Drop-in Advising

Fall and spring semesters only.
Fall 2019 drop-in will usually be M-F, 11am-3pm, but not always!
Plus extended hours M. 8/26 - Tu. 9/17/19
See when & where.

• About
• Smith Career Center dates and hours
• Satellite locations
• Call in?  Other alternatives
• Before resume reviews (and cover letters)
• Traffic alert
• Before career fairs
• Class assignments to use drop-in advising

About drop-in advising

• We look forward to meeting you and assisting you!
• 10-minute limit.
• Is for questions with quick answers; brief reviews of resumes, cover letters. 
• See before resume, cover letter reviews.
• Not for career exploration and other topics that take more time: for those, please schedule an advising appointment.
• At drop-in, you'll meet with a Peer Career Advisor. If you wish to see a specific professional advisor, you may schedule an appointment.

Smith Career Center drop-in dates and hours

Location: Smith Career Center.

Fall semester 2019:
M-F, 11am-3pm, starting Mon. Aug. 19, 2019, one week before classes begin.
Extended hours 10am-4pm, Mon. Aug. 26, through Tues. Sep. 17, 2019 (except NOT Mon. Sep. 2, when university is closed).
See office hours for VT & CPD closings.

Spring semester 2020: TBA.

Summer: No drop-in advising. You are welcome to schedule an advising appointment.

Satellite locations

• Graduate Life Center (GLC) Main Lobby.
  For graduate students.
  One afternoon per week:
  Thursdays, 3-5pm.
  Starts: Thur. Sep. 19, 2019.
  Ends: Thur. Dec. 5, 2019.
  


• Torgersen 1st floor atrium.
  For engineering students.
  Wednesdays, 1-3pm until end of October 2019.

Can I call in for advising?

• Yes, for quick questions. Our reception staff will determine if an advisor is available, or help you schedule an appointment.
• Resume reviews by phone, for students who are not in/near Blacksburg, must be done by scheduled appointment.

Other alternatives

• When drop-in is not offered...
• If drop-in hours do not work with your schedule... 
• If you prefer a scheduled time... 
• If you want more than 10 minutes with an advisor... 
  ... You are welcome to schedule an advising appointment.

Before resume reviews (and cover letters)

• Before a resume review, use our Career Planning Guide and/or resume guide and reference list instructions.
• Before a cover letter review, use our Career Planning Guide and/or cover letter guidelines
• If you need an overview on resume basics, use our resume guide or the Career Planning Guide first.
• Drop-in is to help you fine-tune and individualize your resume so you can make revisions to best serve your purposes.
• Bring a hard copy; if you don't have access to a printer, just ask at the reception desk when you check in about how to print at Smith Career Center.

Traffic alert before career fairs & class assignments

• Drop-in is first-come, first-served; not an appointment.
• Many students seek drop-in before career fairs. There is no guarantee we can talk with every student if traffic exceeds our capacity, so plan ahead by a week or two!
• Do the preparation explained in "before resume reviews...."
• If you have a class (or other) assignment to use drop-in advising, don't wait until your deadline. If too many students are waiting ahead of you, you take the risk that you might not receive advising on that day.