Greetings Parents!
Welcome to the Center for Career & Professional Development! We are looking forward to working with your students – to ensure they are graduating with a competitive edge upon entering the job market. We understand the importance of encouraging your students to make the most of their college experience, so from a career development perspective – we have outlined a few steps/resources for your student to consider:
Self-Assessment
Whether your student has a million ideas of what they want to major in, or none at all– the career center is prepared with the tools and resources to help students identify skills, personality and abilities – as related to future professions. We have recently launched a new program entitled – DiscoverU, which provides students with:
- One-on-one coaching
- Guided personality & interest assessments
- Job Shadowing opportunities
- Assistance in expanding professional network
- Guidance in navigating on-campus involvement
Internships
It’s the age-old battle – you need experience to get experience. That’s where internships come in! The Center for Career Development works in collaboration with faculty to identify competitive internship opportunities for student’s participation. We encourage ALL students to perform at least one internship during their time here at SHU. The Career Center is also equipped with the tools and resources to guide students through developing a resume & cover letter, finding opportunities to apply to, mock interviews, following up to interviews and negotiating offers. Students are encouraged to speak with the academic advisors to see if they are eligible to receive course credit for the experience.
Gain Experience
Employers are seeking a well-rounded candidate – so we encourage students to think about experiential learning, beyond solely internships. The Center for Career & Professional Development offers a variety of programming to help students gain exposure to their field of interest. These include site visits, job shadow opportunities, volunteer/global and even alumni mentorship!
Research
The Center for Career & Professional Development encourages students to research potential career paths – and explore the options available to them. We want students to have a full understanding of their career options- and to understand – flexibility is the key to opportunity! Along with numerous online resources – counselors are on staff to assist students with conducting career and major exploration!
Career Fairs/Networking
Networking is still the #1 way that students find jobs and internships. SHU provides students and alumni with various opportunities for expanding their professional network. Events include industry specific panels, career fairs, on-campus interviews and much more. We encourage students to utilize and engage within our continuously growing SHU Alumni Network!
Start Early
We ask you to please encourage your student to start thinking about their next step the second they step onto campus. We want our students to be as prepared as possible for the world of work or future academic pursuits. Studies show that those students who take advantage of their career center early on, enjoy greater satisfaction with their choice of profession – and that’s what we focus on!
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA, was designed by the federal government to protect the privacy of educational records. Under this policy, Sacred Heart University officials are not permitted to give any information to a third party, including a student’s parents or guardians about academic progress, personal development, or disciplinary matters.
However, it is often the student’s wish that information be released to a parent or other designated officials. This form indicates that Sacred Heart University is authorized to reach out to the designated parent or official as an additional means of support for the student. If a student wishes to allow this outreach, this consent form must be filled out and submitted. Click here