The Career Development Center, located in Eder 202, is dedicated to serving the entire campus community. The CDC works with employers to connect them with career-ready students searching for jobs. Most importantly, the CDC staff work with students to help them become capable, knowledgeable, career-ready individuals. Being career-ready will enable students to pursue jobs during their time at Missouri Western, as well as prepare them for their post-graduation job search.
What is career-readiness? According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), when your student is career ready, they will be able to demonstrate seven key competencies. While this may seem like an overwhelming list, our students will have the opportunity to develop these skills through course work, employment and internship experiences, civic leadership, and use of resources provided by the CDC.
The CDC website includes links to several resources to help your student become career ready. By accessing these resources, your student can get assistance building resumes and cover letters, preparing for job interviews, and exploring career options based on their skills and interests. By helping students develop these skills, we are enabling them to initiate their successful job search.
During the beginning of the spring semester, many students are hunting for jobs. Students graduating in May are beginning their search for post-graduation careers, while students with semesters left before graduation begin to search for summer employment options. The CDC can provide assistance for all students through their career-management portal, Griffons4Hire.
Griffons4Hire is an online career-management portal accessible by students, alumni and employers. Students are encouraged to seek employment through this portal, as it will efficiently connect them with potential employers on campus and within the community. The use of Griffons4Hire has increased dramatically since its launch in 2014. If your student has not looked into Griffons4Hire lately, please encourage them to do so. They can access Griffons4Hire through the link above, or download the app by searching “College Career App,” and inputting their Missouri Western login and password to access Griffons4Hire on the go!
The CDC has recently added a social media audit tool. Many students overlook social media as they start their career search. As your student documents their life on social media, it is unlikely that they are taking their future careers into consideration. Over 93% of employers will search social media before even considering a candidate for an interview, and if your student has postings that an employer deems inappropriate, it is highly likely that they will not be considered for the position.
Encourage your student to try Rep’nUp, a service that will find the social media posts that could damage your student’s online brand. With the free, basic report Rep’nUp will provide a list of potentially inappropriate content. For a small, one-time fee Rep’nUp will link your student back to each questionable post and tell them why it could be harmful. The service can scan both text and images. Removing questionable postings could have a substantial impact on your student’s current and future career search.
If you or your student have questions about the Career Development Center and the resources they offer, call (816) 271-4292, or email careercenter@missouriwestern.edu.