Centre News

Sherri Gowins (left), Deb Jones, Mindy Wilson and Joy Asher
help students and alums prepare for life after college in the
Career Services office.

At many schools, students don’t know where to turn for help preparing for life after college. But at Centre, the Career Services office gives students chances to network, meet and learn from professionals in their area of interest, complete internships with funding, practice interviewing techniques and more.

“We offer programs and personal one-on-one attention to students in order to help with all phases of post-graduate preparation,” says Deb Jones, director of Career Services. “We help students with deciding a major and deciding on a career through appointments, programs and self-assessment tools. We help students relate their Centre experience to the needs of employers and graduate schools and help students search and apply for those opportunities.”

Career Services will host several events on campus this semester. On Oct. 21, representatives from City Year will be in the Nichols Dining Room at noon to talk to students about opportunities. That same afternoon, a representative from Teach for America will be available in the Campus Center.

At the program “So You Think You Want to Go to Grad School?” on Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nichols Dining Room, professors and recent alumni will discuss what to expect from graduate study and what to look for when deciding where to apply.

The annual Etiquette Dinner will take place on Nov. 3 in the Evans-Lively Room of Old Carnegie at 5:30 p.m. Sign-up and a refundable deposit of five dollars are required for this event, which is meant to teach students about business and dining etiquette while enjoying a four-course meal. To register, email careerservices@centre.edu.

Several deadlines for students are also approaching: Nov. 1 is the last day to apply to the Extraordinary Success Program, which awards students money for graduate school. Nov. 18 is the deadline to apply for a Centre Internship Plus grant, which offers students funding for summer and CentreTerm internships.

These upcoming events are a few of the many resources Career Services offers. The office provides many additional resources, for both current students and alumni.

“We provide hands-on help with the job search, summer jobs, internships, resumes, cover letters and interviewing,” Jones says. “Self-assessment tools such as the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator are also available at no charge.

“Once a student leaves college, it becomes more difficult to have access to resources such as the ones we have available,” she continues. “Having access to these types of career information sessions is rare outside of the college environment.”

Students who want to make the most of the benefits Career Services provides should get in touch as soon as possible — even as first-years.

“Don’t put off thinking about your future,” Jones says. “Four years go by very quickly. The better we know you in Career Services, the better we can help. Employers like to see candidates who show initiative, as do graduate schools.”

For more information about Career Services and their upcoming events on campus, click here.

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail elizabeth.trollinger@centre.edu with your feedback.

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Forbes magazine ranks Centre 24th among all the nation's colleges and universities and has named Centre No. 1 among all institutions of higher education in the South for two years in a row. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, click here.