Why Tour Career Services & What Questions Should Every Family Ask When Evaluating Colleges

By Lynne Fuller, Founder of College Flight Path

Touring Career Services during a “General College Tour” is so important because it acts as the connector from academia to the student’s professional world. It provides the resources, skills, and employment connections that become critical for a student’s success. As you engage in conversation with Career Services, it is important to ask what type of support is offered to students during each year and if that support is structured into their class schedule or if they have to opt in to engage in services. Be sure to look up which building houses the Career Center, as they do not all live in the same building as Student Services, the Student Center, or admissions, so that you can plan your Tour day accordingly.

Some important topics to consider during conversation should include:

1. Resume and Cover Letter Assistance: Are there template letters that students can use, specific to their industry of past hires?

2. LinkedIn Profile Assistance: Do they help uplevel the introduction, experience, education, skills, and networking to grow connections?

3. Interview Preparation: Do they bring in employers to practice questions and engage with undergraduate students as they are building their resume?

4. Internship and Job Placement Support: Which companies are typically the first hires for students from each program or major? What are the typical starting salaries and benefit packages? What is the profile of students who are getting hired?

5. Networking/Tools Access: Job Fairs, Online Company Databases, and Alumnae Directories. How often do these groups engage in on site hiring?

6. Graduation School Application Assistance: Does career services support students in grad school applications, from test prep to writing and editing essays?

Most students will have a Career Advisor as well as an Academic Advisor. Encourage students to keep in contact with both advisors by CCing both on any correspondence so that each advisor is aware of any assistance they may be able to provide when working as a team to support the student. Be sure to follow social media accounts for “Admissions”, “Major Specific”, “Career Services”, and “LinkedIn Alumnae Accounts” to cover all networking opportunities.

Even though most Job Fairs happen throughout the year, there are some other clubs and organizations to join that occur during the first few weeks of the semester, so it is important to stay notified of all of the amazing opportunities available at each school. Some majors even offer an honors fraternity related to the very competitive organization.

General Career Services

• Are career services available to all students?

• When do students typically begin using them?

• Are there career advisors dedicated to different majors or interests?

• What is the student-to-advisor ratio?

• How many students use the career center each year?

• How many companies recruit on campus or virtually each year?

• Do you track student participation in resume reviews, mock interviews, and workshops?

• What percentage of graduates pursue further education?

Career Outcomes & Data

• What is the employment rate or in grad school for graduates within 6 months?

• Can outcomes be broken down by major or career path?

• How are outcomes tracked and reported?

• What percentage of graduates work in a field related to their major?

• Do you offer salary negotiation workshops or financial planning support?

• What is the average time it takes graduates to find a job?

• What is the average starting salary of graduates by major?

• What percentage of students are employed in their field of study after graduation?

• What percentage of students receive promotions or salary increases within 3 years?

Internships & Job Opportunities

• Does the college help students find internships?

• Are internships required or built into the curriculum?

• What companies recruit on campus or through the job portal?

• Are there paid internship opportunities or funding for unpaid ones?

• What percentage of students complete at least one internship before graduating?

• Are internships typically paid or unpaid?

• What percentage of internships turn into full-time job offers?

• How many job/internship opportunities are posted through your portal annually?

Academic Integration

• Do academic departments collaborate with career services?

• Are career development classes or modules required?

Career Tools & Support

• Are resume reviews, cover letter help, and mock interviews offered?

• What online platforms are used (Handshake, LinkedIn Learning, etc.)?

• Are modern career paths (remote work, entrepreneurship) supported?

Early & Ongoing Support

• Are career services available starting in the first year?

• Are students encouraged to engage early and often?

• Can alumni access services after graduation? If so, for how long?

Alumni & Mentorship

• Is there a mentorship program connecting students with alumni?

• Is there an alumni job or networking platform?

• How many alumni participate in mentorship or career-related events?

• Do you track alumni career progress beyond the first job after graduation?

Inclusive & Specialized Services

• Is there support for first-gen, international, or underrepresented students?

• Are students with creative, nonprofit, or entrepreneurial goals supported?

Ask Real Students & Alumni

• Did you use career services? Was it helpful?

• Did the college assist you in finding your job/internship?

• Would you recommend the career center to others?

Some of our favorite career outcomes are housed on the University of Delaware’s website. Every major offers data about career outcomes. Not only does it offer information broken down by major, common employer, but they offers average salary and details on where the information is hailing from. In fact, the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) produces a yearly hiring report, articles on what industry is looking for in graduates, and how best to prepare for the job market. 

What is really important to remember when considering which college to attend is what the return on your investment is, and will your major be able to help you cast a net that lands a well-paying first role. 

If you are looking for more tips about how to engage with career services, reach out and talk with our resident Senior Career Counselor, Anne Stamer, anne@collegeflightpath.com.

Look for more tips on Instagram @collegeflightpath, TikTok @collegeflightpath, or send us an email at hello@collegeflightpath.com to learn more.