Faculty/Staff Resource Guide

The Career Development Center provides students with learning opportunities in these basic areas:

We believe these opportunities serve as important links connecting the academic knowledge a student gains at Samford to its practical application after graduation.  Faculty provide students with invaluable resources. Knowledge of subject matter and the abilities to solve problems analytically, communicate effectively and work better with others are among the extremely marketable skills students learn inside the classroom. For a list of the top 10 personal qualities/skills employers look for, please click here.

 The Career Development Center teaches students to take the knowledge they have gained in and out of class and

  1. Integrate it with their personality and interests for life long career planning
  2. Articulate their transferable skills effectively in both verbal (job & grad/professional school interviews) & written (resume, portfolio) format
  3. Obtain the tools they need to compete and succeed in pursuit of their chosen career paths

 We seek to partner with faculty and staff to promote awareness of our services. We want to serve as a resource for both faculty and staff. We look forward to developing a relationship with academics that will benefit our students and alumni.  The CDC hopes to continue to be integrated into the Samford student’s learning experience as a viable component in our university’s overall, well rounded preparation for life after graduation.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the key to good, sound decision making throughout the lifespan.

Self-Directed Search

Based on John Holland’s Career Codes, this paper and pencil assessment matches students’ skills and interests with Samford majors and a variety of job titles. Please click here for more information on the SDS.

MyPlan.com

Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this online assessment gives students career choices and work environment preferences according to their personality. Please click here for more information on MyPlan.com

Focus v.2

This is a computerized career assessment program designed to assist in making career decisions. This instrument facilitates students’ abilities to evaluate job options based on various self-reported and self-evaluated criteria. This also may be specifically helpful to confused seniors.

Students must make an appointment for these assessments.

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Cooperate with you in helping students gain self-awareness to make critical major, minor, elective course, internship, volunteer experience, graduate school and job choices
  • Provide information about your major to interested Samford students
How you can help us:
  • Communicate to your students the importance of self-assessment and career planning
  • Encourage your students to make an appointment for career counseling if they are confused about major choice and/or career direction
  • Share with us any information concerning your major and the careers and graduate programs related to it
  • Encourage your students to get part-time jobs and/or internships in their chosen field of study
Together we help students:
  • Prepare for career choices throughout the lifespan by understanding personal skills, interests and motivations
  • Understand the transferable skills they have developed through life experience and relate them to major and job choice
  • Encourage life-long learning and the development of transferable skills to compete in today’s changing job market

Career Preparation

Career Research Library

The CDC maintains a comprehensive resource center for career-related books, websites, videos and handouts. Our books include titles on majors, career fields, resume writing, interviewing, and job search. Most titles are available to be checked out and are catalogued in Davis Library’s VTLS system.  Our handouts include: Career info on Keirsey-Bates types; Informational interviewing; Decision making; Interview preparation; Majors at S.U., and Resume guide.

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Faculty and staff are eligible to check out library resources
  • Provide a bibliography of related resources
How you can help us:
  • Recommend titles pertaining to your field of study
  • Consider encouraging your department to help in funding of CDC resources
Together we help students:
  • Learn the value of targeted research in the job search
  • Provide current, reliable information to aid in making choices

Career Related Workshops

The CDC offers a variety of presentations to instruct students in the many facets of career planning and job search. Career counselors present each of the following several times during both the fall and spring semesters:

These topics are targeted for seniors approaching the transition of student to first year employee. If you would like to arrange to bring your class to one of the presentations, to have the workshop presented in your class or if you would like to offer extra credit for attendance, please contact Lindsay Seaborn at 726-2980 or lcseabor@samford.edu

The CDC is also available to develop presentations tailored to specific majors or needs. Examples of special workshops:

If you would like to learn more about the above workshops or if you would like to discuss developing one, please contact Heather Mitchell at 726-2980 or hmmitche@samford.edu

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Present targeted workshops to your students at the time and place of your choosing
How you can help us:
  • Encourage your students to attend
  • Consider giving extra credit for attendance
  • Promote the importance of acquiring good job search skills
Together we help students:
  • Provide opportunities for students to learn appropriate job search skills and professional career planning information

Resume Services

We are aware that many of you assist your students in the preparation of their resumes. Realizing the importance of a well designed and written resume, we appreciate your input and guidance. We work very closely with students specifically to develop their ability to create a professional, personal resume from the perspective of format as well as content. Our online resume guide provides examples of format and content suggested by recruiters, HR professionals and professors.

Career counselors are available to meet with students individually to discuss resume development.

