Looking at Your Student's Employee Package
And helping him/her consider areas to pursue

When it comes to heading down the career path, choosing a major is just one piece of the puzzle for students. Looking at their overall employee "package" is about a whole lot more than just what they majored in. It involves service, activities, leadership, work experiences and more.

This summer is a good time for all students to gather the pieces of their employee package. That way, they'll be ready when it comes to resume writing, job interviewing or simply looking at their experiences so far and determining other areas they'd like to pursue in the coming year. You can help with this process by posing the following types of questions...

Your Coursework
What classes have touched you in some way—whether it's getting you to think differently, striking an emotion or lighting up your enthusiasm? What makes each class particularly noteworthy?

Your Activities
What extracurricular pursuits are you involved with? Are you spending your time and energy in areas that have meaning to you? Why or why not?

Your Service
How do you serve others? What are your community involvements, from one-shot deals to ongoing efforts? Are your efforts supporting causes that are important to you? Why or why not?

Your Leadership Skills
What leadership skills are you acquiring through your involvements, classes, work and beyond? What do you consider your leadership strengths at this point? And what areas would you like to improve?

Your Work Experience
What jobs have you held throughout your work life so far? What are two to three things you have learned from each experience?

By examining these types of questions and writing down answers, your student will have a good start when it comes time to put together a resume, scholarship essays or answers to job interview questions. Plus, she'll be better able to assess the types of experiences she'd like to pursue in the coming academic year.

Being intentional with time and effort can help your student greatly enhance her employee package while also enriching her life.

Five Areas of Growth
Consider asking your student: What are some things you'd like to learn, areas you'd like to improve on or experiences to pursue? Once he has reviewed his answers to the questions in this article, encourage him to make a list of 5 growth areas he'd like to focus on. This will help make his efforts more intentional, while also leading him toward a major, a career and a life he is proud to live!