Triton Mindset Blog
Why Should I Use the Career Center While at UC San Diego?
Submitted By:
Mike Zucker - Associate Director of Career Development and Industry Engagement for the UC San Diego Career Center with contributions from Anson Zhang and Simon Wang – UC San Diego Class of ‘22
Date: 12/7/2023
Key Take-Aways:
- What does that data say?
- How Career Centers can help
- Maximizing ROI associated with higher education
- Avoid underemployment
When we last met, we discussed general frameworks for moving forward with making career decisions and developing your career plan. Loudly declaring – “there is a framework you can use to assist you in making these stressful, pressing decisions” In my decade and a half of experience in Career Services, the comfort that students derive from this knowledge is a catalyst for embarking on that journey of self-discovery – which is just as important as the journey to complete a degree plan.
Now imagine if we can get to a point where students feel even more empowered to embrace the notion of exploring and taking the journey of discovery because they had a trusted formula or resource they can turn to in guiding them through the process of exploring themselves, prototyping careers, making connections, presenting themselves as they transition to internships, jobs, grad schools, and professional programs.
Guess what. I – and my Career Services colleagues all over the country, and globe – want to share a secret with you. Sh. Come closer. THERE IS!!! It is called the Career Center. The UC San Diego Executive Director, Hassan Akmal, describes it as “A creative design space with no borders, a sanctuary of self-reflection—a special place to design your career and life.”
It is easy to simply list myriad resources available and ways that Career Centers can serve students and why students should visit. But I have seen students light up with hope and excitement that their investment in higher education – and having to “make the right choice” pays off as a result of leveraging these tools.
Many students are very concerned about their ROI so it is important for them to tend to their career development while maximizing their collegiate experience. As a result, Universities have responded by creating career cultures and career champions across their campuses. There are many, many outlets on amazing universities where students can get answers to career questions, have resumes reviewed, gain interview insights and make connections, but only one is fully equipped, for reasons we will discuss. That resource, again – is the (UC San Diego) Career Center.
There are statistics that illustrate students that engage with their Career Center graduate with more experience and secure employment at a higher rate than those that do not. According to a Gallup poll, college graduates who visit their college career centers are not only more likely to obtain full-time jobs than their peers who do not use this service — 67 percent versus 59 percent — but they’re also more likely to find their jobs more fulfilling.
To that end, some statistics illustrate how difficult it is for students to avoid underemployment if they do not engage with their career center. In an article titled >Why Your First Job Out of College Really, Really Matters, Michelle Weise of the Strada Institute for the Future of Work says “Many college students, for their part, don’t start preparing for work soon enough”. She said “40 percent of undergraduate students never visit their college’s career services department. Students should make regular visits to this office”, she said.
In that same piece, Matt Sigelman, CEO of BurningGlass Technologies said “people need to start thinking about their first job well before they graduate”. “Students should enroll in courses, and seek out internships and jobs while they’re in college that will show employers they’re prepared for the job”. “That can make a world of a difference,” he said.
It would be great if there were a place students can go – a proven resource, to help with all of the above.
Guess what. I – and my Career Services colleagues all over the country, and the globe – want to share a secret with you. Sh. Come closer. THERE IS!!! It is called the Career Center.
At UC San Diego, the Triton Community is an amazing network of some of healthcare’s, industries, public service’s best and brightest minds. Those Tritons often stay invested and offer avenues for current Tritons to connect with opportunities in the form of those courses, internships, and developmental opportunities that Sigelman highlighted. Those events and opportunities are often virtually hosted, posted, or listed on our Handshake system, where there are – combined - thousands of jobs, internships, co-ops, on-campus postings that are only available to currently enrolled or recently graduated Tritons.
The UC San Diego Career Center also hosts (or co-hosts) an array of career development and recruiting events in partnership with industry every quarter. From information sessions to coffee talks to large-scale career fairs to industry insight panels and alumni table talks. All of those events will be available to view and register for in Handshake and on our website.
Using that same tool – Handshake, you can also schedule an appointment to meet with a Career Consultant. We have several Associate Directors that can assist students with guided self-assessment and exploration, effective career exploration, gaining experience, resume writing, interview skill development, professional networking, refining your online presence, and preparing to attend our career fairs.
There are so many benefits to getting connected with your Career Center. You have heard from a Career Services professional, your parents, the CEO, and the Director I cited about the importance of using the Career Center. I would like you to hear from a couple of fellow Tritons.
Anson Zhang – a Math and Econ Major from the Class of 2022 – has been working with the Career Center to pursue his career in Investment Banking. Anson served as a student leader in a related organization, has secured offers from top IB Graduate Programs and two Finance related internships for this Summer. When I asked Anson why he would suggest his current and future Triton connect with the UC San Diego Career Center, he said “The career center is a great place to start looking for your inner self and a chance to learn more about yourself.”
Simon Wang – a Computer Engineering Major also from the Class of 2022 came to the Career Center to better prepare to attend one of our career fairs. Simon secured three interviews and is currently serving as an intern related to his major. He suggested “Future and current Tritons should use the career center because it is a valuable resource that you won't get anywhere else. I was very lost and confused about how to look for jobs, how to make my resume stand out, and most importantly how to prepare for interviews. Talking with the career center provided me with the tools and skills that are required to be competitive in the vast job market.”
Students always. Always. Say “I wish I would have known there was a place I can get help with all of this, sooner.”
Guess what. I – and my Career Services colleagues all over the country, and globe – want to share a secret with you. Sh. Come closer. THERE IS!!! It is called the Career Center. Come by and see us. We are here to help.
Mike Zucker: Associate Director of Career Development and Industry Engagement for the UC San Diego Career Center
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Mike Zucker is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling. Mike is a dedicated and enthusiastic Career Services professional with over 18 years of experience working in a large public university serving college students to identify and address their career planning, experiential learning, and career readiness needs. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing golf, is an avid swimmer, is a youth basketball coach, and has terrible luck in fantasy football. Mike began his time at the UC San Diego Career Center as an Associated Director in 2021.