Career Center
Georgia College believes that career planning is a lifelong process and desires for all graduates to secure fulfilling careers post-graduation. To meet this goal, the Career Center provides advising services and networking resources that help all students meet their specific career objective. The Career Center staff uses the Career Planning Milestones to guide students through the foundations of career management so that they can plan and work towards meeting their career objectives beginning in their first year at Georgia College. By completing the Career Planning Milestones, students will explore career and major options, learn how to develop a targeted resume and/or curriculum vitae, articulate how their experience meets the needs of employers and graduate programs, and use in-person and online networking platforms to make connections with potential career opportunities. These activities are key to being competitive for internship, graduate and professional school, and full-time employment opportunities.
Services and programs are provided to students beginning in their freshman year and continue throughout their undergraduate experience. Services are also available to alumni and graduate students. These services include:
-
Individualized advising appointments for developing resumes, practicing interviewing skills, formulating job and internship search strategies, graduate/professional school applications, and career planning
-
Career and major exploration advising with access to an online career interest inventory and assessment, Focus2
-
Mock interview opportunities with career advising staff and employer volunteers
-
Thousands of job and internship opportunities through the Handshake online career management platform. Handshake also includes a calendar of Career Center workshops and career fairs, a resource library, and academic internship paperwork
-
Over 12 annual career fairs and networking events with employers and graduate schools each year
-
Opportunities to interview with employers on campus
-
Relevant career workshops and online resources for maximizing LinkedIn, job searching, internships, and graduate/professional school
The Career Center is located in Lanier Hall, Room 110. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We can also be contacted at (478) 445-5384, career.center@gcsu.edu, and through our website www.gcsu.edu/career.
Career Planning Milestones
Expectations for Students
Georgia College believes that career planning is a lifelong process and desires for all graduates to secure fulfilling careers post-graduation. Therefore, prior to graduation, undergraduate students are expected to complete a set of career planning benchmarks that follows a four-year career planning model. Known as the GC Career Planning Milestones, these benchmarks provide students an opportunity to engage in career development activities on an annual basis so that they are prepared for internships as well as transitions to a career or to graduate / professional school. Career Center advisors and staff, academic advisors, and faculty will check students’ progress through the Milestones, and students will be reminded of their need for timely completion of Milestones through their official GC e-mail account.
In their first year, GC students complete a career assessment and review the results through an individual or group planning session with a career advisor. First-year students also activate their profile in the Career Center’s online career management platform, Handshake, to access career events, resources, and internships. In their sophomore year, students participate in resume review sessions that include an introduction to LinkedIn. As juniors, students complete a career planning appointment in which they work with an advisor to discuss career plans and a mock interview focused on articulating transferable skills gained through their liberal arts education. In their final year, students complete a senior-year check-in in which they consult with career advisors on their resumes or CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and career plans. Lastly, each student uploads his or her final resume to Handshake so that they are included in Employer Resume Books.
While the university expects all students to complete these Career Planning Milestones, the university encourages students to go beyond the Milestones to take full advantage of the Career Center’s services. The Career Center works closely with employers and provides multiple opportunities for students to attend career fairs and interview on campus for job and internship opportunities. To help prepare specifically for job, internship, or graduate / professional school searches, students should participate in additional programs such as career fairs, employer interviews, and networking events as well as meet-ups or workshops focused on LinkedIn, professionalism, job or internship search strategies, graduate school, and other career transition topics. The university strongly encourages all students to complete a practical work experience such as an internship prior to graduation.
Students transferring into GC are also expected to complete the Career Planning Milestones. Career Center staff will work with transfer students to ensure they have opportunities to complete all components of the four-year plan so long as the student takes an active role in his/her professional development.
The Career Center is located in Lanier Hall, Room 110. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Career Center staff can also be contacted at (478) 445-5384, career.center@gcsu.edu, or through their website at www.gcsu.edu/career.