expr:class='"loading" + data:blog.mobileClass'>

Thursday, May 1, 2014

My Experience with Kean's Career Services

Most students who attend Kean University are there to pursue a degree in the field that they want to study. After that, the students would find a job that matches their degree. However, finding a job isn't always a guaranteed process. Fortunately, Kean University does have career services which help you find a job that you want. Here, I will talk about my experiences with Career Services in addition to the benefits of it.

The first time I have set foot inside the career center was back in the Fall Semester of 2011. At that time, it was my second semester at Kean University. Prior to that, I attended Middlesex County College from 2008-2010 and started at Kean in the spring of 2011. Going back to the topic, I went to career services during an appointment to meet with a mentor during the "Step It Up" program. From there, I went inside and it had a lot of books. Not only were books available, computers were also available if anyone wants to learn electronically. Here are some pictures below:

                                         
                                                             (Career Services- left side)

                                         
                                                            (Career Services- right side)

Even though I haven't visited Career Services a lot, it does help when you are applying for an internship or a future job. Last semester, I was applying for an internship for the current semester (or the semester that just ended). I spoke to my academic advisor about the internship I would be applying for. He said that I wouldn't be eligible for college credit due to GPA requirements, but he would definitely endorse me doing an internship without college credit. My advisor also mentions that resume building can be facilitated through career services by going in person or by visiting their website.

I went on their website, which is http://www.kean.edu/~career/. From there, I looked up samples on how a resume looks like. I then modeled my resume based on what I saw with a few minor adjustments of my own. Eventually I sent my resume to the place I initially applied for. At first, I was turned down, but that did not stop me from applying to another internship. Eventually, I was officially accepted into AECOM as an intern.

As an intern, I would gain experience as well as knowledge of how the corporate workplace would run from 9-5 every weekday. Not only would I gain employment experience, I would also learn how the commute going from New Jersey to Lower Manhattan feels. From my experience, it is a very long commute. If I didn't learn to build a good resume, I wouldn't be sitting here talking about all of this.

                                     (photo of Lower Manhattan, courtesy of Google Images)

Overall, Kean University's Career Services has it's positives and a need of improvement. The positives are:


  • Website- In case people can't make the time to go there in person, a website is available to facilitate every need
  • Career Fairs- Every year, a Career Fair hosted by Career Services would have various companies come in and talk to students on what the company is about as well as accepting contact information, resumes, etc.
  • Workshops- each semester, a workshop is done where students can learn resume building as well as choosing a major for the undeclared students
The one thing that the university, as a whole, needs improvement on is having a course called "Transition to Workforce". The workshops are useful, but it mostly serves as a convenience. By having "Transition to Workforce", an entire semester can be dedicated to students in their senior year to adjust to life outside of college.