Does Major = Career?
Declaring a major does not lock you into career field or limit you to a certain position (unless you want it to). Completing a major helps you develop depth of a field. Students develop transferable skills in any major, but taking advantage of internship opportunities will help broaden your career options and professional network.
Does Major = Career? It doesn’t have to!
- Myth: Picking your major= picking your career
- Fact: 80% of people in today’s workforce are in career fields unrelated to their majors
Example of how major doesn’t = career
In the Career & Professional Development office, our staff possesses diverse academic backgrounds and undergraduate majors including Psychology, Human Services, Communications, Human Resources, Kinesiology and Radio-TV-Film to name a few.
Examples of how major does = career
Meet some of our UW Oshkosh Alumni and find out what they had to say about how they ARE using their major in their current role.
- Michelle Chitel – Social Work – Teen Center Coordinator at Boys & Girls Club
- Jenny Kyzer – Sociology – Recruiter at SEEK Careers/Staffing
- John Rank – Organizational Administration – Student Life Department Coordinator – Intercollegiate Sports
- Chris Vue – Anthropology – Unit Director for the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley at Roosevelt Middle School
For more information and a video message from each alumni click here.
Make Yourself a More Desirable Candidate
Check out this great blog post from the Campus Career Coach that echoes much of what is outlined here.
Step 1 | Prepare
Participate in career events, such as:
- Mock Interviews
- Career Fairs
- Dining with Professionals
- Workshop
Step 2 | Get Experience
Participate in internships, volunteer work, and join a campus organization!
Step 3 | Develop Transferable Skills
Transferable skills — such as communication, adabalibity, organization or collaboration, to name a few — can be developed in so many ways.
- Part/Full Time Jobs
- Internships
- Volunteer Work
- Class Projects
- Leadership Opportunities
- Campus Involvement
- Family Duties
How to market yourself when applying for a job outside your degree area
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Step 1 | Focus on Transferable Skills
- E.g: Critical thinking, problem solving, communication.
- Resumes – Show how your experiences and skills will benefit the employer
- Interview – Provide examples of your abilities that will be of value to the employer and be prepared to answer situation based questions
Step 2 | Define abilities you possess
Examples:
- Technologically savvy
- Background in graphic design
- Comfortable with computer programs
- Marketing experience
- Artistic
Learn More
Learn more about Colleges and Majors at UWO.
To learn more about different occupations, check out the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Explore different careers and learn more about what careers may be a good fit for you: My Next Move
Related Links:
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
Career & Professional Development
(920) 424-2181
career@uwosh.eduStudent Success Center, Suite 125
750 Elmwood Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Oshkosh Campus
- M–Th: 7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.
- F: 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fond du Lac and Fox Cities Campus Solution Centers
- Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Services only offered when classes are in session
UWO 2023 Internship & Career Fair
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
11:30 - 3:30 pm
Kolf Physical Education and Sports Center
785 High Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Over 130 employers/universities and more than 600 job seekers!
Internship & Career Fair is a biannual career fair, held every fall and spring. Network and interview with students and alumni searching for:
- Full-Time positions
- Internships
- Co-ops
- Practicums
- Volunteering
- Networking opportunities
Registration Instructions | Register on Handshake
Career & Professional Development will be hosting the fair at Kolf Sports Center.
- Your booth will be reserved once your payment is received. Any cancellations must be received via email to career@uwosh.edu before or on February 3, 2023 will be refunded minus the $32 processing fee. Cancellations received after this date will not be refunded.
- Career fair no-shows will still be billed.
- All representatives need to have a Handshake account to participate.
- Please complete all company information upon registration.
- The registration process will occur through the organization’s account withinthe Handshake program.
- Some of this information will be published online and available via the fair app.
- Once a reservation is made you are responsible for payment.
- Submitting an online registration triggers acknowledgment of the organization’s financial responsibilities for all fees associated with the event. All fees paid will be refunded ONLY if the registration is canceled by the applicable date.
- Registrations after February 3, 2023, must pay at the time of reservation after approval.
- No refunds are given to organizations that “no show” the day of the event for any reason.
- Any organization, whose registration fees have not been received by the day of the event, MUST pay said fees by credit card, check, or cash at the time of event check-in.
Schedule of Events
Booths are 10×10, contain 1 high-top 8′ table and 2 directors chairs lunch for two.
- Light Lunch will be provided.
- Set up: 10:30 a.m. –11:30
- Career Fair: 11:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Take Down: 3:30 p.m. We expect you to adhere to the schedule.
Career Fair Rates
SAVE $75 - Early Bird Special: Booth rate is $375.00 for registrations made AND paid by Friday, 01.20.23. If the early bird rate is unpaid on 01.21.2023, the rate will be raised to the full price rate.
- Early Bird Rate (paid on or before 01.20.23)$375.00
- Full Price (paid after 01.20.23) $450.00
- Non-Profit (501 (c)3 number required) & Government Rate $250.00
- If Electricity is needed for your booth please contact Jodi Kalmus. There will be an additional fee of $50.
- Important: Please complete all company information upon registration. Some of this information will be published online via Handshake and will assist students in learning about your company and open positions.
Please be advised: You may only bring 2 representatives if you have a single booth or 4 representatives if you have a double booth. Please register accordingly.
Any cancellations received on or before February 3, 2023, via email to career@uwosh.edu will be refunded less a $32.00 processing fee.
Cancellations received after February 3, 2023 will not be refunded. If UW Oshkosh closes due to inclement weather or any other unforeseen campus emergency, the event will be canceled and up to 50% of the organization’s registration fee will be refunded. For official news of UW Oshkosh closings, please consult the main UW Oshkosh website or the Career & Professional Development website.
Save the Date!
Fall 2023 Internship & Career Fair
Wednesday, September 1, 2023
2023 UWO WERF East Education Fair
Date: March 16, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Reeve Memorial Union Ballrooms
Cost to Participate: $75
Register on: Handshake
For questions regarding this event or your Handshake account, please contact Career & Professional Development at (920) 424-2181 or email career@uwosh.edu.
Healthcare Career Fair
Date: October 24, 2022
Time: 12:30–3 p.m.
Location: Reeve Memorial Union
Cost: $85
Register on: Handshake
For questions regarding this event or your Handshake account, please contact Career & Professional Development at (920) 424-2181 or email career@uwosh.edu.
Non-Profit - Social Assistance Virtual Career Fair
Date: TBD
Time:
Location: Virtual / Handshake
Cost: $25.00
Register on: Handshake
Virtual Fairs in Handshake: A Guide for Employers
Video: How to Set a Schedule for a Virtual Fair
For questions regarding this event or your Handshake account, please contact Career & Professional Development at (920) 424-2181 or email career@uwosh.edu.
Titan Fest & Student Opportunity Fair
Tuesday, Sept. 5th, 2023
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
This is an outside event, be prepared for the weather of the day.
Career & Professional Development will be participating in the Student Opportunities fair. This is an excellent opportunity for organizations looking to fill part-time positions during the school year. Network with students searching for part-time positions. This is an outside event held on the academic mall, be prepared for the weather of the day.
Registration Instructions
Log in to Handshake and click on “Fairs”. (If you do not have an account, you will need to create one. Your account may take up to one business day to be processed and activated.)
Table Information and Rates
A fee of $80 will be charged for participation in the fair to cover costs.
Please note: Registration fees are due by TBD, or upon registration approval. Any cancellations made on or before Aug. 1, will be refunded less a $15.00 processing fee. Cancellations made after this date will not be refunded.