CAREER PLANNING

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Books and Directories on Career Planning |  Cool Links

Mason Resources

 The Center for Global Education (CGE) provides a wide array of study abroad opportunities for students and the general public and functions as the hub for international educational activities. Check out the many short-term, semester or year long, honors study abroad, international internships, and intensive language programs at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/cge/.

Exploring Majors is a listing of majors and career information compiled by the Academic Advising Center available online at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/advising/majors.html.

The New Century College (NCC) motto is "Connecting the Classroom to the World." Faculty are committed to the creation of educational experiences which will prepare NCC graduates for the workplace and for the demands of active local, regional and global citizenship. Through experiential learning, the community, the workplace and the world become the student's classroom and immediate, concrete experience becomes the basis for reflection and integration of classroom knowledge and experience. Students must complete at least 12 credit hours of experiential learning in the form of internships, co-ops, study abroad, short courses and service learning. NCC has developed many ways for students to fulfill this requirement and college advisers help students research placements most relevant to individual their interests. Explore these learning options at http://www.ncc.gmu.edu/exlearn.html.

Student Academic Affairs and Advising (SAAA) encourages and supports students to identify, plan for, and achieve their educational goals. SAAA serves the diverse student population by recognizing the uniqueness of each student and by fostering growth in a supportive, student-development oriented environment. SAAA also serves as a centralized resource that provides current and accurate information and guidance to the university community. Visit http://www.gmu.edu/departments/saa/.

University Career Services serves students and employers seeking to employ students from the schools and colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, Information Technology and Engineering, Management in collaboration with School of Management Career Services, New Century College, Nursing, Public Policy in collaboration with School of Public Policy Career Services, School of Law, and Visual and Performing Arts. For quick links to each respective area visit http://www.gmu.edu/student/employment/.

University Career Services links students to the 75% of employers that are seeking new college graduates with career-related experience. Internships are important to future marketability because they provide valuable career-related work/learning experience and opportunities to test out and reshape career goals; develop skills that enhance qualifications for future full-time professional employment; make professional contacts; and possibly gain full-time employment upon graduation. Find out more at http://careers.gmu.edu/students/getexperience/internships.cfm.

Where to Start…Career Resources is a comprehensive list of resources compiled by University Career Services that includes career field information, graduate/professional information, job hunting and employment information and employer directories. To begin collecting information on careers of interest, visit this site at http://careers.gmu.edu/resources/wheretostartbibs.htm.

What Can I Do With This Major is a convenient website that helps connect majors with careers. For each major that is of interest, choose "Information" to find an outline of common career areas, typical employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. Choose "Links" to find a list of websites that provide information about listed majors and related careers. Information sheets and websites represent typical career paths associated with each major and are not comprehensive. Explore information and websites from multiple majors to help learn about a wide range of career opportunities. The websites listed under "Links" are not maintained by the Career Center but are provided as a convenience to students located at http://careers.gmu.edu/resources/majorsutk/majors/index.html.
Online Career Links for specific majors are available through University Career Services at http://careers.gmu.edu/onlineresources/.  
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Local Resources

The Federal Career Intern Program was designed to make it easier for agencies to recruit with less red tape. The Social Security Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security are among the agencies that use the program. Most of the jobs are for two years, and participants who meet program goals usually get a chance to convert to a full-time job in civil service without having to go through the usual competitive hiring process. Young professionals interested in federal employment may want to take a look at http://www.studentjobs.gov/ or http://www.opm.gov/careerintern/.

One Stop Career Centers are the focal point of America's workforce investment system, supporting the employment needs of job seekers and the human resource needs of business. At One Stop Centers, workers, job seekers, and other participants can receive training and education, build their skills, and access federal assistance programs, while employers use One Stop Centers to help recruit workers they need for their businesses. Find the Virginia listings at http://www.servicelocator.org/search/CategorySearch_Resnew.asp?zip=&city=&state=VA&proximity=25&usertype=
ForWorkers&Category=WorkersServices&x=10&y=10.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) employment web site offers a diverse range of career opportunities for challenge-seeking and progressive-minded individuals. Entry-level to management position availability may vary from Richmond Headquarters to the four regional and three field offices located in Abingdon, Lynchburg, Manassas, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke and Verona. Visit http://www.dli.state.va.us/whoweare/employment/employment.html for more details.

