Introducing the Career and Professional Readiness Center
Do you remember when you created your first résumé? How about when you first thought about looking for a job or applying to graduate school? If you were like many college students, these concerns did not occur to you until you were facing graduation. But, in today’s soft job market and highly competitive graduate school arena, this approach simply won’t do.
To provide St. Bonaventure students with a competitive advantage, the University has reinvented the Career Services program to create the Career and Professional Readiness Center (CPRC).
Center Director Connie Whitcomb says the center’s programs will start in the freshman year and continue through graduation.
“We want our program to be viewed as ‘best-in-class.’ After all, our students deserve no less,” Whitcomb says.
This model for the CPRC is rooted in professional development. It focuses on the attitudes, behaviors, skills and experiences that employers seek and that will allow SBU graduates to have a strong impact in the workplace.
“We recognize that students may come to the table at different times in their academic careers, so, while the program is designed to start in the freshman year, if a student gets a late start or transfers to St. Bonaven-ture after the freshman year, we can still accommodate them and get them ‘career- or graduate school-ready,’” says Whitcomb.
The program has three primary components:
1.) Assess and Explore:
Students will assess and explore values, skills and interests as well as career options and majors.
Areas covered:
Résumé development
Career/major exploration
Personal brand/social media
Engagement in student organizations
Introduction to the National Society of Leadership and Success
2.) Develop and Pursue:
Students will develop and strengthen skills employers seek and they’ll pursue opportunities for professional experience through internship, research opportunities, and service.
Areas Covered:
Professional communication skills
Self-awareness
Professionalism in the workplace
Internship readiness
The graduate school search
3.) Transition:
Students will secure final details for a successful transition to professional employment, service or graduate school.
Areas Covered:
Financial literacy
The job search
An additional key to the distinction of St. Bonaventure’s CPRC is the link to Bonaventure alumni.
“Our alumni have demonstrated time and time again their willingness to support students through internships and job search advice and support,” says Whitcomb.
“Through the CPRC, we want to further strengthen these relationships for the benefit of our students. Clearly, the ‘Bona connection’ has always been a distinguishing characteristic of a St. Bonaventure education. Through the CPRC, we will take this to yet another level,” she says.
Alumni who are interested in learning more about the CPRC or who want to become involved in supporting St. Bonaventure students through internships or job opportunities are encouraged to contact Connie Whitcomb at cwhitcom@sbu.edu.