Transition with Career Services

Director of Career Development, Daria Wielebinski, advises senior Sara Eliason on plans after graduation. Photo Credit / Brook Wadle
Director of Career Development, Daria Wielebinski, advises senior Sara Eliason on plans after graduation.        Photo Credit / Brook Wadle
Director of Career Development, Daria Wielebinski, advises senior Sara Eliason on plans after graduation.
Photo Credit / Brook Wadle

BY VERONES PADILLA

SC Staff Writer

Commencement is the ultimate goal of every college student.

But what happens after you’ve taken all the classes, written all the papers and passed all those exams?

The Career Development Center strives to make sure all of us here at ESU are ready for the “real world.”

Given the current job market, senior anxiety is perfectly understandable.

According to a report by CNN, Northwestern University found 36 percent of college educated workers are currently “mal-employed,” working a job that does not require a degree.

Today’s job market is increasingly competitive and saturated with people hoping to land a job.

The Career Development Center hopes to give a group of seniors an advantage with the second annual Senior Transition Conference, held in Harrisburg, PA from March 29-March 30.

A statement released by the center says the event “is significant because over the two-day conference, seniors are introduced to important concepts for their future opportunities.”  The conference will have a series of workshops and presentations in which students can expect insider tips on things like resume writing, interviewing skills, and job searching.  The conference also spends time exploring more serious issues like loan repayment and navigating the waters of professional social media.

Daria Wielebinski, director of the Career Development Center, strongly encourages seniors to take advantage of this opportunity saying they will “learn how to transition from a college community to their new community.”

When students switch from an academic life to a professional one, there are many aspects that can be overwhelming.

Weilebinkis adds the conference is a “tremendous opportunity to network with peers, alumni, employers and other professionals. Experiences gained from this event will offer unprecedented opportunities.”

In an effort to allow for as much student involvement as possible, the Career Development Center secured funding from Student Affairs and the Departmental Conference grant.

All registration and transportation fees will be waved for any senior interested in attending.

Included in the registration for the event is the cost of all meals with the exception of dinner on the night of March 29.

Seniors attending will be responsible for hotel accommodations, which the center has also been able to keep relatively low through a discount program with the participating hotel.

The cost of one room, for one night is estimated to be $110 and can be shared with roommates.

Last year ESU sent 10 seniors to the conference.

In an interview on ESU Insider, Nicole Nightlinger, one of 2013’s participant said, “This conference was a life-saver. I gained tremendous insight by attending this conference and plan to use the information to better myself in the post-senior responsibilities.”

ESU has committed to take 30 seniors to the conference.  Registration for the conference is open until February 28, 2014.

For more information or to register, email careerdevelopment@esu.edu

Email Verones:

vpadilla@live.esu.edu