The Career centers at Fairfield University aims to provide support for students with comprehensive support services, programming, and resources for the personal and professional development of Fairfield University students.
Deirdre Bennett, associate director of the Career Center and Employer Engagement emphasizes that the mission of the career center is consistent with Fairfield’s Jesuit values.
Bennett states “the mission of the Career Center is to empower, educate, and serve as a lifelong resource for students and alumni…through supporting students’ individual journeys of self-discovery, leadership, and career development”
The Career Center is geared towards alumni and students of all classes and majors. They host events from job shadow programs, Stags4Hire, and have also arranged counselors for both the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies and School of Engineering.
When asked what the biggest advice to students when they come to the career center Bennet states that “students are encouraged to stop by their school’s career center as early as their first year at Fairfield.”
By making an appointment with the Career Counselor at a student’s designated school they can speak about goals and aspirations and the upcoming four years.
There are many members of the different career centers who share the most rewarding part of working in the career center.
Cathleen Borgman, director, counselor for nursing and health studies and alumni says the most rewarding aspect of her job is “developing relationships with students and seeing them develop personally and professionally over the years.”
Borgman continues, “nothing beats seeing a student land a job they wanted or hearing from alumni years later that you made a significant, positive impact in their career.”
Steph Gallo, Director of Career Planning for the College of Arts and Science shares a similar love for her job.
“The most rewarding part of my job is meeting with students in their first and second year, watching them grow/take risks – succeed (sometimes fail) and more importantly learn,” Gallo said. “The positive outcomes are obviously wonderful, but the personal growth throughout the years is by far the most fulfilling part.”
John Hottinger, associate director of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Career Center states that the most rewarding part of working in a career center is “ meeting one-on-one with students, getting to know them over the course of their time at Fairfield University, helping them discern their career paths/potential, and seeing them compete for and achieve results for internships/full-time jobs.”
Similarly, Kim Nickolenko, director of career engagement for the College of Arts and Science expresses her experiences working in the career center.
“It offers students the opportunity to really reflect on their liberal arts background and how they can best use the skills they gain in the College in their career path after Fairfield,” she said.
Sue Quinlivan, associate director and counselor for the School of Engineering and Graduate School of Education & Human Development emphasizes that what she enjoys most is to “hear student stories about their plans and the contributions they hope to achieve here at Fairfield and beyond. Every day I am learning.”
Students from all different schools of study at Fairfield have had experiences with the Career Center that have allowed them to look further to life after graduation.
Junior Theresa Morrisey, a College of Arts and Science student states that “the sophomore success program was so helpful in kick starting my networking process and they were so eager to help that it made the process so much easier.”
Senior Ashley Lampros is a nursing student at Fairfield. She states that the “career center has proven to be as helpful as ever in helping me prepare for the job application process.”
She continues to mention “Cath at the career center is always happy to help which is definitely a relief on my end, and she even helped me shape up my resume to prepare for an interview.”
The University Career Center will be hosting a virtual fair on Wed. Feb 23 from 1-4 p.m. Registration opens on Thursday, Feb. 3 in Handshake. It is open to students of all class years and majors. Employers coming are interested in speaking with students about internships and full-time jobs.
Bennett advises students to register and set up schedules with employers that are interested in as well as employers they have not heard about before.
Bennett states “most employers are hiring students from a wide variety of majors so there are opportunities students may not expect.”
More so, students should show up with an open mind and “not just meet with employers who have a well-known name”, and instead be open to the mid-size companies as well.
Bennett also advises students who attend “should make every attempt to show up for their appointments on time” to not only be a positive reflection of the student but the university as well. Students should also be prepared by “doing some research about the employer and the opportunities that are available.”
Students should be prepared with a list of questions, dress professionally, and be set up in a quiet space. There are also interview rooms through the career center in the Kelley Center students can reserve for their respective job appointments on the day of the fair.
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