Parents' Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What testing is available to students who are unsure about their major?
- A. We have assessment tools to help students in this situation. First, we have students meet with an advisor, and after discussing the student's situation, the advisor will recommend tools that best address the student's needs. Strictly speaking, assessments aren't tests, because they don't test an individual for knowledge, as would something like the SAT. They do help students carefully think about their skills, interests, values, personality, and other important considerations, and then match those to career fields that may be a good fit. Our approach is to guide students toward setting career goals, and then choosing a major that will help achieve those goals. Encourage your student to make an individual advising appointment to meet with an advisor in our office. You may find the information in exploring careers and majors helpful, and you can encourage your student to look there too.
Q. How can I find out if a major leads to good employment prospects at graduation?
- A. We survey each academic year's bachelor's degree graduates and ask about their post-graduation status — whether employed, attending graduate school, still seeking employment; and where they are employed or attending graduate school (and more). We publish the survey findings as the Post-Graduation Report, where you can see that information for any major. This can be helpful to compare majors, and to see trends. For example, graduates of some majors might rarely attend graduate or professional school, while graduates of other majors might commonly do so.
- However, there is no such thing as a major that guarantees employment or guarantees unemployment. Employers hire a total package — a person, not just a major. They want to hire graduates with career-related experience (like internships and co-op), good academic performance, good interpersonal skills, leadership in student organizations, and who exhibit appropriate behaviors in the job search process. Also, if a student chooses a major solely because it seems to assure employability, but the student doesn't like the major, doesn't perform well, and lacks other characteristics employers seek, the student is not positioning him/herself for success.
- For each major, there is a career advisor — a faculty or staff member in the academic department for the major. Those individuals can be excellent sources of advice about past graduates' career pursuits. In addition to other research, your student should consult the Departmental Career Advisor for each major as s/he considers majors.
Q. Who hires Virginia Tech graduates?
- A. Graduates who responded to our Post-Graduation Survey reported over 800 employing organizations — and this is for the graduates of just one academic year. You can see who these organizations are in the Post-Graduation Report. You can view the list of all employers, for the whole university, for a college, or for just a major. You can also view the list of top employers university-wide.
Q. Who recruits on the Virginia Tech campus?
- A. In recent years, roughly 200 to 300 employing organizations per year participated in the On-Campus Interviewing Program. You can view employer
and student participation over several years.
- In addition, many employers recruit on campus via job and career fairs which are typically sponsored by particular academic colleges and/or departments.
- Some academic departments are very specialized and maintain close relationships with industry, and those industry representatives may conduct recruiting directly through the academic department.
Q. I don't think my student knows how to look for an internship or a co-op or a job at graduation. What help is available?
- A. We offer workshops,
advising,
a library
of career resources, and how-to information on this web site — students can use our web site menus, A-Z index, or search on topics of interest (all accessible on this page). Your student can take advantage of any of our resources.
Q. Can I visit Career Services to discuss my student's career development?
- A. Yes. You can schedule an in-person or by-phone appointment, or call to see if our walk-in advisor is available. If you schedule an appointment to visit us in person, we would prefer you bring your son or daughter with you. Perhaps if you both hear the same advice and information, you can encourage your student to take the steps and use the resources we recommend.
Q. My student is interested in graduate school. What should s/he be considering?
- A. Planning for graduate or professional school is a good place to start, and includes events that can help students decide and prepare. Students should read should you go? to make sure s/he's going for the right reasons. Your student essentially needs to read and do research — if s/he hasn't already — just as with any important decision. We can assist your student in finding the resources that will help. If considering law or medical fields, s/he should also consult the appropriate pre-professional school advisors.
Q. What should my student do throughout the undergraduate years to prepare for her/his future?
Other questions?
- If your question is not answered here, or you need to speak with someone, we have advisors available for on-call or walk-in advising during select hours on business days. (See our office hours for summer variations and office closings.) Call 540-231-6241; we will either connect you with an advisor or have the advisor return your call if s/he is currently with a student.
