First Gen

Career Development & Vocation celebrates and welcomes first-generation students who call Augustana College their academic home.

Who is a first-gen student?

First Gen students at Augustana

The best way to get started is by viewing the Viking Score. The Viking Score motivates students to take small steps ensuring they are on the right path to getting to where they want to be. Viking Score Activities are designed to move students smoothly, at their own pace, through the process of career development and vocation.

Next, consider scheduling a career coaching appointment. Your Career Coach will introduce you to the curated resources and networks and opportunities for career readiness skill development so that you can develop a personalized pathway leading to a life of  purpose and meaning.

Job Search and Networking Tools

  • I’m First: an online community providing first-generation college students with inspiration, information, and support on the road to and through college
  • TRIO @ Augustana College: 10 things TRIO can do for you
  • Young Invincible (YI) Scholars Program: offers first-generation students the opportunity to join the Young Invincible team, working on today’s most pressing economic issues facing young adults

Additional Information and Resources

NEW COURSE: Career and Life Design: Strategies for Career Success

New J-Term Course designed for juniors and seniors focused on Career Success!

Develop short- and long-term career strategies
Dive into the career reflection and planning process
Gain the necessary knowledge and key tools to design a career strategy
Execute a …

By Laura Kestner-Ricketts
Laura Kestner-Ricketts Executive Director, Career and Professional Development
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Finding jobs and internships as a first-generation grad

For first-generation college students, the entire college experience is completely new and uncharted. With no family to lean on for advice and support in terms of knowing the ins and outs of college life, it’s no wonder that a recent …

By College Recruiter
College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
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How to Find Resources for First Generation Professionals

Are you a first generation professional? You may belong to this demographic without knowing that there is even a term for it. First generation professionals are those who are the first in their families to enter the professional workforce.

You …

Read more

The Fastest Growing Health Care Occupations in 2021 and Beyond

According to a May 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, health care occupations will rise by 15% between 2019 and 2029. The report revealed that health care jobs are growing at a faster rate than any other industry. Approximately 2.4 …

By HospitalRecruiting
HospitalRecruiting is an online healthcare job board for physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals. Visit our site to view current medical practice and employment opportunities or navigate to our Healthcare Career Resources Blog for more great articles like this one!
Read more

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Career Resources

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.)

Skill Building Courses

Supporting Indigenous Rights

Taught by Camille Glass
Indigenous rights is the #1 DEI challenge in both Canada and Australia, and remains an important topic of discussion in…

Cultural Humility and Agility

Taught by Tatiana Kolovou
Are you actively promoting a culture of inclusion inside and outside of your organization? If not, it’s time to pivot,…

Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Taught by Dereca Blackmon
The world of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) can be both empowering and overwhelming at times. How can someone…

Speaking Up for Yourself and Underrepresented Groups

Taught by Jessica Chen
Are you at a point in your career where you’ve realized that putting your head down, doing the work, and…

Menopause in the Workplace: A Guide to Supporting Your Colleagues

Taught by genConnectU
Menopause is a human condition that affects most of us in one way or another. Fifty percent of the world’s…

Unconscious Bias (with Audio Descriptions)

Taught by Stacey Gordon
To some degree, we are all biased. Our experiences shape who we are, and our dimensions of diversity—race, ethnicity, gender,…

Creating Community within Your Employee Resource Group

Taught by Farzana Nayani
Employee resource groups—more commonly known as ERGs—have become an integral part of how organizations address employees’ needs and drive long-term…

Develop, Grow, Launch, and Support Your ERG

Taught by Dereca Blackmon
Diversity and inclusion initiatives are on the rise in organizations around the globe. But now that programs and plans are…

Nano Tips for Checking Your Bias: Becoming a People Advocate with Madison Butler

Taught by Madison Butler
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In this installment, discover…

Nano Tips for Identifying and Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace with Desiree Coleman-Fry

Taught by Desiree Coleman-Fry
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In these video tips,…

Six Skills to Develop Cultural Agility

Taught by Paula Caligiuri
Cultural agility is one of the most critical professional skills needed today but also one that employers say is difficult…

Sustainable LGBTQ+ Allyship

Taught by Jeannie Gainsburg
One of the biggest challenges allies face is not knowing when and how to lend support. In this course, instructor…

Preventing Harassment in the Workplace

Taught by Catherine Mattice
Harassment is still pervasive in many workplaces—despite the fact that nearly every organization has an anti-harassment policy in place and…

Create Inclusive Content: Identifying and Preventing Racism in Your Marketing

Taught by Mita Mallick
Despite the backlash from consumers, time and time again, many marketers continue to tightly hold on to this idea: our…

Empower, Engage, Elevate: Operationalizing Your ERG for Lasting Change

Taught by Illianna Acosta
When you step into a role in an employee resource group (ERG), you play a role in shaping the culture…

Addressing Hate Speech in the Workplace

Taught by Nika White
Today’s organizational leaders need to consider the impact of language in the everyday workplace. This is even more important when…

Managing Unconscious Bias at Work with Madison Butler

Taught by Madison Butler
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in seconds. In this course, Madison Butler…

Achieving Employee Resource Group Excellence

Taught by genConnectU
Welcome to the world of employee resource groups (ERGs), a safe space for employees to connect, share ideas, and work…

Understanding and Supporting Muslim Colleagues at Work

Taught by Maha Elgenaidi
In this course, learn how to support Muslim colleagues to foster inclusion and combat discrimination. Maha Elgenaidi, founder and executive…

Understanding and Supporting Jewish Colleagues at Work

Taught by April Powers
Are you looking for strategies to foster inclusion and combat discrimination through intersectional understanding and allyship? This course takes you…

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