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Isenberg School of Management Chase Career Center

Year by Year Guide: How Parents & Families Can Help Their Students

First Year
Second Year
Junior Year
Senior Year

First Year

  • Encourage student to make grades a top priority.
  • Emphasize importance of getting involved in student clubs and organizations.
  • Ask student if they have explored the Chase Career Center and UMass Central Career Services, familiarized themselves with the services provided, and started to compile their resume.
  • Persuade student to learn about and register with both the Isenberg School of Management and UMass eRecruiting career databases.
  • Talk to your student about the possibility of getting a career related summer internship or volunteer experience to help gain experience, differentiate themselves from other students when it comes time to apply for internships that can turn into full time opportunities as well “test driving” potential careers. Acquiring multiple internships prior to graduation not only makes the a student more competitive and valuable to employers but gives your student a foundation for improving skills, confidence and an educated basis for intended career.
  • Introduce or provide opportunity for student to meet family, friends, colleagues or a member of your social network who works in a field of interest to your student.
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Second Year

  • If your student is in the BBA program and is seeking information about what major to choose (accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations management) encourage them to visit the Chase Career Center for assistance exploring the link between majors and potential career options. Hospitality Tourism Management and Sport Management (BS) students are also encouraged to meet with our staff to learn about various career paths within each major.
  • IMPORTANT for students and parents to realize that majors and careers are not always directly linked! Refer student to Chase Career Center where staff can ensure their chosen major will not limit applying their interests professionally.
  • Ask your student if they have an updated resume that has been reviewed by the Chase Career staff.
  • Ask your student if they are familiar with eRecruiting and additional job search resources that can be utilized when pursuing summer or full time opportunities.
  • Help your child begin to develop an informal professional network. Consider asking your friends and colleagues if they would be willing to talk with your children about their professions, jobs and experiences.
  • Emphasize importance of it not being too early to find a summer internship or co-op. Multiple internships while as student increases chance of finding that dream job.
  • Ask student if they are familiar with workshops instructed by Chase personnel and which sessions they have attended.
  • Ask student if they have noticed companies in the Isenberg Atrium meeting students and if they have participated in corporate “meet and greets” or info sessions. It is never too early to be meeting potential employers!
  • Support student’s career goals even if it is not your first choice for her/him or what you consider to be the most “sensible”. Encourage student to learn as much as possible about intended field/position by utilizing the staff and resources in the Chase Career Center. DO not forget that faculty can also provide valuable information about potential career paths.
  • Encourage student to stay involved with clubs or organizations they joined as a first year student or add others to their repertoire.
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Junior Year

  • Continue to help student to create an informal network by developing a list of friends and relatives with whom they might speak about careers. Ask them if they know peers who have internships in their intended career field. (Peers can be great source of information about applications, interview process and actual internship experiences.) Additionally, ask student which professionals or faculty s/he knows who can help them explore their field of interest and set up informational interviews.
  • Encourage student to get involved with the Alumni Mentor program through the Chase Career Center.
  • Emphasize the importance of attending workshops related to interviewing, networking, internships and eRecruting instructed by Chase staff.
  • Ask student if they have an updated resume/cover letter reviewed by Chase staff and if it is uploaded in eRecruiting.
  • Ask student what they are doing in order to obtain a summer internship or co-op.
  • Help student in obtaining appropriate interview attire.
  • Encourage students to attend career fairs (Isenberg Career Fair is held annually in the Fall, the University Career Services Co-op and Summer Internship Fair is held annually in February).
  • Emphasize importance of taking on leadership roles within groups students are involved in. This could include student or community clubs and organizations, volunteering or community service opportunities.
  • Ask student if they are taking a full course load during their junior year. Looking for a full time post graduate opportunity takes time and saving courses to take during senior year could create an overwhelming work load when combined with a job search.
  • Help expand opportunities available to your student by asking your employer, colleagues and friends to recruit at Isenberg and extend internships or full time opportunities to the Chase Career Center.
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Senior Year

  • Emphasize the importance of attending workshops related to interviewing, networking, internships and eRecruting instructed by Chase staff.
  • Be supportive to students during the job search process. Certainly every student would like to be an employer’s top candidate with the first company they interview with. However the process which includes learning how to utilize eRecruiting, getting a resume prepared and polishing interviewing skills, can be both challenging and time consuming.
  • Ask student for a copy of their resume to in case you have an opportunity to aid in their networking.
  • Ask students if they are planning to attend “Senior Send Off” and if they have been participating in workshops such as interviewing and networking skills.
  • Encourage students to attend Chase provided workshops and speak to Chase staff to discuss their process.
  • Encourage student to attend career fairs on and off campus, company sponsored info sessions, meet and greets and work shops.
  • Talk with student about graduate school interests early in fall semester since many applications for the following fall are due as early as November.
  • Ask student how you can help.
  • Listen, be patient and do not worry!
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