The University of Toledo

Parents and other family members play an integral in the career development of students. This site offers resources to inform your knowledge of the resources available to your College of Business and Innovation student his/her career development.

The Career Development Process

The Career Development process can be broken down into four interrelated stages. The College of Business and Innovation's required career courses, BUAD 2000 (Career Development I) and BUAD 3000 (Career Development II) address each of these stages in a logical and pragmatic fashion. Hands-on exploration in these classes provides students with the structure and resources they need to make well-informed career decisions.

1. Self-assessment Students conduct a thorough examination of their values, interests, personal qualities, skills and aptitudes to determine the whether certain careers will be appropriate for their needs.
2. Major/Career Exploration Major and career exploration often occurs concurrently with self-assessment. As students learn more about their personal make-up, they investigate appropriate majors and career options where they will be able to practice their values, interests, skills, personal qualities and aptitudes. If a student believes she is going to pursue and accounting major, yet does not possess the aptitude or desire to examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records, she will have a miserable academic and subsequent professional existence. Thus, significant emphasis is placed on exploring options that are consistent with student desires.
3. Experiential Learning Internships, co-operative education and related part-time employment or volunteerism allow students to 'try on' careers. This way they affirm their tentative career choice, gain valuable experience, build their professional network and increase the likelihood they will be hired when they enter the job market. Conversely, if students find they dislike, for example, their internship, they still have time to chart a different course.
4. Job/Graduate School Search

Recommendations At-a-Glance

1. Encourage your students to become interdependent. Many students will look to parents for decisions; however, we do our students a disservice when we find and provide all the answers. When students have academic or career related concerns, encourage them to contact the Student Services Office, Stranahan 1016, 419-530-2087 or the Business Career Programs Office, Stranahan 1045, 419-530-5400 for referral information. These two offices will help your student discover the appropriate resources for their concerns.
2. Do not pressure students to pursue a given career path. Many students believe they will/should follow someone’s foot steps or become a second or third generation prototype of a parent. Depending on skills, values, interests, personal qualities and aptitudes, this may be realistic; however, students should be encouraged to explore careers that are consistent with their personal make-up. Ultimately, they will be much happier pursuing careers they enjoy versus careers they thing their parents want them to enjoy.
3. Purchase your career-related gift ideas. Need holiday, birthday or commencement gift ideas? Why not take your student job search shopping? Whether your student is seeking an internship or full-time employment, s/he will need to bolster their professional presence. Some suggestions include: suits, cotton shirts, cotton blouses, leather shoes, belts, or portfolios, dark socks, nylons, simple jewelry, or day planners (paper or PDAs).
4. Remind your student of upcoming Business Career Programs sponsored events Refer your student to the Calendar of Events designed to enhance job search skills.
5. Become an active member of your student’s career/job search team. It is not unusual for students and families to overlook one of the most obvious ways to explore careers or build networks. By simply talking to family members about their careers students may become aware of possible career options or names of people they may contact to inquire about their careers or job possibilities. Sometimes the most obvious resources are the least tapped.