Students looking for advice and help getting into the job market have a resource in newly-hired Tess Surprenant, director for Career Development Center at Park University.
Before signing on as the new di- rector of the center effective July 8, 2013, Surprenant was working at the University of Minnesota for nine years.
“I like Park University, it is an interesting mix of students,” Surprenant said. “We have to adjust to advise international students, military veterans, career changers, students who will never be on the Parkville campus, who we only interact with remotely, as well as the traditional 18 to 22 year-old.”
According to Surprenant, getting a job after college requires training, skills and preparation to meet challenges in job markets. As a director for Career Development Center, she has been training students to be better candidates in workforce.
“My job here is to provide ca- reer preparation services for the students and provide opportunities for them to interact with employers,” Surprenant said.
She explained how suc- cess always needs prepara- tion and training has enabling students to move out from long line of waiting. Attending training enhances students’ résumé, and it seems helpful when students look for jobs.
Surprenant is currently training students how to write resume, cover letter, network- ing and interview preparation. At the same time, she is also arranging students to meet with potential employers.
The Career Development Center may be more important than ever considering the recent recession and tight job market for graduates. Surprenant said she works to come up with effective ways to enhance students’ employability.
“Starting next week, we will have at least one workshop every week until the end of the semester,” Surprenant says.
For those who are looking for jobs, these trainings are a unique opportunity that the career development provides to make connections between students and employers.
“The career center contacts employers and encourages them to post internship and job listing on the Park University job board which is called eRecruiting” she said.
Training programs are not limited to students who are currently seeking for jobs and are extended to every student who wants to learn more about workshop activities. To make it easier for them, all workshop programs are posted on Park University bulletins board.
According to Surprenant, advising students is different from profession to profession. Yet, it is her job to train students and finally connection them with companies to get jobs, she said.
“Part of our challenge is that we have to provide services to all students in Parkville as well as all of the students who take online courses at our 40 campus center across the country,” she said.
