By Shelby Wood
Please provide a brief summary of your resume and educational background.
I have worked and lived throughout the country, but I am from Illinois and I started off in community college and got an associate’s degree in arts and communication. Then, I went to Southern Illinois University and got a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I have worked in career services since 2005. I have worked at different colleges and universities in Illinois and Chicago, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which has a career center that I worked at. I taught a career class at Boston University, and now, I am here at Framingham State.
What do you do in your position?
I am the Director of Career Services and Employer relations, so I lead the office. I help with the direction that it is going in and di9erent initiatives with students’ career searches and internships. We have three full-time staff, including me, and four part-time counselors, and I supervise three interns who go to Framingham State. I also meet with students for individual career counseling and workshops. So, I do the career counseling part and the management part. I also do employer outreach – working with employers, meeting with them to develop networking position opportunities for students. We have packets called the “Career Search Guide” ... which help in finding a career that will St students in the job search process. As well as the “Career Search Guide,” we have a booklet of Career Service’s events that will take place this spring and an employer showcase schedule that has times and dates of businesses
that visit the campus.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am a big sports fan. Being from Illinois, I am a Chicago sports fan – the Bears and the Bulls. But after living in New England for a little over three years, I have definitely adopted the Red Sox as my second favorite team. I follow the Patriots quite closely.
Are you currently working on any projects?
We have many networking events coming up this semester for our students. One big event that is coming up is a career conference, which is on March 7th from 1-5 in the Forum. This conference helps students address their fears and [o9ers] steps to take after graduation, as well as how to write a well- written cover letter, resume and how to have a good interview. We also help with how to use RAMTRACK. We have a keynote speaker who has worked in finance and a musician.
Do you have any advice for students looking for jobs or internships?
Come and visit our office! That is what we are here for – to help students through this process. We help them every step of the way. Our job is to help them find what major is meant for them and how to apply for internships and positions.
Do you have any other advice for students while they’re in college?
The advice that I would give to students is to test the waters – to try out different career paths. To experience opportunities whether it be internships, part-time jobs or volunteerism. To realize that the career process is not that linear. Sometimes, you don’t know where you will be going and that’s OK. It can be a helpful thing or exciting thing. You should test the waters to see what you want to do more of and what you want to do less of.