Adult Learners : Indiana University Southeast

Adult Learners

IU Southeast Career Development Center welcomes the opportunity to work with Adult Learners. Our staff is committed to providing you with the resources you need to successfully reach the career you seek or to help you determine possible careers paths.

Career Preparation Resources

Explore Academic Majors - Interested in returning to school to pursue a degree? These resources will help you to explore the relationship between majors and careers.
Research Careers - Learn the employment outlook for a career of interest, the median salary, educational requirements, and take a look at similar careers.
Writing Resumes - Determine how to make your document stand out, review example resumes and cover letters.
Interviewing Techniques – Tips to help you prepare; typical questions, research information, advice for proper attire, and an invitation to do mock interviews with our staff.
Networking - Guidance for connecting with professionals in your field – find them through Informational Interviewing, LinkedIn, and/or our Center’s contact database.
Internships - Obtain professional experience in your field, increase your network, and boost your resume.
Job Search Techniques - Links to multiple online Job Boards and Job Fair information.

Advice for Career Changers

Are you thinking about a career change? Here are some steps to follow prior to making your transition:

Start with why you want to change. Create a list of reasons you want to leave your current job and why, and the reasons why you want to pursue something new and why. Writing out your reasons will help to remind you of your “why” if or when the search gets tough.
Envision yourself in your new role. Think about all of the practical areas of your new job, including the physical space, the length and breadth of each work day, your pay, benefits and vacation and your co-workers. If you can see yourself in the change, it will help you to make a more informed decision.
Do your research. Explore the career field using internet tools. Search for job descriptions and employer information to determine what experience and education you need to be considered. If the requirements seem overwhelming, go back to your why and remember that knowledge is power.
Prepare your resume for the job you want. Start rewriting your experience to show your transferable skills. Explore our resume website for samples and ideas or work with one of our coaches one-on-one to ensure you’re fully prepared for the job search process.
Find ways to connect with professionals in your field of interest. Enlist the help of friends, family and colleagues or utilize social networks, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, to get introduced to people in the profession. Consider joining a professional organization, attending a networking day or finding a meetup around your new career interest. Make sure you prepare your introduction ahead of time so you can succinctly explain your why and share your skills and qualifications.

Job Search Links

Career One Stop includes resources for older workers interested in exploring new careers or searching for a job.
U.S. Department of State Jobs for Seniors (including AARP) provides national resources for mature workers in search of tips, training, resources and employer lists.
List of Job Sites for Older Workers Article by U.S. News & World Report featuring a comprehensive list of job sites targeted towards older and retired workers.
iRelaunch is a website resource for professionals returning to work following a career break.

Helpful Campus Links

Adult Student Center provides space, resources and programs for adult students at IU Southeast.
Counseling and Psychological Services offers professionally trained counselors for full and part time students at no fee.
Scholarship Search is an online resource for exploring scholarship opportunities for IU Southeast students. Students can filter results by academic load, status, GPA, state and ethnicity.