14 ways campus career offices are serving students during school closures: Ideas 9 to 11

With campuses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, career services teams have gotten creative about delivering programs virtually, including events specific to students in particular programs

In-person opportunities typically dominate campus career services offerings at colleges and universities. But as campuses closed this March, these teams had to pivot to a virtual-only model. Here are several actions to consider based on ways career services offices have been delivering services during the pandemic. Click on the links below for more ideas.

9. Remember your future teachers. University of Houston College of Education turned its job fair for aspiring teachers into a virtual one where students could upload a resume and a short video into an online platform for school and district leaders to access and screen candidates and then schedule a virtual interview. Educators from participating districts and schools were thankful to have the opportunity to recruit through the event, particularly with districts having had to cancel their own job fairs, according to an article on the UH College of Education website.

10. Organize an online “Shark Tank.” CCA Sparks, a new curricular initiative from the California College of the Arts designed to help students develop business ideas, was supposed to end with an in-person business pitch competition. Instead it took place as a three-hour event via Zoom, says spokeswoman Taryn Lott. Career development staff helps the five teams competing for $5,000 in prizes to shift their pitches for an online audience.

11. Ensure that any academic program has the opportunity for career-related events to be held online. The cardiovascular technology program at Howard Community College in Maryland, for example, typically has an annual career-readiness workshop prior to graduation. This year, the event was conducted via Zoom with 10 students and two career services team members, says Elizabeth S. Homan, executive director of public relations and marketing.

See more virtual career services ideas. 

Read the full article on 14 ways campus career offices are supporting students virtually.

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