Parent Information
Career Services provides a broad range of services to meet the career
development needs of all Pitt students. We encourage students to begin
to use our services during their first year on campus and periodically
throughout their undergraduate education.
Career counselors work with students formulating career goals that are
based on self-knowledge, skills identification, and awareness of both
academic and non-academic interests. Career consultants assist students
with exploring what they can do with their major, constructing a resume,
and navigating the job search and interview process. A team of employer
services staff is committed to identifying and attracting employers to
recruit Pitt students. By registering for FutureLinks, an on-line database,
student receive regular communication about our programs and events and
have access to job listings for student employment, part-time work, internships,
full-time positions and information about on-campus interviews. Networking
receptions and the Pitt Career Network put students in touch with others
who can assist in their job search. Job fairs and employer information
sessions enable students to build relationships with employers.
As a parent or guardian, we believe you can appreciate the value and benefit
of our extensive services. We encourage you to explore this web site and
to become more familiar with our services so that you, in turn, can remind
your son or daughter of all that we have to offer.
Parent Frequently Asked Questions
• How do students get involved with Career Services?
• What is the difference between a career counselor and consultant?
• What happens during a typical career counseling appointment?
• When should students begin working with Career Services?
• Why would a student who has decided on a major need to use Career Services?
• How does Career Services help students who are undecided about a career or academic major?
• What majors are offered at Pitt?
• What resources are available for finding on-campus student employment or part-time jobs?
• Does Career Services post internships?
• What is Career Services’ role in finding students a job after graduation?
• What assistance does Career Services provide for applying to graduate school?
How do students get involved with Career Services?
Students can schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor or consultant to work on their personal and unique career development plan. For answers to quick questions or to have a resume reviewed, students can also take advantage of daily walk-in hours without an appointment, Monday through Friday from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
What is the difference between a career counselor and consultant?
Career counselors guide students who have yet to declare a major, or have no idea of what career to consider, or are in the midst of totally rethinking their career direction. Career consultants work with students who have declared a major and want to explore the career options for that major. For this reason, each career consultant is assigned a specific group of majors that they advise. Some career consultants are dedicated to helping students who have a specific career in mind, for example, the Health Professions career consultant and the Pre-Law career consultant.
What happens during a typical career counseling appointment?
This is an opportunity for students to work one-on-one with a counselor to learn about their interests, skills, and values and to apply this information in formulating career goals. Counselors often administer and interpret the results of assessment instruments such as DISCOVER and the Strong Interest Inventory as part of this process. As is true of any counseling session, students can be confident that all information is kept confidential.
When should students begin working with Career Services?
Students can utilize Career Services at any time during their academic career and as alumni of Pitt. Ideally, students are encouraged to begin working with us in their first year. We have professional staff that can assess their individual career needs and guide them through a step-by-step process over the course of their undergraduate education.
Why would a student who has decided on a major need to use Career Services?
Many students begin college confident in their choice of a major. In any major, there are a number of career paths that a student can take depending on their interests and abilities. Shadowing, networking, gaining "hands-on" experience through an internship or volunteer work can help students to develop skills that are valued by employers and to gain real world experience that can clarify or solidify the direction of their career. Our office is a valuable resource for finding such opportunities, and for providing access to alumni and employers.
Is it common for students to start out knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives but then become uncertain or consider a completely different direction? Should I be concerned, or is this common?
The college years are a time of rapid and profound change. College exposes students to new ideas and disciplines that can open their minds to possibilities and opportunities they never knew about or would have considered. Career Services has counselors who are skilled in supporting students who are reconsidering their career focus. Frequently counselors will administer assessment instruments that clarify important aspects of career development such as interests, natural abilities, and values. The goal is to give students the information they need to make career decisions that are consistent with who they are and what they want from life.
How can I be supportive?
The most patient parent can be challenged while your son or daughter decides about the future. Because college is a time of exposure to new ideas and increased knowledge about the options for careers, a student’s need to explore may increase and the length of time this takes differs with each student. Being knowledgeable about today’s job market is an important part of being supportive of your son or daughter. Here are some key points to know about today's job market:
• It is changing faster now than at any other time in history.
• Advances in technology and widespread use of computers are influencing every aspect of the market place.
• We now live in a global market place which effects both competition and career opportunities.
• A large percentage of jobs of the future will require the skill level obtained through a minimum of two years post-secondary training or four years of college education.
• Job opportunities are evolving at a rapid pace. Many of the jobs that are in existence today weren’t heard of just ten years ago.
• Because of the rapid evolution of jobs, people entering the workforce today are expected to change careers five to seven times during their lifetime.
• Life-long learning will be a fact of life for all workers in order to continuously upgrade needed skills in the ever-changing work world.How does Career Services help students who are undecided about a career or academic major?
One of the main reasons students seek our services is to assist them with clarifying their career goals. Career counseling is an excellent way for students to learn more about majors that would lead to a certain career goal they have in mind.
If a student is transferring to Pitt, how do they know what credits Pitt will accept from their previous school?
Each school or college at the University of Pittsburgh makes decisions about the credits that will transfer from another institution. What transfers depends a great deal on the student’s major. The admission officer of the school that houses the student’s intended major reviews the student’s transcript from the previous institution to make a determination about credits that will be accepted.
What majors are offered at Pitt?
See the “academics” section of the University of Pittsburgh web page for a list of all the major programs currently offered through the various schools and colleges.
What resources are available for finding on-campus student employment or part-time jobs?
Students can search FutureLinks for part-time jobs on and off campus with the exclusion of Work-Study positions which are listed in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Does Career Services post internships?
In today’s rapidly changing work place, gaining work-related experience is key to a new graduate’s success in finding employment. For this reason we encourage all students to engage in some form of experiential learning such as an internship. The internships listed through FutureLinks are both paid and unpaid. Some may also provide academic credit.
What is Career Services’ role in finding students a job after graduation?
Career Services is committed to facilitating employer recruiting and preparing students for the best job search possible. Our office sponsors several large-scale job fairs annually and hosts hundreds of employers each year who recruit all majors directly on campus. In addition, many employers post job opportunities on FutureLinks which students are encouraged to consult frequently as new postings are always being added. Our career consultants provide individualized assistance and group programs to assist students with the job search process.
What assistance does Career Services provide for applying to graduate school?
The career consultants assist students in finding specific graduate programs as well as provide information about test dates for the various admission exams such as the LSAT or GRE. Career Services also participates in several graduate school fairs each year.
How does Career Services prepare students for admission into law school or medical school or other health profession programs?
The process to gain admission into a medical school, dental school, or law school is very competitive and complex. Our office has Health Professions and Pre-Law career consultants who are knowledgeable about the process and provide specific guidance and services for students applying to professional schools.