Career wellness involves engaging in work and/or professional activities that provide satisfaction and enrichment, consistent with one’s values and goals. To be well in this dimension is to have found meaning, enjoyment, and purpose in one’s work.
For more information to share with students, feel free to use this slide set: Career Wellness PowerPoint
Strategies to support student professional development or growth in career wellness:
- Regularly discuss or post information under course announcements regarding university and organizational career fairs and professional networking events.
- Link existing university career services and resources in courses or list on the syllabus.
- Discuss individual career goals and their plan to accomplish these specific goals.
- Host a panel of recent program graduates to share their professional journeys.
- Encourage membership in professional local, state, and national organizations that provide job boards, networking opportunities and education at reduced student rates.
- Encourage students to share experiences with job interviews, different job roles and their individual reflection on each interview. Discuss positive aspects of each interview and how to improve on subsequent interviews.
- Implement a transition to practice online seminars to support students in their professional development. Sessions can be recorded and held virtually or in-person. Topics might include resume writing, job search strategies, interview skills, study strategies for board or certification examinations, review of fellowship opportunities, and/or development of professional social media profiles.
- Develop a resume/cover letter assignment and resubmit utilizing faculty feedback. Allow for peer review and feedback on resumes/cover letters.
As educators, it is important to assist students in making decisions about their professional career path and finding meaningful ways to use their strengths enhance their career wellness. We can use our professional experiences to enlighten students about career opportunities and professional etiquette (Ohio State Student Wellness Center, 2024).