We understand the pivotal role you play in shaping the educational experiences of our students. As we navigate the evolving landscape of education, it is essential to recognize the profound impact our curriculum has on the future careers of our graduates.
Integrating career readiness into our curriculum is not merely an option; it is a fundamental necessity. In today’s competitive job market, employers seek candidates who possess not only academic knowledge but also practical skills and real-world experiences. By incorporating career-focused elements into our courses, we empower our students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional success.
We hope the tools below will be helpful.
We know your time and class time is invaluable. We also know practice and opportunity are vitally important for success. Building a network and understanding the career opportunities available can enhance a student’s confidence and ability to succeed post-graduation.
To encourage Career Expo attendance, we offer limited professional development grants for faculty who build Career Expo attendance into their 300-400-level courses.
How does this work?
- 40 students must sign in and participate in the Career Expo for fund disbursement. [40 students can be from multiple courses or sections.]
- A copy of course instructions showing Career Expo as a component of the course (can be a lesson plan, graded or ungraded assignment, or extra credit).
If we have 40 students sign in, The ASCC will provide a $500 professional development grant (funds to be transferred to a department budget for faculty use).
Grants are closed for the Spring 2024 season. Please check back in December for Spring 2025 opportunities.
Elevate your students’ educational journey by seamlessly incorporating the Career Expo into your curriculum.
Ideas for incorporating the Career Expo in your curriculum:
Learning Goal: Communication
- Conduct a workshop on resume writing and critique. Provide students with feedback on their resumes and help them tailor their documents for specific industries or job opportunities they are interested in pursuing during the career expo. Pro-Tip: many of the course learning objectives enhance a student’s skill development journey. Skills and competencies like Communication and Critical Thinking are in high demand. Help students link what they are learning in your course to internship or job attainment.
- Post Career Expo Reflection: After the career expo, allow time for students to reflect on their experiences. Students can share what they learned, connections made, and insights gained. Discuss the potential impact on their career goals and strategies moving forward.
- Build Networking Skills: Offer guidance on effective networking skills. Teach students how to initiate conversations, ask insightful questions, and follow up with professionals after the event. Discuss the importance of a professional online presence, including LinkedIn profiles.
Learning Goal: Information Literacy
- Research and Preparation: Devote a class or assignment to researching companies that will be present at the career expo. Encourage students to identify organizations aligned with their interests and career goals. Discuss effective strategies for preparing a resume, elevator pitch, and questions to ask employers.
Learning Goal: Depth, Breadth, and Integration of Learning
- Guest Speakers: Invite professionals from industries represented at the career expo to speak to the class. They can share insights into their careers, discuss industry trends, offer advice on navigating the career field, and provide instruction to industry connections.
The “What can I do with this major” tool is a comprehensive resource for faculty and students alike, helping to foster a connection between majors and career opportunities.
Empower your students by encouraging them to explore majors and gain insights into typical career areas associated with each field. This tool provides valuable information regarding the types of employers seeking individuals with specific majors. Moreover, it equips students with strategies to enhance their marketability, preparing them for a competitive job market.
By incorporating this tool into your curriculum, you contribute to the holistic development of your students, helping them make informed decisions about their academic and professional paths.
The Labor Market Insights tool is a powerful tool designed to help introduce you (or your students) to current industry trends. Once you’ve selected a career/industry, use the following sections to:
- Core Tasks: this section will give you a better understanding of any given occupation’s core tasks and responsibilities. A job or career can often be much more complex than we ever imagined.
- Employment Trends: Does the industry you are exploring have growth potential? Is demand expected to grow or decline? Think about how this may or may not be helpful in your exploration.
- Top Employers: We’ve all heard of the big names in any industry, but are there some companies or employers you’ve never heard of? This can be very helpful in your job search process.
- Education Level: Will your WSU degree be enough education? You will see that some career pathways encourage a master’s or even doctoral degree.
- Annual Earning: This section will change dramatically by location (you can use the filters on the dashboard to see how earning change by regions).
- Technical Skills and Core Competencies: One of our favorite sections. This is a great way to ensure you are using your time at WSU to build your skill set. Many of the Core Competencies are reinforced in your courses (pro tip: check out your course syllabi to see how the course’s learning outcomes align with the Core Competencies needed in your preferred industry). You will gain many of the Technical Skills via your co-curricular involvement (this includes internships, student employment, campus involvement, etc.)
