Your dream job is out there. And you know that to get it, you’ll have to work hard and push yourself to the next level. You can do this! And we can help. ;
With a Peirce College degree, some guidance from the Center for Career and Professional Development and a little motivation, you will find and build a rewarding career.
As an adult learner, you may already have a career that you want to advance by returning to school, or you may want to pursue a degree so that you can change careers. Wherever you are in life, the Center will help guide you toward where you want to be with our four-step process:
- Know where you’re going
- Understand your career field
- Get work experience while you’re in school
- Look for and find a job
Know Where You’re Going
What do you want to do with your life? It’s a big question, and maybe one that’s a little scary at first. But you’re going back to school for a reason, aren’t you? You may not yet know exactly what you want your day-to-day
functions to be in a job, but you should at least have an idea of what field interests you and why. Bring that idea with you to Peirce and come visit the Center for Career and Professional Development. We’ll help you home in on turning that idea into a career
that makes you happy (and makes you money).
Curious what type of jobs are available to someone with a degree in your chosen field? Take a look at some of the most common professions in your area of study:
Remember, most Americans are now working an average of 50 years, and careers grow and evolve over time. Your career isn’t always going to be a straight line, but together we’ll figure out where you want to be in five to 10 years and how
best to get you started on the path to get there.
Understand Your Career Field
Earning a degree at Peirce will help you gain market-relevant skills that employers in your field are looking for, but you also have to understand the market you’re targeting. Is your desired industry conservative or innovative? Is your dream
job in a field that is growing or declining? What professional networks should you join? And how often should you update your LinkedIn profile, anyway?
The Center for Career and Professional Development can provide insight to help you stay up to date with changes in your current or target industry. As you work on your degree, we will help you keep that big-picture goal in mind.
Get Work Experience While You’re In School
You’ve heard it before, and maybe you’ve even said it yourself: you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job. So, what do you employers expect you to do?
Don’t worry. It’s possible to get experience before you graduate! The Center for Career and Professional Development is here to help you land internships, co-ops, work study opportunities or part-time jobs to build professional experience as a student so you can meet job requirements when you graduate.
Cooperative education, or “co-op,” gets you valuable career experience by connecting your classroom learning with relevant work experience in your target industry. Internships place you in entry-level roles at local organizations relative
to your field of study, and some even pay you for your time. Finally, work study students gain professional experience working here at Peirce while earning money to offset tuition.
Once you have an understanding of where you want your career to go and what you need to get there, we’ll show you current co-op, internship, work study openings for students. We’ll also actively reach out to partner organizations in the
area to support you in identifying other potential opportunities.
Look for and Find a Job
You know where you want to go. You know what the market requires and what you need to get there. And you’ve even learned some of those skills and built some experience. Now it’s time to get the job!
If you’re unsure whether or not your background, skills, and knowledge are enough to meet the requirements that you see in job postings, that’s OK. We’ll help you identify your marketable skills and transfer them into the workplace
so you have a jumpstart on your career.
When it’s time to start pursuing your first job after graduation, we will ensure you’re ready by helping you:
Don’t wait until you graduate to get started! Speak to your advisor today to find the right degree program. Once you’re enrolled, come visit the Center for Career and Professional Development to start laying out your career plan.