Career Services

Career Advising Topics

Students are encouraged to meet with a career advisor for assistance with topics such as:

• Major & Career Exploration
• Professional Documents: Resumes, Cover Letters, Personal Statements, & Professional Portfolios
• Navigating Handshake & Other Online Career Tools
• Professional Networking Using LinkedIn or MSU Connect
• Career Event/Career Fair Preparation
• Job/Internship Search Strategies
• Interview Preparation
• Graduate School Options & Application Preparation
• Job Offer Evaluation & Decision-Making

For drop-in career advising options across campus, please visit the Career Services website.

Virtual Professional Document Reviews

Want your resume, cover letter, or personal statement critiqued but don’t want to make an appointment? Email your documents to CED.careers@msu.edu.

Online Career Resources

The MSU Career Services Network offers many free online resources for MSU students and recent alumni (up to 2 years post-graduation). Go to the Career Services website for additional information not found on this site.

Handshake

Handshake is MSU’s online career portal that hosts thousands of part-time, campus, internship, and full-time jobs. All career-related opportunities sent to the College of Education or its departments will be posted on this site. On Handshake you will find:

• Relevant job and internship opportunities
• The latest information from MSU Career Services and your favorite employers you follow
• Resources and events specifically matching your interests – including career fairs, workshops, and professional events.
• Appointment scheduling with career advisors

News & Information for CED Students

College-Affiliated Career Fairs

Although MSU hosts many career fairs each year open to all students and alumni, there are two main career events affiliated with the College of Education.

Making KIN-nections: Exploring Kinesiology Career Paths

Making KIN-nections Event Information

Making KIN-nections is a career exposure and networking event for undergraduate students, sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology. This event is held annually in the fall (typically the first Friday in November) to allow students to meet with alumni and professionals, kinesiology researchers, and student organization leaders to learn more about kinesiology-related career options and opportunities in health, wellness, fitness, sport and more.

Although this event is more informal than a traditional career fair, business casual attire is preferred.

For more MSU career fairs, visit the Career Services event page.

MSU Teacher Fair

MSU Virtual Teacher & Administrator Fair

The MSU Teacher Fair, typically offered in March or April of each year, attracts more than 150 school districts from across the country seeking MSU teaching interns, young alumni, and local experienced teachers to fill open teaching positions. For in-person events, entry fees are required for alumni and non-MSU affiliated candidates only (interns are free). For more information about the MSU Teacher Fair, please log in to Handshake.

For more MSU career fairs, visit the Career Services event page.

Career Exploration & Planning

Finding Your Path(s)

Exploring your career options starts with figuring out what you like, what you don’t like, and what professional area(s) will allow you to feel satisfied and fulfilled. Some majors, like those affiliated with teacher preparation, lead to a linear career path (teaching), while others such as kinesiology can lead to working in just about any industry, including health care, sports, fitness, business, nonprofits, health & wellness, research, education, etc. For more on career exploration, visit the Career Services website.

Things to think about when deciding on a career path:

• What kind of environment do I want to work in: a hospital, gym, school, clinic, corporate office… And where do I want to live geographically?
• Do I value working closely with other professionals on a daily basis or do I prefer to work more independently?
• What skill sets do I possess and how would they be beneficial to my future profession or industry options?
• What do I know about the profession(s) I’m most interested in? How and where can I find out more information?

Exploring Options

To learn about career options you have to get up and do something! Getting involved is a great way to start exploring your career options. Whether it’s joining a student organization, volunteering locally or near your hometown, working a part-time job, or talking informally with a professional in an area of interest, you are doing something proactive to explore what you may want to do after graduation.

Exploring Kinesiology Career Paths

There are many career options for KIN majors, which can be exciting yet daunting to think about. Here’s what to remember when exploring Kinesiology career paths.

• You are not defined by your major. Kinesiology graduates are individuals with a multitude of unique transferable skills and academic knowledge that would be perfect for many different professions. Explore options at What Can I Do With This Major?
• Keep your options open. You may have your heart set on becoming, say, an athletic trainer, but it’s a good idea to consider multiple options. Parallel plans are not something to be ashamed of. It’s healthy to pursue many interests to learn about all the possibilities.
• Determine if graduate or professional school is right for you. Not everyone wants to continue their academic endeavors after finishing a 4-year degree. Learn if graduate school is necessary to reach your career goals (P.S. most health-related fields require some kind of advanced degree and/or licensure). Most years, more than 50% of kinesiology graduates get a job directly after MSU and are working in a variety of professional areas and industries. See career outcomes for Kinesiology grads for a snapshot possible first destinations.
• Know the reality. Not all kinesiology graduates pursue a career in the health care field. The truth is, getting into these programs can be VERY competitive requiring fantastic grades and plenty of volunteer or patient care experiences. We’ve done the math: the average overall GPA of KIN grads successfully admitted to a health-related program is around 3.75!
• Do your research. It takes hard work and effort to learn about all your options. Google should be your friend! Search keywords, job titles, industry areas, and professional/graduate programs. Networking is also important. Reach out to local area hospitals or organizations to seek volunteer opportunities, use resources like LinkedIn and MSU Connect to connect with professional alumni, attend a career-related event, and talk with your friends, family, peers, advisors, or professors to explore your interests, passions, and talents.
• Learn from alumni. Read “What KIN I do with my career?” alumni profiles to learn about what some of our graduates are doing since leaving MSU and discover career options that you may not have even heard of before!

For more career resources on exploring career options, check out the MSU Career Services Network.

