suit the student’s interests and career goals. 

Consultant Ivana Awada shared the importance of career-building in college and the usefulness of booking a session with the organization. 

“You go to college to get an education to get a job, but it’s not that straightforward. You need to have other connections, you need to branch yourself out, build your resume, and find things that you’re actually passionate about and interested in,” Awada said. “I think we’re that middleman to getting students connected to those interests and passions and helping to develop them, and I think that’s such a vital part of the college experience. It’s not just you go to your class and go back to your dorm.”

Students can book a 30-minute session with a consultant through the Calendly link found on the resource’s website or choose the walk-in appointment option by visiting the office in room 308 of the SLP. 

Exploring career fields helps focus your job choices

The second stage is “Explore Careers.” In this stage, students will find the “Roadtrip Nation” resource, a website full of informational interviews from people working in different careers. For example, if a student wants to learn more about a career in accounting, searching “accountant” will bring up videos of current accountants answering different questions about the career field and sharing their experiences. 

Here, students better understand their career options and can gauge whether certain fields fit their interests. 

To access the website, students will need to log in with their USD credentials and input the access code “CAREER1.”

Internships provide essential experience

The final stage is “Take Action.” One important resource in this stage is getting paid project experience through the Parker-Dewey organization. 

The organization provides students with paid virtual micro-internships in different industries. The short-term internships can range from a 10-hour job to a 20-hour project, and there are a wide variety of companies featured on the organization’s website. 

These micro-internships are quick resume builders and allow students to experience and explore different careers from the comfort of their homes. 

Junior Hugh Gleysteen discussed the convenience of these flexible internship opportunities. 

“These micro-internships seem really useful because I have other things I want to do during my breaks than commit to something like a full summer internship,” Gleysteen said. “These jobs will allow me to gain important experience while also enjoying my time-off from school.”  

While it’s important to attend resume reviews and informational panels on campus, the overlooked tricks and tools to career development can often make the most impact.