Parents and Families
Greetings UTEP Moms and Dads:
First, I want to acknowledge that this is a difficult time for many of our students and their families. As the Director of the University Career Center, I am fortunate to hear about all the great places that our graduates head off to once they have graduated from UTEP. Given the current circumstances, I have also heard from alumni and employers about the challenges impacting their work and hiring needs. The only comfort that I take from our current state is that together we can take the necessary precautions to end this pandemic.
While we continue to work remotely, let me assure you that we continue to serve hundreds of students on a weekly basis. I urge you to encourage your student to reach out to us. We have dedicated staff members who work with students in each academic program. Also, know that employers are still looking to hire UTEP graduates for a number of their professional positions and we have a full schedule of activities set for the spring 2021 term.
As a parent of a college student myself, I can tell you that having my daughter taking courses online from home has allowed me to nudge her to update her résumé and apply to internships when I see that she is staring at her cellphone a bit much. Join me in sharing some of the resources that are available from the University Career Center with your student.
Thank you for taking the time to review our site and I hope you follow us on any of our social media channels where we share a great deal of career content (@utepcareers). I know that as a parent of a college student you can continue to influence your student and help ensure their success. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to me at bcastro@utep.edu.
Betsy Castro-Duarte, Director
The University has also created some videos to help you support your student
Parent Guide (PDF)
Student Timelines - LINK
As students make their way through their years at UTEP, there are many important milestones to reach along the way. This checklist can help them stay on track.
Meet the University Career Center staff and learn about the services that your student can access HERE.
Q1. When should my daughter/son visit the University Career Center?
Students should visit the University Career Center no later than their sophomore year. The Center provides individual career advising, career oriented workshops (resume writing, interviewing, navigating a career fair, preparing for on-site interviews, etc.), internship and cooperative education opportunities, part-time and full-time jobs both on and off campus and hosts career fairs. Your daughter/son should seek out the Center early in order to prepare themselves for the many opportunities that exist. Competition for good jobs in certain fields in quite fierce and they need to be prepared. The center can advise students about how to be the strong candidate that employers are seeking.
Q2. What is a Career Fair?
A career fair is an excellent way for a student to network, explore career opportunities, and apply for professional full-time/part-time professional and internship opportunities. The Center hosts a number of fairs during the year.
Q3. Where are your offices located?
We are available online each and every day from 8:30 AM - 5:00PM. You can reach us by calling us at 915-747-5640 or sending us an email to careers@utep.edu. Once we return to normal operations, our office is located at 103 Union West.
Q4. Is there a cost for students to use the University Career Center?
This service is included in the tuition (student services fee) that your student pays.
Q5. What is the University Career Center?
The University Career Center is a department on campus that offers all students a means to enhance their career development, complement their academic education, and increase their employability before and once they have graduated.
Q6. How can my daughter/son get a part-time job?
The Center maintains an online database (Job Mine) that includes part-time jobs. The postings are updated daily and have listings for all types of positions: hourly (no financial need) and work-study (based on financial need).
Q7. Who recruits at UTEP?
Over 350 employers recruit UTEP students every academic year. They include; Microsoft, FBI, US Postal Service, USDA Forest Service, Google, Raytheon, ExxonMobil, CIA, Pepsi, US Navy, Enterprise Rental, New York Life, Lockheed Martin, and NASA just to mention a few. To view current list of employers, visit the employer calendar.
Saludos Padres de Familia de UTEP:
Para comenzar, quiero hacer referencia al hecho de que estos son tiempos difíciles para muchos de nuestros estudiantes y sus familias. Como directora del Centro Universitario de Carreras, tengo la fortuna de enterarme a que lugares van nuestros estudiantes ya que se han graduado de UTEP y dadas las circunstancias, también se de los obstáculos que enfrentan nuestros exalumnos y reclutadores al buscar empleo o contratar personal. Lo positivo de esta situación, es que juntos saldremos adelante con las medidas necesarias para terminar con esta pandemia.
Les aseguro, que en este tiempo en el que trabajamos desde casa, estamos ayudando a cientos de estudiantes semanalmente. Les pido que le insistan a su hijo(a) que se comuniquen con nosotros. Contamos con personal especializado que puede trabajar con estudiantes en cada uno de los diferentes programas académicos que se ofrecen en nuestra institución. Más aun, sepan que hay reclutadores que siguen buscando contratar graduandos de UTEP para llenar sus vacantes profesionales y tenemos un calendario lleno de actividades para el semestre de otoño del 2020.
Como madre de familia de una estudiante universitaria les puedo compartir el hecho de que ella esté tomando clases en línea desde casa me ha dado la oportunidad de empujarla a que actualice su currículum y solicite oportunidades prácticas profesionales cuando veo que está pasando tiempo de mas en su celular. Ayúdeme a compartir con su hijo(a) algunos de los recursos y herramientas que el Centro Universitario de Carreras puede ofrecer.
Gracias por tomarse el tiempo de visitar nuestra página web. Espero que se conecte con nosotros en nuestras redes sociales (@utepcareers). Hay que tener en cuenta muchas cosas cuando se es padre o madre de familia de un estudiante universitario y su colaboración es necesaria para garantizar el éxito de su hijo(a). Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse conmigo directamente por correo electrónico a bcastro@utep.edu.
Cordialmente,
Betsy Castro-Duarte
