Historically employers and higher education professionals have long valued the experience a student gains while participating in experiential education programs. Graduates with these experiences are well aware of the advantage having that “competitive edge” gives them. In a challenging economy, having one or more internships within one’s field of study is now crucial, as many employers are currently hiring recent graduates exclusively from their internship pools.
Although some employers have had to decrease their paid internships due to the economy, non-paid internships have increased. Additionally, many employers are seeking interns who are in their sophomore and junior years and students should not wait until their senior year to obtain this experience.
RWU has several majors that require students to obtain a co-op/internship for credit and the Career Center encourages all students, regardless of major, to obtain at least one internship during their academic studies. In order to receive credit, RWU students are required to attend preparatory workshops BEFORE they plan to seek and obtain an internship. Students should register for these workshops during the fall or spring semester of their sophomore year.
Employers are looking for graduates with at least one, if not two or more, internships to fill their entry level positions. To compete with graduates from universities that require several internships as part of their curriculum, RWU strongly encourages students to enhance their academic studies with co-op/internship experience - now, more than ever.
The Roger Williams University Cooperative Education and Internship Program provides students the opportunity to earn academic credit by applying knowledge and theory obtained in the classroom to a variety of employment settings. The Co-op Program is a partnership among four parties consisting of students, faculty, Career Center staff, and employers working in close collaboration to maximize the numerous benefits intrinsic to work-integrated learning. Participating students are first required to attend a series of preparatory workshops at least one semester prior to interning. In these workshops Career Center staff help students develop skills in resume writing, interviewing, job search techniques, and professionalism. Students are also given a full orientation regarding the Co-op Program
While several majors at the University require internships as part of their curriculum, over the years there have been changes as to which majors have an internship requirement. Students should check the degree requirements as published in the catalogue they are officially following or consult their academic advisors to determine whether they need an internship to graduate. Currently, the following majors require students to participate in the Co-op Program to fulfill internship requirements: all communications majors including global, media, and graphic design communication: psychology; accounting; computer information systems; and management. The international business and marketing majors offer students a choice between taking designated coursework and doing an internship.
While an internship is not required by all majors, nearly all majors provide the opportunity to participate in the Co-op Program for elective credit. Feedback from employers indicates many hiring professionals look for internship experience on entry-level resumes. In fact, it is becoming expected. To be truly competitive in today
For more information regarding the Cooperative Education and Internship Program and how to sign up for the co-op prep workshops visit the Career Center website.
Choosing a major can be a difficult decision and one of the most important choices you make in college. Some students may change their major several times; some may make a decision by their sophomore year, while others know an exact plan from the beginning. There isn’t any right or wrong way to reach your decision; however, there is an important place to help you get there: the University Advising Center.
We also know selecting a major ultimately leads to making career decisions. The University’s Career Center will prepare you for life after college by helping you understand your personal and professional values and interests while helping you acquire the skills necessary to succeed professionally after you graduate. The Career Center staff works closely with the University Advising Center (UCA) advisors to ensure your decisions are informed and made with confidence.
If you find you are in the wrong academic program and wish to change your major, or if you have not yet declared a major, the UCA is your campus resource. The professional academic advisors at the UAC use a comprehensive decision-making protocol that provides you with the foundation to make an informed and careful decision about which major to choose. College is a huge investment and choosing the right major is essential. You will be most successful in your studies and subsequent career if you truly enjoy what you learn and do. Visit the UCA now to start your journey toward discovering your ideal major.
Once you have worked with an academic advisor and have chosen a major and academic path, the Career Center is available to help you develop your career action plan through a four step process that includes Discovery, Exploration, Experimentation, and Implementation. It’s important to develop an awareness of your values, interests, personality, and skills within the workplace and match them with career options. We encourage you to test your decisions by doing an internship or community service. Career counselors are available and eager to assist you through this process.
You can also take FOCUS, an on-line tool for self-assessment and career exploration. FOCUS provides feedback in five key areas: work interests, leisure interests, skills, personality, and values. After completing the FOCUS survey, you can then explore careers that directly correlate with your results using a program called O*NET. O*NET allows you to explore occupations by interests, skills, and technology. The program also allows you to compare and contrast various occupations to learn more about their functions and to gain relevant information that will help you determine which career path best suits you. O*NET is truly a great resource for developing the right career plan. Once you have taken FOCUS and explored O*NET, call the Career Center to make an appointment. Bring your FOCUS results with you. A career counselor will review your results and help you get started on setting your career goals.
Whether declaring your major or preparing for a career, the University Advising Center and the Career Center are here every step of the way to help you achieve the success you define for yourself.
Don’t believe everything you hear about the economy. Employers are hiring, but they are doing it differently than in the past! Employers are overwhelmed with the number of resumes they are receiving via email for their open positions. At a time when many employers are simplifying the process by extending full-time job offers only to their interns, it’s just not enough to email your resume to a potential employer and hope that they will get back to you. Their interns, your competition, have already demonstrated the ability to get the job done! Now is the time to take action and start networking your way to a career!
The Career Center has scheduled a variety of events and programs to assist you with navigating this new world. These events will assist you in building relationships with employers and may lead to internships, externships, and employment opportunities. We cannot do it for you. You need to participate! It is never too early to start networking and building your resume. Make sure you have your interview suit and dress shoes with you at college. By having your professional attire ready, you will have navigated one hurdle – making a great first impression!
