I am unsure of what type of job I want to pursue. Should I wait until I have everything figured out before reaching out to the Career Center?

It is never too early to connect with the Career Center. We are ready to help you develop specific action steps to meet your career goals. If you have questions about researching jobs or determining your skills and interests, we are glad to help. We have an outstanding team of career consultants available to support all TCU students and alumni. We also help with on-campus employment, internships and networking opportunities for students looking to build experience and explore career paths.

I graduated more than 10 years ago. I am looking to help current students and make a career change for myself. Does the Career Center work with experienced candidates?

Absolutely. Unlike many universities, TCU provides lifetime career services access to all alumni. Terrence Hood oversees alumni advising and alumni career programming. With more than 20 years of experience and advanced career coaching expertise, Terrence and our team are available to assist alumni considering a career change or seeking access to our network of programs and employment resources. We also encourage alumni to support current students who may be interested in gaining insights from your knowledge and experience. Be sure to update your TCU alumni and LinkedIn profiles so students can connect with you. 

I am not looking for a job but am planning to enroll in a graduate program. Does the Career Center have any resources to help me?

Yes. We encourage students and recent alumni to connect with a TCU career consultant for assistance with application reviews and job search preparation. We host a number of interactive panels with graduate admissions representatives and TCU alumni in fields including law, medicine and research. We are also available to assist with admission interview preparation via mock interviews and personal statement reviews.

What are your connections with employers? Is the Career Center connected with only local companies or certain industries?

We are in frequent and continuous contact with thousands of employers and organizations of all sizes, types and industries. We have many established, well-developed contacts with employers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which is an outstanding employment market for alumni. We also utilize a system called Handshake for posting jobs and internships for students and alumni. The Handshake network gives us access to over 500,000 employers globally. Kim Satz, associate director of employer development, helps new employers develop recruiting plans for engaging directly with the TCU community.

I am ready to begin working on my career plan. Where do I start?

Begin at careers.tcu.edu. There you will find our resources, programs and updates for students and alumni. You may also find your career consultant online. Your consultant is equipped to address your specific needs based on your career goals.

Send your career questions to tcumagazine@tcu.edu or comment below.

Mike Caldwell is the executive director of TCU’s Center for Career & Professional Development. For more information about careers, visit careers.tcu.edu