Counselor Education, College Student Personnel, & Social Work

Graduate Assistantships

Center for Career Preparation and Employer Engagement

An assistantship in the Center for Career Preparation and Employer Engagement provides graduate students with a valuable opportunity to support others in their career development and job placement efforts.

  • Graduate assistants work closely with staff to facilitate career workshops, organize job fairs, and connect students with potential employers.
  • Responsibilities include assisting in the development of career resources, conducting resume and interview workshops, and providing one-on-one guidance to students navigating their career paths.
  • This hands-on experience equips students with essential skills in career counseling, program management, and employer relations.

Graduate assistants are an integral part of the team and included in a variety of activities/events related to the successful career preparation of students. They participate in weekly staff meetings and other professional development throughout the year, as well as individual meetings with supervisors.

The office celebrates WIU casual Fridays (wear Purple) and individual and team successes, and interacts collaboratively in a fun, engaging atmosphere.

Assistantship Site Overview: The mission of the Center for Career Preparation and Employer Engagement is to support students and alumni by empowering individuals to create and achieve their career goals through active career planning and preparation. The Career Center offers engaging programming through individual appointments, workshops, and partnerships with employers and faculty/staff members to ensure a successful transition between college and professional careers.

Career Center Overview Slides

All-Major Internship and Career Fair Flyer Spring 2023

Total Assistantship Positions: 2

Available Positions for 2025-2026: 1

Detailed Position Description

Applying Theory to Practice:

  • Super's Life-Span, Life-Space Theory

    • This theory posits that career development is a lifelong process influenced by various life roles and experiences.
    • In Practice: A GA could use this theory to help students set short-term and long-term career goals by understanding the different stages of career development. For example, during one-on-one advising, they might help a freshman explore various career options (exploration stage) and encourage a senior to focus on refining their resume and practicing interviews (establishment stage).

  • Holland's Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments

    • This theory suggests that career satisfaction is highest when an individual’s personality aligns with their work environment.
    • In Practice: A GA might administer personality assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory to help students identify their Holland code and explore career fields that align with their personality. They can then guide the student in finding internships or jobs that match their identified types, such as a Social type looking into counseling roles.

  • Chickering's Seven Vectors

    • This theory identifies key developmental tasks that college students typically experience during their educational journey.
    • In Practice: When working with students who are uncertain about their career path, a GA can support the development of competencies like communication and leadership. For instance, they might encourage a student to join a student organization to develop skills related to the vector "Developing Competence" or to participate in community service to support "Developing Integrity."

  • Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)

    • This theory emphasizes the role of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals in influencing career choices and behaviors.
    • In Practice: A GA might create workshops that enhance career self-efficacy by including activities like career goal-setting exercises or practice interview sessions. They can also share stories of successful alumni to boost students’ outcome expectations and help them see the value of pursuing certain career paths.

  • Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory

    • This theory asserts that learning occurs through experience and reflection, emphasizing the importance of hands-on opportunities.
    • In Practice: A GA can coordinate internships, job shadowing, or co-op programs and encourage students to reflect on their experiences by writing about what they learned and how it relates to their career goals. They might also facilitate debrief sessions where students discuss challenges they faced and how they adapted, which aligns with the theory’s focus on reflective observation.

Handshake

NCDA Logo

Learn about the National Career Development Association, a professional organization that provides standards, resources, and advocacy for career development professionals to support career counseling and planning.

Watch this video about the benefits of joining professional associations as a graduate student. It was prepared specifically for WIU by NCDA for our Student Affairs 101 Conference in 2024.

Learn More About the Center

Explore Other Assistantships