Career Services truly is one of the most important departments in any career-oriented college or post-secondary institution. Developing a coherent and achievable Mission Statement sets a foundation upon which Career Services can then help students and graduates achieve their career goals. The success of any Career Services Department rests almost entirely on the leadership of the department and of the institution. When those entities are in lock-step in messaging, focus and executing the core mission of the school, the students and graduates will ultimately find success in their respective fields of study. Essential to building a bridge from Admissions to graduation is messaging. It is critical that students understand the vital role that Career Services plays in their future success and the messaging they receive from faculty, administration and staff should echo that of Career Services from the beginning of their program to the successful completion: Career Services is your partner in navigating your career path and needs your cooperation and participation to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. Creating a welcoming space for students and graduates on the campus for Career Services activities, meetings, resume building, job searches, mock interviewing, and networking events is key to student success. Making industry data on career opportunities available, along with relevant current publications, provides important resources for students throughout their programs so that they are prepared to begin actively applying for positions in their field of study before they even graduate. Lastly, it cannot be overemphasized, or overstated just how important networking is to career growth, advancement, professional development and connectivity. Joining an association, club, professional organization and/or group that is centered on keeping pace with industry trends, information, collaborative networking and other relevant efforts and purposes, is probably the single most important investment in time that the student/graduate will make second only to that of enrolling in your institution.