Resume referral: After completion and approval of a resume, we encourage graduating seniors to upload their resume to our online resume database. This service seeks to match our students with entry-level employment opportunities both nationally and regionally-specific. Employers receive requested resumes both by access to the site itself as well as email attachments from our office. They then contact students directly to arrange interviews. They may also arrange on-campus interviews through the CDC.

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Provide oral, written or web based professional advice on resume and cover letter development
  • Serve as a resource to provide current information on the most marketable resume formats
How you can help us:
  • Encourage your students to make an appointment for a resume critique
  • Share any information regarding resume formats and content within your field of study. Encourage your students to register with the CDC
Together we help students:
  • Identify the qualities, transferable skills and experiences that will make students marketable in today’s job market. Enable students to present themselves in the most effective and professional manner in a written format

Job Search Activities

Mock Interviews: Students may schedule an appointment to conduct a mock interview with one of our counselors in preparation for a full time, part time, graduate school, or RA/Orientation Leader interview. These interviews are video taped and viewed and critiqued with the student. This is an excellent method to practice and improve communication and personal presentation skills.

Information Sessions: Companies and organizations are invited to come on campus and share career and internship opportunities. These sessions are open to all students and are a great opportunity for networking.

Alumni Networking : An extensive resource of alums who can share information about their personal career paths as well as provide assistance in job search and networking activities.

On-Campus Full-Time Job Interviews: Students who have a completed file* in the CDC and who have registered online have the opportunity to interview with employers who have scheduled a specific day to interview on campus. It is the student’s responsibility to choose an interviewing time that will not conflict with their class schedule. The earlier they sign up, the more flexibility they have.

* A completed file for on-campus interview eligibility is comprised of:

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Help you prepare your students for the graduate/professional school interview
  • Provide contacts with parents and alumni who have expressed a willingness to share information about their personal career paths
  • Coordinate companies and organizations to speak on campus regarding internships and job opportunities
How you can help us:
  • Encourage student participation in job search activities
  • Communicate to us companies of interest for possible on-campus interviews or company information sessions
  • Provide us with any contacts you may have within said companies or various career fields
Together we help students:
  • Support students in their search for entry level positions upon graduation
  • Provide students necessary skills for conducting an effective job search or graduate school application

Experiential Education

The Career Development Center lists part-time off campus jobs and internships. We also assist students with how to go about locating such positions.

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Encourage students to get experience in their desired field
  • Share knowledge about the CDC resources
  • Share any internship or job opportunities with CDC
How you can help us:
  • Provide experiential education sources for your students: company information sessions, job listings, resources
  • Encourage experiential experience to complement the academic classroom
  • Assist students in self presentation: resume, interviewing...
Together we help students:
  • Gain experience in their chosen field
  • Use their classroom knowledge in the real world
  • Aid students in the next step after college

Graduate/Professional School Admission

The CDC provides assistance for students applying to graduate or professional school.

Our library contains many books with information about the application process, specific programs and disciplines, as well as fellowships and financial aid. Our website includes many helpful related links.

Each fall, we offer a variety of workshops on the graduate school admissions process, from writing the essay to preparing for the entrance tests to financial assistance. We invite you to encourage interested students to attend.

The CDC partners with 21 other Alabama schools to host a week of recruiting Alabama students. Schools from all over the nation rotate through the Alabama Connection. Birmingham is usually the second stop on the circuit.

LET’S PARTNER!

How we can help you:
  • Provide guidance and information about the graduate school process to students
  • Supply up to date links and information
  • Encourage alumni and parent contacts for career path information
  • Coordinate activities to educate students about graduate / professional school
How you can help us:
  • Encourage student participation in graduate / professional school oriented activities from CDC events to requiring research and presentations
  • Serve as a resource for major specific information
  • Help students have a realistic and broad view of your field / career area
Together we help students:
  • Encourage and participate with students in the graduate school application process
  • Share the excitement of their future plans

 

For more information, please contact Alice Martin at 726-2980 or abmartin@samford.edu.

Mission of the CDC:

The mission of the Career Development Center is to nurture students, graduates, and University employees by offering services within a Christian community in the discovery, use, and dissemination of career and educational information through self assessment instruments, occupational information, employment opportunities both before and after graduation, and job search guidance thus facilitating the discovery and accomplishment of career goals through educated and responsible decision making, and to continuously improve Career Development Center procedures, resources, and activities.

Primary Customers:

The primary customers of the CDC are:

  1. Currently enrolled undergraduate day students of Samford University
  2. All other Samford University students: including graduate and evening university students
  3. Graduates of Samford University with active files
  4. Graduates of other colleges and universities referred in writing by their career service office
  5. Prospective employers and graduate/professional schools who recruit Samford University students and/or graduates
  6. Samford University employees and their immediate family

 

 

 

 

 

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