I was interviewed recently for an article about the career tendencies
of today’s graduating students. The phone call from the local
reporter didn’t surprise me. Each year, as another fresh
crop of UC San Diego students graduate, career development professionals
like me are called upon to comment on the state of the job market.
Fortunately, times are good for today’s graduates bound for
their first post-graduation jobs. However, the way in which these
graduates are making their career decisions seems to be changing.
Their parents now play an essential role in their early career
strategies, helping select their interview suits, editing their
resumes, and coaching them on interview techniques.
Dubbed “helicopter parents” as they hover over their
job-seeking grads, they are the subject of much discussion on campuses
today, and I personally, credit today’s graduates for building
such strong support networks around them. Whether parents, friends,
professors, or fellow alumni, all of us need what I’ll call
a “career advisory board.” Regardless of how well we
claim to know ourselves, it is helpful to complement that self
knowledge with insights from those who see us in another light.
Some members of our career advisory board will love us unconditionally
and serve as cheerleaders. Others, such as career advisors, will
help us take an objective look at our talents, our goals and our
options. Both of these board members play essential roles
as we navigate our professional journeys.
Our career advisory board does not dissolve when we land the dream
job. Its members should be in place when we consider our next move,
grieve a lost promotion or celebrate a professional accomplishment.
Think about who serves on your career advisory board, and if you
don’t have one consider creating one. Have their addresses,
phone numbers and e-mails handy and keep them apprised of your
employment status. They may not always be able to open doors for
you, but they may help you test your decisions and examine your
career from another perspective.
For more information,
visit http://career.ucsd.edu/sa/alumnpage.shtml.
Andrew Ceperley has been director
of UCSD’s Career Services
Center since 2003.
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