Career & Vocational Exploration

Vocational Exploration

Have you ever asked yourself: What should I do when I grow up? How can I do something that makes a difference in the world? Am I choosing the right major? Am I being the best person for my family?

Helpful Tips for using our Career & Vocation Website to Explore: Once you land on the home page, take a minute and set yourself up to receive custom career content. This will give you a weekly newsletter filled with information based on your industry interests as well as any identified affinity group of your choosing. Even if all you do is sign up and commit to reading once a week, you will learn a ton about the world of work and future possibilities and opportunities.
  1. Explore Career Paths: Located at the top of the home page, clicking on the down arrow will provide you a list of industries to explore. Helpful resources, articles, featured jobs & internships are just a few options to look through. Be sure to look at Viking Connections to connect with alumni working in your field of interest and Videos to learn more about jobs that you might consider, but know little about. All of these can be found in the blue banner under the picture.
  2. Build Your Skills: Located at the top of the home page, clicking on the down arrow allows you to search and explore a variety of skill areas. From there, choose Explore Labor Markets to search specific career titles and explore core tasks and skills. Pay attention and take notes about what interests you and what doesn’t interest you. The notes you take will give good insight into interests, strengths, values & needs of the community. Other skills you can explore include job searches, post grad service, or grad school.
  3. Outcomes: Located at the top of the home page, this website feature allows you to look at graduate outcomes from the last four years by major. Looking at top employers and schools attended might give you a good starting point for exploring.

Setting up an exploration appointment through Handshake is a great way to talk with someone about your interests and figure out next steps. We look forward to working with you.

Until Next Time

Many of you met our friend Kathryn at the Playhouse this summer.

We’re sad to see her internship come to an end. We asked her to share a little about her experience and below is what she had to say!

By Lisa Slater
Lisa Slater Marketing & Events Coordinator
Read more

Tips for a Successful Mid-Career Change

Original post here, BY MADELEINE BURRY Updated on February 01, 2022

Have you been feeling bored or frustrated at work lately? Or, do you work in an industry with falling job opportunities or wage stagnation?

Perhaps you’ve recently been furloughed or laid off, …

By Laura Kestner-Ricketts
Laura Kestner-Ricketts Executive Director, Career and Professional Development
Read more

How to Make a Career Change in Your 20s

Originally posted here, AUGUST 19, 2020

Making a career change in your twenties requires courage. It’s you against the list of things keeping you up at night: having little to zilch experience in a new field, having zero contacts in a …

By Laura Kestner-Ricketts
Laura Kestner-Ricketts Executive Director, Career and Professional Development
Read more

Viking Score

The Viking Score is Augustana College’s career-readiness program to support students through college and post-graduate life by tracking experiences and awarding points to earn incentives along the way. The Viking Score motivates students to take small steps ensuring they are …

By Laura Kestner-Ricketts
Laura Kestner-Ricketts Executive Director, Career and Professional Development
Read more

The Paradox Of Career Choice

The Big Question 

When I first began mentoring college students, I thought it was simply a coincidence that the students I was meeting happened to be consumed by the same nagging question. As more and more students shared the …

Read more

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Career Resources

LinkedIn: Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Jobs & Internships →

Step 1: Go to the Jobs Tab

On your LinkedIn homepage, click on the Jobs icon at the top. This …

Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REUs)

Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students or REUs for short are some of the most competitive in the nation and are …

Student Employment at Augustana College

All degree-seeking students enrolled at Augustana College at least half-time (4 credits) may apply to work on campus. Students are …

What Can I do with this Major?

Many students ask, “What can I do with my major?” The question should be, “What do i want to do?”

Labor Market InsightsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Viking Connections

Daniel Allen

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Retired- Global Human Resources Director John Deere
Meet Daniel

Morgan Anderson

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, Illinois
  • Geographer US Army Corps of Engineer
Meet Morgan

Zubair Ansari

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Washington DC Baltimore Area
  • Executive Director Cancer Support Community - Washington, D.C.
Meet Zubair

Sarah Bagley

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Glenview, Illinois
  • Human Resources Director Glenview Park District
Meet Sarah

Marlisa Barrett

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Davenport, Iowa
  • Owner/Operator Swirl Wine Bar
Meet Marlisa
Meet Alison

Brittany Burk

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Speech-Language Pathologist Carle Foundation Hospital
Meet Brittany

Leslie Carranza

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Stagehand Local 2
Meet Leslie

Sarah Cermak

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • District Manager of Advocacy Centers Metro Nashville Public Schools
Meet Sarah

Jenn Darby

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Iowa
  • Academic Advisor Eastern Iowa Community College
Meet Jenn

Bryce Dibadj

Alumni, Community Experts
  • MD
  • Associate Veterinarian Pet+ER
Meet Bryce

Dana Diedrick

Alumni, Community Experts
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Assistant Vice President, Financial Systems Kemper
Meet Dana

Contact & Location

Phone
309-794-7339
Address

Olin Center
639 38th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201

Career Service Hours

Day of the week
Office is Open Drop-Ins (When Classes Are In Session)
Monday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Drop-in topics include:

  • Resume & Cover Letter Review
  • Resume & Cover Letter Writing
  • Viking Score Overview
  • LinkedIn Headshot Photo
  • Career Resources Overview