Every student should be familiar with his or her college career center. Though it’s easy to get distracted from this, the primary goal of college is to prepare students for their careers. That’s why it’s surprising, but common, that the career services office is typically an underutilized service on college campuses. They provide basic services (and extensive) career guidance and placement services for students, services that are only available to current students and will be immensely helpful upon leaving school.

Academic Counseling
Counselors at your college career center can help you choose a first job and career path that’s right for you. They use self assessment tests to determine your personality, interests, motivations and abilities and help you decide on an major of study designed to meet your career goals. It’s a good idea to see combine and coordinate the advice of both your academic and career counselors, if they’re not the same person.

Career Counseling
The college career center will help you research various occupations. Counselors will provide resources to find information and organizational contacts. Career services centers have libraries full of career and job-related information. They will also maintain connections with staff and alumni who are willing to discuss their career paths and experiences with students.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Career center staff help students fill out job applications and write targeted resumes and cover letters. They may offer workshops and critique individual resumes and cover letters. Many have computer labs equipped with job and internship databases and resume writing software.

Interview Training and Practice
Many students are lost when they face their first job interview experience. The career services office will usually hold workshops, where you can learn the skills needed for successful interviewing in a low-pressure, supportive environment.

Job Placement
College career centers track job listings appropriate for students, including part-time positions and internship opportunities. They host job fairs where students meet with potential employers to learn about an industry or companies and openings. Some companies maintain exclusive internship programs with particular universities, so this is a very valuable relationship.

Credential and Reference Verification
Student files with graduation dates and letters of recommendation may be kept on file to be forwarded to post-graduate schools and potential employers on request. This service is well worth the nominal mailing fee the centers usually charge, as it’s very easy to lost track of valuable documentation of your college achievements.

Graduate School Advising
Undergraduate students may get counseling on graduate programs and the application process. The center should have extensive information available on not just the programs at that college, but at universities across the country and around the world. You not be eligible for these services after graduating, so check into them early if you don’t immediately apply for graduate school but intend to.

College career centers are a valuable asset to college students, and they are helpful at every academic stage. Explore your college career center at the first opportunity and take advantage of the powerful resources available you as a college student.

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