Career advisors at UW–Madison often hear this quip from parents. And while the intent is humorous, the concern is serious—and understandable. The job market is increasingly competitive and constantly changing. These days, some job applications are vetted by computer programs before they even reach human hands.

To help students prepare for what’s next, UW–Madison has placed greater emphasis on career advising across academic disciplines, including the humanities. In February, the College of Letters & Science launched SuccessWorks, an innovative career center where students can meet with advisors, attend mock interviews, tune up their résumés, take free professional headshots, and network with area employers.

Each of the UW’s eight schools and colleges now offers tailored career services, and the centralized  Career Exploration Center works with students who are weighing potential majors and careers.

The focus on career preparation appears to be paying off: more than 60 percent of all UW students report having at least one job offer when they graduate, with another 25 percent having plans to pursue graduate or professional school, according to recent survey data.

Defining a Career

To students, the idea of a “career” itself can seem a bit behind the times. When they hear the word “career,” many students think of a step-by-step plan for success stretching decades into the future. Students know this is no longer the way the professional world works. They expect to change jobs multiple times early in their professional lives.

While the extent of job-hopping today is often exaggerated (and difficult to measure), it’s true that younger people are switching jobs—and careers—more frequently than in the past. That landscape makes it all the more important that students receive a well-balanced education and cultivate skills that can translate across industries. Even in the most technical of fields, employers often look beyond technical skills, seeing added value in the ability to communicate clearly and think critically.

The Value of a Liberal Arts Education

Disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences often face the most scrutiny when it comes to career value. Advisors at UW–Madison also hear concerns that a degree in the liberal arts is a “luxury” that doesn’t offer a great return on investment. That mindset discounts the holistic experience—and versatile skill-building—of a liberal arts education.

A well-rounded liberal arts and sciences education challenges students to gather and evaluate complex evidence, analyze information, and develop persuasive arguments. These are powerful, portable skills that help students to excel in any industry.

“Students majoring in physics, philosophy, psychology, or more than 50 other areas in the College of Letters & Science learn to think and create, communicate clearly, and understand the world from many points of view,” says John Karl Scholz, dean of the College of Letters & Science. “Employers in Wisconsin and from around the world recognize the value of the education we provide to our students.”

American Family Insurance, for instance, employs more than 500 UW–Madison graduates, nearly half of whom received a degree from the College of Letters & Science. Reputation can go a long way, and the success rate of UW–Madison graduates has prompted some companies to frequent campus for recruiting. In addition to preparing students for the job-application process, the SuccessWorks center aims to deepen connections between students and potential employers.

“[SuccessWorks] is going to transform how we prepare liberal arts students for careers and bring us that much closer to our goal of integrating career readiness into our students’ experiences while they are here on campus,” UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank said at the center’s grand opening.

(Read a student perspective on how “SuccessWorks reaffirms intrinsic value of liberal arts education” in the Badger Herald.)

Building Career Communities at SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks provides specialized support through eight career communities, which are grouped by occupations in which recent alumni have excelled. The communities include communications, arts, and entertainment; healthcare and wellness; and technology, data, and analytics.

Giselle Blocker, a UW senior, is set to graduate in May with a degree in history, a long-time passion of hers. Along the way, she realized that she’d prefer to pursue a career in business once she graduates. Blocker sought out SuccessWorks, which helped her translate her skills, connect with alumni mentors, and practice interviewing with real employers. A short time later, she was offered—and accepted—a business analyst job at a major consulting firm.

“No one questioned for a second my intentions about wanting to go into business,” Blocker says of her visits to the SuccessWorks center. “Rather, they immediately asked me how they could help.”

How to Support Your Student’s Career Readiness

No matter your student’s major, intended career, or academic level, the best advice is to prepare early.

Start by encouraging students to connect with on-campus organizations, clubs, and events. These experiences are often the foundation for career success, and they give students access to networks of friends, mentors, and alumni who can help them get ahead.

