From interviewing to etiquette, Career Development Services has students covered
5 – minute read
Lindsey Lydon and Brett Anderson have several important things in common.
They are Florida Gulf Coast University seniors focused on completing coursework and submitting resumes before graduating in May. Both also credit FGCU’s Career Development Services office and its programs for providing invaluable assistance in helping them prepare to enter the workforce.
Career Development Services provides a comprehensive array of free services to meet the career-related needs of students and alumni.
Advising sessions, career assessments, mock interviews and resume reviews are offered. The staff also shares strategies for finding internships and jobs.
“We do everything from exploration to preparation, meaning we see students from the first day they get here to, well, it’s really never ending,” said Rose Fuller, Career Development Services director.
“The services on our website are free to students, and we encourage our recent alumni to continue to participate.”
The office’s 360-degree approach also encompasses salary negotiation and other workshops, discounts for studio portraits and salon services, and etiquette dinners that offer experience navigating formal gatherings with style. Azul’s Attire, a free professional clothing closet managed by the office in the North Modular Village, offers donated clothing and accessories to help students look their best in their job and internship appearances.
Anderson raved about his experience this year with Azul’s Attire, named for FGCU’s mascot. Assisted by Mary Larkin, the office’s coordinator of career events and marketing, and student career advisor Joe Santos, Anderson came away with a dark blue sport coat, khaki slacks, three dress shirts and a tie, all appropriate for business settings.
“I really enjoyed the whole process,” the software engineering major said. “They made it a really positive experience. I didn’t really know what to expect going into it, and they made it fun.”
Anderson made it clear that he’s anything but a clotheshorse, so the assistance was much appreciated. “I can’t say I’m the best when it comes to having an eye for fashion,” he said. “That’s why I was glad they were there to help me.”
This was his first time utilizing Career Development Services. When he visited the office’s webpage and discovered that resume reviews and Azul’s Attire were offered, he made an appointment to meet with a counselor.
Anderson recommends students connect with the office early in their time at FGCU — not wait until their last semester like he did.
“The earlier you do it, the more it’s going to benefit you,” he said.
“Even starting junior year would have them in a much better position going into the last semester of their senior year. They’ll have things ready to go when job searching, instead of jostling around at the end trying to get everything ready.”
Anderson believes the office’s services can also benefit students who haven’t chosen a major or a career path. “I think that would be really helpful to help narrow their decision and not waste time.”
Indeed, the office encourages students to start utilizing its services when they first begin classes at FGCU — if not before.
“If we can get students to engage with our services during their freshman year, they are going to be so much more prepared and more connected with employers, with internship opportunities and [be] so much more prepared for the workforce when they graduate,” explained Fuller.
Lydon speaks from experience about the value of engaging early.
“I’ve always been someone who really wants to refine my resume and have conversations about what I should do next, so I started my freshman year,” said Lydon, who’s a marketing major with a minor in advertising. “From then until now, I’ve talked to every single person in the office and scheduled appointments with them.”
That assistance helped her home in on transferable skills, pinpoint a career path that suits her and gain a better understanding of herself and her skill set. It also helped her refine her resumes, cover letters and interview skills.
“They were just always asking the right questions,” said Lydon, who also worked in the office last semester as an event marketing assistant. “They really helped me figure out exactly what I was good at, what I wanted to do. It was very welcoming, very therapeutic.”
• Check out upcoming Career Development Services events