Fall Semester
August 2008
Whether you're looking for a quick résumé critique, want some information on career counseling and major exploration, and/or are interested in preparing for professional or graduate school, you can come in to meet with a Career Development professional.
Learn more about how we can help during these walk-in hours.
Ongoing Workshop Series Coming this Fall
Professional & Graduate School Planning Workshop Series
Career Success Workshop Series
Practice Interviews from the Comfort of your Own Room
Career Development now provides access to InterviewStream, an online tool that simulates a job or graduate school interview. You can create a completely free account as a UNR student.
Click here to set up your online account
5 Easy Steps to Create a Career Navigator Account
Access all on and off campus jobs!
1. Go to the JOBS webpage & add it to your favorites.
2. Select "Login for Students"
3. If you are a new student and aren't sure about your NetID, then view the online video available on the login page. To create a New account, select "New Users Register Here" and enter your NetID. Your password to access Career Navigator will be EMAILED to you shortly.
4. Login (your email address is your password and and select the red link entitled "Search Jobs On & Off Campus".
5. Sort jobs by POSITION TYPE!
Don't forget to update your Student Profile in Career Navigator!
1. Go to www.unr.edu/career and click on Career Navigator icon.
2. Login with your email address and password.
3. Click on "My Profile" tab.
4. Click on "Academic Information" tab.
5. Update "Year in School" information.
Help Us Help You! Tell us what kind of information you would like to see in this newsletter. Type in suggestions and hit "Submit".
- Welcome Students
- Virtual Job Fair (August 18th - August 29th)
- Important Life Decisions: Thoughts on Academic and Career Choice
- Is Graduate of Professional School in Your Future?
Dear Student,
Welcome back to the University of Nevada, Reno. We hope you will have a successful year pursuing your academic and career goals. The staff of Career Development will assist you in articulating your path to graduation and beyond:
We hope you will take advantage of the services provided by our staff:
- The Career counselors, Brandis Bernard and Pru Jones (interim Director) are available by appointment to help you make major and career decisions.
- Pat Wilson, Coordinator of Professional and Graduate School Planning provides guidance to students in their process of making graduate and professional school decisions and provides workshops on each step of the application process. She coordinates the Professional and Graduate School Fair. The PGSP fair will be held on Thursday, September 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Judy Carrico, Coordinator of Career Opportunities, presents career success workshops and coordinates the Career and Internship Fairs in November.
- Carla Turner, Coordinates Career Navigator, assists students with the job board and facilitates the Virtual Job Fair.
- Karron Brandon, Receptionist, will greet you when you visit the office and manages the library check out system.
- Abby Kitchin and Ada DiaconuMuresan are the Graduate Assistants who assist with Career Navigator and many department events.
We all look forward to working with you this year.
Prudence (Pru) S. Jones, M.A.
Career Counselor
The Virtual Job Fair is almost here! If you're looking for a part-time job this semester, then we have the perfect solution for finding it. The Virtual Job Fair (VJF) will provide you with online 24/7 access to both on and off campus jobs. On Monday, August 18th, you will receive an email from us with the website address to access the VJF. If you're looking for a job fast, you won't want to miss this event. Whether you get the urge to go job hunting at 3am or 9am, the VJF will be there to provide you with a large number of resources for getting a good job.
What happens during a Virtual Job Fair?
- Upon going to the VJF site, you will see a number of company and UNR department logos. Each logo represents available part-time JOBS! You will also see a list of all jobs being sought by these various employers.
- You click on company and UNR logos and job titles, figure out which jobs really interest you, and then follow the application instructions.
- Use the numerous resume writing, interviewing, and research resources provided as part of the VJF.
- Apply for the jobs and GET the interview!
Why not just use Career Navigator (UNR's premier online job board) instead?
- Career Navigator is full of great job opportunities, including part-time on and off campus jobs; however, the VJF is intended to provide you with a quick look at jobs that employers are recruiting for RIGHT NOW!
- The VJF focuses on local part-time jobs that fit with your student schedule.
- Feel free to still use Career Navigator during the VJF to find employment!
Below is a table that shows some of the advantages of both on and off campus jobs. Remember -- seek out the job that makes the most sense for you!
| Advantages of On-Campus Jobs | Advantages of Off-Campus Jobs |
|
|
Important Life Decisions:
Thoughts on Academic and Career Choice
What am I doing with my life? That’s quite a question! Come on, even if you totally have your act together, you’ve probably pondered this important question at least once. Guess what? Even if you’ve discovered a satisfying answer, you’ll eventually ask the question again; once your original goals have been attained, new goals are identified, and your life roles and priorities change. (Don’t worry; I’m not forgetting those of you who are still working on the answer for the first time!)
