Career Development Center Celebrates Student Victories
The Career Development Center is shining a spotlight on student victories—no matter how big or small.
Kristin Eicholtz, executive director of career development, came up with the new initiative after listening to students’ concerns about the COVID-19 crisis and how it’s impacting their search for a job or internship.
“I really wanted to find a way that we can celebrate students,” says Eicholtz. “Anything that they could share that we could put out there to show that there are good things going on. There are victories and successes still happening.”
Victories can range from declaring a major to finding an internship, reaching an athletic goal, or anything in between. Claire Bassetti secured a post-graduation job and got into graduate school. Darby Keller got into the graduate school of her dreams and officially registered for classes, including two study abroad trips. Not only did Bassetti and Keller get a shout out on social media, they also received a handwritten card from Eicholtz congratulating them on their victory.
“We have a success bell in the Career Center that we ring every time a student gets a job or an internship or gets into graduate school. This is our way of ringing that success bell to show them that good things are continuing to happen.”
The Career Center has also started Webinar Wednesdays to explore topics that students want to learn more about, including resiliency strategies and experiential learning. It’s also doing Zoom at Noon on Thursdays for students to drop in and ask questions.
Overall, Eicholtz encourages students to keep a positive outlook and to remain optimistic. She also recommends focusing on what students can do for themselves—adding to their LinkedIn accounts, making contacts with alumni, sprucing up their resumes and cover letters, and looking for free online classes to enhance their skill sets.
“We often hear you can only worry about what you have control over,” she says. “This is one of those situations. What do you have control over? It’s your own growth, your own development, and your ability to network and talk to people.”
