Career Resources

Career development and decision-making are a lifelong process. HACC provides vital resources wherever you find yourself along that path, from exploring majors and searching for jobs to professional development and career advancement. Below are resources that aid in your career and major exploration, support your professional development, and help you with the job search.

HACC’s career services team is here to help you explore, discover and connect. We will assist and support you regardless of where you are in this process. Please reach out today to schedule your career appointment.  

 

Self-Exploration 

Finding the right career begins with understanding your interests, strengths, and personality traits. Explore how these factors influence your choice of major and career path. Use the resources below to gain deeper insights about your educational journey at HACC.

• HACC’s Career Coach begins with an inventory of your interests. With those results in hand, you can explore potential career options and discover the educational path that can help you get there.
• 16 Personalities learn your personality characteristics and how it aligns with careers. 
• The VIA Institute’s survey lets you explore your strengths with this 12-minute quiz to discover the powerful qualities you already bring to the table and how they match up with potential careers.
• Career One Stop is an all-in-one resource to evaluate interests and skills, assess what matters to you in a potential job and link you to possible careers, including employment data, salary ranges and what jobs are currently in demand.

Career Discovery 

Your time at HACC should focus on you. Learn more about what you can do with a major and discover about various careers in the "world of work". Knowing what majors are available at HACC and what careers they may lead to can help you in this vital decision process.

• HACC Library Guides on Career Exploration contains tons of resources, from interest profilers and task assessments to career databases and labor statistics to help you find a major that can carry you from your interests to a job you love.
• What Can I Do With This Major? gives information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field and strategies to maximize opportunities for over 100 academic majors.
• Learn How to Become… provides plans for how to enter your field of interest, including major recommendations.
• HACC’s Suggestions for the Undecided Student (pdf) answers frequently asked questions for students who are struggling to choose a major.
• O Net provides information about career and U.S. employment data
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook  offers information about careers and U.S. employment data
• Jobs Made Real provides career videos for you to watch  
• CareerOne Stop allows you to Explore Careers, learn about salaries, and discover what jobs are in demand 

 

Internship, Employment Preparation, & Search

HACC has partnerships and connections with dozens of local and national employers to offer internship and job recruitment opportunities to our students.

• HACC’s career services platform, College Central Network, hosts an online job board with numerous internships and employment opportunities specifically for HACC students and alumni. 
  • Get tips to get started and answers to frequently asked questions (pdf). 
  • YouTube Video: Steps to Activate HACC Student College Central Network (CCN) Account. Transcript for YouTube CCN activations video
• Indeed is a platform where you can begin your employment search and explore company reviews
• UnitedOPT  provides information about top Fortune 500 companies offering OPT jobs to international students 
• USA Jobs is a source for internships and work-study opportunities within various federal government agencies and departments 
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania helps you discover job and internship opportunities with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
• LinkedIn is a platform for networking and building connections with industry professionals in your company 
• ZipRecruiter allows you to search for jobs in your community 
• View additional internship resources here

Job Search Strategies (Rock the Résumé, Ace the Interview)

Career Services is always compiling helpful tips, strategies and resources to help you get your next job. Whether you're just starting or polishing up your cover letter, revising your résumé or prepping for the big interview, HACC is here to support you in your career path.

• Browse the following bulletin board My Resume and Interview Toolbox for additional guidance and success tips at each stage of the job search and interview process 
• Cover Letter Tips and Samples (pdf)
• Developing a List of References (pdf)
• Resume Tips and Samples (pdf)
• Interview Preparation and Tips (pdf)
• Thank You Letter Writing (pdf)
• Using Social Media to YOUR Advantage (pdf)
• Writing a Professional Email (pdf)

Video Links: 

• Fast Facts: Networking and LinkedIn (video)
• Resume Writing: Fast Facts (video)
• Cover Letter Writing Fast Facts (video)

 

Parallel Pathways

A parallel pathway is a second program of study that HACC students identify at the beginning of their educational journey. These give students more options in situations if they want or need to change their major.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 28% of associate degree-seeking students will change their major in the course of their educational career. Life changes, new discoveries, shifts in interests or selective criteria like minimum grade point average (GPA) or pre-entry exams are just a few of the reasons a student might change their major. With parallel pathways, you’ll be prepared to switch majors without losing credit, or adding time and money to your educational career.

Your parallel pathway options depend on your interests, values, strengths and other factors. Students interested in healthcare careers might identify a parallel pathway as a medical assistant, medical coding specialist, or physician office assistant. Students who want to work with children may pursue parallel pathways in early care and education or early childhood-elementary education. And those who want to earn a degree with a variety of transferable skills can establish parallel pathways in social sciences or liberal arts.

 

Learn More

HACC’s Career Services is here to support you throughout your education at HACC and beyond. Please schedule an appointment with a career services advisor in Navigate or via email at careerservices@hacc.edu.