Career Center: Lindsay Pinkston

My first week at the Career Center at The University of Alabama was a great one! I can definitely see myself working in this capacity in the future. During my first day here I was introduced to so many staff members inside the Career Center as well as satellite offices around campus. There are staff members who work for the Career Center, however, they are specific to certain majors like business and engineer and those staff members work specifically with those larger groups of students and are found within the department. I also had the opportunity to observe appointments with students this week. Some students needed assistance with the job search process, one student was contemplating changing her major and wanted to discuss the future, and another needed help with his resume. I enjoyed the variety of situations an appointment can bring. It was during the meeting with the student who wanted to change her major that I realized the importance of knowing the academic faculty within the college you are working with. My supervisor works with the College of Arts and Sciences. Therefore, she works with students who come into the Career Center who identify within that college. In our office we can't actually change a student's major, that is the job of their academic advisor. Knowing the faculty within the colleges so you can make the appropriate contact is key. Referring this student to an advisor who could help her follow through with changing her major is only a small part of the job in the Career Center, however it is key to helping that student follow through with her plans. After we met with the student I was debriefing with the career consultant and she emphasized the importance of knowing the academic faculty within the college you work with. I am glad I was able to gain this insight and experience firsthand the importance of meeting/knowing others so I will be prepared when/if the opportunity arises for me.