Navigating Your Future: Top Questions Answered by Career Center Experts

02/20/24 • 35 min

On this episode of Speaking Of...College of Charleston, Julia Heslin, CofC senior majoring in communication, speaks with Jim Allison, executive director of the College's career center and Karen Fritchman, director of employer relations at the career center. Allison kicks off the conversation by talking about the various offerings at the career center for students of all ages.
"In higher education and student development, probably the areas that are most underutilized or areas that would be the most appropriate to emphasize, for soon to be graduates, are to please make sure to have your resume critiqued by someone in the Career Center before you graduate," says Allison. "The hardest thing for an undergraduate student to do is apply for a job after graduation cold."
Fritchman shares some of the most common questions students ask when they come to the center. She also talks about the upcoming Spring Career Exploration Fair that is curated for all students, including those just starting to take a peek into what career might fit their passions and interests and those who are graduating and ready to start their careers. The EXPLORATION format will encourage career exploration and discovery, as well as extensive networking options beyond the traditional career fair. The fair will have workshops and programming before and after to effectively prepare students for the fair – like writing a resume, planning professional attire and enhancing communication skills. The event is on Thursday, February 29, 202, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Most Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Does my resume have to be one page?
2. Do I need a cover letter?
3. Where do I start if I have no job experience?
Final Words of Career Center Wisdom:
"National data has shown for several decades that students who utilize their college career centers have a much higher percentage of securing an internship as well as securing an interview for a full time job."
Featured on this Episode:
Jim Allison, executive director career center, earned his Bachelor's degree in English from Wake Forest University and a second degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He earned his Master's degree in Counseling with a concentration in Student Development in Higher Education. When he is not busy in the Career Center, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, his dog, and his bird!
Karen Fritchman, director of employer relations , career center, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and her Master of Education degree in the Art of Teaching from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Her previous experience within Higher Education includes alumni engagement, student advising, event planning, recruiting, and fundraising. She and her family love spending time at the beach with their dog, Ivy, a rescued German Shepherd, and at home with her twenty pound cat, Beefy!
Resources from this Episode:

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Previous Episode

Inside the College of Charleston with Kameelah Martin and Keonya Booker

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On this episode of Inside the College of Charleston, we speak to Kameelah L. Martin, dean of the graduate school and professor of African American Studies and English and Keonya Booker, associate professor of educational psychology and associate dean of the Graduate School about the history of the Graduate School, its current programs and future initiatives.
Martin discusses the history of the Graduate School, its range of programs and recent additions such as the first Ph.D. program in mathematics. Kiana sheds light on the diverse student population, including those in certificate programs, and highlights the popularity of the MBA program.

Featured on this Episode:

Kameelah L. Martin is dean of the graduate school and professor of African American Studies and English at the College of Charleston. She joined the College in 2017 and assumed the role of dean of the graduate school in 2021. As dean of the Graduate school, Martin serves as chief administrator and advocate for graduate education. Martin holds a doctorate in African American literature and folklore from Florida State University, a master’s in Afro-American studies from the University of California Los Angeles and a bachelor’s in English with an Africana studies minor from Georgia Southern University.

Keonya Booker is an associate professor of educational psychology and associate dean of the Graduate School. Booker conducts research on school belongingness, mentoring, and classroom community for students of color. A secondary research track examines the interpersonal effects of mentorship for underrepresented faculty and students. Booker holds a doctorate in education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s and a bachelor’s in school psychology from the College of William and Mary.

Resources from this Episode:

· MBA program, Master of Business Administration

· Graduate Ambassador Program (GAP)

· Research Poster Session

· Masters of Science in Child Life program

· Graduate School Scholarships

Next Episode

Inside the College of Charleston with Ann Pryor, Vice President of Alumni Affairs

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On this episode, we speak with Anne Pryor, the Vice President of Alumni Affairs that was founded in 1888 to support the College of Charleston and according to Ann Pryor, in the subsequent 136 years the mission has not changed one iota. The Alumni Association is an international organization of more than a 103,000 members worldwide. Pryor says there are many tangible benefits for members including free professional certificate courses through Coursera, a platform that was launched earlier this year. Pryor talks about the network of alumni clubs across the country, the pride alumni take in the College and much more.
Featured on this Episode:
Ann Looper Pryor '83
Vice President, Alumni Affairs
In November 2015, Ann Pryor returned to her alma mater to become Vice President, Alumni Affairs. Ann earned her BA degree in political science from the College in 1983 and moved to Washington, D.C., to begin her professional career on Capitol Hill.
Prior to joining the College staff, Ann was Chief Operating Officer of The Cultural Landscape Foundation in Washington, D.C., and directed its business operations, communications, and marketing programs. She worked for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for 13 years.
From 1998-2002, Ann served as Director of Regional Alliances for McGraw-Hill Construction, promoting Architectural Record and Engineering News-Record magazines, among other brands. She was Director of Government Affairs for the American Institute of Architects from 1989-1995, representing the architecture profession before Congress and the White House on issues including historic preservation, small business, and surface transportation.
Resources from this Episode:
The Alumni Association's LinkedIn group: https://bit.ly/CofCAALIGroup
Class Note Form: https://bit.ly/CofCCN
A Charleston Affair tickets: https://bit.ly/ACAtickets2024

Speaking of ... College of Charleston - Navigating Your Future: Top Questions Answered by Career Center Experts

Transcript

Julia00:00:05.339

Hello, and Welcome to Speaking of College of Charleston. I'm Julia Heslin, a communications major at the college. And on today's episode, I'm talking to Jim Allison, Executive Director of the Career Center, and Karen freshman director of employer relations.

Unknown00:00:26.789

Jim, I would love to hear a broad overview of the different services and resources that are offered by the Career Center for Students.