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 FAQ'S
Table of
Contents
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Why should
I visit the Career Center?
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Who is
eligible to use the Career Center?
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What
strategy should I use when choosing a college?
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Undecided on
your college major?
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How much time
should I set aside for career planning
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Contemplating
a career change ?
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Planning a job
search?
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How will
economic trends affect my career options?
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Considering
starting your own business?
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What is the
value of the career assessment inventories?
The Career Center provides students with a unique
opportunity to assess their life priorities and developmental needs,
gather current occupational and academic information, define and achieve
their goals. Visit us and explore the state-of-the-art resources
designed to help you succeed in your personal and professional
growth.
Our Career Center is open to students and the
community for research and exploration. Individual counseling is
available to currently enrolled students and by appointment only.
One of the first steps in choosing a 4-year
college is to develop a plan and identify the desired criteria
based upon your individual situation and personal considerations.
Next, collect facts to determine whether the institution offers your
designated major, review the program curriculum, and evaluate
educational standards important to you. Typically these standards
include such factors as: college location, accessibility,
quality of instruction, admission application procedures, tuition cost,
and financial aid. It's recommended that students consult
representatives from various California 4-year colleges and universities
regularly available by appointment through the
Transfer
Center. Information regarding financial assistance can be
obtained at the Financial
Aid Office on campus. If possible, schedule a visit to
the college of your choice for final evaluation.
Majors play a key role in developing one's skills
and specific knowledge in preparation for a satisfying career.
Choosing the right major is essential to the future of today's students.
We provide several options for students to explore a major as
well as step-by-step support in the decision-making process.
Individual career assessment and counseling are available to currently
enrolled students. An eight-week Career Planning –
Student
Development 125 class is offered to students who prefer
a class environment.
Students and community members are welcomed to utilize numerous
Career Center resources and tools for self-exploration and
research.
Your commitment to career planning is an
individual decision and varies in length depending on one’s personal
needs. Involvement may be as simple as a visit to the Career
Center or it may require additional investment of one’s time.
Commitment to career planning increases greatly when you become aware of
your interests, skills, personality style, and how they relate to the
world of work.
Whether you are undecided about a career or
considering a change in direction, you will find self-assessment
and specific career information instrumental in helping you make the
right choice. Upon assessing your situation, evaluate your
transferable skills and define your work values. Once you have set
goals, put the plan into action with the guidance of our counselors.
An effective job search requires effort, patience,
and a plan of action for favorable results. After carefully
examining your career values, decide what career field to pursue,
research employment opportunities, and select employers who meet your
needs and expectations. It’s important to develop constructive
marketing and networking strategies by analyzing your talents, past work
experience, accomplishments, and applicable skills. Before you
apply for a job, collect facts about the position you are seeking,
including job description, duties, and a summary of required
qualifications. Consider other related employment issues such as
salary, benefits, advancement potential, location, work hours, and work
environment. A positive work environment is essential to job
satisfaction and should be regarded by an individual as one of the
primary contributing factors into one’s sense of purpose and
accomplishment. Evaluate whether you need additional education or
training to develop required skills and knowledge. Volunteer
experience and internships provide an excellent way to develop useful
skills. Utilize resources available at public and career libraries
to identify which career opportunities to target in your job search.
Access job listings by searching job search banks, government and
corporate web sites, and newspaper advertisements.
Maximize your efforts by applying the following
job search tools:
1. Prepare a resume that promotes your talents, abilities,
experience, and education. Identify qualifications you possess and
communicate your strengths to an employer. Convey any activities you
participated in that exhibit your ability to be a team player and juggle
several responsibilities. Your resume summarizes your training and
qualifications. It should be concise and accompanied by a cover
letter addressing the purpose of your application for a specific job
opening. Learn how to target and develop your resume by attending
a Resume Workshop or call
Career
Advisement to have a counselor critique your typed first draft.
2. Develop effective interview skills to
convince the employer of your qualifications for the position.
Familiarize yourself with the latest interviewing techniques by
attending an Interview Workshop and viewing related videos available in
the Career Center at GCC.
3. Improve or strengthen your network system
by initiating personal or professional contacts. The GCC Job Placement
Center provides current job listings and acts as a liaison between job
seekers and employers.
4. Send a follow up letter after each interview. Thank the interviewer for the time and consideration and
communicate your interest in the position and in the employer.
5. Organize and discipline yourself, keep
accurate records, maintain a positive attitude - success can be
achieved. The Career Center is dedicated to assisting you in all your
career development and job search needs. Take advantage of the services
offered and allow us to give you guidance, support and encouragement in
your job search.
Plan ahead before investing time, energy and money
into your education -- investigate future economic trends,
job outlook, and labor market forecasts.
THE
OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK is an excellent source of forecast in
economic and social trends for industries and occupations.
Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, it offers the job outlook
over a projected 10-year period for the national job market.
EUREKA
is another valuable source of information on fastest growing and
declining occupations.
The BUREAU
OF LABOR STATISTICS and CAREERJOURNAL.COM
are a few of related web sites that address trends, issues and
challenges in the workplace of the 21st Century.
GCC Career Center provides recent publications, periodicals, and a
current summary of California’s economic projections by Judith
Apablaza, M.S., Coordinator of Career Center.
EUREKA provides detailed,
step by step information on starting your own business. This data
base provides access to information regarding market analysis, developing
a business plan, financing your business, operating procedures and helpful
hints.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR has several links designed to assist small businesses in complying
with rules, regulations, and laws.
Consider and review GCC
DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES in order to develop business skills and knowledge
about opportunities for future business ventures.
Career assessment inventories evaluate your
skills, interest, and values based upon information you provide about
yourself. The objective of these surveys is to help students find
rewarding and productive careers. The inventories serve as an
excellent tool designed to assist individuals in identifying personal
career guidelines and specific occupations to explore.
Interpretation of the results and how they relate to one’s career
plans is provided by an advisor to offer support to the process of a
career decision.
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