We’re kicking off the semester with the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management (SECCM) Reception in October. This event will include a “Career Fair” for SECCM students and a Freshmen Mentoring Mingle. The Accounting Reception will host a number of public accounting firms, government audit agencies and private companies that are very interested in meeting students. October continues with a bus trip to the Westfield State Criminal Justice Career Fair. The Career Center will coordinate bus transportation to bring students interested in criminal justice to this event. This is one of the largest criminal justice career fairs in the area! Watch for information regarding the Career Haunted House. This event promises to be spooktacular! Events continue through November with the School of Justice Studies Reception and a Government Career Fair. Dining Etiquette is back by popular demand. Enjoy a four course meal with friends while learning about the finer points of interviewing and managing real-life situations from a dining protocol expert. December wraps up with the Careers in Media bus trip to New York City where students will visit public relations agencies and network with employers.
During the winter break watch for information regarding “ROAD TRIPS to the REAL WORLD”; an opportunity to visit employers at various locations on the east coast sponsored by Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers. Job shadowing and externship opportunities are another great way to start networking with professionals and to start building your resume. These opportunities will be available for students during the winter break. Check with the Career Center regarding externship application deadlines.
In addition to events listed above, we will also host employers on campus for “On Campus Recruiting”. This program brings employers to campus who interview our students for internships and full-time employment. In order to participate, you must have an active Hawks Hunt account and an approved resume in Hawks Hunt.
Last summer the Career Center and the Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement moved into the former Admissions house located across from the Lower Commons and the Field House. Now known officially as still separate entities organizationally but will now have much more opportunity to collaborate on programs, services, and employer outreach.
The Career Center exists to educate students about career paths, help students to understand their personal values, interests, personality traits, and skills and how these characteristics relate to careers. The Center manages the Cooperative Education/Internship Program and advises students about graduate studies. The Career Center brings employers to campus to network with students and alumni; runs events to educate students about career and graduate school opportunities; and initiates, builds and maintains relationships with employers for co-op/internships and careers.
The Feinstein Center is the university entry point for the non-profit community and is the community service clearinghouse. The Feinstein Center runs the Bristol Reads Program and Community Connections and facilitates the AmeriCorps programs. It also runs the Federal Community Service Work Study Program, which allows students to earn work study stipends while working for non-profit organizations in our community. The Feinstein Center supports and develops service for faculty as well as student-initiated projects.
The Career Center and the Feinstein Center work collaboratively with employers for service and internships and co-sponsor programs related to service-related career paths. We easily refer students to each other and often attend employer site visits together. This year, we are scheduling a Halloween Haunted House and Homecoming Weekend events. The Feinstein Center will sponsor non-profits to participate in the annual Career Fair. During our Fireside Chats, expect to see faculty discuss their academic programs with the Career Center and Feinstein Center staff to assist students explore career and service paths based upon major. The Creative Capitalism Program will bring to campus businesses that have dedicated part of their profits to benefit society.
Our combined goal is to be the epicenter for experiential education on campus. Each area will be cross trained to coach students effectively.
Through the efforts of many on campus, we are now a Call to Serve School. Roger Williams University is committed to educating students for public service as demonstrated through the University core values of service and lifelong learning,preparation for careers and future study, and through our curriculum with its emphasis on law, criminal justice, public administration and public policy, and international relations. The University chose to become part of the Call to Serve network to strengthen our ties to agencies and people who can help advance our graduates in their commitment to public service. The Call to Serve network will prove to be a vital link to educate and motivate our graduates and to facilitate their careers in public service.
Want to know more? Look for our Open Houses and Faculty Coffee Hours. Join us on the front lawn when we hand out goodies and watch for our t-shirt giveaway! Stop by for a smoothie or coffee. Use the living room to relax, catch up on school work or to browse our library of career, graduate school and service information. We hope to see you soon!!
Calendar of Events
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday, September 15
Navigating your Career: Part II
4:30 – 9:00 p.m., Baypoint
Thursday, September 17
Graduate Essay Do’s and Don’ts
3:00 – 4:00 p.m., Architecture 239A
Tuesday, September 22
Graduate Admissions Panel
4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Mary Tefft White
Wednesday, September 23
Financing Your Graduate Education
4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Mary Tefft White
Tuesday, September 29
Law School Essays
2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Architecture 239A
OCTOBER
Wednesday, October 7
SECCM Career Reception
1:00 – 4:00 p.m., Baypoint
Wednesday, October 14
Westfield State Criminal Justice & Non-Profit Career Fair
1:30 – 4:00 p.m.; Bus trip to Westfield State, Woodward Center
Tuesday, October 20
Accounting Career Reception
5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Baypoint
Wednesday, October 21
URI Engineering and Technology Fair
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Bus trip to URI
Friday, October 30
Career Haunted House
2:00 – 4:00 p.m., (CE)2
NOVEMBER
Wednesday, November 4
School of Justice Studies Career Reception
5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Baypoint
Thursday, November 5
Federal Jobs Career Fair
2:00 – 5:00 p.m., Bryant University, Athletic Center
Thursday, November 12
Dining Etiquette
5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Baypoint
Wednesday, December 9
Careers in Media Bus Trip
All day, Bus trip to NYC