Virginia VIEW is the Career Information System for the Commonwealth of Virginia that provides information to all citizens about educational and career opportunities. One may find information about a college by calling the VIEW Career Line @1-800-542-5870. To explore and find out about other interests and cool careers browse, the VIEW Career Search. Their CrossRoads newspapers assist with information on financial aid, and study skills tips. VIEW is easy to use, informative and free for every student in Virginia! Check out their site at http://www.vaview.org/index.htm.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) is a nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students with challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest such program, TWC has over 33,000 alumni, leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. To find out how to participate in this exciting program, visit http://www.twc.edu.

The JMU International Internship Program offers more than 50 internships each semester on an increasingly worldwide basis in the fields of business, the arts, government, communications and social services. The program is open primarily to third- and fourth-year students, recent graduates, graduate students from Virginia, students from Virginia institutions, and Virginia residents enrolled at schools elsewhere. Students without Virginian connections can be considered if positions remain open. To take advantage of this opportunity visit the website at http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/programs_internships.shtml.  <back to top>

National Resources

America’s Career InfoNet is an information source for smart career decisions. Users can find wage and employment trends, occupational requirements, state-by-state labor markets, millions of employer contacts, and more on this web site at http://www.acinet.org/acinet/default.asp.

The Career Development eManual helps users consider their future, how to start a career, changes necessary to move in that direction and how to find stable and secure work. This advice comes from years of talking with students, employers, alumni, and through research done by the Career Services Department at the University of Waterloo indicating that the world of work is rapidly changing, employers are interested in hiring people who can demonstrate their skills and abilities, and one needs to develop strategies to reach career goals. To help navigate this site efficiently, start with the introduction: Steps To Success at http://www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca/steps.asp. Good Luck!

The Career Interests Game is designed to help individuals match their interests and skills with similar careers. It can help one begin thinking about how personality fits in with specific work environments and careers. This exercise is based on Dr. John Holland's theory that people and work environments can be loosely classified into six different groups. While they may have some interests and similarities within several of the six groups, people may be attracted primarily to two or three of these areas of interest. These two or three letters are the Holland Code. For more information about the Career Interests Game, careers, majors, and self-assessments visit the link located at http://career.missouri.edu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=146.

The Career Key is a free service to assist with choosing college majors, training programs, career choices, career changes, career planning, and job searches. More than 5,000 people visit this web site daily for professional career guidance. http://www.careerkey.org/english/index.html.

Career Opportunities of the Office of Personnel Management is a gateway guide to federal careers around the nation and the world. For a person who is already 'Working for America' and wanting to explore other career options, this is also the place to look. Students will find this a helpful resource in locating student jobs, summer jobs, scholarships, and internships. Check out the variety of employment opportunities at http://www.opm.gov/Career_Opportunities/.

The Career Voyages web site is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to provide information on high growth, high demand occupations along with the skills and education needed to attain those jobs. The goals are to inform of occupations experiencing significant growth and for which there are an increasing number of job openings. Additionally, the site assists in keeping users aware of the skills and education required for these occupations to provide information available on job openings in the area. Furthermore, it provides information about training and education that is available to prepare for these occupations while helping advance in a career path toward a brighter future. Finally, it offers potential sources of financial support that can help pay for needed training or education. http://www.careervoyages.gov/about-main.cfm.

College Grad.com is an internet job search service exclusively for college students and recent grads that are actively linked to more than 6,000 colleges and universities and provide expansive entry level job search content to job seekers on the Internet. To apply for jobs and get more information visit their site at http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/index.shtml.

