For Parents

“My parents always stressed the importance of being active, going for everything, and always being on top of things early.” --Marie Mann

Throughout the college years, parents continue to impact the life of their son/daughter. While providing emotional, spiritual, academic, and financial support during this period of transition, parents can also offer career-related support. Decisions about academic majors, graduate school, and preparations for the job search process are just a few of the career-related challenges students will face while at Hope College.

Career Services exists to help your college student deal successfully with these challenges.

How You Can Help Your Hope Student

As a Listener, you can

• Provide non-judgmental listening and honest feedback
• Initiate conversations on career plans, listen, respond, and ask questions
• Help your clarify ideas, priorities, and concerns
• See the situation from son's/daughter's perspective
• Encourage your son/daughter to be true to self, values, interests, and talents
• Give feedback on specific abilities/gifts you see in your son/ daughter to help develop a solid sense of self
  • assessments are available to help with direction
• Help to develop independent decision-making skills
  • "What Can I do with a Major In...?" gives career ideas and resources related to Hope College majors

As a Network Resource, you can

• Help your son/daughter develop contacts for information, advice, and assistance in career planning and job search issues
• Refer your son/daughter to colleagues, friends, neighbors, parishioners, family, and community members with experience related to his or her interests
• Offer encouragement to approach people and build networking skills
• Suggest your son/daughter make connections with faculty; the first year in college is the time to develop the habit of getting to know instructors.
  • answer questions about course materials and academic progress
  • provide letters of recommendation for internships, scholarships, and graduate school applications
• Suggest an internship or part-time job to your son/daughter. This will provide valuable on-the-job experience. Part-time jobs are available both on and off campus through the Human Resource Office.

As an Advocate, you can

• Encourage your son/daughter to avoid procrastination and begin the career planning process early
• Encourage your son/daughter to take advantage of all resources available to them
  • Resources and programs provided by Career Services include:
    • Individualized career counseling
    • Workshops/Programs
    • On-campus recruiting and job fairs
    • Career Library
  • Other Hope College resources:
    • Academic Support Center
    • The CrossRoads Office
    • Disability Services