and proofread her resume and sends her on her way. There’s technology that can do that.
Today, when a student walks into SUNY Oswego Career Services with a draft resume in hand, he is invited to set the resume aside and talk through his goals with a career coach—and not only a career coach, but a coach who specializes in the student’s area of interest.
“We have adopted an industry-centric model of advising and that has encouraged us to approach our interactions with students differently,” said Gary Morris ’88, director of Career Services (pictured above). “Where we bring value is articulating your past and present within the context of what your future will demand.
To help in this process, the office is set up around four industry areas: Business and Communication; Health Care/Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Performing Arts, Media and Entertainment; and Education and Public and Human Services. Another staff member is dedicated to helping undecided students explore a variety of majors and career possibilities.
Staff members have developed expertise in their assigned areas and have built relationships with employers in the related industries who often host interns in experiential learning opportunities at their businesses.
For example, Career Services staff traveled to Syracuse to meet with Brown & Brown of New York Inc., which employs nine SUNY Oswego alumni among its 95 employees and is currently hosting three student interns. The Career Services staff members received a tour of the office and an overview of the company as well as had the opportunity for more informal conversation over lunch.
Brown and Brown Empire State in Syracuse has a large contingent of SUNY Oswego alumni as well. Pictured above with the company President Nick Dereszynski (third from right) are some SUNY Oswego alumni and student interns who are working at the Syracuse office.
These trips and interactions with professionals give the staff members more insight into specific industries and the employers who are interested in SUNY Oswego graduates.
In addition to the career coaching by specific industries, the office also provides some more unique services like the LinkedIn photo booth, where students can schedule an appointment or drop in during set hours to have a portrait taken to use in their professional online profiles. They can also meet with a Digital Dirt Squad member, who will critically assess students’ online presence and enhance their online reputation.
In addition to receiving positive feedback from SUNY Oswego students, Career Services has also garnered statewide attention, winning three of five awards, as well as a special commendation, at the 2017 SUNY Career Development Conference.
SUNY Oswego Career Services staff earned three of five statewide awards, as well as a special commendation, at the recent SUNY Career Development Conference. From left are career coaches Christy Harrison Huynh ’98 M’08 CAS’08, Jenny Roxas, Jackie Campbell Wallace ’02 M’04 and Mallory Bower.
Roxas and Mallory Bower earned the Excellence in Inclusivity Programming or Initiatives Award for new programs or initiatives toward building diversity and inclusion to one or more student/alumni demographics, recognizing the series of diversity programs they planned and implemented throughout the year.
In addition, Christy Harrison Huynh ’98 M’08 CAS’08 and Jackie Campbell Wallace ’02 M’04earned Presidential Awards for Excellence for providing complete leadership for the conference, which ran June 14 to 16 in Syracuse.
In 2016, Oswego’s Career Services also earned the organization’s statewide capstone award for the new model, as the best initiative of any SUNY school’s career services operation across any category of awards.
FOCUS II: a comprehensive self-assessment program (skills, abilities, values, etc.).
Additionally, alumni are welcome to attend campus programs and events, including: career fairs, etiquette dining events, workshops and conferences.