Tweet

The Career Center’s mission at Grand View University is to engage, equip and empower students and alumni with job search assistance.

“Everything you do on campus can be used in a marketable way to show that you are a good fit for an employer or that you’ve gained a certain skill or knowledge.” -Sara Anderson

Sara Anderson, the assistant director of the Career Center at GV. A student’s time on campus is often considered an important turning point in life. Anderson encourages students to use their class time to make an impact on their future. The first step into the workforce can be an intimidating step to take, especially with the ever-changing rate of employment. Brooking’s Institution’s study on the unemployment rate of young workers during COVID-19 showed that those ages 16–29 had their unemployment rate increase 20.9% between February and April of 2020.

Till Von Wachter, an economist, author and professor at UCLA, recently projected in a report covering the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the workforce, that roughly “20 million young individuals will be at a high risk of exposure to an economic recession and job loss.” In light of all of this, GV offers resources to navigate this volatile job market. GV’s Career Center offers students a multitude of resources for job preparation throughout a students’ time on campus. Those resources include resume and cover letter assistance, internship planning, mock interviews, connections with employment agencies, job fairs and access to Handshake, an online resource that allows for students to apply and search for new opportunities in their field.

Handshake is one of the most impactful and innovative resources that GV offers. This resource is used by more than 1,000 colleges and universities to connect students with employers. Over 500,000 employers hire students using Handshake. “Handshake is specific to graduating students,” Anderson said. Anderson encouraged students to build healthy business habits by “proactively searching for opportunity and starting your Handshake profile.” GV also offers assistance with acquiring professional headshots for any LinkedIn or Handshake profile.

All of these resources can be found in the Student Life offices on campus or through virtual office hours. Students can schedule an appointment with the Career Center on MyView through the Navigate page. There are various job opportunities a few clicks away on MyView. Once an appointment has been scheduled with the Career Center, they will be connected with Anderson or Susie Stearns. Stearns, the director of the Career Center, builds relationships with each student and encouraging them in their job search. Emily Andrews, a senior at GV, said Stearns makes sure to check in on her when she hasn’t heard from her in a while. Stearns always reaches out with any new job opportunities for Andrews and shows support and encouragement consistently. Anderson and Stearns are truly invested in the success of GV students.

Faculty are also invested in students’ success now and after college. “Another thing that I think is kind of a hidden treasure here, is remembering to go to your professors,” Anderson said. “Especially those that are in your field or in upper-level courses because they actually have, in some cases, a more recent connection to the field.”Therefore, make sure to stop by the Career Center or schedule a meeting with your professor to learn more about the exciting opportunities in your field. Anderson emphasized the fact that this time on campus is a time to make yourself “marketable and prepared” for whatever comes next. The current job market and looming economic problems are still prevalent; however, Andrews shared her simple but important advice:

“Get as much as help you can, the Career Center is there for us to use it. We might as well use it; it’s free, and sending Susie an email is super easy.” -Andrews