What’s the "BUZZ" about Career Development at Defiance College? We have a common goal... To see you be successful at Defiance College and in your career! As a student you should visit our office to utilize the services and understand the value and benefits offered to you! You should be aware that the career choices you make will affect your job satisfaction, where you live, and how much you earn. The Career Development staff is here to assist you in the career planning process by listening, being open to ideas, and helping you find information. Oh, the places you will GO! Follow the Defiance College Jacket Journey (linked below) to reach your SUCCESS! Click on the additional links below for more information and resources. |
FOCUS2 is a series of short assessments you can take online. Your results help identify majors & careers that might be a good fit for you. We recommend meeting with Sally Bissell or Tracy Armey to analyze your results. FOCUS 2 requires you to establish a username and password, which you will need to access your profile in the future. Click the linked logo above and use the access code below when creating your account. ACCESS CODE: jackets |
The Office of Career Development is here to help you in selecting a major that reflects your interests, motivation, and values. The key to a successful college experience is to be intentional in choosing your major and we will provide opportunities and resources to help you in that process.
Exploring Majors:
MyMajors.com provides useful advice on college majors that a college student with your interests and achievements might enjoy and excel in. Take the short MyMajors interview and receive five majors matching your interests and academic experience. You can obtain an advisement report summarizing your inputs and ten ranked major recommendations. Review this report with your academic advisor, faculty, and your family.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
The mission of Student Academic Support Services (SASS) is to provide undergraduate students at Defiance College with resources and opportunities to improve their ability to learn and to achieve academic success. The SASS components of First-Year Program, Learning Commons Services/SASS Studio, Conditional Advising Program, Success@DC, and Academic Advising Assistance for Undecided Students engage learners in developing effective strategies and skills for a successful transition to college and for academic success throughout their college career and beyond. By focusing on the needs of first-year students and offering academic support for all learners, SASS strives to increase the retention and graduation rate of students enrolled at Defiance College.
Exploring Careers:
This tool empowers students by helping them achieve greater satisfaction with work and life. It helps students to identify and pursue a career path that aligns with their interests and personality. The Strong Interest Inventory report is based on results from the Strong Interest Inventory® assessment.
The Strong Inventory report puts self-discovery into the hands of anyone seeking career direction. This personalized report paints a clear picture of how one’s interests and themes link to various jobs, work settings, and career fields. This is used to help students expand their career options and chart a plan of action toward finding a fulfilling career. For more information about the Strong Interest Inventory contact the Office of Career Development.
Create a Professional Resume and Cover Letter-Building Your Brand
Developing a professional brand is an essential step in your job search process. Your professional brand should include a clear picture of who you are and used to effectively communicate with a potential employer. Your resume and cover letter as well as social media should represent you as a professional.
It is extremely important to have your resume, cover letter, and reference page reviewed before applying for employment in a professional setting.
RESUME:
Review and gather the suggested information on the resume checklist to get started.
Here are some samples to help guide you! To help you create a powerful resume (and cover letter) be sure to use action words.
After completing your resume, upload it on College Central to be reviewed by a Career Development staff member.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) includes information on your academic background, teaching experience, degrees, research, awards, publications, presentations, and other achievements. CVs are much longer than resumes, and include more information, particularly details related to one’s academic background.
COVER LETTER
Use the cover letter as a way to convey your interest in a position and to highlight the unique qualities or experiences to make you stand out from other candidates. Utilize these samples to help guide you in creating an effective cover letter!
REFERENCES
Think about your network of individuals and who would be the best to serve as a reference based on the employment opportunity. Seek out at least 3-5 references that know different aspects of your work and are willing to support your candidacy enthusiastically and knowledgeably.
Consider reaching out to the following to serve as a reference:
Reference Checklist:
Make sure to allow plenty of time to complete the reference checklist. Be considerate of your reference's time and do not put them in a time sensitive situation.
If there is a hesitation or refusal to serve as a reference know that this individual may be encouraging you to seek someone else who would write more positively or comprehensively on your behalf.
Check out this Sample reference page to help you.
You’re not just looking for a job – you’re ready to accelerate your life’s career and we’re here to help you find that perfect fit. There are many resources available in searching for employment opportunities and you should take time to research them and develop a plan.
RESOURCES
Meet with your academic advisor or Career Development staff to develop a plan.
Access over 2 million employers nationwide by using College Central. Part-time and full-time employment as well as internship opportunities are listed.
You can also check out the list of employers with which DC has partnered for internships on the Employer Resource tab
The Office of Career Development offers a wide variety of internship opportunities and coordinates the Internship Program. The goal of the internship program is to provide all students with the opportunities to develop job-related skills through college-approved work experiences. To ensure the quality of the internship experience as well as academic integrity, internships need to be approved by the College before the student begins the internship.
Follow the resume checklist to get started. Create a resume and cover letter specific to the position.
Are you a currently in the military or a veteran? Check out usajobs.gov for additional resources and career opportunities.
Check out events sponsored by the Career Development office.
Salary information by occupation.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Once you have made the decision to go to graduate school, the next step is to research programs that match your interests and fit your needs. Don't limit yourself at this point, but instead gather information on a broad range of programs.
Consult sites such as these for researching graduate and professional schools:
US News, Best Graduate Schools
graduateguide.com
Contact programs directly to get more detailed program information such as courses, professors, costs, financial aid and application forms.
Graduate School Resources:
Enroll in Defiance College’s GEN300 Preparing for Graduate and Professional School course.
Connect with your advisor and/or professor’s for input and direction in making a decision.
Attend Defiance College’s Fall Graduate and Professional School Fair
Conduct informational interviews with current graduate students, professionals, and faculty in the graduate programs you are considering to gain insider information.
Evaluate Programs - Factors to Consider:
Other Application Materials:
Chances are you will need to provide a curriculum vitae or resume with your application.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) includes information on your academic background, teaching experience, degrees, research, awards, publications, presentations, and other achievements. CVs are much longer than resume, and include more information, particularly details related to one’s academic background.
Review and gather the suggested information on the resume checklist to get started.
Here are some samples of resumes to help guide you! To help you create a powerful resume here are some action verbs to assist you.
Rules for developing a personal statement and samples:
Article from INSIDE HIGHER ED, “Advise about grad school from a Ph.D. holder looking back a decade later.”
Employers are increasingly looking for individuals with a liberal arts degree! Why you ask? Because students graduating with a liberal arts degree bring an employer the characteristics needed to be successful:
Careers for the liberal arts majors include: Teachers, Journalist, Economist, Graphic Designers, Social Workers, Public Relations Specialist and Psychologists.
Click the logo to the left to go to the "What Can I Do With This Major?" website. Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help. Learn typical career areas and types of employers that hire in these fields, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. Continue your research through the websites provided. Check out the video below for more information about "What Can I Do With This Major?": |
College Central is your go to website for work and internship opportunities!
Placement Rate: 98.9% of DC's 2020 graduates found full-time employment or are attending graduate/professional school. |
The Opp Shop, created through Defiance College's Project 701 Program, is a professional student-run clothing store for Defiance College students or community members looking for appropriate attire for job interviews and other professional events. If your student has the need for professional clothing, encourage them to check out this program!