So, even though we all ask the BIG question, we arrive at different answers, and how we discover the answer is usually done in our own unique way. One thing college students likely have in common, however, is discovering that life’s decisions related to academic and career choice can be complicated. Why? Think about it, the human being is complex and complicated! We need to take into consideration so many factors- our values, interests, skills, personality attributes, the influences of family and culture, preferred styles of decision-making, levels of maturity and all sorts of other “stuff”! Like I said, it gets complicated!
To simplify things, consider some proven activities known to help people faced with academic and career choice. First, complete the exercise below to determine what activities you want and need to engage in.
| Activity | Description |
I Need This |
1. Self-Assessment |
I need to identify my academic and/or career interests, skills, abilities and values |
______________ |
2. Academic and Career Exploration |
I have identified two or three possible academic and/or career choices but need more information in order to make a tentative decision |
______________ |
3. Reality Testing |
I am ready to evaluate or affirm a tentative academic or career choice by gaining experience through classes, undergraduate research, job shadowing, volunteering, interning, and/or working |
______________ |
4. Committing |
I am ready to commit to my academic/career decision and pursue professional-level employment or graduate/professional study |
______________ |
Now that you have completed this quick and easy exercise, use the checklist below to identify what you want to do in the appropriate activity area.
| If you are doing: | Do the following: |
Self-Assessment Activities Identifying your academic and/or career interests, skills, abilities and values. |
|
Academic and Career Exploration Activities Having identified two or three possible academic/ career choices, locate resources and information to assist in decision making. |
Gather information from people resources:
|
Reality Testing Activities Evaluating and affirming an academic or career choice by gaining experiences through classes, undergraduate research, job shadowing, volunteering, interning or working. |
Experiencing the everyday realities of your choices:
Evaluate the pros and cons of your decision based on your experiences. Go back to Exploration if necessary |
Committing Activities Committing yourself to an academic /career decision by pursuing professional level employment or graduate /professional study |
Pursuing professional level employment
Pursuing graduate/professional study
|
Just remember, resources and activities will involve people as well as printed material found online and in the books found in UNR’s Career Development Resource Library. In addition to our library, we have the “people” part of the equation too- from career counselors and professional and graduate school advisors to job search specialists. Call, email, or stop by soon! In the meantime, the online resources that follow may serve to get you started (or continue) your journey to success.
Career Website Resources
- Career Interest Game: Interests to occupations
- http://career.missouri.edu (click on the link to Career Interest Game)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Details on occupations- nature of, preparation, salary, trends.
- Nevada Career Information System: Occupational info specific to Nevada
- http://nvcis.intocareers.org (NCIS- user id, Nevada- password)
- Jobweb: A broad array of info from choosing a career to preparing to enter the job market.
- Match Majors to Careers: What majors prepare you for needed skills and competencies; and general resource info
- http://www.career.fsu.edu/occupations/matchmajor/index.html
- http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/index.htm
- http://www.niu.edu/careerservices/weblinks/index.html
Academic and Extracurricular Resources
UNR Majors
- http://www.unr.edu/content/programs/programs.asp
Extracurricular Experiences
- https://www.asun.unr.edu/Default.aspx
Academic Advisors and Assistance
- http://www.unr.edu/content/academics/asssistance.asp
Peterson’s Education Center: What Colleges offer what majors
- http://www.petersons.com
Preparing for graduate school requires planning and persistence, and we’re here to help! Professional & Graduate Planning (PGSP) is a centralized, “major neutral” service for all students and all majors interested in pursuing post-baccalaureate education. Our services include:
- Professional & Graduate School Fair: The 10th annual graduate school fair will be held Thursday, September 18, 10am – 2pm in the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballroom! Representatives from a wide variety of graduate and professional programs, such as the arts and sciences, law, business and health profession will be at the fair recruiting you! For more information about the fair go to http://www.unr.edu/career/students/pgsp_fair.aspx
- Individual Advising Appointments: Students can meet with the PGSP counselor to discuss plans for graduate study, set up an action plan, and review details of the application process. To schedule an appointment, please call 775.784.4678.
- PGSP Workshops: Throughout the year, PGSP conducts workshops to assist students in the graduate/professional school application. The schedule is available in our department in 200 Thompson or at http://unr.edu/career/students/pgsp_workshops.aspx
- Critique Services: Writing the personal statement is often one of the most challenging components of the application process. To assist in this endeavor, the PGSP counselor will review statements and provide feedback for students; resumes used for the graduate school application are also critiqued.
- Mock Interviews: Some graduate/professional programs require interviews as part of the application process. Students may schedule a mock interview to practice before the “real thing” and receive constructive feedback on their performance. To set up a mock interview, please call us at 775.784.4678.
- Graduate/Professional School Resource Library: Located in Career Development, 200 Thompson, the Library contains books and catalogs to help students as they research graduate programs and admissions requirements in their field of interest. The books can be checked out by UNR students.