Career guidance and College Kids: It never ends.....does it?

[Anonymous]

This board helped me immensely with the college process for my oldest kids, so I'm turning to it once again. One at Ivy (soph) and one at a private T20 (freshman). My youngest is still 2 years away from applying. But I'm not here for college admissions advice.

The older ones are having a hard time with career/job search and career path planning. Or at least I feel they are, when I see everyone around them getting summer IB jobs lined up for a year from now! I don't think the oldest wants to do the banking/consulting route because hasn't gone the IB interview route (though, through connections, has a summer internship in private equity, so they can decide if they do want a different but related path). That DC seems not to know exactly what they want. I think they want a "dream" job or a passion job - but haven't nailed that down (what it looks like, what field, etc.) Major is econ + environmental science.

Younger DC is driven but has no freshman internship yet. Has a research opportunity remotely for 15 hrs/week and likely will work retail/restaurant. Also doesn't want the lifestyle of banking/consulting, but not sure what other business roles make sense (perhaps a management trainee program at a company - does that still exist). Are there internal roles to interview for at banks or consulting firms? Major is similar to organizational studies + English. Very strong writer and communicator.

Is there a career counselor or coach who can help with this soul-searching? I feel like they should have done this before heading to college, and they don't see a clear career path. I also feel like I've failed them in some ways when everyone has this clear-cut path and knows where they want to be in 5, 10, 15, and 30 years. Meanwhile, I've had the same career for 25 years (and I think my kids don't want that). Sorry, just venting here.

They've both used their career services at college, but the services aren't really focused on soul-searching and career mapping. More about resume reviews and interview tips. If anyone has any advice, a website, or help with guidance, that would be great. Or if you also are in the same boat, please commiserate. Be gentle with your critiques, please.

[Anonymous]

I can commiserate. Dc is graduating with no clear goal, applied broadly to many different industries. Fortunate enough to have a few offers but they are wildly different with duties and salaries. Dc unsure what to do next

[Anonymous]

Being a parent is like getting 20 to life. It mostly ends near 20 year mark but never totally ends.

Re a job most non enabled people eventually get to a "no work, no eat" understanding in their life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can commiserate. Dc is graduating with no clear goal, applied broadly to many different industries. Fortunate enough to have a few offers but they are wildly different with duties and salaries. Dc unsure what to do next

Sounds like a salesman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a parent is like getting 20 to life. It mostly ends near 20 year mark but never totally ends.

Re a job most non enabled people eventually get to a "no work, no eat" understanding in their life.

lol.
yes a prison sentence....of constant worry.

[Anonymous]

They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

If you don't want to do research, get a master's/PhD, are professors going to introduce you to a F100 company that needs an entry-level employee? I don't think so. They'll tell you to use Handshake and interview.

Professors are great for research and going down an academic path. Also, for some high-level (IC) government work and pathways. I don't see them being great introductions to private sector entry-level career pathways.

[Anonymous]

No one has it figured out in college, though many act as though they do.
They should go to speaker events on campus. Ivies are always bringing in speakers from tech industry, art/film, politics, industry research careers. See if any strike interest. Many departments have alum networks they can reach out to: pick a favorite class, meet with head of department or coordinator, ask what other careers are possible, what are recent students doing?
Also, they should go to recruiting events. Ivies have many. Use the network they landed in.

[Anonymous]

I advise students applying to college and graduate programs and had a package to help college kids get internships.

I decided it was not worth of stress of trying to land an internship these days, I would rather advise getting into school as that is a piece of cake in comparison - even top ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

+1

I have a college sophomore at one of the “undergraduate-focused” Ivies and the faculty in his department have been amazing, as well as older students for setting him up. He did a semester abroad with a work internship as well as classes and will be in Europe the whole of the summer on another funded opportunity that a professor in his department told him to apply for in February. It is a selection outside of the university, but the university department will fund all expenses for him.

My kid does talk a lot, gets involved and those relationships are invaluable!

I have a rising college freshmen who doesn’t put himself out there at all so I’m working on teaching him the importance of going to office hours, contributing in class, etc to make those connections.

A lot is the size of courses too. My college sophomore has really small class sizes so gets to know them well and attends all speaker events the department hosts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

If you don't want to do research, get a master's/PhD, are professors going to introduce you to a F100 company that needs an entry-level employee? I don't think so. They'll tell you to use Handshake and interview.

Professors are great for research and going down an academic path. Also, for some high-level (IC) government work and pathways. I don't see them being great introductions to private sector entry-level career pathways.

Professors have lots of industry and internship connections at kid's ivy. Yes, they 100% do help.
Plus, this student did not say whether they are open to research careers or not. They probably do not know what possibilities are out there.

[Anonymous]

https://flourishcoachingco.com/

Try this lady's course. If your kid will invest the time.

[Anonymous]

This is on the student not mom or dad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

+1

I have a college sophomore at one of the “undergraduate-focused” Ivies and the faculty in his department have been amazing, as well as older students for setting him up. He did a semester abroad with a work internship as well as classes and will be in Europe the whole of the summer on another funded opportunity that a professor in his department told him to apply for in February. It is a selection outside of the university, but the university department will fund all expenses for him.

My kid does talk a lot, gets involved and those relationships are invaluable!

I have a rising college freshmen who doesn’t put himself out there at all so I’m working on teaching him the importance of going to office hours, contributing in class, etc to make those connections.

A lot is the size of courses too. My college sophomore has really small class sizes so gets to know them well and attends all speaker events the department hosts.

+++ yes, agree, true from an ivy that DCUM thinks is grad-student focused. Yet almost every important connection they and peers have made has started with a professor. Some peers have gotten opportunities from department coordinators who say they get emailed all the time with application opportunities to pass on to students. The small classes are a huge bonus too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk to professors. Ivy/T20 has all the resources they need if they use them.
It is early, just need to start trying different things. That starts with meeting with professors.

+1

I have a college sophomore at one of the “undergraduate-focused” Ivies and the faculty in his department have been amazing, as well as older students for setting him up. He did a semester abroad with a work internship as well as classes and will be in Europe the whole of the summer on another funded opportunity that a professor in his department told him to apply for in February. It is a selection outside of the university, but the university department will fund all expenses for him.

My kid does talk a lot, gets involved and those relationships are invaluable!

I have a rising college freshmen who doesn’t put himself out there at all so I’m working on teaching him the importance of going to office hours, contributing in class, etc to make those connections.

A lot is the size of courses too. My college sophomore has really small class sizes so gets to know them well and attends all speaker events the department hosts.

+1 The student makes it happen. The ones getting out there, putting themselves out there.