STUDENT LIFECYCLE, ENGAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT Graduate Career Development: Delivering a Park Avenue Experience on a Hell’s Kitchen Budget

Presented by Jeremiah Nelson, PhD, Kenner School of Business at Catawba College

Reported by Amy Carver, MBA, Iowa State University College of Engineering

Career outcomes are a crucial aspect for our graduate students, but Dr. Jeremiah Nelson faced the challenge of enhancing career development at the Kenner School of Business with limited funding and staff. Catawba College, a small liberal arts college in North Carolina founded in 1851, recently introduced graduate programs such as the MBA: General Management, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Sport Management in the fall of 2020. According to a study conducted by the Center for Graduate Career Success, more than half of graduate students lack foundational knowledge about the job search process.

Challenges

Students experience anxiety about their futures, carry a heavy debt load, and struggle to effectively communicate their value to employers. Many of us have observed similar challenges on our campuses, where resources are often focused on undergraduates. Faculty members often feel unprepared to provide career counseling and are hesitant to incorporate career activities into the curriculum. Budget constraints make it difficult to hire career support specifically for graduate students, and these limitations influenced the implementation of most of the strategies Dr. Nelson adopted.

Beyond Graduate School Platform – not a paid spokesperson

This platform was launched last fall for master’s level students and has the appearance of a course built within a learning management system. It is tailored specifically for graduate students and provides modules suitable for both academia and industry, although the tools may differ in each context. Beyond Graduate School offers a research-informed curriculum to teach successful job search strategies. Five modules are designed to help students earn their degrees and build their careers:

1. Design: Set your goals and create a plan.

2. Connect: Build meaningful connections.

3. Evaluate: Understand company culture.

4. Apply: Utilize proven strategies for job applications, focusing on networking and leveraging personal connections.

5. Build: Transition from graduate school to the workforce, setting oneself up for long-term success and advancement.

Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned (single sign-on with university email address)

• Introduced w/ demo at Orientation.

Tip: Make every student log in during orientation

• Student participation can be a challenge for optional activity.

Tip: Email reminders directly from program director

• Incorporating into curriculum is even better! Tips: Career development course -or-faculty can strategically incorporate into existing courses n Establishes a base of knowledge prior to meeting n Saves advisors from having to repeat basics hundreds of times n Increases efficiency of meetings n Allows conversations to be richer

• Use lessons (or whole modules) as homework for advising.

Through the affordable solution provided by Beyond Graduate School, the Kenner School of Business at Catawba College was able to scale career support because we are “one person.” n

Five modules are designed to help students earn their degrees and build their careers...