Career Quick Questions

What can Career and Student Employment Services help me with?

• Career advisors are licensed counselors and can assist with major/career selection and employability skills, including but not limited to resume and cover letter writing, mock interviews, job search strategies and career fair preparation.

I am undecided. What do I do next?  I need to decide on a major, so I can pick my classes. Where do I start?

• Make a career advising appointment. Appointments are available for current students, alumni or students enrolling in the next semester.
• Call 269-488-4100 to make an appointment with a career advisor.
• Once a career path has been decided, an academic counselor can assist in choosing specific courses related to the program of study.

How is an assessment going to help me?  What type of career assessments are available?  What is the difference between an assessment and a test?

• Career and Student Employment Services offers career assessments for students who are exploring career options.
• Assessments determine a student’s interests, personality preferences, values and strengths which are essential in the career/major decision-making process.
• Assessments include: Strong Interest Inventory, Do What You Are/Myers Briggs Type Indicator, and StrengthsQuest.
• Assessments gather and compile useful information - there are no wrong or right answers. Tests imply a right and wrong answer.

How long is a career advising appointment?  How long does it take to complete the career assessments?

• An undecided/exploring student’s first career counseling appointments is 90 minutes.
• Depending upon the assessment, completion usually takes 30-40 minutes.
• Once the assessment(s) is completed, the career advisor provides an interpretation of the results with the student.
• Follow-up appointments may be necessary to continue the discussion or to interpret additional results. Follow up appointments are 60 minutes.
• Appointments for employability skills are 60 minutes and may require follow-up appointments.

When should I arrive for my appointment?  What should I do if I can’t keep it?

• Students should arrive at the Student Development Center 10 minutes prior to the appointment time to fill out the intake form.
• Students should call 269-488-4100 to reschedule or cancel if they can’t keep the appointment or if they are going to be more than 15 minutes late.
• If a student is more than 15 minutes late, the appointment will need to be rescheduled.

Does Career and Student Employment Services have drop-in appointments?

• Yes, Career Quick Connection is located in front of the Learning Center, TTC 2220.
• Career Quick Connections days and times at TTC 2220:
  
  Fall
  Tuesday 12:30-2:30
  Wednesday 12:30-2:30

  Winter
  Tuesday 12:30-2:30
  Wednesday 12:30-2:30

  Summer
  Wednesday 12:30-2:30
• Drop-ins also are available at AWH 120, Tuesdays 4:30-6:30pm.
• Drop-ins provide quick, 20-minute appointments on a first come, first serve basis to assist with employability skills, such as resume and cover letter critiques, questions about building a professional network, developing a job search strategy, how to prepare for a job interview and creating a personal commercial.
• Assessments and interpretations cannot be done during drop-in hours due to the confidentiality of items being discussed and interpretations require more than 20 minutes.
• Drop-ins only occur during the semester and will not be held when classes are not in session.

Can I take the assessments at home?

• Yes, assessments can be completed at home.
• However, results can only be obtained by scheduling and appointment for an interpretation with a career advisor.

I lost my results, can I get them printed?  

• If an interpretation has been completed, a reprint can be obtained at the Student Development Center or one can be provided electronically via email by the student’s career advisor.
• If the assessment was completed in a class and the group interpretation was missed, students must make an appointment with a career advisor for an individual interpretation.

Does Career and Student Employment Services hire for jobs at KVCC?

• No, but career advisors can help with the application process and direct applicants to the Kalamazoo Valley Human Resources website where the jobs are listed https://www.kvcc.edu/jobs.

Are services available only to current KVCC students?

• Services are available to current Kalamazoo Valley students, alumni, and students who have applied and have been accepted.

Can a career advisor sign me up for classes and change my major?

• No, career advisors focus on career development, exploring career options and career decisions, but not specific classes.
• Academic counselors can discuss classes for a specific program of study and can help develop a class schedule and update your major.