BY CAREER SERVICES

The article entitled, “Seniors’ Futures Looking Fishy” in the January 25th edition of The Clause, it became evident that the writer has not had the opportunity to come into Career Services. Therefore, they do not know about the extensive services we offer.

The biggest misconception is that our job in Career Services is to hand seniors a job as they walk in the door. We offer services to equip and empower all students to find a job that matches their interests, skills, personality and calling. We realize that every student has a unique design and no two are alike. To that end, Career Services offers customized counseling sessions in order to give seniors and other students the principles of job search and the relevant resources that will enable them to find a job.

It would be a disservice to the student if we did not provide them with the avenues needed to find a position on their own. The average person changes careers three to seven times during their lifetime so to hand out jobs to students would not be educating them of the process. Only 20 percent of jobs that exist are advertised either online or elsewhere. Many of our students and alumni have successfully utilized the database we offer of local employers. However, just as is the case with any online database, this represents only a small percentage of jobs that actually exist. In Career Services, we teach how to network and make connections in the fields that students are pursuing for fear that they would leave school without the preparation to secure or change their career.

When a student makes an appointment with one of our counselors, the appointment is individualized to each student and jobs focused on their specific concentration. If necessary, the counselor will explore databases to help the student get a broad grasp on what is out there. Further advice is given on how to conduct an individual job search through contacting, networking, and interning. We offer a gamut of services to best equip any student who comes in to prepare themselves.

Several assessments are offered to help an individual get a better grasp on his or her strengths, skills, and interests and the way they best work in any given environment. We offer resume reviews, interviewing practice, graduate school consultations, and extensive internship searches (beyond those mentioned in the previous article). Moreover, the Career Services website offers many resources that are beneficial to students beyond just the online database.

The Office of Career Services is here to prepare students to enable themselves to grow and work in various fields across the world. As it is the university’s prerogative to develop stewards of faith, passion, professionalism, and strength, it is for our office to do so with a mind and eye on contemporary career challenges.