Career Center: Many resources to help students’ growth
Kimberly De Leon, a civil engineering junior, reads information about the UTRGV Career Center Oct. 3 outside its office located in Student Academic Center Room 2.101 on the Edinburg campus. Students can receive assistance in exploring career goals and job search preparation, which includes resume writing, interviewing and job-search strategies. FATIMA GAMEZ LOPEZ/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Career Center assists students by providing a variety of resources, such as resume assistance, mock interviews, career advising and guidance through the next steps after graduation.
If students are unsure about what major they want to pursue, the Career Center can provide assessments to help them identify their specific gifts and interests.
“We take [information from the assessments] and then we provide different avenues that students can travel down,” said Kamara Jackson, director of the Career Center. “A lot of what we do is helping students with discovering who they are and how they want to show up in professional spaces.”
The Career Center also provides internship opportunities to students as early as freshman year, providing valuable experiential learning.
If students are interested in signing up for an internship, Jackson recommends making an appointment during walk-ins or scheduling a meeting with their adviser.
“A lot of the times, when students are interested in the internship, that’s just the first step,” she said. “But we want to make sure that they are effectively articulating the best of who they are.”
Students who are unsure where to begin or want to update their resume, the Career Center can assist.
Jackson said that no experience is too small to place on a resume.
“Never be dismissive,” she said. “I discourage students from saying, ‘It was just this,’ because I think that minimizes the experiences. Everything that students do as early as [age] 14, 15, those are building blocks and foundations. … So we don’t want to dismiss that.”
If a student requires professional attire for an interview or a specific job, the department provides a Career Closet from which students can select a few pieces of clothing for free.
Students can browse pictures of clothing, including descriptions of color and style, on the closet’s online website. All they have to do is sign up and request the items, and the clothes will be ready to pick up in Edinburg or Brownsville.
Apart from academic advisers, career advisers at the center can help guide students and provide them with suggestions and options for their career path.
The department also hosts career fairs where students can explore different job opportunities and educate themselves and companies can recruit.
Ronnie Garcia, associate director of Employer Relations, provided a couple of tips for attending the fairs, such as bringing resumes to hand out as well as making connections.
“If you’re lost … you’ll see people from the Career Center there,” Garcia said. “Ask them, like, ‘Hey, I’m an art major. Who do you suggest I connect with?’ And even practice with them, like, ‘OK, how do I introduce myself?’ We’re here to make sure that you feel comfortable and you’re successful.”
The Graduate and Professional School Fair will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 via Zoom. Students will be able to have one-on-one conversations with different graduate school recruiters.
“They can kind of learn about when’s the deadline to apply, what’s financial aid look like for graduate college,” Garcia said. “Is there, like, a GMAT or MCAT score that’s required to get admittance. Things like that.”
The Career Center will host a Teachers Job Expo from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 in the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus and at the same time Nov. 11 in the UREC practice gym on the Edinburg campus.
The virtual Health Professionals and Nursing Career Expo will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 22.
For all fairs, students and alumni can preregister and view lists of organizations on Handshake.
Jackson said the Career Center supports all students and alumni.
The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with separate drop-in hours found on its website.
The department is located in Interdisciplinary Academic Building Room 1.105 on the Brownsville campus and Student Academic Center Room 2.101 on the Edinburg campus.
