For Parents

Many parents ask, "When is a good time for my son/daughter to start thinking about careers?" The answer to this question can vary for each student, but generally students should begin their career exploration early in their college career. Ideally, students will begin using Walton Career Services during their freshmen year. Students who initiate the process of writing resumes, exploring internships and cooperative education opportunities, attending employer presentations and career fairs, and networking with alumni will develop a greater understanding of career fields, and have more career options as they progress with their college education.

At the University of Arkansas, Walton Career Services' mission is to teach students lifelong skills. The foundation of this mission is built on educating students in areas of career research, personal skills assessment, and identification of both internship and full-time employment opportunities. Our goal is to provide students with a comprehensive program, encouraging them to understand the complexity of their educational pursuits as they relate to their future. It is important to know that Walton Career Services does not actually "place" students in jobs - that would be a short-term solution. Our goal is to provide students with the tools necessary for them to feel confident and engaged in their lifelong career development. Please ask your student to visit our career advising page and review the many resources Walton Career Services offers.

Tips and Articles from NACE

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.

Additional Reading

A Career Action Plan - It's important to start thinking about your career as early as possible. That doesn't mean you have to know exactly what you want to be after college-or that you can't change your mind along the way. Your freshman year isn't too early to start mapping out your future-even if you haven't chosen a major yet.

Great Books for Graduating Seniors - Even though life after college doesn't come with an instruction book, here are some great books to get your graduate started with "life in the real world."

How Assessment Can Help You Choose a Major or a Career - Career services staff can't make academic or career decisions for you. You can, by scheduling counseling sessions with the staff and using other resources available through your career services office, including assessment tools.

Parents Have Their Say... About Their College - Age Children's Career Decisions-Families, parents and guardians in particular, play a significant role in the occupational aspirations and career goal development of their children. Without parental approval or support, students and young adults are often reluctant to pursue-or even explore-diverse career possibilities. Yet parents may be unaware of the influence they have on the career development and vocational choice of their children.

What a Career Center Can Do For You - Are you uncertain about what major to pursue or have you already chosen a major but aren't sure where it can take you? Career counselors at your college/university career services office have a wide array of tools to help you make the right choices.