Encouraging Students to Be Involved
By: Career & Professional Development
Career & Professional Development is a comprehensive and collaborative 11-member staff dedicated to helping students and alumni clarify and attain their career goals. The recently renovated office is located on the first and second floors of Crosby and includes education and conference space, interviewing rooms, staff offices, and a hospitality suite. Common topics addressed through CPD services, programs, and resources include but are not limited to: resume and cover letter writing, major selection and career planning, job search correspondence, interviewing, job search strategies, internship development, negotiating salaries and benefits, networking, dining and professional etiquette, and more.
Students often come into the CPD office for one-on-one appointments saying things like “I don’t have any experience to put on my resume.” While most students may not have extensive work experience coming into their first year of school, there are always opportunities to gain experience, build a network, and improve your resume by getting involved in clubs, organizations, and activities around campus. Engaging in activities outside of the classroom (Whether it’s attending the Seattle or Portland Career Treks, taking trips with Gonzaga Outdoors, volunteering with the Center for Community Engagement, or more) helps students learn the leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills they will need to succeed in college and their professional lives. Encourage your students to dive in head-first to the opportunities that interest them at Gonzaga as the experiences they gain will not only become fond memories, but will also pay dividends as they transition into their professional careers.
Career & Professional Development offers many opportunities for students to get involved, and provides programming throughout the year that will help your student navigate the career development process. Some of this year’s programming includes:
Ice Cream Social Welcome Back to Campus Event: September 12, 2017
Careers in Government Panel: September 29, 2017
NY Trek: Oct 22-25, 2017
Résuménia: First Wednesday of Every Month
Speed Mock Interviews: October 9, 2017
All Majors Career & Internship Fair: October 10, 2017
Engineering and Computer Science Career & Internship Fair: October 11, 2017
Spokane Excursions: Oct 19-20, 2017
Engaging with Communities for Justice: Oct 20, 2017 Noon
Career Discernment Retreat: Nov 3-4, 2017
Portland Trek: January 9, 2018
Seattle Trek: January 11, 2018
You Can in Spokane: February 2018
FUSE Career Fair: March 1, 2018
Silicon Valley Trek: Thursday, March 15, 2018
San Francisco Trek: Friday, March 16, 2018
Employers and Organizations start recruiting for their summer internships and full-time positions in the fall. Getting involved with opportunities like these, as well as others around campus, will help your student identify their career and educational goals.
Contact Career & Professional Development for more information at 509.313.4234, careers@gonzaga.edu, or stop by the office on the first floor of Crosby.