Author: Lori Brasille, Career Coach
Navigating your career journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. If you’re looking to explore your career options, then look no further than Career Communities! Career Communities group similar industries together and allow you to explore these industries without being limited to your major or field of study.
Here are five tips for making the most of your Career Community membership:
1. Join one or two career communities of interest.
Visit our website (career.charlotte.edu/communities) to learn more about each career community, and select one or two in your Hire-a-Niner account (han.charlotte.edu) that you want to explore further (pro tip: you can always go back and edit this, so you aren’t necessarily locked in if you change your mind!). This will ensure you are added to the community’s monthly newsletter which includes tailored information about upcoming events and opportunities related to your interests.
2. Think outside of the box!
The beauty of Career Communities is that they aren’t tied to your major. So, if you’re a marketing major who wants to explore what the marketing field looks like in the nonprofit industry, you’ll want to join Social Impact, Education, and Nonprofit. Thinking beyond the typical careers associated with a specific major or field of study allows you to broaden your horizons. Leading you to discover opportunities you might not have considered otherwise.
3. Meet with a Career Coach.
Take advantage of our one-on-one appointments (set this up in Hire-a-Niner) with career coaches who work within specific Career Communities. They are there to support you as you explore careers and prepare for the job market within a specific industry. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career journey, a career coach can partner with you and give you the guidance you need.
4. Attend career and industry-related events.
One of the key benefits of joining a Career Community is access to tailored events that help prepare and connect you to industry and career knowledge, opportunities, and people. This includes career and industry-focused meet ups, networking events, Career Treks, and other professional development opportunities. Additionally, each semester, there are Career Community Weeks where that specific week is geared towards one of the Career Communities. These events are excellent ways to meet industry professionals, learn about different careers and companies, and build a professional network with your peers, employers, and UNC Charlotte alumni. Prioritizing these events regularly will help you stay informed and connected.
5. Engage with industry-specific resources.
Make sure you regularly check the website (and your email, of course!) of your Career Communities of interest. Here, you’ll find resources for career and industry research, job postings, and professional development. This is also a quick way to identify upcoming events and job opportunities specifically for the Career Community.
To truly benefit from your Career Community membership, it’s important to stay active and engaged. Regularly check for updates, participate in events, and make use of Career Center resources. Just like everything in life, the more you give to engaging in a Career Community, the more you’ll get out of it. So take advantage of everything a Career Community has to offer and start building for the future now!