Students have been unaware of services provided to them
The Career Center is a place students can go if they need help with résumés, internship programs, and learning how to dress professionally for an interview. With these workshops being offered, some students still know absolutely nothing about the center or where it is even located.
The Career Center held a Career Fair on April 25. It was their first time holding the event in the spring semester and it had a turnout of approximately 600 students. Although many students attended, there are still a majority who know very little about the center and what they offer.
Kolleen Ostgaard, Supervisor of the Career Center, thinks it is quality over quantity. “It depends on the topic we are doing. We had a resource fair for veterans and we didn’t have nearly as many students, but, nonetheless, it was a great opportunity for our campus,” said Ostgaard.
If an event isn’t advertised correctly, then students will not know when and where to show up. “The Career Center advertises their events and workshops by doing a lot of outreach by the campus community via email. [We] connect regularly with faculty and staff and rely heavily on them to get things out. We have lots of signage around campus about the events and we have direct contact with students who come into the Career Center,” said Ostagaard.
Students have various views about the Career Center. Student Sarita Patel has passed the center plenty of times. “I know what the Career Center is. I don’t think it fits my needs,” said Patel. “But I think they have great tools. I have heard about their résumé workshops, but right now I don’t have the need.”
Student Michaela Thomas has a different perspective. “I don’t know where the Career Center is located. I definitely needed the résumé workshop last week. I was very confused and I had a job fair to go to, so I had to have my friend help me out.” Thomas has ideas about how the Career Center can advertise better. “Maybe if there were posters or if they get on the little intercom saying, ‘Hey, come by the Career Center,’” said Thomas.
Jessica Weld, another ARC student, has an interesting take on this as well. “I have been here for almost 6 years and I don’t know anything about it or have heard anything about it, so obviously they aren’t advertising well,” said Weld.
Advertising properly could be the key to having more students shows up to workshops and taking full advantage of everything the Career Center has to offer.