Remember, too, that you or other family members can be a great starting point for your student’s budding professional network. It’s not always easy for students to get started with networking. By connecting your student to your colleagues, friends, or other family members who can offer professional advice and exposure, you’ll help them build networking skills and confidence.

Below are some additional resources for students who are beginning to prepare for what lies ahead.

First-year students:

• Visit the Career Exploration Center (CEC), which helps students explore possible majors and careers through advising sessions, individual assessments, career workshops, and more.
• Enroll in the one-credit career development course, Inter-LS 210: Taking Initiative.

Students in the College of Letters & Science:

• Make an appointment with SuccessWorks.
• Explore Career Communities.
• Enroll in the one-credit career development course, Inter-LS 210: Taking Initiative (open to students at all levels).

Students in other schools and colleges:

• Find and connect with your school or college’s tailored career services office.

—Nathan Barker, SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science

Congratulations to the students and families who will celebrate commencement this May! We are excited to celebrate with you and reflect on all your students have accomplished during their time here.

UW–Madison’s spring commencement ceremony for bachelor’s, law, and master’s degree candidates will be held in Camp Randall Stadium at noon on Saturday, May 12.

Schools, colleges, and some academic departments will hold recognition events throughout commencement weekend, scheduled around the main ceremony, to allow graduates and guests time to socialize with deans and faculty members and to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2018.

The commencement speaker is America’s most-watched anchor, ABC News’ David Muir. Muir is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20.( Learn more and watch his announcement at Times Square.)

Detailed information, including a letter from the Chancellor with ceremony details, a graduation checklist, and more, can be found on the Parent and Family Program website.

Visit the commencement website for details about the weekend’s events, shuttle and parking information, the carry-in policy, and more. The commencement ceremony will take place rain, snow, or shine!

The Parent and Family Program can help with questions you may have about the commencement ceremony. Call us at 1-877-262-3977 or email at parent@uwmad.wisc.edu.

University Health Services (UHS) has introduced two new tools to support student mental health and well-being. In addition to these new resources, the no-cost mental health services at UHS include individual, couple/partner, and group counseling; campus-based programming; stress management; and psychiatry services. UHS also offer crisis services, which are available 24/7.

All students are eligible to use UHS services. Experienced, culturally competent professionals provide counseling for a range of mental health and personal concerns, as well as wellness services.

YOU@WISC: A new tool to build resilience and foster campus connections

YOU@WISC is a student connection portal with tools, content, and resources specific to UW–Madison student life designed to build resilience within students and foster campus connections.

Interactive modules within three overarching themes—succeed, thrive, and matter—engage students in many facets of life, including community involvement, mental and emotional well-being, and academic and professional success.

Each theme contains facts and tips, quizzes, Ted Talks, and connections to UW resources. After entering information, experiences, and interests, the themes customize to the user.

If students need guidance on which areas to focus, they can take a “Reality Check Assessment,” which rates achievement and ability in each of the subtopics. This feature functions as a way to measure physical, mental, and emotional well-being, evaluate college experience, and help find purpose through meaningful connections.

There are also opportunities to set and track goals, and a goals archive to reflect on growth.

SilverCloud: An online mental health resource

SilverCloud provides UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff with accessible and confidential treatment options 24 hours a day. SilverCloud does not require a referral from a mental health or medical provider and there is no additional charge for UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff to access the program

In SilverCloud, clients can engage with four content paths that address depression, anxiety, stress, and body image.

Although SilverCloud is not designed to replace in-person mental health treatment for complex concerns, it is a time-flexible option that may be effective for students who experience mild to moderate symptoms. Each module lasts an average of 40 minutes and automatically saves progress, so the modules can be completed at one’s convenience.

“SilverCloud provides an opportunity to access treatment for mental health concerns when it’s most convenient for you,” says Andrea Lawson, co-director of Mental Health Services at UHS. “It provides another tool for students to learn skills, reduce symptoms, and become able to function more effectively in the world.”

Both YOU@WISC and SilverCloud are available for students to add as widgets on their my.wisc.edu dashboard. Questions about either program can be sent to silvercloud@uhs.wisc.edu.

