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FOCUS, SELF-PACED CAREER AND EDUCATION PLANNING TOOL
FOCUS is an online, self-paced career and education planning tool for use by college students. FOCUS will enable you to self assess your interests, values, skills, and personality and explore careers and majors that are most compatible with your assessment results. Current MxCC students interested in using FOCUS should contact the Career Development & Counseling Center at 860-343-5826 to set up an appointment.
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Career & Major Exploration
Self-Assessment, Assessment Tools and Job Search Help
- What are my skills?
- In what type of environment do I want to work?
- What major should I choose?
- Where are there strong programs to transfer?
These are some of the questions you may have as you begin to make career decisions. Gathering information on "who you are and in which direction you wish to head" are the starting points for self-assessment. The Career Development and Counseling Center services may help you as you start to answer these questions.
There are many ways to develop accurate and useful information about yourself so that you may determine the direction(s) you wish to pursue. The following steps have been found to be effective:
FOCUS is an online, self-paced career and education planning tool for use by college students. FOCUS will enable you to self assess your interests, values, skills, and personality and explore careers and majors that are most compatible with your assessment results. Current MxCC students interested in using FOCUS should contact the Career Development & Counseling Center at 860-343-5826 to set up an appointment. There is no secret formula, no short cuts in assessing yourself. It takes time to go through this process, a process you may do a number of times in your life. However, you are not completely on your own. By meeting regularly with a career counselor, you may gain a clearer understanding of your assets and how they may best be utilized in the work world.
Transfer Planning
The Career Development & Counseling Center is committed to helping you make a smooth transition to your next institution. Whether you are transferring to a four-year college or university, or to another two-year institution, we can help make your transfer process a success. We also understand that selecting your transfer college and major can be confusing. We encourage you to make an appointment with a counselor in the Career Development & Counseling Center or with your academic advisor for assistance with transfer planning.
Transfer Planning 101
Plan Ahead
To be successful in transfer, it is best to plan ahead. Please read the following information, use the links below and to the right, and consult with your advisor or counselor frequently. Always mention your goal of transferring.
- Transfer Guidelines - This link provides you with step-by-step instructions for meeting application and financial aid requirements for transfer colleges.
- College Transfer Checklist - Use this transfer checklist to keep track of your transfer and application process.
How College Credits Work
At most colleges, students are required to earn credit in three areas: 1. General Education Requirements – liberal arts courses in the areas of English, math, fine arts, science, philosophy, history and social science; 2. Major Field of Study Requirements – Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, etc.; and 3. Electives – a limited number of self- selected courses.
Will My Courses Transfer?
The college that you transfer to determines which courses they accept. Grades of “C” or "C-", depending on the college (Connecticut State Universities, except UConn will accept a C-) or better are usually required to transfer. Many four-year colleges advise transfer students to focus on completing courses for their general education requirements. However, some colleges will allow you to transfer a number of courses into a major. Every college has its own set of general education and major requirements. Remember to keep all your course syllabi to facilitate course transfer.
Use these links to learn more about transfer:
I Know My College & Major
If you know your transfer college and major, look online at the college catalog and go over requirements with your academic advisor or a counselor in the CDCC. Middlesex has specific agreements with a number of area colleges that ensure successful transfer. Use the links the the right and/or contact our office for details. In addition to our help, most transfer colleges will be happy to assist you with transfer advice.
I Don’t Know My College & Major Yet
If you are like many students at Middlesex, and have not decided on a major and/or transfer college, contact the CDCC for assistance. We are available to assist you with career/major decision making as well as selecting a transfer institution. While you are making a decision, consider taking courses such as: English Composition, History, Political Science, Intro to Psychology or Sociology, Philosophy, Oral Communications, Sciences, Economics, Music Appreciation, Art History, Geography, Anthropology, math courses above Math 137, and foreign languages, especially if you did not complete the third year of a foreign language in high school.
Attend Transfer Activities
Go to our annual fall Transfer Fair and speak with college representatives from New England schools. Read our weekly emails and take advantage of college recruiters who visit Middlesex. Visit colleges you are considering by attending open houses, transfer days, or making an individual appointment with their admissions staff.
Application Deadlines
Unlike community colleges, most four-year colleges have strict application deadlines. It is very important that you identify and meet these deadlines to ensure successful transfer. Typically, the following timeline should be followed; however, your college deadline may be sooner:
- Fall admissions: to start at your transfer college in September, apply in January or February.
- Spring admissions: to start at your transfer college in January, apply June – September. Most, but not all, colleges have spring admissions dates.
Financial Aid Applications & Deadlines
Don’t assume that because you were not eligible for financial aid at Middlesex that you won’t qualify for aid at the transfer institution. Financial aid deadlines are not the same as application deadlines and many are actually due before the application. (Most documents for financial aid need to be in by March 1st for fall admissions.) Start with the transfer institution’s financial aid office, but don’t stop there. Use scholarship resources on the web and in the CDCC to look for additional funding.
Job Search Help
Resources to Help You in Your Job Search
The Career Development and Counseling Center at Middlesex Community College provides direct referrals to select job opportunities and informational resources to assist students and alumni in their job searches.
Job Search Preparation
Whether you are searching for a career-oriented position or a job to assist you in financing your education, there are several basic components of a job search. Generally you will need to prepare a resume, write a cover letter, and attend an interview(s) in order to secure a position.
The Job Search
The more diverse and creative your job search methods are, the more opportunities you will uncover, and, the greater the chance is that you will find, and land, the job of your dreams.
The Resume
The resume is the most common way to let perspective employers know how your background and qualifications might meet their needs. It is your opportunity to provide relevant information on your past experiences, your education, and your skills that pertain to that particular work setting. Please stop by the Career Development and Counseling Center to obtain materials that will aid you in writing and designing a resume. After you have drafted this document, schedule an appointment with a counselor to have your resume critiqued.
Helpful Links
The Cover Letter
This document accompanies the resume when you contact an employer for a position. It enables you to explain to an employer why you would be an asset to his/her organization. Here is where you may highlight your background and experiences as they pertain to the specific position for which you are applying. Again, there are materials in the center to assist you in drafting a cover letter. Please take the time to meet with a counselor to review your letters.
The Job Interview
In order to secure a position, you will have to meet with the employer. Interviews may be arranged in many different ways. Sometimes the employer will first have a telephone screen interview with a large number of candidates. Other employers may directly bring you in for an interview that may last anywhere from one hour to almost an entire day. It is critical that you prepare in advance for interviews. This process includes reviewing your resume to ensure you can draw upon examples from it, reading information about the company, and preparing a list of questions for the employer concerning the position and/or the company. It may be helpful for you to stop by the Career Development and Counseling Center and pick up the information handouts on the interview process. You may also choose to schedule an appointment with a counselor to either discuss interviewing for positions or perform a "mock" practice interview.
(See "Informational Interviews" under "Job Search Help" above for more information.)
You can also visit the Career Development and Counseling Center library, where there are a number of resources that may assist you in identifying employers within your field. These books contain overview information on the employer to whom you may directly contact.
Helpful Links