It’s the final year for seniors at Campbellsville University. Graduation is right around the corner, and students are looking for internships and employment opportunities. However, most students are unaware of the resources available at Career Services Department. The department assists with future employment connections and resume building. The department also hosts workshops, such as job and internship fairs, academic major fairs, a dining etiquette event and more.
“If students come to us, we walk them through our four-year program,” Career Services Coordinator Allison Withers said. “We want them to have a better understanding of where to start when it comes to their careers.”
One of the many resources the department offers is an online job posting, which includes employers that have reached out to them about job opportunities. The department also offers career planning for all students whether in their early or later academic life. And the department advises students on how to set up Handshake or Pathway U, which are programs that are primarily used for securing careers through CU or other companies with openings.
The Career Services Department not only helps CU students, but also alumni and the community. The department’s Job and Internship Fair is open to the local community want to explore what jobs are available.
Withers has worked with many students since becoming the coordinator for the department in June. She has many great success stories of working with students. One student she’s had recent success with is a student who was studying psychology, but his goal was to open a food truck. Withers and Career Services Director Teresa Elmore advised the student to consider other options.
“We sat down and advised him on the things he could do besides running a food truck,” Withers said. “To start, we wanted him to expand his horizons by looking for other careers.”
Withers and Elmore suggested looking at different perspectives if the student wanted to work in a food truck, such as management. They also suggested to the student that he attend the Job and Internship Fair the department hosts and meet employers that might fit his degree and interests. That student now has a new goal in mind.
Elmore has worked with students of all levels during her 42 years at CU.
“Sometimes younger students don’t always know how important it is to get an early jumpstart into their career options and what majors go with those options,” she said. “For juniors and seniors, it’s different because they are looking for internships or work experience that will give them the experience they need after graduation. It’s important to start looking as early as possible. Because if you wait until you graduate, you are going to have lots of education but no experience, and that makes it difficult to connect and obtain a job or career.”
The Career Services Department organizes and hosts several workshops. For instance, the “Get the ‘Scoop’ on Interviewing” workshop not only gives insight into how to handle interviews, but also incentivizes students with ice cream. There are also other incentives, such as door prizes for some of the workshops, and even chapel credit.
“Some professors who teach the freshman orientation classes will make it an assignment to go to the Majors Fair that we have every year,” she said. “Students need to be aware of what is out there, what is available here at CU, what they can do with their major and what kind of careers they can do.”
Elmore emphasizes the importance of students making connections with real world professionals.
“Start being social,” she said. “Don’t just look for jobs online, look for jobs through connections. Your professors are one of the best connections you can possibly have access to. They know lots of people in their field of study.“
One of the reasons the Career Services Department firmly believes in students making connections with professors is because they can make direct referrals. That’s especially important for students in an academic program such as Allied Health. Bethany Helm is a current student in the Allied Health program at CU, and she’s planning to graduate with a certificate in Limited Medical Radiography. Helm was unaware of the Career Services Department at CU. It was only until Allied Health Instructor Sasha Jones invited the department to come speak to the group of students that were studying in the program.
“They gave us great pointers on our resumes,” she said. “They took the time to help us polish and refine our resumes and were very responsive and resourceful to our individual needs.”
She is grateful to the Career Services Department for coming to Allied Health, prepared with solutions and pointers for students to be more employable. Helm believes all students should take an interest in the workshops the department hosts.
“If graduation is the next step in your life, do not ignore these opportunities,” she said. “You will only benefit from visiting these workshops.”
Career Services Department
Website: www.campbellsville.edu/campus-life/student-services/career-services/
Career Services Director Teresa Elmore
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 270-789-5192
Career Services Coordinator Allison Withers
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 270-789-5443