Federal Jobs by College Major is designed to help in choosing the right career field through a grouping of Federal jobs that are often filled by college graduates with appropriate academic majors. Jobs listed under each major are examples and not an all-inclusive list. Many jobs do not require a college degree, as job-related experience is just as relevant. Individuals can qualify for a large number of administrative jobs with a degree in any academic major which is illustrated with a list of some of the most popular jobs for which any major is qualifying. Gain incite about particular interests at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei23.asp.

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) was founded to help instill in young people an appreciation for the American form of government and the free enterprise system. TFAS sponsors Institutes that teach college students about the principles and values upon which the United States was founded. Each Institute offers classroom study, internships, and special events and can be reviewed at http://www.dcinternships.org. Other programs sponsored by TFAS include an Institute in the Czech Republic for students from Central and Eastern European countries, an Institute in Greece for students from the Eastern Mediterranean region, an Institute in Hong Kong for students from countries in Asia, and a week-long Institute in Prague which brings together both working journalists and student journalists from Europe. More information on TFAS International Institutes is available online at http://www.tfasinternational.org.

Get That Gig is an innovative website that profiles specific jobs, individuals that perform a specific job function, employers, job postings, and internships. In addition, the “Gig Gab forums” are designed to address career interests, questions and answers. Log on, ask questions and chat with others who have the same questions. Each category has its own forum. Log on and chat at http://www.getthatgig.com.

Idealist.org is a project of Action Without Borders that connects people to thousands of job postings, volunteer opportunities and internship programs. Action Without Borders is independent of any government, political ideology or religious creed whose work is guided by the common desire of it’s members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect. Find postings at http://www.idealist.org.

INROADS is a non-profit organization that trains and develops talented minority youth for professional careers in business and industry. An INROADS Internship is a year-round experience that requires students to make a serious commitment to participate in and complete specific job readiness and leadership requirements, while maintaining a B or better academic grade point average. To find out more about this unique opportunity visit http://www.inroads.org.

Use InternshipPrograms.com to post a resume for employers who are exclusively looking for interns! Search the extensive database of internships, read internship reviews or create a real intern profile, or research companies and careers at http://www.internshipprograms.com.

Internships.com provides extensive opportunities for internships both nationally and internationally as well as, various guides and services for students looking for internships and career possibilities. http://www.internships.com.

JobWeb® is a web site of career development and job-search information for college students and new college graduates that is owned and sponsored by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). NACE is America's bridge between higher education and the world of work. NACE career services professionals counsel college students and alumni on career development and the job search; as well as the employer organizations and their HR/employment professionals recruit college graduates and other experienced professionals. To find out more about this service visit http://www.jobweb.com/.

The Major to Career Converter at Monster.com provides sample listings of career opportunities reflective of academic majors, interests, values, and skills at http://www.monstertrak.monster.com/resources/mtcc/resourceframe_index.html.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Department of Labor is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations. Find out how to get on track with an interesting at http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm.

O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is a comprehensive database of worker attributes and job characteristics that serves as the nation's primary source of occupational information. O*NET is being developed as a timely, easy-to-use resource that supports public and private sector efforts to identify and develop the skills of the American workforce. It provides a common language for defining and describing occupations. Its flexible design also captures rapidly changing job requirements. It provides the essential foundation for facilitating career counseling, education, employment, and training activities. The database contains information about knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), interests, general work activities (GWAs), and work context. O*NET data and structure will also link related occupational, educational, and labor market information databases to the system. For further information access the site at http://online.onetcenter.org/.

OOQ Online is based on the print periodical Occupational Outlook Quarterly and provides an opportunity to read a "nutshell" description or a "snippet" from each OOQ article before downloading the article’s full text. OOQ provides practical information on jobs and careers. Articles are written in straightforward, non-technical language and cover a wide variety of career and work-related topics such as new and emerging occupations, training opportunities, salary trends, and results of new studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Read more to develop a career that is of interest. See http://stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.

