Lamar University’s Center for Career and Professional Development offers students career counseling, resume assistance, job and internship listings, interview preparation, networking advice, career assessments and graduate school advising.
Director Haley Tyson said she recommends students utilize the Career Center early in their college education.
“Getting comfortable communicating with employers, and networking, are critical to students so they can be prepared whenever they’re transitioning to a professional career or to graduate school,” she said. “We also do career exploration, so for students that don’t know exactly what they want to do with their major, we can talk about the different types of career options that you can have.”
Along with career transition preparation, the Career Center staff also helps students look at their chosen career’s long-term needs. Student Magda Soto said the Career Center has been an important resource.
“I now know how crucial it is to have a career goal, so that by graduation, I can be ready to enter the workforce with confidence and purpose, and ready to make a contribution to my field,” she said.
Career and Professional Development offers various forms of career aid, Career Consultant Nicole Kyles-Burton said, and one of the most beneficial resources is career guidance.
“Career guidance is about ensuring students have the resources they need to navigate their career paths confidently,” Kyles-Burton said. “Just like driving a car — if you get a flat tire, you either know how to change it or call for help — it’s the same with your career. You just need the right tools to make informed decisions along the way.”
The Career Center has had many students succeed through their program, Tyson said.
“I have students that are knocking on my door or my window at six o’clock at night saying, ‘I got into medical school,’” Tyson said. “I’ve seen international students who have come in crying because they had employment opportunities provided to them in the United States.”
Kyles-Burton said the Career Center employees enjoy seeing students succeed in whatever they set their sights on.
“Watching students light up with pride in their own growth — whether it’s mastering a conversation, confidently making eye contact, or landing a position with their dream company or gaining acceptance into medical, law, PT, nursing or other graduate programs — often brings literal tears of joy to our office,” she said.
There are multiple resources so students can stay up to date on Career Center events and activities, and easily make virtual appointments, including “Handshake.”
“That’s our job search database,” Tyson said. “Our website, lamar.edu/careers, has a lot of amazing resources on there, too. We also have the ‘Job Search Academy’ that’s a partnership with (the job site) ‘Indeed,’ and you can access that resource on our website.”
Tyson said the Center launched its Parker Dewey resource this year which offers an opportunity for students to look into micro-internships.
“Some students may not be able to commit to a full-time internship for an entire year,” Tyson said. “The Parker Dewey resource gives opportunities that could be project-based. They could be virtual with shorter time frames for students.”
Overall, the Center for Career and Professional Development is a resource that helps students achieve their career goals and succeed in their professional lives.
“Every day is a success story in our office,” Kyles-Burton said. “We celebrate every achievement, no matter how big or small. Each step towards their goal is a win and we experience so much success here.”