Supporting students' career development in your workplace
November is Career Development Month! As a supervisor, you have meaningful influence on the students you work with and we thank you for your intentionality in supporting their career development in your workplace!
Our discussion at the recent supervisor Gather{Round} centered on this concept and explored the ways that supervisors can support students' career development and create space for reflective conversations. Career Development in the workplace can be simple, like asking students which tasks they enjoy most to invite reflection and naming the skills you see students developing, or more involved, like having a conversation about goal setting or facilitating an informational interview.
An example: One supervisor shared how she's seen a student staff member bloom after giving the student leadership over the department's social media account, connecting the student's skills and interests and resulting in filling a need for the department, as well as giving the student an opportunity to take ownership over a task and reflect on the types of activities they enjoy.
Even accountability conversations can be a form of professional development. A few supervisors shared that when expectations aren't being met, it's hard to have a conversation about what needs to change, especially when it's not having a huge impact on the department. At the same time, they recognized this might not always be the case in the students' future workplaces. By having a proactive conversation that provides opportunities for the student to adjust their choices or behavior, you can both help students see the importance of following through on commitments in the workplace, and help them to build tools to navigate feedback conversations.
And, finally, encourage students to visit CES and take advantage of our resources, no matter what stage they are in their career development journey. You can refer a student to CES to:
- Meet with a Career Advisor to have an exploratory career conversation
- Get feedback on application materials
- Practice interview skills
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Read articles spotlighting alumni and current students
- Take a career assessment
- Connect with an alumni mentor
- Attend a Career Fair or Networking Event
Students (and staff!) can access all these resources and schedule an appointment on our website, ces.pugetsound.edu.
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Plan ahead and register for for the Spring 2025 Professional Development Trainings for supervisors of student staff. Right now, you can sign up for:
STUDENT HIRING & SUPERVISION 101
Timelines, processes, resources, and best practices for hiring and supervising student staff members
Thursday, Feb. 13, 1:30–1:45 p.m. | Murray Boardroom (WSC 108)
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We've had some great monthly Gather{Rounds} so far this fall! More are lined up for December and then next semester — first Thursdays @ 11 a.m.
These gatherings are part training, part roundtable discussion, and part supervisor support group. We tackle a different topic each month. Next up:
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You'll find us in the Misner Room of Collins Memorial Library (LIBR 127). Bring your questions, your advice, and your stories — we'll bring the snacks. We look forward to gathering with you!
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Can student staff work during break periods? How about reading period and finals? Yes to both questions, but it depends on their job duration. Student staff members are eligible to work at any time within their job duration – including fall, winter, and spring break; reading period; and finals week. (You can view the job duration on myPugetSound >> HR Manager Resources >> Student Job & Earnings.)
For example, if working during upcoming break periods is of interest to both the student and the department, and the student's job duration is:
9/3/2024 – 5/11/2025 (the full academic year), they are eligible to work during reading period, finals week, and winter* break.
9/3/2024 – 12/20/2024 (fall semester only), they are eligible to work during reading period and finals week if they have earnings** remaining. Winter break is outside of their job duration, so they are not eligible to work during that time.
*When scheduling winter break work, avoid the days when the university is closed in late December – early January. If you and/or your regular staff are not working, your student staff shouldn't be either.
**Break periods are not included in the earnings limit calculation. You'll need to be mindful of how the student's schedule may need to be adjusted to ensure they don't exceed their total earnings limit.
You can view students' earnings limits on the Job & Earnings page, and evaluate the potential impact of using hours during a break period. Go to myPugetSound >> HR Manager Resources >> Student Job & Earnings.
Can students work remotely over break periods? No. Students are not authorized to work remotely over breaks, or at any time. The temporary authorization for student staff to work remotely ended in Fall 2021.
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Grab a moment, wherever you can find it, to say hi and check in with your student staff members.
Ask your student staff: What careers are intriguing or interesting you right now?
BENEFIT: You may identify connections between their future interests and the work they are doing with you — AND the student feels noticed when you show you care about their interests or plans.
Follow up: Think about anyone you know who is working in a similar career field or doing something similar to the interests of the student (if you can't think of anyone you know, CES can help identify alumni). Offer to connect the student with the person you know, so the student can set up a conversation. Check out our guide about Informational Interviews and invite your student staff to use it to prepare for the conversation.
BENEFIT: You are helping the student expand their professional network AND equipping them with the powerful tool of Informational Interviewing.
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We need your help:
Would you complete a survey sharing your perspective on student employment on our campus and how experiential learning and high-impact learning practices are connected with career preparation for students?
You can take the survey by clicking the button below, but for more details, please read the original email, sent to all faculty and staff on October 16 by Veronica Craker, called Feedback Needed: Survey on Experiential Learning and Career Preparation.
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