Career Services offers students real life advice on getting jobs
Among the social and cultural advancements students experience at college, the foremost reason why they attend is to better their careers. Even with all the planning and class counseling, sometimes students need an added boost to mapping out their own careers.
The department of Career Services offers many free opportunities for students to maximize their career potential with modules for students including mock interviews, resume critiques, self-assessments and advising.
Julia Sherlock, director of career services, has been working at the center in Central Michigan University for 22 years and said that she has seen the department evolve since its founding.
"We have gone from a placement operation that focuses on credential placement and teacher-placement to more a more centralized career center," Sherlock said. "Because career development is a process, it changes (as time goes on)."
Sherlock estimates that about 5,000 students utilize Career Services every year, but would like to see more students participate, especially freshmen.
"I can't emphasize enough that this is not senior-only office, it starts the first day you walk on campus," Sherlock said.
Sherlock said that this year, the office is planning to increase their peer-mentor program and career coaching activities.
Alexis Jones, a Grand Blanc sophomore, said after seeing a speaker present from Career Services in her first-year-experience class, she was inspired to make an appointment with a REACH advisor – someone who gives students career advice.
"After my visit, I started looking up lots of career opportunities for my major, joining more clubs and networking with others in my field," Jones said.
Sherlock said that more people should take advantage of advising.
"(Talking to an advisor) is about exploring you as an individual," she said. "It examines what are your strengths, talents, abilities and weakness. Then it's about finding an academic program that complements all of those."
Jones said the three most important things Career Services has taught her is the importance of research, networking and getting involved.
"All of those things put together really got me on the right track to being successful," Jones said.
Jones is currently training to be a REACH advisor and thinks that it's going to be a rewarding experience and help her further her career.
"By having this opportunity to learn from them, I've learned how to identify better what I want to do with my career and find the steps that I need to get there," Jones said. "By learning all of those things, I am also able to help others get to where they want to be."
Career Services has 75 student volunteers, Sherlock said. While they go unpaid, each of them leaves with the prospect of finding work.
"It gives them an extraordinary experience in terms of learning how this all works, what employers are looking for, and networking with employers," Sherlock said. "A lot of them will get hired right out of this into human resources positions."
Mari Poindexter, graduate student from East Jordan, said that she was required to do mock interviews twice for classes when she was an undergraduate, but found the experience to be still rewarding.
"I think it's a great way for students to get feedback on what they are doing well and what they need to improve on with interviews," Poindexter said. "It's required for business students to go through, but I think all students should have to do at least one because it is beneficial for everyone that goes through the interview process, which applies to the vast majority of jobs."
Laura DuCharme, a Grand Blanc senior, said she used Career Services as a resource when she was applying for internships last year.
"I wanted to make sure my resume and cover letter looked good," DuCharme said. "Career Services helped me by making my sentences more concise and overall making my materials look and sound more professional."
DuCharme said she would recommend career services to any student.
"It's free so you may as well take advantage of it while you can," she said.
Career Services is located at Ronan Hall 240. They are open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. For more information, visit Career Services website at http://cmich.edu.
