Virginia Highlands Community College   Office of Career Planning & Placement
  Services & Resources   CareerLinks   Job Board   Career Chat   Employers   Faculty   Location, Hours & Staff  
  Presentations and Events   Career Alumni Resource   Interstate Career Council and Fair   Photos  

Services & Resources
Career & Major Advising- Meet with a professional staff member to discuss your career and educational concerns. Call for an appointment 276-739-2574
Review Service- Submit your résumé or cover letter for suggestions and feedback from our professional staff. You may either drop off, mail or email (career@vhcc.edu) your documents. You may call to find out if it is ready for pick up, or provide us with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and it will be returned to you via U.S. mail. If you still have questions, you can make an appointment to discuss your concerns. Take advantage of this service!
Career Publications- The Library has over 300 volumes of printed material. An area has been set aside to display the most pertinent material behind the Reference Librarian. Information is available on:
  • Majors & Careers
  • Internships & Job Listings
  • Résumé & Cover letters
  • Testing Study Guides
  • Employers & Industries
  • Etiquette
  • Salaries
In addition, Career Planning has a limited number of books & videos.  These resources are available for your viewing during office hours.  In order for these items to be available to all students books & videos are not allowed to be checked out.
Free Publications - Available in the rotary rack outside or inside Career Planning.
Job Choices for Business & Liberal Arts Students
Job Choices for Science, Engineering & Technology Students
Job Choices: Diversity Edition
The Black Collegian
Online Presentations - Career Planning's 4 most popular presentations are presented in narrated PowerPoint.  Learn all you would have, had you attended one of our presentations.  Make sure you have speakers or headphones to be able to hear the audio.

    1.   Writing Your Resume
    2.   Writing Your Cover Letter
    3.   The Job Search
    4.   Successful Interviewing
 
Guide Book Series- Free for the taking. You must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the guidebooks. The Reader can be downloaded at no charge from Adobe's web site or stop by the Office of Career Planning & Placement to pick up a Guide Book.
  1. Getting Started - Introduction to Career Planning
  2. Résumé & Cover Letter Writing
  3. The Job Search
  4. Successful Interviewing
  5. Experiential Education
  6. Workplace Dress & Etiquette
Experiential Education - Employers want good minds and talent, but they also want people with an idea of exactly what they're getting into in the workplace.  That's why employers hire graduates who have gained experience through co-ops, internships, service learning, and related jobs.  VHCC supports this avenue of acquiring experience through co-operative education (for credit and paid) and internships (for credit and unpaid).  For more information read the program flyer or visit the website, then see Richard Hutton in LRC 708.  Career Planning can assist you in identifying companies or if you are interested in an internship not for credit (paid or unpaid).   For information on Service Learning opportunities visit the Service Learning website or contact Julie Little in OTC 1206.
Job Fairs- Virginia Highlands co-sponsors two regional fairs each year.  This November 15th we will host the 3rd Annual Community College Career Connection of Southwest Virginia, a collaborative effort with Southwest Virginia and Wytheville Community Colleges which will be held at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon VA.  On April 17th, the 20th Annual Interstate Career Council Career Fair will be held at the Bristol Holiday Inn.  This fair is sponsored by 20 local colleges and universities in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and West Virginia.  Resumes and Interview Attire are STRONGLY recommended for each event.  For a list on participating employers click here.
Helpful Hints On Job Fairs
Employer Expectations of Students Attending Job Fairs (ŠNACE)
 
Career Exploration/Assessment- If you are unsure of the major or career that is right for you, or if you just want to confirm your decisions, consider taking an assessment.  Online assessments can be found in CareerLinks.
  • DISCOVER - DISCOVER offers guidance and information to help you make important career and educational decisions.  The program combines inventories with comprehensive information to help you discover not only what occupation/major you are best suited for but what that occupation/major entails.  A user ID is needed to begin - stop by Career Planning or email me to receive the numbers.  Once you've received the ID visit DISCOVER.
  • Virginia's Career Planning System, Powered by Kuder - The online system is a comprehensive, researched-based approach to career exploration, planning, and development.  It is brief, highly reliable, and user-friendly.  A Batch Code is needed to take the assessments - stop by Career Planning or email me to receive the numbers.  For more information or to begin the assessment (click New Users once directed to the Kuder site) visit the Kuder site.
  • Self-Directed Search - Compare your self-assessed abilities and interests with a variety of occupational groups.  This is a pencil-paper assessment.  Contact Career Planning for an appointment time.
  • Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - Assess your psychological type as an explanation to your personality. The MBTI is used in self-understanding and development; career exploration, counseling, and leadership development.  Contact Career Planning to schedule this assessment.
What Can I do With this Major?  This program allows students a convenient website to help connect majors with careers. For each major that interests you, choose either the PDF or HTML version to find an outline of common career areas, typical employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. Choose Links to find a list of websites that provide information about listed majors and related careers.  This service was purchased from the University of Tennessee so understand that not all of VHCC’s majors will be on this list.
Perfect Interview - an innovative learning tool that you can use to enhance your job interviewing skills and develop an edge over the competition.  Perfect Interview creates a compelling and realistic "simulated interview" experience where you are asked challenging questions and must respond, just as you would in a real job interview.  What separates this product is that it also includes an exclusive video capture feature which allows you to record and playback your answers to each interview question - now you will be confident that you will look as good as you sound!  This product is set up on a computer in Career Planning's conference room to provide you the privacy to utilize the program to it's fullest potential.  It's recommended you schedule a time to take this program to make sure the conference room is available.
Workshops - Each semester VHCC students have numerous opportunities to learn the skills necessary to meet their program and career goals.

Career Success Fest - Essential events to aid every job searcher.

Spring Break Job Shadowing Program - Provides a one day shadowing opportunity for students to observe their intended career.

Career Advice & A Slice Seminar Series - Local employers are invited on campus to provide a fresh perspective to career topics.  Highlands Tech Prep Consortium will supply lunch, our local employers will supply the knowledge.  Spring 2008 schedule.
 
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