1. What are 3 tips you would give a student changing/looking to change his or her career path?
We spend so many hours of our lives working. I am a firm believer that it doesn’t matter what we do, but what we are able to get out of it so that we may continue to grow. First, I would recommend that they honestly evaluate their interests and search for a job that aligns with those interests. Second, I would tell them to learn what they can about the industry. This may mean getting a degree or just doing online research to get a well-rounded view of what they may be taking on. Third, NETWORK. It is so important to connect with people from all different industries, learn what they do, and ask questions.
2. How did the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) assist you in changing your career path?
In 2018, I reached out to CCPD for help with my resume. I had just been laid off from being an Operations Specialist for two years when the company I was working on was absorbed into an even larger company. My issue at the time was that I never liked the job I had and needed to make a change. I spoke with Christina Billings (Associate Director of CCPD) who helped me to restructure my resume in a way that told a story of where I have been and what I was able to take from those experiences to apply to a whole new industry. She also advised me to evaluate my priorities in order to narrow down my job prospects. It really was a game-changer.
3. What was your experience like while changing career paths? How has that decision benefited you today?
Changing careers was a bit of a challenge because I came from such an eclectic professional background. However, it’s because of that background that I knew I wanted to be in a position to help others evaluate their own career paths. If I had not taken that first step by calling CCPD two years ago, I may not have gotten the guidance I needed to evaluate what was really important to me in a career and might be working in a role that I don’t care about. Deciding to come to Post to work with students has been extremely rewarding because it’s given me the opportunity to work with students who face the same dilemmas that I have and let them know that they don’t have to go through it alone.
4. How does the AWATO tool benefit students?
The hardest thing about transitioning from one role to another is not being able to pinpoint exactly what you want to get out of a job. It seems like it should be simple, but it’s hard! I wish I had known about AWATO when I as searching for a new job because it was so important to me to find something that aligned with my personality. I encourage all students, faculty, and staff to use this interesting platform to gain a little more insight into where they would like to go, professionally. It’s also where CCPD posts jobs that are submitted to us by various businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations.