By Amy Do & Hilarie Longenecker
Do you feel like your loved ones don’t understand what you’re studying? Do you dread dinner table conversations, or always seem to get in disagreements about what’s best for your future? Perhaps you’re the first filmmaker in your family. Maybe your parents are all English teachers and don’t know what you’re doing with a degree in User Experience Design. Trepidation is normal, especially when you’re still figuring things out!
Prepare to answer hardball questions by utilizing the following guide:
Research your major/chosen field – people don’t know what they don’t know! Sharing knowledge about job titles that can correlate with any given major is a great way to change people’s perspectives about certain majors. For example, Animation majors can go into manufacturing and medicine- not just film and television. Researching the cross-functionality of different skill sets can be a great way to expand your own horizons and kickstart meaningful discussions about career options.
Share your passion – Let your excitement shine through! Talk about the cool professors you have and the meaningful things you’re learning in your projects. Describe the projects you’ve been doing and how the skills you’re gaining will serve you in your chosen field. This will also give you practice in highlighting your transferable skills.
Success stories – Use research tools like LinkedIn and the Hire DePaul blog to have a bank of success stories. Deploy these at strategic moments to highlight the value of your program and showcase that you’ve done research. If you want to go the extra mile, conduct a few informational interviews to gain insights and grow your network! Taking tangible steps forward can put everyone at ease and give you great talking points in career oriented conversations.
Validate + redirect the conversation – Even if you’ve done your research, sometimes a productive conversation isn’t possible. If you continue to get pushback, validate their concern by saying something like, “I really appreciate that you care so much about my success!” or, “I can see that you’re really worried that I’m going to be ok. I’m working towards my goals and look forward to sharing future successes with you.” Then, redirect the conversation towards more neutral or positive topics by asking about their lives, a shared hobby, or a compliment.
If you want further guidance on how to do career research and want support in finding alumni to connect with, contact the Career Center! We are here as part of your holistic support system through college and into the workforce. To learn more, check out the Career Center Instagram @depaulcareerctr.
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Not sure what the future holds? Need support along the way? That’s exactly where we come in. Whether you’re a freshman or an alumnus, it’s never too early (or too late) to utilize our services.
Book an appointment with Amy, or another member of the advising community through Handshake, or by calling the front desk at (773) 325-7431.