Photo courtesy: FAMU Career and Professional Development Center
As the semester comes to an end, many college students are planning for their future endeavors. The early application period for internships and job openings has commenced.
Florida A&M offers many outlets for students looking for prospective careers. The Career and Professional Development Center is a tool recommended by the university to ensure professional readiness. Located in the CASS Building in Room 309, the center offers assistance with resumes, profiles and portfolios. Students are encouraged to schedule appointments with career specialists in the center to receive help.
Jalyn Baker, a fourth-year computer engineering major, works as a technology and data administration specialist.
“There are endless benefits to using the Career Center. When looking for internships and full-time opportunities, there are very helpful and compassionate career specialists with concentrations in the various schools on campus,” she said.
“We offer resume and cover letter services. We also curate multiple career fairs where students can mix and mingle with real-world companies and recruiters. Whether students can land a spot at one of these companies, the experience of building the connections with these highly accredited companies is well worth their while. I encourage any and all students to come check out the Career Center,” Baker added.
Baker’s journey into the Career Center started when she went to the center for help with her cover letter after not receiving any internship offers one summer. She would then go on to land an internship the next summer at Starz and has even made strides to land an internship at HP for the upcoming summer.
As students seek employment moving into the new year, are they using the resources granted to them by the university? Nursing students offer a perspective to the conversation that warrants concern.
Deja Sharpe, a fourth-year nursing student, is concerned about finding work after school.
“Per the reviews of my colleagues, there were not jobs offered for new graduate nurses or healthcare administration jobs like what I am looking for. Why would I attend a fair that doesn’t have jobs for me and my major?” Sharpe said.
“I believe that there should be something done about the pipeline of students being able to say that they confidently came to FAMU, graduated from FAMU, and were able to secure a job after leaving. Opening the invitation for more hospitals to come to these career fairs would be a great step in the right direction.” Sharpe said.
Maya Kitchen, a senior in the School of Nursing, says she is well-prepared to find work in her field.
“I feel like this university has helped me a lot with networking and learning the skills of using your voice to work your way into rooms that you would never be in if you didn’t speak up,” she said.
“As a new graduate, FAMU’s large and powerful alumni in the medical field works as an asset for me to potentially network my way into rooms with individuals that could potentially employ me.” Kitchen added.
These students have been exposed to the healthcare fair hosted by the Career Center, but still feel as if they are not represented well enough.
“There are not many opportunities for new graduate nurses to find employment at the fair,” Kitchen said.
Will there need to be a change in priority for the healthcare fair due to disconnect between students looking for employment and not feeling satisfied with the options given to them? Is healthcare the only major experiencing this issue of dissatisfaction among job-hunting students?