University of Houston Career Services

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Many students don't set foot in University Career Services (UCS) until they're a senior, frantic to get their resume critiqued so they can find a job. Yet, it's wise to visit this helpful office early on - even during the first year - because career counselors can help students get on track and explore career options they may not have known about otherwise.

Our UCS center offers many resources and services including:

• Help students choose the right major through vocational testing, personality assessments and exercises to explore careers for different degrees
• Guidance and support through one-on-one career advising, resume critiques, mock interviews and job search strategies
• Assistance with finding job search opportunities and on-campus and off-campus jobs
• Provide various workshops, career fairs, employer databases, online job banks, career resource library and on-campus recruitment opportunities

Your student can gather career-related info from a variety of sources. Some individual academic colleges also have their own Career service center. So encourage your student to take advantage of all resources and visit UCS as well as their college Career Service Center (if applicable).

Encourage Your Students to Have a Career Action Plan:

Freshmen

• Explore majors and career options through UCS
• Schedule an appointment with a career counselor
• Participate in career inventory assessments
• Establish relationships with upperclassmen, faculty members and administrators
• Get involved with the Center for Student Involvement and join a student organization 

Sophomores

• Identify four to seven career field options of interest and research different majors that interest you would compliment these careers
• Shadow alumni or professors in your career interest areas
• Begin to establish a resume - attend a resume workshop if you need help
• Take an active leadership role in a student organization
• By the beginning of the sophomore year (30 credit hours) your student needs to declare a major- they can talk to their academic advisor about course selections

Juniors

• Create/update your resume and have it reviewed by a UCS counselor
• Practice interviewing skills with a UCS counselor
• Attend campus career fairs and practice networking 
• Learn how to market yourself and join a professional organization associated with your related major of career interest
• Begin to build a professional wardrobe for interviews

Seniors

• Update your resume to ensure it effectively conveys your skills to an employer
• Develop a prospective list of employers and research these companies
• Utilize the Campus Recruitment and JOBank services
• Ask three people to serve as references, remember to give them a copy of your resume so that they are familiar with your skills and qualifications.
• Sign up for on campus interviewing and begin job search
• Apply to graduate and professional schools