KIN Careers – Starting Your Career Right After College

Many kinesiology students jump into a satisfying career soon after finishing their degree. The best way to obtain a worthwhile opportunity after graduating is to become a marketable candidate who can successfully articulate and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities. Increase your marketability by gaining diverse experiences through volunteering, interning, working part-time, research, etc. Use resources like O*Net Online to research job titles and professional areas.

Popular KIN Careers:

• Certified Personal Trainer or Group Fitness Professional (certification necessary)
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Exercise Physiologist/Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist (additional coursework and/or certification needed)
• Health & Wellness Specialist (may require a personal training certificate)
• Health Educator
• Insurance Claims Specialist/Underwriter
• Medical or Pharmaceuticals Sales Representative
• Sports Program Coordinator
• Sports/Fitness Facility Manager
• Strength and Conditioning Coach

Use Handshake to find jobs advertised specifically for Spartans. Work with your College Career Consultant and Career Peers to prepare your application materials and create a professional brand to help “sell” yourself in a competitive job market. Log in to Handshake to make an appointment.

KIN Careers – Going on to Graduate or Professional School

Many professions (including those in health care) require graduate or professional school to be eligible. Research graduate programs extensively and talk to admissions representatives to know if you are a good candidate for the program(s) and do your best to gain exposure to the field early to ensure the time, money, and effort put into graduate or professional school is worthwhile. Use sites like Explore Health Careers to get started and learn more.

Popular options include:

• Certified Orthotist and Prosthetist
• Chiropractor
• Kinesiology Faculty/Researcher
• Nurse (accelerated post-bachelor option)
• Occupational Therapist
• Public Health Professional
• Physical Therapist
• Physician (MD or DO)
• Physician Assistant
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• Sports Psychologist

Although your KIN academic and career advisors know a bit about many different career paths, the MSU Pre-Health Advisors are the authority on health care graduate/professional school planning and preparation. Don’t be afraid to use their online resources and advising options to help you plan your future.

Exploring Education Career Paths

Most education students (elementary, secondary, and special education) have a clear vision of what they will be doing post-graduation. Although education typically offers a more linear career path, exploring options within the field is important. One way teacher preparation students can be purposeful in their career planning is to think about choosing a marketable teaching major and possibly a minor. Pursuing teachable areas such as science, math, special education, foreign language, and TESOL/ESL will make graduates strong and valuable teaching candidates after finishing the program.

Although most elementary, secondary, and special education students complete the Teacher Preparation Program and go on to become K-12 educators, some choose to pursue other career options. It is best for these graduates to think about what transferrable skills were built while training to become a teacher and how they can effectively utilize these skills in other fields or industries. Use tools like What Can I Do With This Major? to see what other career options would be most appropriate for graduates with a degree in education.

The typical alternative career paths reported by graduates include work in business (sales, recruiting, corporate training), nonprofits, ministry, behavioral analysis, or self-employment. Use Handshake and other job search resources to identify options in a new field of interest.

For more career resources to explore career options, check out the MSU Career Services Network.

Information for Employers

Hiring Teaching Candidates

Posting a Job

School districts are encouraged to post all teaching positions on Handshake, a free resource accessed by students, teaching interns (student teachers), and graduates up to 2 years after completing the teacher certification program.

Log into Handshake or set up an account by going to https://msu.joinhandshake.com. For additional employer information, please visit the Career Services Network Employer page.

Part-time/Seasonal Hires

Employers with part-time, seasonal, or (non-student teaching) internship positions for any major are welcome to post on Handshake.

Handshake requires all employers to have a valid company website and e-mail address. For small business or in-home opportunities in which this might not apply, please contact the MSU Career Services Employer Relations team.

Career Fairs

The MSU Teacher & Administrator Career Fair is typically held in the spring semester of every year. Registration for this event and other MSU career fairs and events can be found on Handshake. Search “Teacher” under the Events tab starting in January for more information and to formally register.

Hiring Undergraduate Kinesiology Candidates

Posting a Job or Internship

Whether you’re looking for full-time, part-time, or intern candidates, all opportunities can be posted on MSU’s free online job board Handshake. This site can be accessed by all MSU students and recent alumni (up to 2 years after graduation).

Log into Handshake or set up an account by going to https://msu.joinhandshake.com. For additional employer information, please visit the Career Services Network Employer page.

All Kinesiology students are required to complete a senior-level internship opportunity. For more on the KINternship program and requirements for hosting an intern, please visit the MSU Kinesiology internship site.

Career Fairs

Want to meet with kinesiology students face-to-face to identify future talent? Consider attending the Making KIN-nections networking and opportunity event, offered every fall (typically the first Friday in November). Registration for this event and other MSU career fairs and events can be found on Handshake. Search “Michigan State University KIN” under the Events tab in early fall for registration information. For more about Making KIN-nections, see this informational video.

The First Destination Survey offers a snapshot of the College’s undergraduate student career outcomes in their first destination after graduation*. This information is a useful tool for students who are researching possible career options/paths. To see the career outcomes for the full University, please visit the Career Services Network website.

*Teacher Certification Reports include the career outcomes of those who complete the requirements for initial teacher certification.

College of Education First Destination Survey Reports

• 2020 Teacher Certification Report
• 2020 Kinesiology Report & Athletic Training Report

Past College First Destination Survey Reports:

• 2019 Teacher Certification Report
• 2019 Kinesiology Report & Athletic Training Report
• 2018 Teacher Certification Report
• 2018 Kinesiology Report & Athletic Training Report
• 2017 Teacher Certification Report
• 2017 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Report
• 2016 Teacher Certification Report
• 2016 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Report
• 2015 Teacher Certification Report
• 2015 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Report
• 2014 Teacher Certification Report
• 2014 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Report
• 2013 Teacher Certification Report
• 2013 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Report