Kara Simard & Erin Grant
Staff Writer & News Editor
When students at FSC check their phones, they now may see a reminder from Career Services, a clear sign of how the department is meeting students where they are at. From text reminders to classroom visits, FSC’s Office of Career Services is more dedicated than ever to working with students and connecting with them earlier and more often. Their goal is to shift student perception that career prep is something to think about only during senior year.
For Associate Director Taylor Shook, the push for greater student visibility has been a long time coming.
“We’ve heard from students, ‘Oh, we didn’t know about that,’” Shook said. “We want to make sure they see us not just when they’re graduating, but all the time.”
Shook has been serving the FSC community for over a decade in roles ranging from academic support services to student success coaching. She stepped into her role at career services last year, right around the time the department started their rebrand, giving her a unique perspective into Career Services’ shift to be more approachable and student-facing.
The Office of Career Services offers a variety of services for all students, no matter their class year. Perhaps the department’s most well-known service is their individualized coaching sessions, where students can practice their interview skills, craft resumes and cover letters, and explore internship opportunities.
Beyond career coaching, Career Services has recently expanded their srudent resources. Whether students are in need of business attire, professional headshots, or just internship planning, the career center has them covered. The professional clothing closet allows students to borrow professional attire so they can look and feel well prepared for upcoming professional opportunities. Students also have access to a professional headshot room, where they can take their own free, high-quality headshot to use in the job search.
All of Career services’ offerings are carefully curated to ensure students have the best chance possible when entering the job market. All of the associate directors are carefully trained to ensure that students from across campus can secure competitive job offers or seats in their desired graduate school. Aside from this training, every staff member in career services is dedicated to pushing students and alumni to be the best they can be.
“The vision is listening to students and understanding what the job market is saying, then figuring out how to bring those together,” Shook said.
In addition to in-office appointments, Career Services has also expanded its digital presence to make resources more widely available for all students. Every student is automatically enrolled in a Canvas course for their school, where job and internship opportunities and other announcements are posted regularly. Platforms like Handshake, Forage and Big Interview are all available through single sign-on and give students even more opportunities to secure competitive jobs and internships.
While all of these online platforms are valuable for students, Shook is particularly excited about Forage.
“Forage is especially great because it gives students mock job tasks from real companies that they can add to their resumes and LinkedIn,” Shook said.
As Career Services continues to work toward being as accessible as possible, student feedback is welcome. The department regularly evaluates how students are engaging with its programs and welcomes suggestions. Ultimately, Career Services has made it clear that the best way for students to take advantage of these resources is to attend events and meet with their assigned staff member.
“We are here to meet students wherever they are. We’re friendly and welcoming, so don’t be afraid to stop by,” Shook said.
Students can connect with Career Services by visiting the main office in Rogers. Appointments with staff members can be booked online, directly through handshake, or in person. Whether it’s a quick resume review or long-term career planning, Career Services is here for students to equip them to be successful in the next chapter following graduation.