For more information about UHS services, visit uhs.wisc.edu.

— Allison Chang, University Health Services

There are many ways students can find out how they’re doing in their courses. The easiest option is for students to speak directly with their professors or TAs (teaching assistants) during office hours. Consistent communication with professors and TAs is key to helping your student stay informed and on track. For some students, utilizing office hours can be intimidating, but it’s important to remember professors were once students, too!

Students can also calculate their grade based on the syllabus. Most syllabi give students a breakdown of how each assignment, quiz, exam, etc. is weighted into the final grade.

Finally, their academic advisors can connect them to resources to support their academic success—whether it’s linking them to free UW tutoring resources, calculating how a course grade will impact their GPA, or talking through other concerns that may be impacting their academic abilities.

— Rachelle Eilers, Advisor, Chican@ & Latin@ Studies

How can my student find interesting courses that also fulfill requirements?

All degrees at UW–Madison require coursework across the academic spectrum, and UW–Madison offers classes exploring just about any interest imaginable—from creative writing to astrophysics, from plant anatomy to international relations.

If students have questions about how to strategically explore their interests while still making timely progress towards their degree requirements, meeting with an academic advisor is a great place to start.

Certain degree requirements are quite broad and leave considerable room for academic exploration, and it’s important to keep an open mind and to be intellectually adventurous.

For example, to fulfill the biological sciences requirement in the College of Letters & Science, a student can take biology, but they can also choose from hundreds of other courses across a vast range of subjects, including botany, landscape architecture, nutritional sciences, and gender and women’s studies. Students will find a range of possibilities for satisfying many other degree requirements.

— Jordan Berken, Advisor, L&S Academic Advising Service

What should students do if the courses they want to take are full or unavailable?

Students should be prepared for the possibility that their first-choice course could be full. I always advise students to make a list of the courses that are required for them, or that they plan to take, and then to create alternate schedules. This way they will have multiple choices that allow them to still make timely degree progress while taking courses they’re interested in.

Academic advisors can also provide insight on what students need to know to best prepare for course enrollment. For example, they can explain what to do if a course fills up quickly, or why some courses will open to students in certain majors or certificates first, and how to create multiple versions of their schedule with courses they want to take.

Always remember: advisors are here to help students plan ahead for their enrollment date and time, to understand how to use course guides and information, to recommend course options, and to explore resources and tools for building a successful course schedule.

— Megan McGarry, Academic Advisor/Study Abroad, Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO)

How do waitlists for courses work?

Once a class is full, students may have the option of enrolling on a waitlist. Course sections with active waitlists are denoted within the program that students use to enroll. If spots become available for  waitlisted students, they will receive an email notifying them that they’ve been authorized to enroll. The email comes from the department offering the class and includes a deadline by which the student needs to enroll before the permission is passed on to another student.

The length of time students spend on a waitlist varies. In many cases, currently enrolled students need to drop the class before waitlisted students can be offered a spot. I encourage students to remain optimistic about their chances of getting off a waitlist, but also advise them to enroll in alternate courses.

Students can address course-specific waitlist questions to the department offering the class. Many courses have subject notes that provide contact information for enrollment-related questions. Academic advisors can also be a good resource for connecting students to departments if the student is unsure how to contact a specific department.

— Katie Paar, Student Services Coordinator & Outreach Specialist, Office of the Registrar

What does it mean to drop or add a course? How does that work?

Students have the opportunity to change the course registration for the term by adding or dropping classes by the appropriate deadlines. Any changes to a student’s enrollment can be done through the new UW enrollment tool, the Course Search & Enroll app, or through the original enrollment tools available in their Student Center.

Students may want to add or drop a course if they find more suitable classes or need to reduce their credit load to focus on their other courses. Dropping courses can be a positive choice for some students because it gives them the opportunity to refocus and to prioritize their goals. Students may also find dropping a course helpful when trying to address health issues, stress, or other personal matters.

Students can find information regarding important deadlines on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Information about modular courses and deadlines are also available on the website.

— Tori Richardson, Assistant Dean, L&S Academic Deans’ Services