Tips for talking with your student about their future
Talking about careers with your student can be a meaningful opportunity to connect. Today鈥檚 career paths are more varied than ever, and students don鈥檛 need to have everything figured out right now. With encouragement, open conversations and the right resources, students can take small, confident steps toward their future.听
Here are a few ways to approach career conversations with your student, plus tools and resources that can help along the way.听
Start with listening, not solving听
Today鈥檚 job market looks different than it did even a few years ago. Many 鈥渆ntry鈥憀evel鈥 jobs now ask for previous experience, which can feel discouraging to students who are just getting started.听
When talking with your student:听
- Ask open-ended questions like, 鈥淲hat kinds of roles are you curious about right now?鈥听
- Listen without rushing to fix or advise.听
- Validate that it鈥檚 okay to feel unsure or overwhelmed.听
Sometimes students just need space to talk things through before they鈥檙e ready for next steps.听
Help them see the skills they鈥檙e already building听
Many students don鈥檛 realize how much experience they already have. Professional skills aren鈥檛 just gained through internships. They鈥檙e built every day through:听
- Classes and group projects听
- Student organizations and leadership roles听
- Part-time jobs and on-campus employment听
- Volunteering and community involvement听
You can help by asking questions like:听
- 鈥淲hat kinds of projects have you enjoyed?鈥听
- 鈥淲hat problems do people come to you for help with?鈥听
If your student has trouble naming their skills, Career Services offers tools and information to help students identify and talk about what they鈥檝e gained, and how it connects to future roles.听
Share that career paths aren鈥檛 always straight lines听
If your own career path (or that of someone you know) took a few turns, share that story. Many students feel pressure to have everything figured out right now, and it might help put things in perspective.听
Remind them:听
- It鈥檚 normal for career paths to change.听
- Taking a next step matters more than choosing a 鈥減erfect鈥 job.听
- Learning what doesn鈥檛 fit can be just as valuable as learning what does.听
If your Buff is looking for more guidance, career advisors can also help students explore majors, interests and options without pressure to commit to one path.听
Encourage values-based conversations听
Careers aren鈥檛 just about job titles鈥攖hey鈥檙e also about what matters to a student.听
You might ask:听
- 鈥淲hat kinds of challenges do you want to help solve?鈥听
- 鈥淲hat kind of work environment feels right to you?鈥听
Career Services offers tools like Career Values Card Sort and SparkPath Challenge Cards to help students think about how their values connect to the types of work they may enjoy. These can be great conversation starters and a way to start exploring.听
Normalize networking as relationship-building听
For many students, 鈥渘etworking鈥 sounds intimidating. It can help to reframe it as simply learning from others.听
Let your student know:听
- Networking starts the moment they enroll at CU鈥攆aculty, staff supervisors and peers can all be in their network.听
- Conversations鈥攏ot job asks鈥攁re the goal.听
- It鈥檚 okay to be curious and ask questions.听
Students can tap into the CU network through:听
- Forever Buffs Network, where they can connect directly with alumni听
- , to see where CU graduates work and what roles they hold听
- Career events and employer visits on campus听
Explore part-time jobs and experiences听
Hands-on experience helps students build confidence and skills early.听
Encourage your student to:听
- Log into Handshake and explore jobs, internships and events听
- Use keywords tied to interests鈥攏ot just majors听
- Look at curated job searches and on-campus opportunities听
On-campus student employment is a great way to earn money, build a resume and practice professional skills in a supportive environment.听
Encourage them to show up, even if they鈥檙e unsure听
Career fairs and events are designed for exploration, not perfection. All students of all majors are welcome at events like the on April 2. Showing up, asking questions and practicing conversations are wins on their own.听
Remind them they don鈥檛 have to do this alone听
If these conversations feel like a big leap, that鈥檚 okay. Career Services is here to help students:听
- Explore majors and career interests听
- Take career assessments听
- Build resumes and practice interviews听
- Make a plan鈥攕tep by step听
Students can meet with a career advisor one-on-one or stop by during drop鈥慽n hours, no matter their major or career goals.听