Family
As a family member, we know that your student's success in their career and life is very important. It’s important to us too; that's why we created this guide.
How to Talk About Life After College
Caution: You may cringe when you hear the words...
“I want to change my major”
“I’m not sure what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Your first reaction might be to encourage your student to stick with their first career decision. In reality, that may actually hinder their growth toward a career path that fits them. We recommend starting with a conversation.
Student Life
University at Buffalo
259 Capen Hall, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-2231
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Conversation Tips:
Find Out About Your Student's Career-decisions
- Ask questions to prompt introspection, while trying not to be overbearing. Usually, the answers are less important than the process of thinking about the questions.
- Ask your student about their coursework (the content, not the grades). Ask what they like or don't like about their classes; these insights can be powerful.
- Show an interest in the skills they are developing (quantitative, teamwork, public speaking, critical thinking, writing, etc.). Exploring whether they enjoy using those skills can help them clarify those interests even more.
- Suggest they take a career assessment and have them review their results with a career counselor.
- Encourage them to get involved with learning outside of the classroom (clubs, internships, research, volunteering etc.). Visit our Experiential Learning website for ideas.
How we can help
Choosing a major/career, finding full-time, part-time jobs & internships, considering graduate school--and more! See what we do.
Tools & Resources
Bullseye powered by Handshake
The ultimate job and internship tool! Your student can discover jobs, internships, events, career fairs and connect with the Career Design Center, all through Bullseye powered by Handshake.
UB Career Connector Network
Talk directly to someone who has been there and done that -- UB alumni! Your student can book a consultation to talk to an alum about majors, careers, insider tips and more!
Focus2
Take career & major exploration self-assessments that will help identify and connect your student's interests with a major or career. An appointment can be made with a career expert to maximize the results.