Parent/Guardian FAQ

Many parents are eager to find out what Career Services has to offer their students. Some want to know how they can assist their students with career development concerns. Others want to know where they can find current information on jobs and salaries. Hopefully the following Q & A section will address those questions and concerns.

Q. How can parents serve as effective "career coaches" for students?

We have created a helpful four-year plan that outlines where your student should be in the career development process in addition to ways that you can assist your student along the way. Encourage your son or daughter to review this four-year plan and make strategic choices that will help them market themselves effectively to employers and or graduate schools.

Q. Can I visit Career Services and/or meet with a career advisor to discuss my student's career options?

We are pleased to provide career information to parents at any point. However, it is important that students assume primary responsibility for their own career development. It would be great for you to encourage your student to visit with our staff to discuss career concerns.

Q. When can my student begin using Career Services?

Once a student is enrolled, we are happy to help with every step of the career development process. In addition, the Career Services web site is accessible to the public at all times. The Career Services Office is one of the students' most important resources. Encourage them to make contact with their Career Advisor early.

Q. What help is available for my student if he/she can't decide on a major?

Choosing a major is huge and difficult process for many students. In fact, ‘undeclared' is one of the largest majors at Champlain. Encourage your student to consider taking the Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator through our office. Both assessments provide information about your student's preferences and can help connect them to majors and career fields that could be of interest to them.

Q. Do you have resources for locating internships?

We have many local and national employers who seek our students out for internships. Any internship that comes through our office is posted on Job Spot. It is always a great idea to encourage your student to visit our office to work on a resume and cover letter before applying for an internship. In addition, many majors require an internship as part of the curriculum, so it is important to have your student check with their faculty member to go over any necessary paperwork.

Q. My student needs a part-time and summer job to help pay for college. How can Career Services help?

Many local employers list their part-time and summer jobs on the JobSpot. Most on- campus jobs are reserved for work study eligible students. However, sometimes there are other positions on campus that are available to students who do not have work-study funding (i.e., Office of Admission, Physical Plant or Sodexho). We can certainly help your student with their job correspondence, interview preparation, and general search. Meg Sealey is the primary contact for part-time staff positions on campus and on and off campus work-study positions.

Q. How can Career Services Center help my student find full-time employment following graduation?

Every spring, Career Services hosts a Job Fair that attracts more than 70 employers from around the region. In addition, as part of Job Spot, we are connected with NACElink, a national job posting system. We offer our services to all alumni and are happy to provide resources and guidance throughout the job search process.

Q. What salaries are new graduates in various fields earning?

All advisors have access to the quarterly salary survey developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). In addition, we strongly encourage students to explore salaries and trends on the America's Career Infonet, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.