CALS service assists with employment

‘Masterminds’ heads new approaches to career forums

Arth Pandya

Staff Writer 

In result of the current job market, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Center has developed innovative strategies to help students prepare for the transition into the professional world.   

The Wall Street Journal reports that this spring’s college graduates will be entering the toughest labor market the country has seen in the last 25 years. 

According to the Journal, colleges are also expected to see the highest number of graduates in a decade.

Career service centers across the nation are adapting new strategies in their effort to find jobs for graduates, according to Marcy Bullock, director of CALS Career Services. 

“We want to be current with the economy and recession, and it’s causing a lot of the universities to justify why they exist.  That’s why we’re coming up with new ideas that will be different, and that will appeal to students and companies,” she said.   

“We’re trying to be innovative, by listening to students, understanding their needs, and then creating cutting edge programs.” 

CALS Career Services and the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center have teamed up this semester to host the first annual “Masterminds” forum. 

“Masterminds” is a new approach to help students achieve their career goals, according to Bullock. 

“Masterminds is a really innovative idea. It’s where we match up groups of similarly motivated students and they set up agendas every week for themselves,” she said.   

The student groups would meet once a week to help motivate each other in their efforts, similar to having workout buddies, according to Bullock.   

“They hold each other accountable for whatever action items they have for the next week.” 

Chris Carr, a CALS ambassador, said the program will help students stay proactive in their efforts.   

“This will help people stay focused on their goals, whether it is getting into graduate school or finding a job,” he said. 

“Participating with [CALS career center] makes them so much more competitive.” 

Carr said that CALS career services helped him get an internship last summer.   

“I got an internship through networks in CALS career services,” he said.  “It’s really been a blessing to have this sort of an opportunity.”   

He stressed the importance of using the resources available on campus. 

“It’s important to start utilizing campus resources, such as CALS Career Services, especially if their in CALS, because they have so many tools at their disposal that a lot of students wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Carr said. 

“All they have to do is walk into Patterson hall and set up an appoint.  That initial step can possibly make or break their future.”   

In addition, graduates who do manage to get employed are likely to experience low wages for a decade or more, in comparison to those who graduated before them, according to the Journal. 

Carr, however, said only a small proportion of students actually reach out for help, and those who don’t will be at a significant disadvantage when it comes time to find employment. 

“Only a small amount of students utilize it.  What about the rest? What will happen to them when they start looking for jobs?” he said.