Career advisors can assist you with writing resumes or cover letters, finding internships, developing job search strategies, and practicing interview skills. Career counselors can help you with establishing career goals, interpreting career-related assessments, making career decisions, coping with career transitions, and overcoming obstacles to career development. Counselors hold master’s degrees and certification or licensure in counseling. Remember, career advisors and counselors will not make a decision for you.
To schedule an appointment, please call our front desk at 410-704-2233 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Career Counseling Appointments:
Appointments are approximately 50 minutes long.
Be ready to discuss your current major/career status and your thoughts/feelings about that status.
Come prepared to discuss your interests and goals for the future.
The counselor may use books and/or distribute handouts for supplemental guidance.
Career counseling offers a chance for you to find out about yourself, so come ready to talk with your counselor and be open to questions and suggestions.
It may be decided that a career assessment will be helpful for you. If a career assessment is involved, the counselor will explain the process.
A separate, follow-up appointment will be made to go over assessment results.
Remember, the counselor will NOT tell you what job/major is best for you, but will give you more information to help you decide on your own.
Due to limitations on staffing and resources, the Career Center may limit the number of sessions available to individuals.
Career Advising Appointments:
Resume Review
Appointments are approximately 30 minutes long.
Bring a copy of your resume. Our resource library is available for you to print it for free.
If possible, know the specific position you are applying for and what skills that position requires.
If you have not targeted a specific job, be prepared to indicate the type of job or internship you will be seeking.
If possible, bring a copy of the job or internship advertisement.
Be ready to talk about your various experiences and achievements.
Notify the reviewer if the appointment is a class assignment.
The reviewer will write comments directly on your resume and go over them with you.
You may receive handouts and/or worksheets to supplement critiques.
Bring a copy of your resume. Our resource library is available for you to print it for free.
If possible, know the specific internship you are applying for and what skills the position requires. Bring a copy of the internship advertisement.
If you do not have a specific internship in mind, be prepared to talk about your interests or goals so that the advisor can help you identify internship resources.
Be ready to talk about your various experiences and achievements, and how they may relate to your internship.
You will be asked about what steps you have already taken, as well as receive guidance regarding what steps to take next.
Come prepared to discuss your interests and goals for the future; if you’ve identified/applied to specific programs, it would be helpful to bring information on the programs and their admission requirements.
Be ready to discuss any steps you have already taken to research or apply to graduate school. The counselor/advisor will provide guidance regarding what steps to take next in the application process, and how to take those steps successfully.
Don’t worry if you are just beginning the process; the counselor/advisor is there to help you, regardless of how far you are in the process.
The counselor/advisor may provide you with resources and advice regarding the following:
Deciding when to pursue graduate education and how to identify programs
Application timelines
Obtaining letters of recommendation
Entrance exams
Personal statements (if possible, bring a copy of the essay question and guidelines and be ready to talk about your various experiences and achievements)
Graduate school interviews (see the Mock Interview description if you’d like to schedule this type of appointment)
If possible, bring a copy of your resume and/or cover letter. Our resource library is available for you to print them for free.
If possible, create a free Linkedin account before your appointment, http://www.linkedin.com/.
Be prepared to show the counselor/advisor your Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media or blog sites.
Come prepared to discuss your interests and goals for the future and how social media might impact them.
Be ready to discuss your current employment status and any steps you have already taken to achieve your career goals.
The counselor/advisor will provide guidance regarding what steps to take next in developing a professional presence online.
The counselor/advisor will provide you with strategies to assist you in using social media tools to enhance your career development and/or job search.
Don’t worry if you are just beginning to create social media; the counselor/advisor is there to help you, regardless of how far you are in the process.
Express hours are conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis; a sign-up sheet is available at the Career Center front desk.
Career Peer Advisors (CPAs) are available during these hours for one-on-one assistance with: resumes and cover letters, job search guidance and directions to useful Web and print resources.
All records kept by our office are STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Records may include: counseling session notes, assessment results, academic records, resumes, and job-search information. Exceptions to this policy may be made only under the following circumstances: 1) with expressed written permission from the client to release records to appropriate agencies and 2) if there is a clear, imminent threat to the health and/or safety of a client or others, to notify responsible authorities.
In accordance with state, federal and local laws, staff in the Career Center are required to address and report allegations relating to sexual harassment (including sexual assault) and child abuse/neglect. The University is required to respond appropriately if made aware of these types of allegations. Students who would like to speak with someone regarding these types of concerns and desire that the information shared be kept confidential are encouraged to speak with staff in the University Counseling Center (410) 704-2512, www.towson.edu/counseling.
No Show Policy
If you need to cancel a scheduled appointment, please call the Career Center at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. A “no-show” will be declared when 15 minutes have elapsed past the original start time of the scheduled appointment. Any student who accumulates three (3) no-shows within a single semester may have appointment privileges suspended for the remainder of the semester. All other services will still be made available during the suspension, such as express advising, workshops, and online resources. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be advised to reschedule for the next available time. We thank you for your cooperation and for your consideration of your fellow Towson students.
Services for Alumni
Recent alumni (up to two years post-graduation) may take advantage of Express
Hours and meet with a Career Center staff member for up to three in-person
career counseling or career advising appointments. If you graduated more than two years ago, please visit the alumni page for more information about the services available to you through the Career Center.
Additional Counseling Resources on Campus
Towson University’s Counseling Center is the primary source of personal counseling and psychological help on campus for students, faculty and staff. The Counseling Center seeks to help students make the most of their college experiences. They work with students to resolve emotional difficulties; improve personal skills; overcome the effects of trauma, disadvantage or substance abuse; and achieve personal goals.
The Career Center
7800 York Road Building, Suite 206 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Express Hours: Monday – Thursday, 1 - 3 p.m. (No appointment needed for 15-minute consultation)
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
