SIS Office of Career Development Helps Students Reach their Professional Potential
As students get closer to graduation, finding a job is typically at the forefront of their minds. While searching for a post-graduation job can be stressful, the SIS Office of Career Development provides numerous services and resources to help students find fulfilling career paths. Whether students need help with application materials, want to explore career paths through a job shadow, or are looking for a summer internship, SIS Career Development is the one-stop shop for all things career-related.
This past October, the SIS Office of Career Development welcomed Sara Jones as our new Director of Career Education and Employer Relations. We thought this was an ideal time to check with Sara to discuss her new role, her goals for the office, services for students offered by the SIS Office of Career Development, and more.
A New Team Leader
A metro Washington, DC, native, Sara is returning home after spending 20 years across the country in the other Washington鈥擲eattle, to be specific. Sara鈥檚 own career journey has been full of surprising twists including joining the Peace Corps, getting a Master's degree in teaching, attending culinary school, editorial writing, and finally, training as a career coach. After discovering her passion for career coaching, she served as Associate Director for the Center for Career and Calling at Seattle Pacific University until she joined SIS in October.
鈥淎ll of these career pivots got me interested in what makes a fulfilling career and life for someone. I love doing career coaching in higher education and leading a team while doing it,鈥 says Jones.听
Establishing a Mission
With a new director, the Office of Career Development has been working hard to set goals and make changes to its services to best meet student needs. Some of the biggest changes the office has made this academic year include: hiring a new career advisor, Govita Etwaroo; launching the first SIS International Affairs Career Fair; bringing back drop-in advising appointments; and redesigning the office鈥檚 website to better serve students.
When it comes to setting goals, the team is honing in on their team mission and priorities to best understand and meet students鈥 needs now. Specifically, they are striving to provide all SIS students and alumni with the skills and access to opportunities needed to develop professional resilience and fulfilling lives.听
鈥淐losing the equity gap is huge for us, so we鈥檙e gathering and analyzing demographic data on career outcomes and engagement with our services and identifying the students that we are missing,鈥 says Jones. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also listening carefully to students and our staff and faculty partners about what students need most now. From there, we鈥檙e redesigning our programming with diversity, equity, and inclusion embedded to help all students build meaningful lives and careers across a lifetime, regardless of their background or social capital.鈥
Services for Student Success
The Office of Career Development offers a variety of resources and services for students at every stage of their job search. For students curious about potential career paths, the office offers several programs, such as a professional Mentorship Program, job shadowing with professionals, and site visits to international affairs employers across DC, all of which offer students real-world experience and a chance to see that career field in action. Additionally, the office has puts on events like SIS Career Week and the new SIS International Affairs Career Fair this past February, which provide students with the opportunity to meet employers and learn about available jobs. All students can take advantage of drop-in career advising sessions held both in-person and online.
When asked about her best advice for students looking to take full advantage of the Office of Career Development鈥檚 services, Jones said, 鈥淚 think a great place to start is to visit our website for our full list of programming. Then, think about signing up for a mentor in the fall, sign up for site visits to employers, and learn about events like the International Affairs Career Fair. Drop-in advising is also a great chance to talk about your personal career path and get customized advice.鈥
Supporting the Transition from Students to Alumni
The Office of Career Development鈥檚 support doesn鈥檛 end when students graduate; they also focus on providing resources and support to SIS alumni. Many of the office鈥檚 events are open to alumni, and multiple networking platforms, such as Handshake, LinkedIn, and Alumnifire, are spaces in which alumni are welcome to search for jobs or advice.
鈥淐areer development is a lifelong process, and we don't see our job as just helping people get their first job out of grad or undergrad. We want to equip them with career skills, confidence, and resilience to manage their careers across a lifetime, as life presents new twists and turns and professional opportunities,鈥 says Jones.
For more information about the Office of Career Development and its services, visit the Career Development website.听
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