Human Sciences Career Services

Career Services

Career Services provides a wide range of services to prospective graduates and graduates including assistance with career planning and job search. Students are encouraged to start the registration process with Career Services the semester prior to student teaching.

How Human Sciences Career Services Assists Students:

• By providing many resources related to career development and the employment process. See the list in the next section.
• By offering interactive workshops/presentations. Staff coordinate outside speakers and provide sessions on a variety of job search topics including, the application process, credentials, cover letters, resumes, portfolios and interviewing skills. Mock interviews are also available.
• By providing individual appointments. Staff are available to provide information on employment opportunities in education, as well as individual assistance to enhance the candidate's written and verbal presentation to employers.  Appointments may be available in the Des Moines area.
• As a member of the American Association for Employment in Education, Inc. (AAEE). Education Career Services offers students a free copy of AAEE’s Job Search Handbook for Educators which provides many articles specifically addressing the K-12 employment process  Be sure to stop in at E105 Lagomarcino to pick up your copy of the AAEE's Job Search Handbook for Educators.
• In developing a credential file which is required as part of the application process by many school districts. Career Services also offers a credential files service (letter storage & mailing) for a fee.  These files contain a personal data form and at least three letters of recommendation. (The credential files continue to be available for alumni to update and utilize as necessary).
• By maintaining a web page of valuable resources related to resumes, career development, job search and professional contacts.
• By arranging on campus interviews. A number of school districts send recruiters to interview prospective teachers. Notices of on-campus interviews, which most frequently occur during the spring semester, are emailed to student teachers and appear on our website.  Students are encouraged to stay in contact with this office while and whenever seeking a job.
• By collaborating with colleges and universities in Iowa and nationwide. As a part of the All-Iowa Education Consortium Education Career Services co-sponsors the National Educators Expo hosted by University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls in March or April.  For student who wish to relocate out of state reciprocity arrangements can be made with career services offices of institutions nationwide.

 

Registration Procedures for the Human Sciences Career Services Credential File Service:

Both undergraduate and graduate students who seeking employment in education-related fields and wish to utilize Career Services credential file service are advised to take the following steps:

• Obtain a registration packet from E105 Lagomarcino Hall. This packet contains the necessary materials to open a credential file .

• Return the necessary paperwork and pay your registration fee. This fee establishes your credential file with Education Career Services and places you in our database from which we provide employers referrals. Credential requests may be purchased as needed.
• Request letters of recommendation from your supervising instructor, cooperating teacher(s) and anyone else who can attest to your qualifications to teach and as a worker in general. Have the letters of recommendation sent to Education Career Services as soon as possible after completing student teaching.
• Follow-up to ensure that letters of recommendation arrive in a timely fashion and are available when you are ready to apply.

 

Resources Available in Human Sciences Career Services

The Resource Center, located in E105 Lagomarcino Hall, contains reference material on numerous aspects of career planning and the job search process, including:

• Iowa Education Directory (includes both public and private schools)
• American Association for Employment in Education, Inc. Directory of Public School Systems in the United States
• International teaching opportunities
• Summer employment opportunities
• Sample resume notebook
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Books that focus on career development and employment, including 101 Grade A Resumes for Teachers and Dynamic Cover Letters.
• Handouts related to the preparation of letters of application and resumes and on interviewing

For more information contact:
Human Sciences Career Services
Carolyn Ersland, Coordinator
E105 Lagomarcino Hall 515-294-6466
FAX: 515-294-6467
e-mail: hscareers@iastate.edu or for credentials credreq@iastate.edu

 

Employment Opportunities in Education

Toward the end of junior year or at the beginning of final year of preparation in teacher education, students should begin to consider employment possibilities. An important resource for University Teacher Education Program students is the Iowa State University Career Management System (ISU CMS) .

 

Purpose:

• Access to ISU employer-related events, programs, workshops, important deadlines and special opportunities
• On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) access and participation
• Job listings with online resume submission capability
• Access to Employer Presentation information and related events
• Career Fair information and employers registered
• Employer database for research and contact information
• Use to find postings for locations in Iowa, the Midwest and nationwide

 

As a Student...How to Gain Access and Use Iowa State University Career Management System (ISU CMS):

1. Go to the ISU CMS student login link: https://ecms.eng.iastate.edu/students/

2. Your username is your ISU email address

3. Don't know your password…Click on the " Forgot my password" link on the login page

4. You will receive an email to your Iowa State email account with your initial password

5. Return to login page to use this initial password

6. Modify this initial password under the "Profile" section (Change Password tab)

7. Complete/update your PROFILE including Personal and Academic Information

8. To start your SEARCH, click on the JOBS or EMPLOYERS tab

9. Upload your RESUME, cover letters, unofficial transcripts under the DOCUMENTS tab for quick and easy application to internships/jobs you find in the system

10. Career Fair and Employer Information sessions are also viewable under EVENTS tab

 

As an Employer...How to Gain Access and Use Iowa State University Career Management System (ISU CMS) to Post Postions:

Iowa State University has a delivery system for you as the employer to post your positions. All students at Iowa State University have access and are encouraged to utilize the Iowa State University Career Management System (ISU CMS) as a resource for their job search. We no longer accept mailed, faxed, or e-mailed job postings. Each individual within the school district (or company) who uses the system needs to have an account. We do not allow 'office' accounts to log into our system and have services. You need to register using your personal business e-mail address. Registration is very simple and as you will see the system is very user-friendly!

1) Go to the following website: https://ecms.eng.iastate.edu/employers/
2) Click on the 'Register' tab
3) Complete the form and click on "submit" to activate your services
4) You will then be e-mailed your log in information along with a service activation form that must be completed and returned in order to access the various services offered.

We are very excited about this system in which you will have access to posting jobs, scheduling on-campus events and interview schedules. We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks.

The Staff of ISU Career Management Services
Serving the Colleges of Agriculture, Business, Engineering, Human Sciences, and Liberal Arts & Sciences
isucms@iastate.edu
phone: 515-294-2540/2542

 

Opportunities in Teaching

Although approximately seventy percent of Iowa State University teacher education graduates are employed in schools in the state of Iowa, alumni have accepted positions in all regions of the nation.

Representatives from school districts visit to the Human Sciences Career Services Office each year to find candidates to fill educational vacancies. In addition, school administrators may request a list of potential candidates to recruit for specific needs that they may otherwise have difficulty filling. High need areas include special education, math and science teachers at all levels.

Future opportunities for teaching are expected to increase due to increased public interest in education and the number of retirements expected. As a major teacher education institution, Iowa State University is making a significant contribution to both the quality and quantity of American teachers.

 

Teaching Opportunities Abroad

Numerous opportunities exist for College of Human Sciences graduates to teach in overseas locations. More than 1,000 English language-oriented schools and colleges in more than 150 foreign countries throughout the world offer teaching and administrative opportunities to American educators. Openings exist in almost all fields and at all levels from pre- kindergarten to the university. Requirements vary from school to school, but in most cases they are comparable to vacancies that occur in the United States. Some schools do not require previous teaching experience, and foreign language competence is seldom required.

 

Opportunities in Non-Teaching Settings

Numerous public and private corporations and governmental agencies at the local, regional, state, and federal levels employ college graduates. Many such openings are not major-specific in their requirements. Employers look with great favor on teacher education graduates because of their enhanced ability to communicate and their personal interaction and organizational skills.

Students interested in non-teaching settings should contact the Human Sciences Career Services Office for supplementary information such as directories, handbooks, and periodicals and to discuss services available through the Business and Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Services Offices to take advantage of their interview opportunities.