Services for Students

Augustana University students don't just find jobs after graduation, they build lives of purpose and possibility.

Excellence is not only a core value at Augustana; it's also a way of life. The Student Success Center is eager to engage and equip you on this journey. Through a variety of resources, including exploratory academic advising, accessibility accommodations, academic counseling, career advising, and tutoring, we empower you to excel at your learning and success. Discover additional resources and example resumes exclusively available to Augustana students on my.augie.edu.

The Student Success Center can help:

Finance Your Education

Through a partnership with the Augustana Student Association, the Student Success Center Needs-Based Fund provides limited financial support to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet expenses due to financial hardship.

Achieve Your Academic Goals

Excel in Your Career

Selecting a Major or Career

Gaining information about yourself and your options is the initial task of informed decision making. The following resources will assist you in this endeavor.

Learn More About Yourself

FOCUS 2 is available to help you better understand the careers that are congruent with your interests, personality, values and skills. This narrows the numbers of prospects for you to research, identifies options you may not have previously considered and makes the process more manageable, instead of overwhelming. Contact the Student Success Center to learn more about other free assessments. 

If you are a community member looking for initial activities to complete, consider the following self-directed assessments. 

Learn More about Majors

  • Review the Course Catalog.
  • Browse the websites of our academic departments. View faculty bios, alumni profiles and upcoming events.
  • Speak with an exploring academic advisor to learn more about the roadmap for your program. Consider the possibility of multiple majors by using Augustana's Academic Planner (portal login required). Speak with us today to discover parallel paths or occupations that include your diverse interests.  
  • Identify popular occupations for your major. View "What Can I do With this Major?" or complete "What Can I Do With a Major In . . ." in FOCUS 2 to learn more about the careers often associated with your academic program.
  • Speak with Augustana faculty or current students in the program. Not sure who to speak with? Success Center staff can facilitate these introductions.

Learn More about Careers

Evaluate your Options and Examine your Thoughts

As you reflect on your interests and research possible paths, weigh the pros and cons of each occupational prospect. You will also conceptualize your choice better if you compare and contrast your options with a Venn Diagram. Also, monitor your thoughts. Sometimes our thinking can be unhelpful and derail us in the process. Our exploring academic advisors can teach you strategies to help you evaluate your options and adapt to a rapidly changing labor market. Contact us today!

Test Reality to Confirm Your Decision and Discover New Possibilities

Gain experience and confirm your decision through introductory courses, campus leadership, volunteering, undergraduate research, internships and employment. It only takes a single incident to change the trajectory of your career. Create your own luck by seeking these opportunities and connections today! Learn more about volunteering, hands-on learning and internships.

Resources for Finding a Job or Internship

Crafting a perfect application requires more than just error-free spelling and grammar. A resume must be framed and formatted to present you in the best way possible, a process that is founded on organization, composition and marketing. Similarly, interviewing is more than just talking. You must demonstrate your ability to perform tasks effectively and your organizational fit, which is built upon personal reflection and research.

The Student Success Center is eager to help you better understand yourself and organizations so you are able to articulate your qualifications more fully. Contact us to schedule a resume review or mock interview at your convenience. As you prepare for conversations with us, browse the resources published below to learn more about best practices in resume writing, networking, cover letters and interviews.

Glassdoor accessLocate Opportunities

Network with Employers and Alumni

Write Resumes and Cover Letters

Prepare for Interviews

Additional Resources for Specific Student Groups

 

Service Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering may not be what comes to mind as you search for employment, but the many benefits of volunteering are worth considering. Even if you are already employed, either as a student or as a member of the workforce, volunteer positions offer many opportunities that other areas of employment do not. First and foremost, volunteering provides an opportunity to give back to your community. Other benefits can include networking and opportunities to learn new skills, gain leadership experience, fill in gaps on your resume, preparing for graduate school. In some circumstances, volunteering can lead to a full-time paid position.

Whether you intend to pursue a career for a nonprofit organization or are investigating volunteer opportunities, the links below are meant to be a starting point. Research each organization before you commit to a position, and make sure you agree with its mission and goals to ensure a good fit.

Looking for opportunities to serve on campus? Join S.A.L.T. (Serving and Learning Together) or other service organizations. Serve through Campus Ministries or Volunteer Services. For other service and volunteer opportunities based in Sioux Falls, browse the Helpline Center website.

Service Opportunities

International Service Opportunities

Faith-Based Opportunities

Military and Government Opportunities

Educator Resources

The overall job market for teachers remains very competitive. However, the number and type of jobs vary greatly depending on location. Explore employment opportunities in a variety of settings. Placing geographic restrictions on yourself will reduce the number of teaching opportunities you can consider. Carefully check the requirements of each state in which you plan to seek employment; licensing requirements vary. Generally school districts the size of Sioux Falls and larger have vacancies listed on their websites. The larger systems usually expect teachers to apply directly if they are interested. Smaller systems typically advertise, however, as soon as they have a vacancy.

When you know where you want to teach, create a list of the school districts in your preferred area. The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics has a search engine for addresses of all public school districts nationwide. Remember to investigate education employment opportunities posted on the Augustana Career Center Job and Internship Listing. Another valuable resource is the American Association for Employment in Education.

The links below will assist you in your job search. For states that are not listed below, search for the Department of Education website of the state of your choice to learn about state teaching requirements and job openings. For more information, examine our Additional Education Job Search Resources, and explore Teaching Overseas opportunities.

Teaching Positions by State

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Georgia

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

South Dakota

Additional Education Job Search Resources

Teaching Overseas

Typically, to be a  qualified candidate for overseas positions, you need teaching experience. However, in some third world countries, severe teaching shortage areas, and in some programs offering English as a second language in a foreign country, an English degree or education certification is not required.

Applying to Graduate or Professional School

Should you pursue further education? Some career fields, such as medicine, dentistry, law, higher education, research, and ministry require further study. For other career fields, the answer is less clear. To evaluate your reasons for wanting to go to graduate school, ask yourself the following questions: Do my career goals require an advanced degree? Am I looking for a specialized degree only obtainable through graduate school? Do I have the motivation and desire to commit myself to the time and effort demanded by graduate school programs? Is it better for me to go part-time or get some work experience first? 

Continue to clarify your decision-making, by speaking with professionals in the field you are considering. How did they decide to go to graduate school? How did they select a program? What was it like? Consider searching for an alum who has taken a similar path through LinkedIn. Also, make an appointment with a CAP S[ecialist in the Student Success Center and your academic advisor to formulate an action plan. 

Resources for Investigating and Pursuing Further Education

Admission Tests

Visit the following websites as a part of your exam preparation:

Writing Personal Statements

Preparing for Admissions Interviews