Maximizing the Value of a CU Boulder Degree
Your Student’s Professional Development
Presented by Dr. Lisa Severy, Director of Career Services Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Our Approach in Career ServicesCareer Decision-Making
• Who Am I and What Do I Want?Strengths Based Approach
• What’s Out There?The World of Work
• Decision
• Action
• Evaluation
• No Promise of Life-Long Employment• No Predictable Career Paths• Viewing Employers as Clients• Multicultural & Global• Highly Technical in Every Field• Extended Adolescence & Exploration
– More Likely to Return Home After Graduation– More Likely to Change Jobs Frequently
Your Child’s World of Work
• Interesting Work• Good Benefits• Job Security• Chances for Promotion• Opportunity to Learn New Skills• Geographic Location• Minimum Week for Annual Leave• High Income• Being able to work independently• Limited job stress
Preferred Job Characteristics
Tuition Reimbursement Good Health Care BenefitsIn-House TrainingPerformance BonusesFlexible Work HoursInternal Job PostingsFormal MentoringInformal MentoringResponsibility for Complete TasksSpecial In-House Experiences
Best Practices for Retaining Young Adults
What Employers Want
FlexibleFocusedDirectedConnected
Marketable Skills
• Computer Skills• Quantitative Skills• Communication Skills• Marketing Skills• Scientific Skills• Foreign Language Skills• Leadership Skills
Gaining These Skills
• Required & Elective Coursework• Student Organizations & Activities• Student Government - CUSG• Volunteer Work• Internships – Paid or Unpaid, Credit or No Credit• Jobs• Study Abroad
Value-Added Enhancements
• Grades• Extracurricular Activities• Contacts• Job-Seeking Skills• Relevant Course Work/ Course Projects• Professional Experience• Appropriate Use of Social-Networking Sites
Considering Graduate School
Reasons to AttendAdvanced Training in a Specific DisciplineRequirements for Certain FieldsHigher Marketability & Wage (in some fields)
Joy of Learning & Research
Reasons Not to AttendLack of Career FocusPressure from Family or FriendsMisconceptions About the Job MarketLack of MaturityUnrealistic Expectations of Graduate School
• Listen & Encourage Open Discussion• Reinforce the Idea that a Major and Career
Decisions are NOT Permanent• Encourage Exploration• Help Students Connect with Professionals in
Fields in Which They’re Curious– LinkedIN
How YOU Can Help
Support from CU
• Career Counseling & Academic Advising • Forever Buffs• Internships & Co-Ops
– (Major Department or Career Services)
• Student Employment• Undergraduate Research Opportunities• Career & Professional Development Programming• Career Fairs & On-Campus Recruiting• LinkedIn Networking Group
2010-2011 Snapshot
Full Time Job Postings
3,444(Up 23%)
On-Campus Interviews
3,008 (Up 9.6%)
Current Estimated Annual ROI:
Out-of-State, 9.5% In-State, 12%
Family W
eb Pages
CareerServices.Colorado.edu
Come See Us!
Career ServicesOpen House Today!
1:30 – 3:00 pm, C4C
