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New Career Success Center helps WCSU students become career-ready

DANBURY, CONN. — The Western Connecticut State University Career Success Center has moved to the Westside campus and upgraded its many services as part of a major rebranding effort to better serve students and alumni.

The center has revamped its focus on shaping career success with increased engagement through a variety of face-to-face and online programs that guide students to take the steps to “discover, experience, create and activate” their career opportunities.

A new job board called “WESTCONN Works” can be used by students and alumni to view job postings from employers in the regional community or even nationally. WESTCONN Works makes the connection with the Career Success Center an easy one, and when supplemented with other new career tools for assessment, research, job readiness, practice and resumes, the opportunities to improve career readiness are plentiful.

The career readiness of college graduates is an important issue in higher education, in the labor market and in the public arena. The National Association of Colleges and Employers, through a task force of college career services and HR/staffing professionals, has identified the top eight competencies associated with career readiness. The Career Success Center has developed strategies and tactics around these competencies to close the gap between higher education and the world of work, and increase the chances of a successful transition into the workplace.

Kathleen Lindenmayer, the center’s director, said she wants students to answer the question, “Are you career-ready?” with a resounding “Yes!”

Students and alumni will continue to receive individualized help with career coaching, resume review and opportunities for credit-earning internships. The center now provides these services through an increased number of workshops, appointments and “drop-in” opportunities for students, alumni and business partners.

“We want every student to know about our programs and tools, and to use them to chart their own course before and after graduation,” Lindenmayer said. “We also want every student to have a meaningful, fulfilling job when they graduate. That’s why we are pushing so hard to get students into our offices and engaged in our programs.”

The Career Success Center regularly offers workshops, speakers and guidance from staff, alumni and members of the business community, as well as opportunities to meet with local companies that have human resource needs that WCSU students and alumni can fill.

The center is sponsoring its first career fair for the many kinds of jobs in the finance and accounting industries from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in the Ballroom of the Westside Campus Center, along with a full schedule of additional events.

Business owners wishing to participate in Career Success Center events can email careersuccess@wcsu.edu, call (203) 837-8263, or register for an account at WESTCONN Works.

The center’s new offices are located in the Westside Campus Center, Suite 300, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

 

 

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.