The Partnership for Public Service is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing public service through a campaign of educational efforts, policy research, public-private partnerships and legislative advocacy. By improving public understanding and confidence in government the Partnership mission fills a critical and unique role by helping to recruit and retain excellence in the federal workforce. With an emphasis on inspiring a new generation to serve and transforming the way government works, it acts as a catalyst for change. The Partnership works to make the government an employer of choice for talented, dedicated Americans through educational outreach, research, legislative advocacy, and hands-on partnerships with agencies on workforce management issues. Explore opportunities at http://www.ourpublicservice.org/.

Peterson’s Internships 2005 is published annually and reaches an estimated 105 million consumers with information about colleges and universities, career schools, graduate programs, distance learning, executive training, private secondary schools, summer opportunities, study abroad, financial aid, test preparation, and career exploration. Access and program information is provided online at http://www.petersons.com.

The Philadelphia Center provides opportunities for professional exploration, intellectual development, and personal growth in the heart of one of America’s largest and most dynamic cities. The program features over 800 field placements, one-of-a-kind seminars, and independent living in an exciting urban setting. Interns work four days a week in a well-supervised, unpaid position for academic credit. Students are assured of receiving substantial work experience and exploring possible career options. Through city seminars and electives, insights are gained into urban life and new areas of personal, professional, and academic growth and inquiry. Students must be enrolled in an American college or university to attend and may obtain the list of upcoming semester dates and more information at http://www.philactr.edu/.

The Princeton Review is an extensive resource that provides information on colleges, careers, study abroad, and internships at http://www.princetonreview.com.

The Riley Guide is an online directory of employment and career information sources and services primarily intended to provide instruction for job seekers on how to use the Internet to their best advantage. The Riley Guide: Internships, Apprenticeships, and Volunteer Opportunities is available in an easy to read user-friendly format at http://www.rileyguide.com/intern.html.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) is a dynamic summer internship program for talented students of color leading to full-time job offers. Since its inception, SEO’s Career Program has placed over 3,500 Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American students in internships that lead to opportunities in exciting and rewarding careers in the most competitive industries worldwide. SEO grooms its interns to excel in the workplace and become community leaders who will give back and forge a path to success for the next generation. As a direct result of the Career Program and the high performance of its interns, SEO has significantly increased the number of people of color employed by major corporations nationwide. Find out more at http://www.seo-ny.org.

Study Abroad.com is a great place to begin when thinking of studying abroad. The website has information about academic semester and summer programs, internship programs, as well as an array of practical information about things like financial aid, housing, discount airfare, telephone services, health insurance, and consumer tips. There is also a discussion board and newsletter available that can be accessed at http://www.studyabroad.com/.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Guide to Industries provides information on available careers by industry, including the nature of the industry, working conditions, employment, occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings and benefits, employment outlook, and lists of organizations that can provide additional information. The Career Guide is a companion to the Occupational Outlook Handbook and can be explored at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm.

The United States Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) E-Scholar/U. S. Jobs for Students website provides students, parents, and career professionals with information on different educational opportunities offered by Federal Government departments, agencies, or partnering organizations. For more information visit http://www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp. For quick answers to career questions see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .

WetFeet Inc. is a recruitment solutions provider that helps leading corporations to more effectively attract, screen, hire and retain the right people. WetFeet provides comprehensive career content for job seekers through its websites, WetFeet.com and InternshipPrograms.com. WetFeet's profiles of companies, careers, industries, cities and vast library of career advice articles provide a unique perspective to help readers find the right career, the right industry, the right company, the right job for them. WetFeet's invaluable career content appears on hundreds of sites across the Web, including major newspapers, universities, media companies, job boards, and leading employer websites. Check it out at http://wetfeet.internshipprograms.com/.

Books and Directories on Career Planning

College Majors Handbook. Neeta Fogg, Paul Harrington and Thomas Harrington. JIST Publishing, 2004.

Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes. Gary Gottfredson and John Holland. Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc., 1996.

How to Choose a College Major. Linda Landis Andrews. VGM Horizons, 1998.

The Internship Series published by Career Education Institute www.internships-usa.com.  <back to top>