The Career Design Center
The Career Design Center supports your student’s success - from their first year through graduation and beyond. Our services and resources are designed to help students explore academic interests, consider career options, and navigate changes in direction as they discover the path that’s right for them. It’s normal for students to question, explore, and even change their minds along the way - and we’re here to guide them through that journey.
During the exploration phase, career coaching helps students uncover their passions, strengths, values, and personality, and how these connect to potential majors and careers. We invite you to support your student by encouraging them to use our services to build confidence and engage in a thoughtful process that leads to meaningful academic and career goals.
How you can help
As supporters and/or family members, here are some suggestions on how you can support your student in their career design journey:
- Listen carefully to their ideas about majors and careers and try to see the situation from their perspective
- Be supportive of your student exploring a wide variety of activities and encourage them to push beyond their familiar interests and skills
- Encourage involvement in experiential learning opportunities (internships, undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, study or intern abroad, student clubs and leadership programs, volunteer) as a way to build or refine valuable career readiness skills.
- Explore what the Career Design Center provides, and encourage your student to make the most of its coaching and career resources.
- Invite your student to consider diverse career options.
- Encourage your student to connect with family and friends as part of their professional network. These trusted individuals are often professionals themselves - or connected to others - and can be a comfortable starting point for building career connections.
- Reinforce the importance of starting the career design process early so they have time to explore the breadth of opportunities available to them.
Encourage your student to come see us often
As students reflect on their interests and identify a career path, the Career Design Center can help them confidently market themselves and connect with future employers. Some of our coaching services include:
- Internship and Job Search Tactics
- Resume & Cover Letter Strategies and Reviews
- Interviewing & Negotiating Strategies and Practice Tools
- LinkedIn, Personal Branding and Networking Tips
Appointments are available at flexible times to meet students' class and work schedule needs. Our services are available to all students and OSU alumni. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving your student in the Career Design Center.