With spring registration fast on November 18 for freshmen, students are in the midst of meeting with their advisors to plan course selection.
One of the topics your students should also be discussing during advising, now, and at every contact point with an advisor, is their career.
Planning is an integral part of MIAD’s Career Program of Study. Advisors work closely with the faculty and the Office of Career Services to help students progress through a targeted plan of specific career objectives during each year of study.
The tool “Planning for Your Career, Your Design Profession, Your Artistic Life” was designed by the Office of Career Services to provide students and advisors a “living four-year plan” backed by resources, services and experiences that lead toward a successful career. It is one of many pivotal linkages between the Office of Career Services and MIAD’s academic and advising programs.
On the curricular side, students are immediately exposed to real-world experiences, presenting work to gallery owners and industry clients, and having professionals, including alumni, participate in critiques, classes and symposiums across all majors.
All students complete professional practices course work or professional seminars involving not only Career Services staff, but also industry experts who provide knowledge in a variety of areas relevant to their field.
Career Services also partners with Liberal Studies faculty by visiting the junior-level course “Writing and the Professional Self,” which further prepares students for business correspondence and self-presentation across a variety of media.
And, of course, all work culminates in the capstone Senior Thesis project and exhibition, which is eagerly awaited in Wisconsin and beyond by those who hire creative professionals.
From the freshmen year on, through advising and the Career Services office, specific steps toward completion of the career program are pursued, including, for example, reviewing resumes, building portfolios, practicing interviewing techniques and completing in-depth exploration of all professional opportunities.
Through all points of contact – the classroom/studio, our office or an advisor – Career Services works with students to prepare them for all facets of employment and a successful career.
Another focus of our office is assisting students with on and off campus employment. For freshmen and sophomores, this may mean more traditional college jobs.
As students move into the junior year, Career Services works with them to pursue internships and other professional opportunities to help make their career options a reality. We advocate nothing more strongly than gaining internships or other professional opportunities before graduation.
The Career Services Office maintains a database of more than 2,500 businesses and 3,500 business contacts that regularly post both paid and non-paid internship and employment experience accessible to students of all levels through the CanvassCareers website. It is the most highly populated career website for art and design students in the state.
So ask your student whether they are meeting with their advisor and Career Services staff, and how their plan for a life that is personally and professionally satisfying is progressing.
Duane Seidensticker, Director of Career Services