Career Corner: Navigating Career Exploration at Every Level

As a parent or guardian, your involvement in your student’s college experience can play a pivotal role in shaping their professional future. One of the most impactful ways to support their journey is by encouraging regular check-ins with Fisher’s Career Services team to stay up to date on how they can progress through their career exploration.

Work-Study for First-Year College Students: A Guide for Parents

As your student embarks on their first year of college, you may be exploring various ways to support them both financially and academically. One excellent opportunity to consider is the Federal Work-Study Program. This initiative not only helps students earn money to cover educational expenses but also provides valuable work experience. Here’s what you need to know about work-study eligibility, its benefits, and how your student can prepare for it.

Understanding Work-Study Eligibility

Eligibility for work-study is determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The financial aid package you receive will outline whether your student qualifies for this program. If eligible, they will be awarded a specific amount they can earn through work-study jobs on campus during the academic year.

The Benefits of Work-Study

Financial Assistance: Earnings from work-study can help cover tuition, books, and other educational expenses, reducing the need for student loans.

Flexible Hours: Work-study jobs are designed to accommodate students’ academic schedules, ensuring that work commitments do not interfere with their studies.

Skill Development: Students gain practical work experience, enhancing their résumé and preparing them for future careers. Work-study positions often relate to students’ fields of study, providing relevant experience.

Networking Opportunities: On-campus work-study jobs allow students to build relationships with faculty and staff, which can be beneficial for academic and career advice.

Work-study job postings are typically released at the beginning of August. To ensure your student is ready to apply, have them upload their résumé to Handshake, Fisher’s one-stop career management tool (accessible from the mySJF dashboard). This will allow them to quickly apply for work-study positions once they are posted. Handshake also offers a variety of resources to help students craft a professional résumé. The Career Services team will be working with your student to transition to a college-level résumé in their First Seminar course. 

By taking these steps, your student will be well-prepared to take advantage of work-study opportunities as soon as they become available. This proactive approach can significantly enhance their college experience, providing both financial support and professional development.

Helping Students Activate Their Career Action Plan

Whether your student is a sophomore, junior, or senior, consistent engagement with Career Services is key to career readiness—and it’s never too early (or too late) to start. These meetings align with Fisher’s Career Action Plan, a roadmap that helps students explore, prepare, and launch confidently into their careers.

The Benefits of Career Check-Ins

Explore and Refine Interests: The Career Services team helps students identify their strengths, values, and interests, then connect those insights to potential career paths.

Build Professional Readiness: Through advanced résumé development, mock interviews, and networking strategies, students learn to present themselves confidently in today’s job market.

Gain Real-World Experience: Students receive guidance on finding internships, part-time roles, and volunteer opportunities that align with their goals and boost their résumés.

Prepare for Interviews: Targeted interview prep ensures students are well-equipped to make strong first impressions with employers.

Plan for Life After Graduation: Whether considering full-time employment, graduate school, gap years, or fellowships, Career Services supports informed planning and decision-making.

Why This Matters

Fisher’s Career Action Plan is designed to help students build momentum throughout their college years, not just at the finish line. Your encouragement to schedule career check-ins—especially during pivotal points in their academic journey—can help your student stay on track, gain confidence, and feel supported every step of the way.

Students can easily schedule appointments through Handshake, Fisher’s career management platform.