VCU Psychology Doctoral Students offer Career Exploration Workshops

By Mike Porter

Doctoral students in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Psychology will offer a series of free career exploration workshops to the public.

The workshops, titled “Career Exploration and Discovery: How knowing yourself can help direct your job search,” are designed to help participants identify their career-related interests and work personality by way of two widely used tests to measure occupational likes and dislikes and personality style.

The workshops are sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the VCU Center for Psychological Services and Development.

“Our workshops are not going to teach people how to do resumes or improve interview skills,” said Victoria Shivy, Ph.D., associate professor of counseling and social psychology. “What we will offer is career testing to help them understand their career interests and give them some tools to explore those interests.”

Participants will learn how to interpret the test results and connect the results with possible career choices.  All test results are private.  

“With layoffs increasing and the unemployment rate rising, we recognize the surrounding community is hurting and this is a way to give something back,” Shivy said.

The workshops will take place:

•    Thursday, April 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Richmond Salon I in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

•    Friday, April 17, noon to 3 p.m., Richmond Salon II in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

•    Wednesday, April 22, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Virginia Ballroom B in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

•    Friday, April 24, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Room 427 of Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave. 

The workshops are offered at no charge and open to adults in the Richmond area who are not currently attending a local university or college. 

Space is limited and registration is required. Participants may register only for one workshop as all four workshops will cover the same information. To register, call the VCU Center for Psychological Services and Development at 804-828-3733, extension #4.