4 | RAMS MONTHLY
Mentorship, Confidence, and Connection: The New Face of Career Readiness at VVC By: Andrew Caravella By the time Na’Im Williams sits down to talk about his new role at Victor Valley College, it’s clear he’s not here just to shuffle résumés or run mock interviews. With more than 14 years of experience in student services, Williams isn’t interested in producing cookie-cutter employees. He’s here to light a fire. “Not just to be someone’s employee,” he says, leaning in with conviction, “but to empower students to learn and then lead in their career field. Mentorship is going to be huge here.” Williams, VVC’s new Senior Student Services Specialist, is stepping into the Career Center with a vision that goes well beyond polishing cover letters. He wants the center to be a bridge—a launchpad connecting students to meaningful jobs, mentors, and a network that carries them long after graduation.
Career Readiness in 2025: More Than Just Skills Ask Williams what “career readiness” means, and you won’t get a buzzwordheavy response. Instead, he describes a holistic process. “Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know,” he admits. Technical chops are vital, sure, but they’re not enough. He talks about punctuality, work etiquette, communication, resilience—traits that can’t be coded into an app or automated by AI. “There must be a human connection when tackling tough issues and solving problems,” he adds. “That’s something automation can’t replace—at least not yet.” Programs With Personality Part of Williams’s plan is to make
career prep engaging and memorable. This semester, he’s rolling out a slate of workshops with names that sound more like mixtape tracks than seminars: “Tune-Up Tuesdays” for résumés, “Thrive and Shine” for interview prep. His aim is to turn intimidating tasks into approachable, even inspiring, experiences. And students are already responding. In his short time at VVC, Williams has seen their confidence spike after résumé critiques and mock interviews. “I want them to leave here knowing they’ve got this,” he says with a grin. The Closet That Changes Everything One of the Career Center’s most unique features is the Career Closet, a boutique-style room where students can pick out professional outfits for interviews or new jobs. Williams lights