Career Services professionals play a crucial role in shaping students’ professional journeys. Brainstorm’s recent report highlights both common trends and significant differences in how students from various disciplines prepare for their careers. By understanding these trends, career educators can better tailor their support to meet students where they are and help them leverage their unique strengths.
Key Findings
The survey indicates that many students are taking active steps towards career preparation, with 66.1% creating a resume, 45.9% setting up LinkedIn profiles, and 41% discussing career options with friends. However, there are gaps: only 18.7% have met with a career advisor, and only 16.3% sought guidance from a career mentor. Below, we’ll look at how these trends vary by discipline and the implications for career services.
Disciplinary Differences and Tailored Approaches
Different fields of study show varying levels of career engagement, often aligned with each discipline’s specific job market needs and academic culture. For example:
- Liberal Arts Students
Liberal Arts students, who encompass a diverse array of fields, may often feel disconnected from direct career pathways and employer recruitment events. These students are typically skilled in research, writing, critical thinking, and analysis but often need support articulating these strengths in ways that resonate with potential employers. Only 27.6% attend employer events, possibly because they perceive fewer “direct” paths to employment in their field or struggle to see the connection between their academic skills and the workforce. Career educators could support these students by providing more guidance on identifying and communicating transferable skills and by creating tailored workshops on career articulation. - Business and Engineering Students
Business and Engineering students are highly proactive, with 64.4% and 72.6%, respectively, creating LinkedIn profiles and seeking work experience. These students typically attend more employer events (40.1% for Business and 43.6% for Engineering) and often connect their academic work to industry-specific skills. Career educators can work with these students to build deeper connections with industry professionals and consider hosting more targeted networking sessions to support their growing industry focus. - Skilled Trades and Computer Science Students
Skilled Trades students, known for hands-on learning, tend to engage with faculty more often than career services, while Computer Science students prioritize building online networks and portfolios. This shows a strong inclination toward practical experience, though sometimes without formal career guidance. Integrating more structured career workshops that address both digital networking for Computer Science and additional mentorship for Skilled Trades students could better support these groups.
Strategic Recommendations for Career Services
- Highlight Transferable Skills: Liberal Arts students may not see clear career paths, so help them translate their skills into language that resonates with employers. Workshops on resume building, networking, and articulating skill sets can empower these students.
- Increase Digital and Peer Mentorship Programs: The low mentorship engagement across disciplines suggests an opportunity for peer-led mentorship programs and digital workshops. Encouraging students to establish digital presence and gain experience through LinkedIn or virtual events can broaden their access to mentorship.
- Customize Events by Discipline: Employer events may need to be discipline-specific or feature a mix of industry professionals relevant to different fields. Tailoring these events can increase attendance by students who may otherwise feel disconnected from generic career fairs.
In supporting students, career educators can benefit from these insights by delivering more personalized, discipline-specific support that leverages students’ strengths and addresses their unique challenges. By refining career services, we can empower students to enter the workforce confidently and prepared.
